I was looking for a violin to purchase and my teacher recommended that I go speak to Erik at San…read moreDiego Violins (who used to be a part of Hammond Ashley). When I happened across the shop (tucked away in a commercial area of Sorrento Valley), and I found that Erik was extremely helpful in talking me through the different selections he had to offer. He talked me through the details and nuances of both the bows that I was considering and the violins that I was interested in trying out. I was able to test out a variety of violins in the backroom the place had, and took a couple violins and bows home to evaluate for a week. The whole process was simple and incredibly smooth - and I was able to stay in touch with Erik via phone throughout the experience for any additional questions. I'm now a very happy owner of a new violin, bow, and case... and I highly recommend talking to Erik if you're looking to own a quality violin or cello!

This place does zero things wrong. We've been renting here for years. Never had any issue. Bow…read moreneeds to be rehaired? Switch. String broken? 15 min fix. Time to size up? Ok let's see what you need and get it tuned and out the door. Super affordable as well.

Found this gem in August 2021 when my 8-yo twins wanted to learn how to play violin and guitar. I…read moresit in classes with my kids during lessons and I'm super impressed on how patient the teachers are with beginners. At the end of 10 weeks lessons, my son is able to play Ode to Joy on guitar and my daughter plays 4 different pieces at the recital. I'm very happy with their progresses and will continue to sign them up for lessons. So very glad to find this place. The place is very clean and adhere to covid protocols. Staff and kids wear masks the whole time they're inside. Staff are friendly and approachable. They're responsive to email inquiries. Overall, I give Villa Musica a perfect score!

We have had the pleasure to have both our girls ages 10 and 12 at Villa Musica. Both girls attended…read moretheir show choir class and really enjoyed it. My youngest practiced piano and oldest guitar also a Villa Musica with their instructors and have been excelling in their music learning. We are very happy with their learning and the care they have received there so far :)

I am an adult who has been looking for piano lessons in San Diego for a few years. I started with…read moreKatherine a few weeks ago and I'm very relieved to finally be in good hands. I can highly recommend her.

I highly recommend teacher Katherine from K&M Music School. My kids have been learning the piano…read morewith her for only 2 months, but I already noticed a significant progress on their skills. She focuses on building a firm foundation for kids, including music theory and fingering techniques. She help my kids not only play the songs correctly and accurately, but more important play with better musical abilities. Katherine will provide proper materials to improve kids skill according to their levels and problems. The most important thing is Katherine is so nice and patient to kids. My kids just love her piano lessons!

Today is 01/02/25, Thursday, the day after New Year's Day. It's 11:15am that I'm writing this…read morereview. I've been waiting for 15 mins for the store to open even though the hours say they open at 11:00 am. Their voicemail is full but the recording also says 11:00 am opening. Their website says open at 11:00 am. I'm not quite sure if everything says the store should be open but they aren't open. I purposefully came here to get my guitar strung with fresh strings. I wanted to support local stores specifically. The worker came in around 11:18 am. We all have hard days. I only dinged one star because truthfully it was only one worker for the whole store he was very very apologetic... He cleaned, oiled, and strung my guitar. He took his time and carefully did everything while also having to man the whole store by himself! He apologized profusely when he had to step away to help customers. I could be upset set, but it's the beginning of the year and we're all human. $12 for full restring (all 6 strings) you pay for the cost of the strings you want put on. I chose Elixir for my acoustic electric and those run around $20-ish bucks

It took some convincing (most of last school year), but my 5th grader "decided" to play an…read moreinstrument this year--the violin! Yay! Our school provided a list of required items, based on the instrument selected. They also listed local places where parents can go to rent or buy an instrument. Disappointingly, both of the recommended places are owned by the same big company that has been absorbing local shops the last few years. So I busted out Yelp on my phone and Music Central came up as an option. I gave this shop a call and Charlie was kind enough to answer all of my questions over the phone. He left a great first impression from the different shops I reached out to that morning. I decided to take the afternoon off from work and pick up my daughter early during her minimum day so we could see Charlie while he was working--glad I did! Charlie answered more of my questions and measured my daughter for her first violin (insert proud parent tears of joy here). We discussed rental terms and Charlie answered another round of questions to help make me very comfortable signing a contract. I like how standard repairs (like string replacement) and maintenance (like tuning) are included with my rental. And I LOVE how I can "trade in" my rental for the next size up instrument (in similar condition) without breaking my contract! During our first visit we picked up a few of the required accessories listed for the violin and Charlie gave his recommendations on what is really needed to help save me some money up front. As a dad on a budget, this was much appreciated. This shop has a large collection of acoustic and electric guitars in the back. There are also lots and lots of music sheets in stock too. Much to my surprise, Music Central also has a large collection of ukuleles from different manufacturers. My eldest daughter has been interested in ukuleles for years (we have owned a few inexpensive ones to foster her exploration of this instrument) so this may be the focus a future visit. I mentioned this to Charlie and he shared that he teaches ukulele for the shop. How cool is that?! Thanks for an awesome first visit Charlie! Looking forward to a long relationship with Music Central to help my daughters make beautiful music.

