Monrovia Music Academy has been an amazing place to finally start my ukulele journey. As a busy…read moreadult managing many responsibilities, I signed up to create intentional time for creativity and to learn something completely outside of my comfort zone--the ukulele. It has been one of the best decisions I've made for myself. A special thank you to my instructor, Adam, whose patience, encouragement, and teaching style have made the learning process both enjoyable and motivating. I truly appreciate his guidance, along with the academy's excellent communication and flexibility with scheduling to fit their students' needs. I originally began with in-person lessons, but when work projects and meetings became busier, I switched to pre-recorded lessons. That option has been incredibly helpful, allowing me to continue learning during my downtime, stay consistent with practice, and progress at my own pace. As an adult learner, I can honestly say that learning an instrument has brought so many unexpected benefits. It has improved my focus, discipline, and time management, while also helping reduce stress and giving me a creative outlet for self-expression. Most importantly, it has brought me genuine joy. I can only imagine how valuable this experience is for children who begin learning young. I highly recommend Monrovia Music Academy to any child starting their first instrument, or to any adult looking to challenge themselves, grow creatively, and experience the joy of music.

We are so grateful to have found such an amazing piano teacher Ms. Shay for our daughter. Her…read moreteaching style is patient, encouraging, and incredibly intuitive to the way our daughter learns. She takes the time to understand strengths, challenges, and interests, making each lesson engaging and enjoyable. We've seen tremendous growth not only in piano skills, but also in confidence and love for music. We highly recommend to any parent looking for a supportive and talented piano teacher!

My son started taking their young musician class for 8 weeks now. It is a class with 4 other kids…read more My son loves his class and teacher Evelyn. She is very good with the kids. We are hoping to enroll him again in the next session.

Great music area for all artist! Whether strings to woodwinds or piano, the area is open for all…read morestudents and musicians. It's also newly remodeled and very clean. Good teachers and very attentive along with very encouraging. Also help with competition and programs for musicians. Overall great!

Once again, the for the Joe Ferrante Music Academy and the show and the performers were phenomenalread more

My daughter has been going here since she was 5, so for about 3 years. I didn't notice until I'd…read moremoved, and had to enrolled her in another school that I've found out she haven't learned much. For three years we had over 5 different teachers that I can remember. Very inconsistent if you ask me. I sat in on her first class with her new school and I feel very cheated and disappointed. I felt like I've wasted so much money here for over years after comparing the two music academy. The owner is very sweet and nice, but I'm not sure about the instructors. The instructors waste a lot of time before the lesson, and before you even know it, times up. They start late, and finish early. Overall, I'm not happy with this school.

I do not recommend this business for its expertise or its business practices. I requested a viola…read morerental per instructions from my son's school. The instrument we were given was determined by the music program's director and assistant to be, instead, a violin. I obtained a third opinion at Encore Music, and was informed by the teacher there as well that the instrument we had been given is (i.e., was strung as) a violin. I brought it back today for a refund of pro-rated rental fee (from what I had paid upfront). Note that I asked the assistant at the store to identify the instrument for me before telling him the problem; he identified it as a violin. When I explained the reason for the return, he then said that it is a viola, and brought it to the proprietor, who insisted that it was a viola all along. I insisted on the return, but they did not refund me the tax I pre-paid, and also charged me for a full 3 months' payment instead of the 2.5 months it has been. Overall, this has been a frustrating waste of time and money. There are many other options for instrument rentals in the area and I recommend you use a different one.

They fixed my sons trombone it had been getting stuck for a long time but now it works greatread more

I can definitely vouch for this music store. I have been coming here as long as I remember. I have…read morebought my viola, violin, piano, and clarinet from this store. The quality is quite good and this store has several selections from mid range to high quality instruments. They also carry a variety of method books from piano, to woodwinds, strings, percussion, and brass. The manager pays very close attention to detail and I appreciate her willingness to go above and beyond. She also explains the value and quality of each instrument. Which I appreciate a lot. She is very thorough with her explanations. Lees music also provides Piano, Winds, Strings, and Brass lessons.

