I've been a long time student of Rebecca's and highly recommend her for anyone who wants to learn…read morepiano. She is very skilled at assessing and correcting technical difficulties and is equally talented in teaching expressive technique. In addition she fosters a warm and supportive community by hosting regular workshops where her students meet to perform for one another.

She is a great teacher but only takes advanced adults but her videos online are great tooread more

I started working with Adrienne nearly 4.5 years ago because I wanted to liberate my voice. I knew…read morethat the resonance I carried inside of me didn't match my external expression. What I felt within, I wanted to be able to share with others. And now, having worked across both the technical aspects of vocalization through Western music, and the emotion and connection to the Divine through Persian music, my capacity to express what I feel now matches. My expression is more fluid, expansive and clear. I'm grateful not just for Adrienne's technical mastery and ability to translate complex skills into tangible changes in my body, but more importantly for the invitation she creates through loving presence and laughter to bring forth heart -- in myself and others. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Adrienne (whether in person at her studio or remotely via Zoom). She has helped me transform my relationship to my voice, and what I'm capable of expressing -- and for these lifelong gifts I'm grateful!

Listened to an amazing concert by Adrienne tonight. Wow!…read more Her instrumental accompanying of her wonderful voice is sublime. I can't wait to be able to see her perform in person. Shout out to the F&S Freight At Home Series!

Zeb and his team exceeded every expectation at our August 2nd, 2025 wedding in Monterey. For…read morestarters, he brings a great blend of laid-back willingness to meet any idea or request, with a sharp music acumen and event expertise. He worked with us during each step of the planning process, never pressing, to amplify our vision. A special shout out for a meaningful family/bridal party/etc. song. Playing a particular remix of a song we like. Nailing down particular subgenres during each stage of the night. Attentive to our song dislikes and "no plays". But at the same time, adding his expert feel and live touch for what the crowd was wanting. Zeb and his team built standout moments - our crowd even started a room-wide conga line (who does that anymore?). And a shout-a-long of Bohemian Rhapsody as our closer for the night. And the live sax fusion... everyone kept commenting about that being their favorite part of the night. At the same time, he simplified all of our anxieties in what can be a whale of a planning process. He got our mindset/vision immediately and was the perfect amount of helpful in steering us to the best party ever.

This review is entirely overdue, but much deserved for Zebuel, Lindsey, and the amazing and…read moreextremely talented team behind Sounds Elevated. Zebuel is not only an amazing musician and DJ, but also the curator of event excellence. He brought to life with his team a NOLA influenced second-line to keep our wedding celebrations alive post ceremony, heading into the reception with instruments and all the bells & whistles. Not only was this an epic highlight for our guests, but something my husband and I only thought could happen in our dreams! He truly listened to our wants/needs with flawless execution, but above all else, went above & beyond to ensure this was the best day/night of our lives. From lighting, a DJ/live instrument fusion, and photography from So Good Photobooth, we could not recommend this Team more for your next special event ~ whether corporate or personal! Because of this Team, we had an unforgettable and picture-perfect event filled with our favorite people and the musical experience of our lifetime. Thank you Sounds Elevated for rockin us forward into marriage & beyond!

This band is outstandingI I hired them for our wedding reception party in May 2024. Most of our…read moreguests told me and my husband that this was one of the best, if not the best wedding party they've attended. Everyone had a blast. I owe a lot of it to the Back Pages. They are all fantastic musicians. They played many songs from the 60's and 70's which people loved to dance to. Although most of our guests were baby boomers, the younger generation including teenagers were dancing and knew the lyrics. Thank you, John and to wonderful band members. You made everyone so happy at our wedding party. You gave us the party we dreamed of!

Best musical group at the Solano Stroll! They were great! People could not resist dancing to the…read moremusic!

I signed up for Ilana with duet musician services for my SF City Hall (1Hr) Wedding and It was…read moreAmazing!! Through the entire process she was very responsive, and I was able to make payment easily thru her suggested methods - we also used Google docs for the agreement. For my wedding she worked with Lewis P a cellist as I really wanted to hear both instruments. Btw, She is on the approved musician list for SF City Hall- so if you are in need of a violinist for the SF City Hall, she's the one! Her website includes a variety of of songs from R&B, classics, oldies and pop. We had two custom songs done for an added fee in addition to the hour service. We got many compliments and we were happy with our modern selections being changed into such wonderful instrumental violin and cello sounds that our guests were able to recognize in amazement. We were so happy with her professionalism and both their talents. Fabulous- and I would totally sign up again!

Ilana is truly amazing and truly made our wedding magical! Everyone loved her music! She made the…read moreprocess to pick out music extremely easy since she has a huge selection on her repertoire. Thank you for being a part of our day and making it so special!

