Bertrands Old Town Music

(111 reviews)

We love PMA! My older son who is 11 has had Sam as his drum teacher for the last few years and…read morereally loves him. Sam strikes a nice balance between being approachable and easygoing, but also knowing how to challenge and motivate my son. My younger 9 year old son just switched to Gabriel for piano because his previous teacher cut back her hours. As a pianist myself, I really appreciate how Gabriel breaks down how to practice a song to make it easier to learn. He also takes into account my son's interest when choosing a song. We strongly recommend PMA!

Only good things at PMA! My daughter began taking lessons in the late spring with Marcella and has…read moremade such tremendous progress, not only with her vocals but also stage presence and performance. A few weeks into lessons, Marcella recommended my daughter sign up for the recital. On the day of the recital our family was shocked at the progress made - she received a standing ovation! All thanks to Marcella! My daughter really enjoys having her as a vocal coach/instructor and looks forward to each session. She's patient, engaging and has built up my daughter's confidence, all while teaching technique, developing vocal skills. The front desk at PMA are also incredibly helpful and easy to contact, whether by phone, text or email. I appreciate how easy it is to book makeup lessons and change schedules online. My daughter also enjoys seeing Marcella's feedback and thoughtful comments posted after each lesson.

Fantastic Musical Instruments

4.8

(53 reviews)

Richard, July 24, 2026: Fantastic Musical Instruments in Pasadena, CA is a real "bass shop". Tom…read moreKerr was very gracious to me when I was trying out basses a few years ago, even after I returned a fine bass I had on trial. I ended up buying a Pollmann Bass from another store. However, when I needed a set-up, , cleaning, and sound adjustment, I took my Pollmann to Tom. My bass now sounds better than ever, and he had a solid string recommendation. Also, just this week I bought a Kay Bass, circ, 1940 from Tom, for my bluegrass, gigs. It was reasonably priced and he did some work I requested for a minimal charge, adjustments to the bridge curvature, and a replacement tailpiece cable (I wanted a new Teflon version). I kept the original metal piece since it was part of the original bass. Thanks, Tom, for your expertise and gracious manner with me as a customer who needed some guidance.

What an absolute gem of an instrument shop that I feel so fortunate to have come across. I went in…read morebecause I'm potentially on the market for an upright bass, and I cannot express how glad I am I stopped by here. Not only do they have an incredible selection of beautiful instruments, but owners there are such phenomenal, down-to-earth, compassionate people. Nicky was in the store helping me out, and they spent so much time allowing me to try all the different instruments and talking me through them and answering my questions. The shop also has a rental option as well where 50% of the rent goes towards an instrument of your choice (doesn't have to be the rental). If you're looking for a high quality instrument with amazing service, this is the place to go. Could not recommend them more highly!

Guitar Center

3.2

(349 reviews)

Cheyenne and Perry were wonderful.I can't express enough of how much they went above and beyond to…read morehelp me. I was having technical difficulties. when I first got there, Cheyenne greeted me with a high welcome. How can I help you? I said, I was having some difficulties with my snare drum. She told me that drum tech was not in, but would be in the next day. I was desperate and I needed help on that day so she said I'll be back. Let me See what I can do ,so she brought another hired gun. This was perry the manager. he saw my snare and noticed it was as dead as Lazarus in the grave. 20 minutes later, Perry like a pro technician took care of my situation and my snare was purring like a fine tuned machine. Ps Don't go to Pasadena guitar center unless you want to be ambushed by some professional care and good old fashion hospitality . Love you Guys

Walked into Guitar Center Pasadena with my brother, our unleashed service animal, and a budget that…read moreclearly needed adult supervision. Things got off to a rocky start when there was some confusion about the dog, but Evan checked with his manager, got it sorted, and we all survived the great leash controversy of 2026. From there, Evan was awesome. Super cool, patient, and actually knew DJ gear because he DJs himself -- which is always better than someone confidently explaining equipment they've only met that morning. By the end, we were joking with him: "You really did everything you could to not sell to us... and somehow we still bought anyway." Funny start, great ending, and Evan helped us leave with a new DJ setup and speakers. Guitar Center almost fumbled the bag, but Evan recovered the sale like a pro. Shoutout Evan.

Pasadena Music Institute

(2 reviews)

I took weekly lessons from Hillary for a year remotely. She's great! She was always well organized…read moreand quick to respond to any questions I had outside of lessons. I was always impressed by how she managed to hear any mistakes I made playing a piece over Zoom. She did a great job of balancing adding new material to keep things interesting with focusing on specific pieces as needed. I suspect that starting piano as an adult has unique challenges; Hillary got me off to a great start and helped me to really embrace the instrument.

