I couldn't be more ecstatic with my experience with Daryl and his Salty Strings Studio. I've…read morealways wanted to learn electric guitar but have procrastinated forever. I finally decided to do something about it and luckily I found Salty Strings. He keeps our sessions fun by teaching me the basics and also how to play riffs from my favorite bands. I honestly love it and look forward to my lessons.

Daryl is so awesome at teaching guitar! His enthusiasm when you hit the right note or chord makes…read moreyou want to keep going. They say time flies when you're having fun and my time sitting there learning guitar is gone in the blink of an eye. Daryl takes the time to learn what you want to learn so he can tailor the lessons to you. Highly recommend!

I took lap steel lessons with Chris for about a year and it was a great experience! Chris helped so…read moremuch with steering me in the right direction as far as technique, players to check out etc. The majority of my lessons where focusing on playing along with records (always the best way to get better) and I loved all the tunes he recommend for me to study and I still use them today in my regular practices. I'm a professional bass player, but since I've started playing lap steel I've been offered some great performing/recording opportunities due to my new found interest in lap steel and I owe a lot to Chris in helping me out in the beginning stage of understanding the instrument.

Chris is THE MOST natural guitar teacher I've ever seen. He has helped instill a love for the…read moreguitar with my son who cannot keep an attention span for more than 5 seconds. He makes it easy for the boy. The proof? My son REGULARLY picks up his guitar to practice on his own. Thank you Chris...

Learning from Rachel is an absolute delight. Over the years she has not only made me a much better…read morepianist, but reignited my love of music. I returned to piano in my 40s after playing as a child, and one of the things I've loved most about learning from Rachel is the incredible range and flexibility she brings to teaching. Our lessons can follow wherever my curiosity happens to lead--jazz improvisation, classical technique, sight reading, nerding out on music theory, or taking on an ambitious piece that might take us months to learn. She is equally at home with all of it, and somehow always finds music and exercises that feel perfectly matched to what I'm interested in at the time. Rachel has created an environment where playing music is something I get to do, rather than something I'm supposed to do. I have a demanding job and young kids, so there are stretches when I practice a lot and stretches when my lesson is the only hour I spend at the piano all week. There is never guilt or judgment. We simply sit down, make music, and somehow always have a wonderful and productive lesson. Over the years, Rachel has made music a joyful and lasting part of my life.

I was actually Rachel's very first piano student as a kid and after a 30 year hiatus I found my way…read moreback to her as an adult student of both piano and guitar. Taking lessons with her again has been such a gift. Rachel is an absolutely incredible teacher. I have taken lessons with her both in person and remotely and they are equally excellent. She has an amazing ear and can instantly hear exactly where you are getting tripped up even over video. Her ability to pinpoint issues and explain them clearly makes learning feel approachable and motivating rather than intimidating. Beyond her technical skill, Rachel is just the best human. She truly cares about her students as people and always takes time to check in and connect. She encourages you to explore whatever styles of music you are passionate about. With her I played everything from classical to show tunes to jazz and I even took a brief detour into folk guitar. Her openness and enthusiasm make lessons fun personal and creatively fulfilling. She is also wonderful with kids and I genuinely cannot wait until my son is old enough to start lessons with her too. If you are thinking about taking lessons with Rachel do not hesitate. You will not regret it.

Josh was the best! He was so patient and sweet with our children. Both of which have ADHD and can…read morelose interest quickly. Josh kept them laughing, engaged and on task throughout their back to back sessions. I love the virtual training option via video conference, and honestly they would not have excelled so quickly and proficiently if we had to drive out to his music studio with our very busy schedules. Josh is very talented and was even featured on "American Idol" Give Laughing School of Music a try- you won't be disappointed- I guarantee it!

I have attended many social Fusion dancing events that Josh was hired to perform at in and around…read morethe San Francisco Bay Area as well as in Seattle, Portland, Philadelphia, Denver, and Vancouver. At these events, Josh performed his own original electronic music for huge crowds of dancers. He is a very talented musician, and has great stage presence. I love his original songs!! I have also listened to him play great covers on the piano as he leads a group thru some late night karaoke sing-alongs :) Recently I contracted him to help me record and produce a song of my own, and he really guided me every step of the way. Josh is also a music teacher offering piano, drum, guitar and ukelele lessons out of his home studio. I couldn't recommend him more as both a performer and a teacher!!

Got my guitar restrung here. The service was excellent and fast. They have a wide range of guitars,…read moreincluding less expensive ones. I appreciated that considering where we live.

Best acoustic guitar selection in San Francisco. Nice guys…read moretoo. Stop in and spend some time trying out a bunch of beautiful guitars. Then buy one and take it home. Be happy.

