Jonathan is an EXTRAORDINARY voice lesson teacher. He is incredibly well-trained and a very…read morepersonable instructor. In addition, his lessons are very helpful for students of all levels. I am a beginner in singing and truly enjoy his instruction. I highly recommend Jonathan for voice lessons!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!…read more If you want to learn how to sing well, Jonathan is the way to go. Not only does he have impeccable credentials (SF opera, gigs around the world), but he is also a very good teacher. I've been taking lessons from him for almost three years now. I started as a student in Davis, and continued even after graduation. He's very nice, funny, and personable - not hoity toity like you would expect an opera teacher to be. I really appreciate his patience and encouragement. I also appreciate the biannual recitals he organizes for his students. After three years of weekly lessons, I had the chance to perform four times at UC Davis and four times at the Berkeley City Club. I can't recommend him highly enough. He is like the Burj-al-Arab Dubai hotel of voice instructors - 7/5 stars!

Dylan is a very talented teacher…read more As an adult beginner, it's hard to find the balance between having fun and playing some songs, while also learning the less fun but necessary stuff like theory, chord construction, triads, major, minor, dominant chords, etc. Dylan was really able to right away hone in on what level I'm at. We worked together to figure out how to motivate an adult beginner, which is very different from motivating kids. As adults, we tend to be more self-critical. You can hear that it doesn't sound as good as what you know sounds good even after months of practicing, and that is discouraging. His strengths are that he's very patient, good at meeting you where you're at, and finding ways to help you progress without overwhelming you. He's also teaching you enough theory that you're not just parroting a song. His goal is for you to become a true musician, someone who can play with other people, improvise, and not just karaoke through a guitar song. He and I also had similar musical tastes so his song options aligned with songs I loved such as Beatles, Chili Peppers, & Ozzy Osbourne. I highly recommend giving him a shot and seeing if he's a good fit for you.

Dylan is an awesome instructor! My daughter Belle took electric guitar lessons somewhere else…read morebefore Dylan. She has improved and really enjoyed the lessons here! Highly recommended.

I've been taking drumming lessons with John for about half a year, and I'm both enjoying my lessons…read moreand getting better! This is my third time starting to learn the drums--it seems like I come back to it once a decade. This time, it feels like it's sticking, and with John's help, I'm really building confidence. I appreciate John's mix of classical training and playfulness. Some lessons, we focus on technique more; others on more on letting loose and making noise. I always learn something. We meet in person weekly at his home, and he has two drum kits and a whole musical studio in order to accompany me. Also, importantly, I like John as a human being, and he's really easy to stumble with--very encouraging and positive. Musically, he is a studio musician and a member of several bands, and his skill blows my mind. I can tell when he is assessing me that he is picking up on the exact right things to refine my playing. I'm really grateful I found him!

Having never played drums prior, John has given me a great foundation…read more Within a couple of weeks I've learned good technic practices, from how to sit and hit the drums properly, to learning how to count and read notes. Each class is varied to what you want work on. John is super talented and well versed in explaining things in a way that makes sense for newbies like me. I liked that we would jam out together, which was not only fun, but helpful for me. He is also tech savvy, which makes it great for when you are practicing alone. By recording parts of sessions when needed, and using and blog to help keep you focused and on track. You rule John :) Many thanks!

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...)!

Conor at Acorn Music is a wonderful teacher! It's no exaggeration to say that he reignited my…read morepassion for music. I took music lessons on and off as a kid, but never stuck with it long enough to get good at any one instrument. I had no patience for music theory and practice always made me frustrated. I'm glad that I gave it another shot with Conor. What I like most about his approach is how fun and effortless it feels to learn under his guidance--his enthusiasm for playing and teaching are infectious. I'm excited for my lesson each week. I found Conor through a friend who knew I was looking to get back into guitar, and I've been taking weekly lessons with him for a year now. My original goal was to learn a few campfire songs, so he tailored his approach to this, but rather than simply showing me some chords, he makes sure that I understand the "why" behind what I'm doing. I actually started to get more interested in music theory as a result--Conor explains it all in context, making it easy to understand and apply. And he has a knack for identifying what's giving me trouble in a particular song or section, not just telling me what to do but showing me how to do it (it also helps that he's super patient). I've got a few songs under my belt now, but I'm definitely sticking with my lessons for the foreseeable future, and getting psyched about setting more ambitious goals for myself.

I've been taking guitar lessons with Conor at Acorn Music for 2 years. I can proudly say that I'd…read morenow actually consider myself a guitarist! I started out trying to teach myself, but like many people that go that road, I keep hitting roadblocks. When I began lessons, I could barely even play a few simple chords. Now I can write my own songs, jam with friends, improvise over many different chord progressions, read lead sheets and chord charts, and read music... it's pretty incredible what I've been able to accomplish in 2 years with Conor. He is a super talented musician and a great teacher - his approach clear, enjoyable and very effective. He's got a real knack for how to isolate my individual needs as a student and zero in on exactly what i need to practice to meet my goals. Most importantly, he provides me with skills that I can use to begin to "teach myself". Thanks to his guidance, I now get more out of a 30 minute practice than I used to get out of 2 hours. Not only have the lessons been super awesome, but the entire experience has been very "together". They provide in-home lessons and have really put a lot of work into the over all experience . All aspects of Acorn Music are well very professional - from the email communications to the website, scheduling, policies, billing, and invoicing. I can't recommend this business enough!

