Josie in an amazing teacher - she is fun and very knowledegable.read more

My kids were in kinder and preschool when we started with Josie last year. She was so prepared for…read morethe different personalities my kids, one can't sit still and one is eager to please. She provides fun movement activities to teach theory from the start. She is so creative in the way she teaches. Now my kids are learning to read music. They are enthusiastic to practice and attend lessons. Josie is a gem!

You would be very hard pressed to find a comparable teacher to Dhiren, and he offers so much more…read morethan a typical piano program. Firstly, HIM! He's as professional as they come, puts out and actively works on his craft, and has so much more knowledge and resources to help his students. Secondly, the instrument! Go find me a piano program that has a comparable instrument for you to play on. It's not a free on from Craigslist, like so many schools have. The instrument matters. And his is top tier. Thirdly, the inspiration of having a teacher that plays, and is kind and clear with his students. Go listen to his album! Now go google the other teacher from some other school you're thinking about. Piano should be taught by pianists.

My 9-year-old son has been on and off with piano since he was six. He never disliked it, but he…read morenever felt excited about it--until we found Dhiren. Now, even though practice can still be a challenge, he looks forward to his lessons every single week. That alone is already a big win for any parent. What makes Dhiren stand out is that his teaching truly matches the name of his studio--Innovation Music Studio. Most children's piano lessons follow a traditional classical model: read notes, play what's on the page, master one piece at a time, stick strictly to curriculum. There's almost no ear training, no exposure to modern or global music styles, and little room for a child's natural creativity. Dhiren completely reimagines what music education can be. Yes, he builds all the classical foundations--reading music, learning scales, proper posture, technique. But he takes it far beyond that. He introduces kids to music they instantly connect with: The Beatles, African rhythms, jazz standards, melodies from around the world. And he invites them to experiment, improvise, and create, right from the start. One of the biggest differences is his focus on ear training. There's a running joke about classically trained pianists: ask them to play "Happy Birthday" and they'll say, "Sorry, I don't have the sheet music." With Dhiren's students, that never happens. My son learned most of his Christmas songs simply by listening and figuring them out on the keyboard--something he'd never been taught to do before. This taps into the way music is actually experienced and created in the real world today. There is a huge gap between the way traditional piano is taught and what many parents actually hope music will give their children. Most of us don't need our kids to become the next Yo-Yo Ma. We want them to strengthen their brains, develop a love for music, and--most importantly--gain an artistic language to express themselves. Dhiren's approach gives them that from day one. He nurtures the pure, unfiltered creativity kids naturally have, instead of waiting years for it to show up. As someone who grew up with strict classical training myself, I can see the difference clearly. I started piano at six, quit at twelve from lack of interest, and only discovered the joy of jazz at forty-two. Jazz felt like a whole new world--freeing and expressive in a way classical training never allowed. Watching my son experience that sense of freedom now, at nine years old, is incredibly meaningful. Dhiren is uniquely qualified to shape this kind of music education. He's classically trained, a skilled jazz pianist, and holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology, which means he deeply understands global musical traditions and cultures. This gives him a rare ability to connect kids with music from many worlds--not just what's printed in a method book. You can also feel his dedication. I often sit in the next room during lessons and end up not reading my book at all because I'm too absorbed in watching him teach. I learn so much just by listening in. If you want your child to receive first-class music education--the kind that nurtures creativity, builds strong musical foundations, and plants a seed that will grow for a lifetime--you HAVE to start with Dhiren. I recommend him wholeheartedly.

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.

My 4 yo son has been attending private class with miss YiChen. Very nice and professional, have a…read morelot of patience teaching him. And he has been improving a lot after the first class. Very recommended place for kid of all ages

Love this place for multiple reasons!…read more First the staff are very organized and always willing to help with whatever you need help with. Second, teachers are nice and work well with kids of all ages. Teachers are communicative, professional and extremely knowledgeable. Third, easy and multiple payment methods and easy access to piano books. We highly recommend this place!

Great staff and teachers. They are very accommodating and flexible. Both my kids loved their…read moreteachers. My son had his first recital recently and it was awesome to see his performance!

We are new to the area and found this gem for taking music lessons. Two of my children have been…read moretaking lessons here since the beginning of the year and were able to participate in the Year End Recital in June. One of them takes piano lessons with Esther and the other takes guitar lessons with Drew. They are both amazing teachers. Esther is so kind, patient and encouraging with my son who can take some time to warm up to a new teacher. My other son really enjoys taking lessons with Drew. He's so talented and he has sparked a joy and love for learning guitar in my son that is so enjoyable to see. The studio staff is always very helpful with any questions I have, and if you are with a Charter School, they are an approved vendor for many schools in the area. Lessons are affordably priced, and if you need to cancel and reschedule, you can get a credit as long as you do so with advance notice. Even if you need to cancel last minute, (which unfortunately happened to us one time when our car broke down on the way to the lesson), they will send a video lesson so that your child can view it on their own. I would highly recommend Monrovia Music Academy! They have lessons for many instruments and offer voice lessons as well and for all ages. If you're still on the fence, you can always request a trial class to check it out for yourself before signing up!

Kelly is excellent! She is engaging and patient with my 4yo every step of the way. I'm completely…read moreconvinced that Suzuki violin is the way to go with young children. She knows how to encourage him, how to correct him and how to wait and wait and wait until he is ready for the next step. Her patience is truly admirable and is so key to teaching young children to play an instrument as complicated and precise as the violin. She also fosters his creativity through improv, such a key component to the artistic endeavor of learning an instrument. Today my son chose a prize from the "practice prize box" for filling in 50 stars for each time he practiced. He told me that once he had filled out enough star sheets he would probably be good enough to play in an orchestra. Thank you Kelly for keeping him engaged and excited about learning the violin!

Kelly makes the lessons fun and my daughter really learned a lot from her. We in Portland really…read moremiss her.

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 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.