I have been a student of Quyen Nguyen for several years, studying cello and music composition…read more I have had the good fortune to become well educated, having had years of education beyond the doctorate level. In those years, I have had four extraordinary teachers, teachers who changed my life. They all shared certain characteristics: a comprehensive knowledge of their subject, a passion for teaching, and a gift for explaining complex ideas in a way their students could understand. Quyen Nguyen is one of those four teachers. Quyen has, from what I can see, an extensive, if not encyclopedic knowledge of music, especially classical music. She is an accomplished musician in her own right and has experience as a professional composer. But it is her passion for teaching and her gift for seeing exactly what each of her students' needs that sets her apart from other music teachers that I have had. Whether your goal is to become a professional performer on the viola, the violin, or the cello, or to simply learn about music at your own pace and following your own interests, you will find Quyen a wonderful teacher. I recommend her without reservation.

From the owner: The Nguyen Music Studio is a unique private studio specializing in music education taught with a…read moreholistic emphasis. We pride ourselves on providing a healthy and supportive learning environment for our students. Our aim is to produce not only exceptional musicians, but more importantly, exceptional human beings. We embrace technology, psychology, ergonomics, visualization, and the development of essential life skills as resources in order to provide a comprehensive education in music and in life. By providing a safe, gentle, and open environment which allows growth and change to happen naturally, we hope to improve each student's quality of life, encourage them to experience who they are as unique, original, and unlimited beings, and invite them to become aware of their true potential.

We had a wonderful experience purchasing our first piano from this store. We knew very little about…read morepianos going in, and our salesperson was incredibly helpful in explaining the basics of upright pianos and what to look for. He showed us several options within our budget, as well as a few above it, and gave our daughter plenty of time to play each one and really feel the differences. What we appreciated most was that he was knowledgeable and helpful without being pushy. He gave us the space to take our time and make the decision that felt right for our family. The entire process, from choosing the piano to completing the transaction and arranging delivery, was smooth and easy. We're very happy with our purchase and would definitely recommend this store to anyone looking for a piano, especially first-time buyers.

I had such a wonderful experience with Ken at Greene Music in Miramar! He was warm, friendly, and…read moregenerous with his knowledge and experience. He took the time to help me feel comfortable and confident in my decision to purchase a new black Yamaha piano for my daughter. This is such a special gift for her, and Ken made the experience even more memorable. Thank you, Ken, for your guidance and kindness! I highly recommend asking for him if you're looking for a piano.

Guitars San Diego is a must-visit if you're a serious acoustic guitar enthusiast and considering a…read moreguitar investment. Tucked away in southern California, this store is a hidden gem. If you've ever bought a guitar from a large music store or a local shop, you need to meet Doug, the owner of Guitars San Diego. Doug's unique approach to customer service is what truly sets him apart in the guitar industry. He's not just about making a sale; he's genuinely committed to helping each customer find the perfect instrument that resonates with them personally. This level of dedication is rare and makes the shopping experience at Guitars San Diego truly special. During my first visit, I noticed how Doug tailored his recommendations based on my preferences and playing style. He would listen intently to what I was looking for and provide options aligned with my needs, showing a deep understanding of different guitar types, tone woods, individual build processes, styles, and each guitar's unique characteristics. During that visit, I played four guitars and left with one in mind. But I wasn't ready. I told Doug I needed more time and left comfortably. On my second visit, I tried three more guitars and found myself torn between two. Doug could see I was having a hard time deciding. Both guitars had qualities and characteristics that I loved. Doug sat patiently with me for over an hour while I switched back and forth. When I was getting nowhere, Doug's humble expertise came to the rescue. His passion for guitars is infectious, and he shared interesting stories about the two models and their histories, which added an extra layer of excitement to the process. It felt more like a conversation with a friend who happens to be an expert, rather than a typical sales pitch. Ultimately, the guitar I chose was one of only two in the US (at the time of sale). I only mention that because Doug had every right to charge any price he wanted (within reason) for such a rare guitar, but he didn't. He made a deal that exceeded my satisfaction and earned a lifelong customer. Doug's sales approach is a testament to his commitment to customer satisfaction. It's clear that he values building relationships over making a quick sale. Overall, if you're looking for a place where you can explore your options, receive expert advice, and feel genuinely valued as a customer, I can't recommend Doug enough. His knowledge, patience, and passion make for an unforgettable experience. I left satisfied with my purchase and excited about the next purchase.