We were referred to Lark in the morning by another music shop. We had an old autoharp we needed…read moretuned and possibly repaired. Thorn the manager put us in touch with Steve. We brought the autoharp and a guitar in for repair. Steve examined both carefully. He explained what he discovered and what work he would do. He was friendly and very informative. We left the autoharp and guitar with him to repair. The price he quoted us seemed reasonable and fair.

I called to get some information about a drum skin for a homemade drum. I got great advice that…read moresolved the problem!

There are a lot of great music classes for kids, however none of them have the extra special touch…read morethat Music Makers offers--exposure to guest musicians, music theory and opportunities to play on "real" kids sized instruments. Have you ever seen a kid-sized cello? My toddler was completely amazed by the opportunity to play on this tiny instrument. He sat in the chair, grabbed the bow and began to "play" and sing Twinkle Little Star. There is a different instrument each week, for my son to "check out." Where else can you have a rich experience like this? Music Makers gives us a delightful exposure to music, movement and singing AND is an excellent primer for my child to learn more advanced study of music when the time comes. Cindy has been teaching for over 25 years, and has all kinds of tricks/gifts to keep the kids focused and engaged. I always learn something too! Check out her free preview class and see for yourself!

This store is a treasure. A small business with people who care deeply about guitars. I got to try…read moremany older guitars, and was helped by a very patient and kind person. Unfortunately the model I had come in to try was not in stock, so I did not end up purchasing a guitar, despite wanting to support their business. I hope others support this shop - we are lucky to have them in our region.

It's a great store with tons of vintage acoustic guitars. Also, the owners are super friendly. Was…read moregreeted by Nicolas and had a great conversation about the guitars they have in stock as well as the custom Schoenberg acoustic Definitely coming back!

Karma is an extraordinary teacher. She loves the physics and anatomy of singing ("vocal geek…read morestuff") but will also gladly go beyond and help you bring out the soulfulness and emotion of your voice. From the very first lesson I came away with deep & useful tips that I expect to use for as long as I'm singing. If you want to connect with your voice and use your singing to connect with other people (especially if, like me, you're not already in love with your own singing voice) you'll get something great from her coaching. Full disclosure: Karma is a friend, via our shared music community. But that just tells you that she's also a really warm and kind person as well as a great teacher.

Karma is an excellent vocal coach! She takes a lot of technical knowledge about the anatomy and…read morephysiology of the voice and vocal tract and applies it in an approachable way to help you achieve your singing goals. She taught me a lot about how to use my voice and breath support in new ways to improve my singing voice. I always leave her lessons excited about what I've learned and ready to go home and practice more. Highly recommended!

THE JIG IS UP. AIs ARE DOING VOICEOVERS NOW! V/O has always…read morebeen highly competitive, but now AIs are doing them. FREE! Which means your chances of booking anything are approximately zero. What would you do if you needed a voiceover, hire a person and pay them hundreds or thousands of bucks, or get an AI to do it for nothing? These classes are sort of fun, so if you have a lot of money and just want a pleasant diversion, cool, but if you're looking to make this your job, forget it. I did OK as a voiceover guy in the 90s and 2000s, but the jig is now officially up. Save your money!

VoicetraxSF has been nothing short of incredible!…read more Not long ago, my journey into the world of voiceover and voice acting began with extensive online researching... diving into industry websites and influencer socials. It didn't take long before I was being convinced that all it took to start booking gigs was to buy a mic, watch a few TV commercials and build a pillow fort. But something about that felt too good to be true. I wanted a local-ish voice acting resource--one that offered robust training and real mentorship. And that's what I've discovered at VoicetraxSF. The moment I first walked through the door, I was warmly welcomed and my anxiety started to fade. With no background in performing arts--not even an elementary school play under my belt--I was both overwhelmed and terrified to enter this new-to-me world. But the staff scooped me up and I felt reassured that I'd made a good decision. I've taken a handful of mixed, online and in-person classes and they've all been methodically and passionately presented. The courses are relevant to today's voice acting world and the script reading exercises in every class give students the understanding of how to insightfully breakdown a script and deliver an authentic performance. The instructors--working voice actors themselves­--deeply care about student growth and success. Their feedback is honest and constructive, always delivered with support and encouragement. The instructors aim to foster an inclusive environment that is professional and fun. Student engagement is always top of mind at VTSF. For example, each month, a three-hour, free "open mic" Zoom session encourages participants to practice scripts and learn the vital skill of giving clear and concise feedback, all in a truly collaborative and safe space. BTW, what business does that, right? Two of the most valuable lessons I'm learning are: "Dammit, it's acting," as well as the importance of uncovering subtext in scripts. While I'm still absorbing and honing these skills, I know that with the guidance and encouragement of Vicky, Chuck, and Roni--as well as the deep roster of highly talented guest instructors--I'll continue to push past my comfort zone and grow into a credible voice actor. For anyone serious about voice acting, I can't recommend this studio enough!