Grace is very nice, I went in looking for a beginners cello and it was at a reasonable price. They…read morealso have teachers, so I will signing up for that soon.

Great drum shop! Amazing! I held my breath as I entered and had to control an immense urge to…read moredepart with a complete drum set It looked, smelled, and sounded like a percussion environment. Staff were great, and genuinely friendly and customer service oriented.

This shop is amazing & very well run! I was very impressed talking to the gentleman who runs it…read more Very knowledgeable & this shop is organized, clean, & everything is out to see & try out. If they don't have what you're looking for, they can order it for you.

Such a great experience at Max Lee Music! From the moment I walked in, everyone was super welcoming…read moreand easy to talk to. The space has a really comfortable, positive vibe and you can tell they truly care about what they do and the people they work with. Max is incredibly knowledgeable and patient, and he explains things in a way that makes you feel comfortable no matter your experience level. Nothing felt intimidating or rushed, just supportive and encouraging the whole time. I really appreciated how genuine and down to earth everything felt. It's not just a music shop, it feels like a place that really supports creativity and community. Highly recommend if you're looking for lessons or anything music-related. Definitely a spot I'd come back to!

Such a cute studio! It is a great place for music and art! My friend and I came here for a sewing…read moreclass and had such a great time! We appreciate the personalized attention from our instructor, Leann, and her willingness to teach us the skills we are interested in! It's been over 5 years since I've touched a sewing machine, but it is definitely making me want to invest in one! It's a small family business and they also have really cute handmade gifts if you're looking for a stuffed toy or a personalized guitar strap with snoopy. Come by and check the store out! They also offer music lessons too!

This review is for the kindermusik class taught at this location…read more My kids aged 2 and 4 have been attending this class for a couple of months now and they throughly enjoyed it. This class has taught them a lot more than just music. They have learnt to listen, focus, share and cooperate with the other kids. A special mention to the teacher ms Ki for bringing out the best in my kids. I would highly recommend parents to send their young kids to this class.

The staff is super knowledgeable and patient even on the phone during high times. The process of…read morebuying a violin is easy

Wonderful family-run business I have had the pleasure of visiting a couple of times in the past…read morecouple of weeks. My first visit was for an adjustment ona new electric violin that I bought for my daughter. It came from Europe, so I had to find a local luthier. They did a fantastic job! I went today for an issue with my daughter's acoustic, which they quickly and thoroughly resolved. The entire family is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and generous with their skills. I couldn't recommend them more!

Wow, I'm surprised to see AMAC is on here. With a review, no less!…read more The owner, Edmund Wu, is actually a personal friend of mine and, well, I helped him get an eBay retail business going back in the mid '90s (as well as sundry other violin-related ventures he had brewing in his mind at the time). In return, he arranged to have instruments built for me in China. While they *do* maintain a quasi-storefront, this is basically a violin academy that holds periodic recitals as well. They also do A LOT of wholesale-to-the-trade activity. You couldn't tell by looking at the place from the street, but the back half of the building is a warehouse! Since you're probably not a wholesaler, let me tell you a bit about their normal-people services. There's a small violin shop. You can buy recordings, accessories, sheet music, and any violin-family instrument in any size. There is also a limited selection of antique instruments. They also have some very high-grade Chinese violins that give some of the better old Italians a run for their money. They have cheap stuff too. The whole gamut, basically. Most repairs are sent out. I don't know what else to say. The teachers, of whom Edmund is one, are very qualified. Ask for Edmund, because he's the only one who speaks English well enough to carry out any meaningful business. They're closed on Mondays. They also have a small boutique shop in a reconverted bungalow down in Old Town Fullerton, on the west side of Harbor Blvd., north of Chapman.

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.

Dhiren is a true master of his craft. He's extremely well versed in not only piano and music…read moretheory but he also knows how to make sure his students practice with correct technique and develop good habits so they can enjoy playing piano without risk of injury. He explains concepts so that they are easily understood by students of all age ranges, which isn't something you usually find in a teacher who can play at such an advanced level. I would recommend Innovation Music Studio to anyone interested in taking fun, effective and impactful piano lessons.