Dan Plonsey's "Music Of El Cerrito" is some of the most intriguing and lovely music I have ever…read moreheard. On many a June 21st, I have heard Dan and his merry band of talented musicians at the Summer Solstice Chapel Of The Chimes experimental music festival in Oakland. Chances are, he will be there again in the future. Any project Dan Plonsey is involved with is bound to be fascinating and cutting edge. Also, legend has it that his lovely wife, Mantra, can belt out an operatic version of Amazing Grace that will make you cry and question everything that has gone before it.

Best musician out in the bayyyyyy 11/10 recommend. His 4th period class slaps his album for fun,…read moresuper lit btw should check out. His kindness will pervade any room he is in, like puppies. If you like cupcakes, and sweet things, you will love Dan. Absolutely amazing.

We have these guys play for our conference last year and I can't believe I haven't written in a…read morereview for them yet. The music was a lot of fun and they got everybody dancing. They had a great spirit. We're gonna try to hire them again this year.

VERY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE with Jose Hernandez, per the contract their 'band leader', on a event…read moreheld of just last night. Booked them last December for a 70th BD party to be held May 2. Paid the deposit at the same time. Communicating with Jose the week prior I requested the trio set up an hour before the event started so no last minute sound checks etc. and the evening could start on time and go smooth. Needed a live mike so BD speeches could be made prior to their start time. He said not a problem. The BD started at 5 PM, still no trio. Dinner started at 6:15 PM, still no trio. Booked to play from 7 to 9 PM. Were they even going to show up ? No communication with either myself or the venue. Band showed up at 6:45ish to set up after the evening was in full swing. No apology yet (from Jose who I had negotiated the event with) and was told by Luis, the evenings lead, was all they knew they were hired to play from 7 to 9. TOTAL lack of professionalism in running your business and communicating with your client. Will NEVER recommend your business to any potential future clients. I would NEVER want my friends to go thru the same stress and anxiety we experienced last night.

We hired Mariachi Trío Estrellas de Oro for my friend's wedding, and they were absolutely amazing…read morefrom start to finish! Rigo was my main contact, and he was so friendly, caring, and incredibly easy to communicate with. Our venue had very poor cell service, which made coordinating a surprise performance a bit tricky--but Rigo went above and beyond. He even called ahead of time to make sure he had the exact location and understood where he needed to be so everything would go smoothly. Despite the challenges, they showed up right on time, patiently waited for the perfect moment, and completely made the bride's day. It was such a special surprise, and they executed it flawlessly. On top of that, they played an extra song so the couple could have a first dance moment--which wasn't even planned--and it ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the night. We will absolutely be hiring Rigo and the group again in the future. Highly, highly recommend!

Wow. We are so grateful we hired this fabulous, talented and fun trio for my mom's 90th birthday…read morecelebration. Everyone LOVED them. We sang along to well loved songs and heard new ones. My husband was even able to play guitar with them for a song. They were on time. Communication was great. Great for any celebration calling for an entertaining and engaging band!!

Another of the many musical groups performing at this year's Solano Stroll, Shabang drew me in…read more I've always had a weak spot for steel drum music--it's pretty much guaranteed to make me smile and put me in a good mood. Their performance was no exception; combined with the warm sun of the afternoon, it let me drift mentally to some Caribbean beach full of bikinis, barbecue, and cool beverages. When I finally realized I was still in Berkeley, the affordability of their CD led me to buy it. Bonus: If you REALLY like steel drums, fans who mention Shabang get 5% off at kakesa.com. TRIVIA: Steel drums (or more correctly, steelpans, since they aren't technically drums) derive natively from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. In the late 1930's, all-steel bands started becoming popular at Carnival. An international festival, the World Steelband Music Festival, has been held each year in Trinidad since 1952.

I am very pleased with the quick response's by email that I have been getting from Harry. I first…read morereached out to Shabang in hope to get info on Steel Drum Lesson for my Husband. I then was informed by a contact of Harry's that Harry is the best and only one in East Bay that sells Steel Drums. I am looking forward to the next email with details on the shipment that I have informed my husband on Christmas Day that his gift is coming. Thank You! Beverly

Victoria is an incredible harp teacher that I would recommend for adults and children alike. I have…read morehad several music instructors over the years, and Victoria stands out as being so generous, so skilled, and just a delight to learn from. Due to work and other personal demands, I was not always as diligent in my practicing as I would've liked, and Victoria gave me so much grace, and always had thoughtful lessons and music to offer. She pairs her mastery of the instrument with openness to following her students' interests, which led to her crafting some Beatles arrangements for me, which was so fun. I also witnessed her being so compassionate with a younger student who had some stage fright during a group recital, and the student was able to finish proud and strong, supported by her wonderful teacher. Highly recommend!! Thank you, Victoria!

I started taking harp lessons from Victoria over the pandemic…read more Though I still identify as a pianist (I taught piano for several years) but I really fall in love with the harp thanks to Victoria's instructions. Victoria worked with me on my technique that I really appreciated and she looked for repertoire for me that was engaging. Victoria is a very patient, very skilled teacher whom as a fellow musician can highly recommend for people of all ages. Thanks to Victoria playing my harps is part of my life. I play every day.