My kids were initially very excited to learn piano. We decided to go to Branka because one of the…read morestaff members at Gray school recommended her. Unfortunately we didn't have a good experience and stopped coming after 3 months. My daughter and son were taking lessons together and Branka was constantly comparing them in an unkind way and it seemed very intentional. Every single session this would happen and she was constantly making negative comments during the lesson about how my daughter was progressing. We are not overly soft people but her comments were starting to get abusive, unhealthy and non productive. I explained to Branka several times that my daughter is 3 years younger than my son and she will need more time and she said in front of my daughter that she has preschoolers that play better than her and laughed. At my daughter's last lesson she was crying afterwards and really upset. Branka speaks in riddles and also has a heavy accent so she is not the best at explaining things and she is very difficult to understand while teaching. She is also older and her thinking is really outdated and she was constantly making comments to my kids that we didn't like and it was uncomfortable because we never knew what was going to come out of her mouth. We tried to stick it out but it just wasn't working. She is also really eccentric which we are not opposed or judgemental to but it was getting to be very overwhelming. I like that she is straightforward but she was not patient and was careless with how she expressed herself. The lessons were more damaging than helpful and I regret bringing them here. I don't think Branka is a bad person and I'm sure she's a great pianist but our experience was honestly not good.

Knowledgeable music teachers…read more Able to connect with all Social Emotional Maturity Levels Fairly priced Regular Recitals leading to advanced performance invitations

Not enough good things to say about Dirk!!!! I reached out to him to fix a guitar that was broken…read moreby a student. Soon as I told him I was a teacher, he said he would do his best to fix it for free!!!!!!! This guitar had a BAD break! Dirk fixed it!!! Made it look brand new and it sounds great!!!! He was reliable with communication. Even worked with me for crazy hours of drop off and pick up. He's amazing and I will definitely be back!!! Thanks Dirk!!!

Specialists with string instruments, luthiers, are getting harder and harder to find. Especially…read morethose that a restore and refinish vintage guitars and amplifiers.

Love this studio!! Woman owned!…read more My daughter is now 7 and has been taking lessons here since she was 4. I took piano lessons from age eight until age 16 and wanted a place that could start my daughter sooner. Raffia Music Studio was the only one that would start my kid at 4, plus it offers so many other types of musical instruments, voice and performance training. I am a serious researcher. I have always made exhaustive lists weighing the pros and cons of any endeavor. After researching several studios, I decided this was the one! Consistency is key in becoming good. We've had the same teacher since we began 3 years ago. Srimal is not only a teacher, but performs regularly with a band around town. I appreciate when a teacher also honors their craft by doing it. Srimal is very patient. Works to get the best out of his students. Pushes them, but also meets them where they are. Every winter, there is a recital where you get to enjoy seeing all the students performing their pieces. I highly recommend Raffia Music Studio!

Miss Emily is such a great piano/voice teacher. She connected well with my daughter and I have seen…read moresuch great improvement in the few months my daughter has been taking lessons. Miss Emily also has done wonders boosting my daughters confidence. She usually has great anxiety, but overcame her anxiety and performed so well at the music recital! Raffia has also been a joy to work with. The whole process has beeen flawless and I have never had any issues getting any questions I have answered immediately. I highly recommend Raffia Music Studio.

As soon as I walked into the store, a staff member greeted me and offered help--even though he…read morelooked busy handling some paperwork. He asked what I needed, and I explained that my acoustic guitar had a broken peg tuner. I already had the replacement part with me, so I handed it over. Instead of jumping straight into recommendations or upselling, he immediately tried to fix it on the spot. Once he confirmed it was repairable, he quickly cut the string, replaced the tuner, and got everything back in place. The whole process took less than 10 minutes! I live in Carson, so driving out to Lakewood and getting it fixed the same day was such a relief. This guitar isn't for professional use--it's for my daughter who's just starting to learn--so having it ready right away saved me a lot of time and hassle. He even tuned it by ear in seconds, which was really impressive. Overall, a smooth and pleasant experience. I really appreciated the quick, no-nonsense service and would definitely come back again for future repairs!

