Andrew is an amazing drummer and a great teacher. He is patient, funny and able to see what you…read moreneed and then explain to you clearly what you need to work on to improve your drumming skills. He is also an expert drummer who can cover any style of music. He is a quick learner who does his homework when called for a session or tour. And he is an all around nice guy. What more do you need in a drummer and/or drum teacher? Two thumbs up!

I've had the pleasure of taking drum lessons with Andrew for almost 3 years while he was working at…read moreRed House Studios in Walnut Creek. If you want results Andrew is the man you want as a teacher. He has an impressive list of credentials (just check out the description at the bottom of the page) and has pretty much been playing drums all his life. He also fronts his own band, Felsen, which puts on one hell of a live show. I started taking lessons with Andrew with very little knowledge of how to play drums, I could do a basic rock beat but that was pretty much it. We tackled a lot different subjects: how to arrange a kit, proper playing posture, rudiments, fills, 3 and 4-way limb coordination, shuffles, rolls. That was just a general list but I learned so much I could go on and on. Andrew is well-versed in other styles besides rock; I got a chance to learn about various Latin and funk grooves as well. Andrew also has an endless list of artists and songs that best exemplify the techniques he's trying to teach you. As I thumb through my lesson notes I'm amazed at how much material we've covered in such a little amount of time. Andrew is very meticulous when it comes to technique and knows about the finer nuances that separate the good drummers from the great. When you play, Andrew is always able to perform a thorough analysis and then put together a set of exercises to help you overcome your shortcomings. Andrew has very high standards, but like any teacher, one must tread a balance between challenging a student enough to keep them motivated, but not pushing them so hard they give up in frustration. I always felt challenged, but I also felt that Andrew would set reasonable goals that were appropriate for my skill level. As a busy working professional there were times where I barely had time to practice, even then I would walk out of every lesson learning something new. Andrew is also a very accomplished producer. He helped me produce the first song I ever wrote, which was a huge milestone for me as a musician. I learned a lot about song writing and the common song structures used in today's music. I also learned about microphone configurations used for recording drums. I would highly recommend Andrew to anyone interested in taking their drumming to the next level and beyond!

What a fabulous instructor!! I have been taking weekly half-hour lessons with Eric for almost two…read moreyears. I am retired and learning to play the drums is something I've always wanted to do. I made a great decision in choosing Eric as my drum teacher. He customizes each lesson to meet my needs and he is very patient. He is a skilled drummer, an experienced teacher, and I have been thoroughly enjoying my lessons with him.

Brian is the man!…read more He's super patient, and works at your pace while still pushing you to improve. I'm a professional bass player (and music teacher as well) who wanted to pick up the drums more seriously, and Brian's been a huge help. He's got it all... great attitude, impeccable skill, patience, and is great at communicating simple and challenging material alike. Highly recommend!

I am a teacher and a bass player, and I've been lucky enough to work with Brian as a musician in…read moreseveral different band situations. Brian is really a great drummer. He is always professional, patient and focused. He is also quite versatile; we roll through everything from straight jazz, to fusion to blues, funk and rock and Brian never misses a beat. And he is as comfortable and expressive on a full kit as he is with a cojon and shakers. Brian has that professional, yet laid-back vibe that works perfectly in a student/teacher relationship.

Mike is an incredible instructor. I am an adult learner, and having never played an instrument…read morebefore in my life, I was intimidated to say the least. I've now been with Mike for 4 years. His guidance, patience, and passion demonstrate that it is never ever too late to learn. I've had the chance to meet fellow students - of all ages and walks of life - and Mike does an excellent job of meeting the student at their level and connecting 1x1. Whether you intend to learn for school, fun, or professionally Mike can certainly help guide you and progress at a pace that's comfortable for you.

I started taking bass because I wanted to learn an instrument...no real plan or goal. I've not…read morepicked up an instrument since middle school which was....a while ago. I emailed two bass instructors and I'm so glad Adam got back to me first! He is a terrific teacher and this has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in a long time. I appreciate his thoughtful, patient, and through nature. He has some serious knowledge of music theory and a wide variety of musical styles. He always has a plan for us to learn some skill but he's totally down to work on what you are interested in learning. Best of all, what I appreciate about him is that he clearly loves his craft and he brings that joy to every lesson and every lesson is pretty fun. If you want to learn an instrument and have a good time doing it...Adam is your teacher.