I can't say enough good things about the top-tier piano instruction my son has received over the…read morepast five years. The level of detail and rigor in every lesson is remarkable - scales, sight-reading, and challenging repertoire are all taught with such precision. My son's technique and musicality have skyrocketed, allowing him to confidently tackle advanced pieces that many students his age haven't even heard of. What really sets this studio apart is the blend of professional expertise with genuine warmth and encouragement. If you're looking for serious, high-level piano education, Hillary is the person to study with.

Sierra Madre Music

(24 reviews)

Sierra Madre Music is the ideal place for music lessons. Jessica and her husband are the owners and…read moreare awesome musicians. They have a great staff of instructors that are equally as talented but also know how to teach. What brought me to them was how Jessica quickly responded to my inquires for scheduling lessons for my son. She's friendly, organized and her willingness to help match your child with the right instructor. We appreciate all their efforts!

They've absolutely changed my son's life - he absolutely loves his lessons and has gained self…read moreesteem and confidence that will continue to serve him as he gets older. I love SMM! Highly recommend.

88 Keys Music Academy

4.8

(120 reviews)

Great staff! The teachers are very professional and accommodating. Both my kids loved their…read moreteachers and their lessons. It was a wonderful experience!

We have been coming to 88 Keys ever since forever. My daughter is currently with Mr. Chris and she…read moreloves him. He's strict but knows how to have fun which is what she needs. She has improved a lot in her piano skills and actually loves playing the piano. Rescheduling is easy and he is responsive to our needs and requests. Office staff is also nice and accommodating.

Pasadena Conservatory of Music

4.8

(14 reviews)

This is a music conservatory where the high caliber teaching faculty is deadly serious about…read moreproducing high level musicians. It is a well run, efficient organization, and as the parent of a child who receives instruction there, I couldn't be happier with every aspect of the experience. The teaching is inspired, the environment is stimulating, performance opportunities are terrific, and the prices are very reasonable. What more can I say?!

A truly dedicated venue (as opposed to casual mom n me classes) for learning and appreciating…read moremusic. The overall experience was a step up from other local programs. For children closer to the 3 and a half year old range, in our experience one teacher was a miss (summer 2026)... While enthusiastic (but almost aggressively so), she had a very low threshold/low frustration tolerance if a child got off track in the slightest way. She would promptly single them out and suggest they sit in the "viewing area" (aka time out), effectively shaming the child and their parent by highlighting their inattentiveness etc. She may be a school teacher suitable for older kids, but also had an outdated style of excessively "managing" behavior which is not her domain, so long as the child is not majorly disrupting or in some way hurting others. I would also say she (not surprisingly) would play music too loudly and then claim some children are just more sensitive to noise without openness to her own contribution to the music volume. In sum, way too brusque to be teaching 3.5 year olds! Our care provider (who was herself a former preschool director) made the very same observations about this teacher that I had as a parent. Thank goodness this teacher left for vacation and her substitute was day/night more suitable for younger kids. So the experience can be rather teacher dependent...

Treehouse Music

(1 review)

I'm an experienced guitarist who stopped playing for years. Marwan reignited my love of the…read moreinstrument and music in general. In just 3 sessions he has me unlocking the fretboard and putting theory and thought to improvising rather than fumbling around and playing by instinct. What I love about our sessions is that he is super kind and generous and has a great amount of knowledge on all things guitar, including equipment, tone, performance and playing with other people.

From the owner: Give a loved one the gift of music! For a limited time only, get your first lesson for FREE!…read more At Treehouse Music, our mission is to create an inspiring and supportive environment where students learn to love music through a blend of the songs they love and the essential building blocks of musical education. We are committed to fostering meaningful connections between teachers and students, nurturing self-confidence, and encouraging growth through the power of productive failure.

Jeremy Stacey Drum & Piano Studio

(20 reviews)

•$

My son (8yo) has been learning drums with Jeremy since March, and we couldn't be happier. He wasn't…read morea complete beginner as I had tried many teachers at the local music academies for over 6 months and then had a different drum teacher for another 6 months. And I can say with complete confidence that Jeremy is the BEST teacher we found. I found that some drum teachers are better drummers than they are teachers. My son's former teacher never taught him to read music, for example, but would have him mimic the grooves and fills a little bit at a time. Jeremy, on the other hand, is so encouraging and upbeat, but still keeps my son to a high standard. My son is able to practice drum techniques, rhythms, and finally a song for each lesson. He uses a couple of a drum practice books each week, while also writing his own worksheets to help students thrive. Since March, I have seen my son's confidence grow in drums but also in himself. I see a smile creep onto his face when he's playing a complicated groove that he just got a handle on. Jeremy knows how to meet my son at the level he's at, encourage, and push at just the right pace that my son needs, and THAT's why I think he can't help but smile. It's like he's saying, "Wow, I can do it," to himself-- a lesson I hope transfers into all areas of his life. I highly recommend Jeremy Stacey Drum & Studio!