They understood what I wanted and responded right away. Their work is…read moregood.**************************************************************^*************^*^*^*^^^^^^^

We are so grateful to have found Joyful Music and Arts (JOMA)! It is not just a music school, it is…read morea character, life skills, and self-esteem factory. Our son started at age 4 in Mr. Makinto's Music Bus class. As parent watching on, I witnessed Mr. Makinto's exceptional expertise translated to our little guy's level. Mr. Makinto's calm and commanding presence consistently kept the children's attention. I am a 1st grade teacher, and I know how difficult it is to do this! From the Music Bus class, we began private music lessons. We opted to continue with Mr. Makinto, because my son formed quite an attachment; however through scheduling changes and travel needs he's had multiple teachers at JOMA all of whom are terrific! Mr. Makinto holds highest standards for both his teachers and students. Finally, there is a lovely community feel at JOMA. It's not one of those cold "music store" music classes or franchised rock and roll places. You sit on the sofa and chat with other parents while your child learns in a nearby studio. We also love gathering with the JOMA families at the yearly music concert, which is refreshingly unpretentious. We're so lucky to have been recommended to JOMA!

Wonderful place to learn music. Makinto is a great and inspirational musician and instructor…read more Other instructors are similarly skilled. We have had decades of relationship with JOMA and highly recommend them - for kids and adults alike (my husband, daughter, and grand niece all have had classes there!)

This program is great! He has fantastic energy & cooperates language, culture with percussion…read more Highly recommend

My children have had the opportunity to participate in many drumming classes with Delton. This…read moreclass is a great way for your children to learn to express themselves as musicians, individuals, and members of a group. Delton is driven to teach your children to appreciate music through a playful environment that encourages discipline and inclusion.

We spent months in a music school and Emmalee was not processing or learning in the pace we were…read moreexpecting. We discovered Dr. Olena's music school by walking in. She has a dual doctorate degree in theory, vocal, and music. She has over 40 years experience in teaching. Dr. Olena is calm, professional, soft spoke & works very well. Emmalee learned how to properly sit, place her hands, play the piano, and read notes in a short amount of time. We highly recommend Dr. Olena, her price is generous for the degrees she holds. If you want to learn piano and or vocal, Dr. Olena's experience and credentials speak for itself.

Taking singing classes here has been one of the best decisions I've made. My teacher is incredibly…read moreencouraging and supportive -- she knows exactly how to make you feel comfortable, even if you've been shy about singing. Each class feels uplifting. She celebrates every bit of progress and helps you find your own unique sound with so much patience and positivity. I leave every lesson feeling more confident, inspired, and proud of myself. If you've ever wanted to sing but didn't know where to start, this is the perfect place.

These guys are great. They have been tributing journey for awhile and have not slowed down one bit…read more Go see these amazing musicians re-create the band JOURNEY, you will not be disappointed! Dont stop Believin in these guys!

From the owner: Journey Escape Award-Winning Tribute Show! SCAPE has been performing all over North America to…read moresold-out crowds and multiple encores for many years! The band members have opened for America, Europe, Y&T, Firefall, Dokken, Warrant, Skid Row, Jackyl, Great White, Night Ranger, KLOS Events and Survivor among others, has performed backing tracks for TV shows, and even played on Entertainment Tonight (ET). You do not want to miss this band! Selling out venues across the United States. Performing all the greatest hits from the 70's and 80's with the looks and sound of Journey. Including Award-Winning Guitarist Jeff Ellis, Chad Smith on Vocals, Stu Simone on keys from Poison tour 1999-2000, JP Michaels on Bass and Gary Ponder On Drums. Voted Top Pro Journey Tribute In The USA. Performing at Music and Concert Halls, Corporate and Private Events, Performing Art Center, Music Venues, Wineries, Fairs and Festivals. Looking for the best Journey Tribute look no further. Guaranteed a great time for everyone.