The staff seems to be universally willing help and they just about have it all, new or used.read more

This is a tough store to review. Absolutely horrible location placement? Check…read more Terrible parking? Check. An acoustic guitar room overflowing with Martins, Taylor's and janky used guitars not fit for kindling? Check check and check! However in the midst of this dumpster fire I did find that one special guitar I was looking for, with incredible action, at a decent price. So yay for me, but this just won't be my go to Guitar Store ... ever.

The experience of renting an instrument for my child who was beginning orchestra at school was…read morecertainly OK, but I've experienced better (2 star). I'm writing because, as a new-to-this-type-venture mom, I would have liked to have known more about the finances of renting to own from MM so I would have made a different decision. We asked for a used student grade instrument. The one they came out with was in beautiful shape and almost new, which must?? be why they charged so much for it. Unfortunately I neglected to ask what they were charging (I was just relieved I did not have to pay for a new one) or to apprehend that I was actually paying more than that same instrument would be new in some places. Although it must have been clear from the paperwork, this fact was not made clear to me when I signed up for the minimum of two month rental. So, definitely ask all the pertinent questions so you won't be caught off guard (I had asked for the monthly rate, but neglected to ask the other relevant question - how many months will I be renting before I own it - ie. what is the price - in my case I would be renting for 54 months!). When I asked for used I did so with finances in mind and thus, was taken by surprise when I finally asked to find that the used price was actually more than double the retail value of a used instrument at any place I subsequently went to. It was even significantly more than double the price of a used excellent condition Intermediate grade horn at Trading Musician. (I must also mention that you can buy a NEW one of the exact thing for 30% less on Amazon than I was paying for the used one, but I am a fan of bricks and mortar so would not have gone that route, but see it as a comparison point - new for 30% less than I was paying for used). I think the moral of the story is that used instruments in the retail market are a relative bargain - even excellent quality ones are less than half the price of a new one - so if you are wanting to go the used route, check other stores to compare. When I took it back, the employee (a different one than the others I had worked with) spoke three words to me: "what's your name?" - which is again "OK" in terms of Yelp rating.

Metropolitan Music in Kirkland offers a charming mom-and-pop atmosphere with a wide selection…read more Renting and returning is a breeze, thanks to their knowledgeable staff, always ready with helpful tips.

Well stocked, kind, and helpful. Why go anywhere else? Besides Ted Brown has been in Seattle for a…read morelong time, maybe 40 years +. I like to support the classic Seattle stores. Ok, so you could say like Nordstrom, Starbucks, and Amazon? No. Once a store has achieved world domination I give up on it. The rest of the world supports Amazon so why should I? But I do like to stick with the smaller stores like Ted Brown that have managed to hang on for decades.

Sad that I absolutely dread walking into this store these days. It used to be an extremely happy…read moreplace for me. Now I get looked at like I'm trash, not spoken to and completely ignored by employees of this company. I have walked in with $5k budget to buy tour gear with and left to make a Sweetwater music order in the parking lot. Music stores are dying and this one deserves it. If all the other string music stores act the same way I get why Sweetwater is so popular. Just a terrible music shop with really bad employees and mid level gear you're not missing anything.

Brad is an exceptional teacher and he sets high standards for his students, pushing me to strive…read morefor excellence while also providing the support I need to improve. Whether we're working on a technique or a lesson, Brad makes the learning process engaging and fun.

I have been studying saxophone with Brad for nearly one year, preparing saxophone as a hobby in my…read moreretirement life. Brad is very nice, and always try to find ways to help me improve. There have been time that I felt frustrated. He would encourage me and found ways to overcome my frustration. He is also very thoughtful. He understands that I don't have much time to practice due to my tight schedule at work. He designs a way for me to practice more efficiently. He is very flexible for scheduling the lessons. There have been many interruptions of my saxophone because of my work schedule and travels. He understands it and never complains.

Joe is an amazing teacher no matter where you want to go with the guitar. He tailors his lessons to…read moreeach student's goals and needs very well -- he can help you do anything, from strumming 4-chord camping songs to advanced jazz improvisation. I was looking to get more serious about my playing, and in just a few weeks I've seen an amazing improvement. He has a professional attitude, but is able to keep things fun and always has the joy of making music in mind. He takes notes on each student and is well-prepared for each lesson. Fantastic!

I highly recommend Deft Digits and Joe Walker! My 10 year old son has taken ukulele lessons from…read moreJoe for 15 months, and during that time: * Joe is very well organized; both in lesson structure and communication * Joe caters lessons to the individual, keeping their interest with content they enjoy while still teaching basics like chords * During lessons, Joe has shown to be patient and kind, while still being firm in terms of staying on point Joe's online scheduling is easy to use and always up to date, and his lessons consistently start and end on time. During lessons, Joe is composed and professional. The lessons are structured in a way that is predictable for students and flexible so that if a student comes to the lesson with a new interest, they work on that. My son began his lessons with Joe with the goal of learning how to play a Star Wars theme on the ukulele, and not only has he mastered several of those, he has also learned to play his favorites from Fall Out Boy and Weezer. In addition, my son has learned chords, how to manage his time practicing, and how to read music. Joe has made learning the ukulele fun for my son, and my son is proud of his accomplishments.

I wish I could give Off the Wall 10 stars. I've been taking lessons there for 2.5 years and it's…read morethe highlight of living in Seattle. I started out just taking voice lessons but eventually my teacher Josh inspired me to try piano again after 8 years of avoiding the keys. I'm so glad he did because in the last 6 months, I've been working hard to accompany myself while I sing and it's made me a much stronger musician! Even though I've taken lessons for over 10 years, I never performed in public until Josh convinced me to sign up for an adult open mic. It was one of the coolest experiences I've had and I've since done two of their public recitals. You won't find a more supportive or welcoming music community anywhere. All of the teachers are kind and adept at meeting the students where they're at in their comfort and experience level. Chris, the owner, and my teacher, Josh, are super encouraging of everything and I've never felt more comfortable as a musician. Going to Off the Wall is my favorite time of the week. For anyone looking to get into music or looking to expand their skills, I can't recommend Off the Wall enough.

Great communicators and wonderful teachers! Their free lesson allowed us to get a feel for the…read morespace and teachers before committing. They didn't pressure signing up afterwards, either or try to reel us in with gimmicks. My daughter said that the 30 min flew by and looks forward to future lessons!

The Phantom Operation…read more In May I sought a piano teacher, and their staff's bios looked great "on paper" (in their Web site). So I contacted them to get the ball rolling. They delayed in responding more than the time it took to go through the entire hiring and onboarding process with a teacher from elsewhere. They then wrote and told me they had taken time off for bereavement. This may be true, but that line is too often used in business to excuse and defuse quite legitimate objections. Recently I again had the need, so contacted this organization to give them a 2nd chance. 2 weeks later, no response. While I sometimes give a business operation a 2nd chance, I will not ever give them a 3rd. Are they really there? Is there something about my polite inquiry that they find objectionable? Are they a mirage or a front for organized crime (just kidding -- well, not entirely)? I don't know, you tell me. Or better yet, look elsewhere for a piano teacher, as there are many excellent ones around who actually respond when you call or write.