My kid decided he wanted to play drumset midway through high school. We were lucky enough to find…read morethis studio! Jeremy is a great teacher and my kid has improved steadily over the past 4 years. My kid now plays in college as a music major! One of my favorite things that is offered is periodic recital opportunities. It is great for the students to get a chance to perform and learn performance etiquette. I highly recommend Jeremy Stacey Drum Studio!

School of Rock

4.1

(17 reviews)

•$$$

If you're looking for a place that nourishes your children's creativity, this is the place. After…read morejust one week at SOR Pasadena, my daughter ramped up her motivation to learn about music 100%. AND this just isn't about music, it's about a community that you can trust -- the instructors & all the staff are just fantastic. I highly recommend getting involved with School of Rock Pasadena in one way or another.

I highly recommend School of Rock of Pasadena for your children or as an older adult like me. After…read moremany years saying I was going to learn guitar on my own, it did not happen until I signed up with School of Rock. The weekly one-on-one guitar lessons and band rehearsals kept me learning and ready for the performance. At the end of the season, you get to perform with your band mates, have great friendships, and have loads of fun too. The customer service is great. You get greeted by Johnnie, the Assistant General Manager, who memorizes your name. Don't know how he does it, because there are so many students. LOL

Marzz Guitarzz

(50 reviews)

Punctual! Great service! Quality luthier! Marzz will get you right! I've always been picky about…read morewho works on my basses and this guy knocked it out of the park. With the friendly enthusiastic service and quality expertise to back it up. Marzz exceeded my expectations! Give this dude your guitars and money oh and make sure you tip him well ;)

Found I had an older guitar in my basement. It needed some work, so I looked here for a highly…read morerated Guitar guy, and found Marcelo, here at Marzz Guitarzz. What a great find! When I showed him my guitar, we got into immediate communication and arrived quickly at my options. He also pointed out several features of the guitar I hadn't noticed. Got it back in a few days, beautifully restored and begging to be played. Very please with his craft and happy I found him.

Nori's Piano Service

(102 reviews)

Nori is great at what he does and spends the time to do it right…read more I got my used piano from a dealer / technician thinking I was getting a great deal because the technician should be able to get a used piano in top shape, right? After 3+ visits, the technician could not address my problems and basically said that's the way it is, unless I spend more money for a better piano. Enter Nori, who made multiple trips to get the piano into a playable shape, and since then, he's come back six months later for a piano tuning. I would wholeheartedly trust him to tune up your piano because you can really tell he spends the time and care to make sure your piano is taken care of.

What a knowledgeable and interesting guy. My completely out of tune piano was made whole. It had…read morebeen 20 years and a couple of moves since it had been tuned. Nori was upfront as to the cost and we were billed after each visit. It took three. He enjoys explaining his craft and answering questions. Very prompt, neat, tidy, and polite. Can't say enough nice things about this young man. He has a passion for the piano for sure.

Paloma Vocals

(59 reviews)

I cannot recommend Paloma enough. I started working with her for muscle tension dysphonia, and she…read morehas been such a gift in this process. She's incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and thorough. The laryngeal massages and targeted vocal exercises she's guided me through have made such a difference in helping me understand my voice and reduce tension. What I appreciate most is how supported I feel during our sessions. She truly listens and tailors everything to what my voice needs that day. If you're struggling with vocal tension or MTD, Paloma is someone you absolutely want on your team.

I'm an actor currently based in New York, but I work with Paloma in LA as well, and she has helped…read moremy acting career tremendously. From mastering cadence and vocal technique to helping me find and replicate the voice of Malcolm X, she has an incredible understanding of the actor's instrument. She stays true to the fundamentals while bringing a real sensitivity to artistry, finding innovative ways to help you discover breath, voice, rhythm, and use your instrument to its fullest ability. I recently wrapped a TV show, have a Netflix film coming out next month, and we literally just finished another session today preparing for what's next. I'm grateful to have Paloma on my team, and anyone who gets to work with her is blessed to have her on theirs.

Aleks's Piano Movers