I attended Jon's music class with my 4-year-old for about six months or so, and it was such a…read morewonderful experience for both of us. Jon is kind, fun and weird in the most delightful way. He exudes enthusiasm and positivity. He also has a clear gift for making music fun and accessible for young kids. He uses little toy doggies, dinos, and action figures to teach musical concepts like how "D the dog lives inside the two black notes". I also remember him getting into this weird story arc about how a monster was trying to eat him and the kids needed to play the right note to save him. Jon brought in a variety of real instruments for the kids to explore during class -- electric guitar, a mini cello, some woodwinds, and more. This is in addition to the many instruments that are in class every week. The drum set was definitely my kid's fave. Jon was thoughtful about including every child in the activities and he had a gentle way of encouraging the shyer kids to participate without pressuring them. He'd end each class with a dance party and a call and response: "I am so proud of you!" and the kids would respond "That's me!" After class, Jon would play with the kids out on the playground, and they would laugh and laugh and chase Jon around and then get chased around by him. My son absolutely adored him to the point where he would incessantly wrap himself around one of Jon's legs when they were playing.. It's not often you get to see someone doing a thing that seems so perfectly tailored to their deepest selves, but that is definitely the vibe you get watching Jon at Jon's School of Music. It is a great time playing music with a great guy. Highly recommend :)

I have noticed that class since I started taking my LO to Totland. My LO was showing signs of…read morecuriosity every time he was doing his class. However, I must say that those parents who want to take their children to his class, you need to make sure your LO follow John's instructions. I have noticed that John has good chemistry with bigger kids, since I saw him many times playing with them after class. If your kid is extrovert, energetic, social and good at following instructions, his could be a nice place for your child.I have been in the child care field for two decades taking babies and toddlers to private class in music, sports and even art classes and I have never experienced a teacher who had less empathy specially for those who does not have similar personality like him. I am pretty sure that he doesn't know how to work with smaller children: how can you make a baby or toddler follow instructions if this is a phase when they want to be free to explore and LEARN? This was my experience, one day my LO and I were in Totland as usual and John came to us and invited us to go to his class for a trial. I did t ask and he offered his trial class. The first thing he asked was that my LO pick musical instrument. She picked one and started to play it for a few secs and then he asked her to change the musical instrument (thing that my LO didn't want to do because she was 2.5 and was very curious about the instrument in that moment and didn't want to change). It has not passed even 30 secs and my LO got very upset and he "invited" us to leave the class!! Can you imagine that? You got invited and after even 30 secs you had to leave?? I was very disappointed and frustrated. I left the room hearing him saying: " I am sorry, you have to leave" . I was so confused, how a teacher I'm up you and your little to enjoy his music class and then ask you to leave in 30 secs. It didn't make sense to me.I am not saying that he is not a good teacher but he does not know how to approach to LO or toddlers. I must say that John is better with bigger kids (probably kindergarten and up) in my 20 years experience in child care, I have never saw a lack of empathy in a teacher and that situation happened to my own little one broke my heart! Just be aware ! If you think your child can follow instructions and be straight the whole class go for it. But if not, please don't do it , because John doesn'tt know how to manage the situation and your kid might have a bad impression with music classes. He must be a good musician but that day show me a ZERO knowledge of child development. If he reads this, please take some ChDevelop classes... urgently! Not all adults have the same chemistry with all children's ages! And every child is different and different way to learn, each one has their own pace.

The best most professional teacher i can imagine. I really can't describe the quality of his work,…read morehe's terrific and will make you the guitarist you want to be. 5 stars 100%

Jack is an EXCELLENT teacher!! He knows guitar and music theory, no doubt at a grand-master…read morelevel... but not only is he a master performer; he can really effectively teach and explain!!! When I initially signed up, I paid for 30 minute lessons per week. After taking the first two lessons and realizing how much I have improved, I asked to change to 1 hour per week. Jack is able to determine what you need to work on in order to achieve your goals. If you're trying to learn how to play guitar, I would STRONGLY recommend you meet with Jack Eskridge!!

Surya is amazing in so many different ways. Not only is a great musician but his patience as a…read moreteacher is beyond my comprehension. Our 7 year old son started by learning drums 1.5 years ago and fell in love. After about 8 months, Surya suggested adding piano and it has been a grand success. He has made learning rhythm, reading music and playing both instruments so much fun. Now my very shy 5 year old who has started singing lessons with Surya and it has been so delightful to see her blossom both in her ability to understand pitch and notes but more importantly in her willingness to take risk and her confidence in herself. Surya has just made her so comfortable, even in virtual classes during SIP, that she looks forward to her lesson and giggles and jumps up and down with excitement as her lesson starts. She's excited to sing to him and with him and we never imagined they would have such lovely a relationship. We feel so lucky to have found Surya and are so grateful to how much he cares about our kids. He has instilled in them a love for music that is priceless.

Surya is a great teacher! I'm in my mid-thirties, and learning drumming for the first time. Surya…read moreis very patient with me. He is able to meet me exactly where I'm at, and then help me take one step further. He always finds just the right rhythm and pace for me to feel challenged but not frustrated. After every session, I feel empowered and excited about learning more. I go home with a few simple things to practice that feel manageable. Surya also includes some deeper aspects of drumming. I'm a yoga teacher and somatic therapist. I appreciate the way Surya invites me to feel the rhythm in my body: feeling the bass in my legs and trunk, the mid-tones in my torso, the higher tones in my upper chest and head, for example. I'm learning to sing and drum at the same time, and he always has great activities to break it down and make it feel possible. Overall, I highly recommend Surya for drum lessons of all types!