Bought during pandemic when the store front was still closed. They were responsive and willing to…read morelet me demo (not even guitar center was opened at the time). Owner was fair in pricing and really took care of his instruments so you get it as new as possible(asked me to demo without my watch) which i really appreciate. This place is for high end acoustic guitar enthusiasts, this is not some cheap low ball guitar shop. If you are looking for that go someplace else. Selection is great and diverse, would buy again if I could afford it.

My grandson is enjoying his cello lessons. His teacher, Mr Elliott is patient, excellent, and…read moremotivating. Highly recommend.

We have now entered the realm of student music... along with (what seemed) the rest of the entire…read morelocal school district(s). Bertrand's Music already did a great job marketing last year to introduce the kids to various instruments, and to provide parents with information about how to secure rental instruments and lessons. The fliers and information were helpful to return to this location. We were fortunate to identify a couple of violins from close friends but they desperately needed restring and repair. We came in Saturday to meet Troy - who was the nicest young man to help us identify the services needed. He provided detailed information about timeline and quote and made the whole experience painless. Mind you~ this is their busiest season at the start of the school year. Even though the building was filled with families, students, crying babies, and various instrument noises.. Troy provided top notch service and executed all needs without a hitch. We submitted instruments on Saturday and received a detailed telephone call by Monday to retrieve the instruments. Even upon return, we had the high fortune of meeting with Troy again. One of his fellow associates (newer in her training) helped us at first. Troy came to the rescue to help clarify the transaction, identified a computer error in billing, and skillfully provided us with the close of transaction needed. He went above and beyond to then offer to tune the instruments using one of their tools behind the counter (and he doesn't even play violin! just knows the ear and use of equipment). The violins sounded lovely. I never met this young gentleman before, but if Troy is the standard of hiring at this type of establishment, he has secured my business and my recommendation to come back to this Bertrand's. He was kind, well informed, and efficient. I was able to have two instruments repaired, tuned and timely prepared for the this wretched band season (I have two very excited musicians and a new box of earplugs.) The prices were reasonable and the service quick. He couldn't have provided better service. Be sure to ask for Troy when you return if you need anything related to music service needs. He made the experience fantastic and we will return and recommend.

Olga is an amazing art teacher who brings both structure and real artistic talent into her…read moreteaching. She is disciplined and sets clear expectations, which creates a focused learning environment where students truly grow. Both of my children, Ivan and Natalia, have made so much progress under her guidance. She doesn't just teach techniques--she helps kids build confidence, creativity, and attention to detail in their work. What stands out most is that she is a true artist herself, and that passion shows in every lesson. We are very grateful for her impact and the way she inspires her students to improve and express themselves

Update in response to the owner's reply: To San Diego Music…read moreAnd Art owner/contact Max: Your response actually reinforces the reason I left this review. Your instructor, Olga, publicly criticized my child in front of other parents and children. My child is neurodivergent. At times, he may have difficulty following directions, transitioning, or completing more complex instructions. That does not give any instructor the right to shame, embarrass, or publicly criticize a child. What is especially unacceptable is that your staff was already aware of my child's needs. Instead of speaking with me privately, giving me a warning, or trying to understand what support he might need, Olga chose to criticize him in front of others. When I brought this concern to you, I expected the owner to at least investigate what happened and listen to both sides. Instead, you immediately defended your instructor and treated my child as if he were simply the problem. You did not appear interested in understanding what actually happened or in finding a constructive solution. Instead, you joined in criticizing my child. Then, rather than addressing my concern about how your instructor handled the situation, you suspended my child's classes for an entire month. Children--especially neurodivergent children--deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. If a child is struggling to follow instructions, the appropriate response is to communicate privately with the parent and work toward a solution, not publicly embarrass the child and then blame him when the parent raises concerns. Parents should know how situations like this may be handled here before deciding whether this is the right environment for their child.