I found Adam via Yelp after looking through all the reviews for an upright bass teacher. There…read morewere a few closer to my location (within 10 miles) but I chose to go with Adam (25 miles away) based upon reviews. I have played woodwind instruments and piano since the early 80's so I have some musical background so I was not starting from ground zero musically. I am an older student (more than 40 years and less than 50) and have been taking lessons from Adam for the past 3-4 months -- no knowledge of string instruments. I talked with Adam for my first lesson to get a taste of his musical background and personality. He is easy going, very positive about learning music and really got a sense of where I was with music. To keep me from lugging my upright bass in a car from 26 miles away, storing it in the heat for most of the day (my lesson was at 5pm) Adam offered the use of his upright bass to take my lessons on. That was very much appreciated. As for Adam's musical background -- he is still active in the Bay Area and beyond. I was particularly interested in his Jazz background as I am trying to focus on playing more jazz but also wanting to know how to "bow" classicaly. Adam pretty much covered what I was looking for and much more. Unanswered questions for what you may be wondering: How is Adam as a teacher? I think he is a wonderful teacher. I have had a great experience learning from him. He breaks things down into simple pieces that I can learn from. We went through what to look for in an upright bass (before I purchased mine), how to hold the bass, how to pluck the strings, terminology, right hand and left hand techniques -- all at my own pace. Adam answers all my questions (in person, over text messages, via email). He also provides plenty of material for me to review and to practice. Cost? Comparable to many of the teachers I researched out there in the Bay Area Other information -- Adam does teach both upright bass and electric bass. I have walked in on other students (young and old) a few minutes early before my lesson and have observed Adam's style with the other students. Again -- very positive and very professional. You will get something out of taking lessons with Adam as long as you are willing to put in the time. Set your expectations for learning bass (electric or upright) -- give Adam a call -- and get ready to do some great learning (and plenty of practicing at home...)!

I have had my tubas repaired and cleaned by Sean and his crew a few times now and I really love his…read morework and completely trust his shop. He modified the my F tuba to reduce the valve throw using a pretty creative solution which worked great. The thing I was most impressed by though is I came in complaining about a sticking valve on a relatively new tuba. This was clearly a manufacturing defect, and I need the value to work well for an upcoming concert. He was there on a weekend when the shop was closed and spent an hour meticulously going over the value to identify the problem and got it working perfectly while I waited for the repair. I highly recommend his shop for brass instrument repairs.

Always excellent service on wind instruments…read moreWe have been here throughout students years in band.

I'm so happy that I found East Bay Guitar Repair. After having some subpar experiences with other…read moretechs in the bay, I can truly say that Mike is top tier. I have brought him 4 of my guitars now and the work has ranged from just a standard setup to installing new pickups with custom wiring and switches. He's knocked it out of the park every time. I am admittedly a pretty picky person when it comes to my guitars and Mike has been MORE THAN accommodating any time I had a follow up question or asked for a tweak or a second look. His setups have made my guitars play better than they ever have. His prices reflect the value that you get out of his services; and even though there most certainly will be a wait; it's well worth it. I hope to keep taking my guitars to Mike for as long as I am a bay area resident.

Mike did an excellent job improving a problematic old Fender Jazzmaster/partsmaster with some…read morefairly involving work. First, I had him install a Mastery bridge to replace a non-stock Vox-style bridge that was very noisy and plonky sounding. To do that, he first had to drill out and re-fill the existing, sloppily done dowel-and-drill work that was done decades ago--by another shop--to accommodate the funky Vox bridge, and then drill new bridge thimble holes for the Mastery. He also dealt with a problem with the old Fender-licensed Allparts neck: there was a sizable gap between the sides of the neck heel and the walls of the neck pocket routing, and he filled and re-drilled the neck's bolt holes so that the neck could be nudged forward to at least close the gap between the end of the neck heel and the body, which also helped to more accurately dial in the Jazzmaster's intended scale length. In addition, he replaced a noisy output jack and set the guitar up with 11-48-gauge strings, and it now plays *quite* nicely. No more rattling from the bridge, and the guitar has a more stable and playable feel to it. I'm happy with the quality of the work Mike did, and I would go to him again. I also like that you get to communicate with Mike in person, face to face. I've dealt with other repair shops where you don't get to talk with the person doing the work, which has sometimes resulted in a communication breakdown that had an impact on the work done. But with Mike, you schedule an appoint and you get to discuss with him--one on one--whatever work you'd like him to do, which is exactly how it should be.

Working on a studio project is a unique endeavor that every musician should seriously consider. Our…read moreband just finished an EP with ModernTone Studios, and had an incredible experience! Jacob truly went above and beyond, helping us create a record that we are really proud of. We were nervous to take on our first studio project, but ModernTone gave us the support we needed to evolve our songs past what we had hoped for. Jacob wasn't just an engineer for us, he shared an expert creative perspective that influenced some of our most exciting ideas. From our experience with major revisions in pre-production to granular adjustments in the final mix, ModernTone was clearly the right choice for our record. We had agency when we wanted it, and support where it mattered most. Not to mention the access to powerful equipment for a highly customizable and polished sound. Any Bay Area artist or band looking to see how their original songs can grow in a professional environment should definitely check out ModernTone!!

Five stars for Briget Boyle! I'll admit, I was skeptical…read morewhen I saw all the glowing reviews for this studio. But now I totally get it. I just had my very first vocal lesson ever with Briget, and in just one hour, I learned more than I thought possible. She helped me prepare for an upcoming live performance, gave me practical tools and a huge boost of confidence! Briget brings a warm, intuitive energy and truly listens, not just to your voice, but to you. I'm so excited for what's ahead and cannot recommend her highly enough!