I think we just found our new favorite music store!…read more My 4th grade child was unsure what he wanted to play this year for band. After our visit to this shop, we were able to make our decision with the help of their friendly, patient, and super knowledgeable staff. My older son plays saxophone and he was able to pick up some odds & ends for his school year also. Thank you Park Avenue Music Center! We will be back! By the way - the shop was clean and organized, it was presented in a manner as to invite shoppers to browse, and their staff looked happy to be there to assist your needs.

Everything you might need or want at a very reasonable price. The equipment is well kept for…read morerentals.

I went to Starving Musician (Santa Clara) in search of an electric drum amplifier and an Epiphone…read moreSheraton. I was in luck this day as I found both a brand new e-drum amplifier and a used Sheraton at fair prices. Looking the guitar over I noticed the nut for the instrument jack was loose and asked that it be tightened prior to purchasing. On a semi-hollow & hollow body guitars this can be a tedious task, hence why I asked for assistance. The guitar tech, Dimitri, stopped what he was doing and went above and beyond my expectations to remedy the problem. It was not a quick fix and he kept me updated throughout the process. Starving Musician is my first stop when looking for music gear. They have been around as long as I can remember and offer the best trade-in value for your used gear. Always a great experience.

Honestly, pretty disappointing experience at Starving Musician. I rented a drum kit here, and the…read moreguy who initially helped me was super awesome! Super friendly, professional, and actually gave a damn about customer service. I can't remember his name, but he usually works around the drum repair section and has facial hair. Not sure if he's a manager, but dude definitely deserves to be one. Now, returning the kit? Whole different story. I walked in and asked this older white dude with long curly hair, who was just standing behind the counter (he might be the manager) chatting with another employee, if they had a cart I could borrow to unload the drums. His response? He didn't see one. Seriously, bro? You work here and don't know if you have a cart? Smh Like, y'all rent out entire drum kits. You KNOW customers have a ton of heavy equipment to haul in and out. The guy who originally rented it to me understood that and was kind enough to help. Meanwhile, these dudes couldn't even be bothered to hold the damn door. Some random guy outside had to help me instead. Imagine getting better customer service from someone who doesn't even work there lol And here's the kicker: eventually, someone behind the counter brought out a cart. So apparently, they DID have one after all. Go figure. Look, I'm not asking for VIP treatment. Just some basic common sense and decent customer service. It's really not that complicated. My advice? If you're renting anything here, find the guy with facial hair in the drum section. That dude deserves recognition. Now that I think about it I should have given him a tip I feel bad abiut it. As for the older white curly-haired guy behind the counter? I'd avoid dealing with him. Dude acted like helping a paying customer was some kind of personal inconvenience. Great first impression, absolutely trash return experience

With the pandemic, we were not yet ready for our son to return to preschool, but we were looking…read morefor a good in-person music program. Our son loved his preschool music program, but we had alot of trouble finding a program that promoted play-oriented learning with small class sizes that was safe. We signed up to the Preschool Summer Music Camp and he loved it. The space where they had classes was wide open and there were special ventilation units that sanitized the air. The instruments that the children used were sanitized and Teacher Victoria wore her mask at all times. I felt extremely safe. Teacher Victoria was an amazing teacher who could really get even the rowdiest of students engaged. Our son learned alot of songs, many of which he sings now to his younger sister. Rather than having my son start his musical journey taking lessons in an instrument, I wanted my son to start by developing a love for music. I really do believe that the Preschool Summer Music Camp helped instill that in him.

I cannot recommend this business enough. This is a terrific place for young ones and young adults…read moretoo. Every person, no matter how severe the disability can be taught love of music and piano by Selena. There is love here!

Our experience with the Music Place has been great so far. We brought our daughter in for the free…read moremusic assessment, and I was so impressed with how Ms. Janice was able to instantly connect and engage my daughter. She encouraged my daughter's excitement for beginning her musical instrument journey, and I was impressed with the insights and feedback she provided for me. My daughter just completed an instrument survey where she was able to try out over 8 different instruments, with different instructors over a few weeks; and the entire experience was so wonderful. Every instructor was so welcoming and encouraging to my daughter, where she was in most cases picking up this instrument for the first time. I was astonished as I watched her eyes light up playing an instrument I had not ever thought she would want to try. We look forward to continuing her lessons here. Thank you The Music Place!

Our experience at The Music Place has been absolutely amazing. One of the things I have loved is…read morethat they offer a free assessment to help place your child in the right class/lesson. My daughter has been taking piano lessons with Ms. Valery for a year and she has grown so much in her skill and confidence. My son is enrolled in the EMA class and he LOVES it. He has learned so much about music and different instruments. Their love of music has inspired my own journey with music and now we are learning things together. I also had the opportunity to help with summer camps and I can't say enough positive things about them. They offer a variety of camps for a variety of children and the teachers are enthusiastic, passionate, and skilled at teaching music. The Music Place has been a blessing to our family!

I fell in love with Steinway pianos after attending classical concerts. I didn't have room for a…read moregrand piano in my living room. I shopped around on eBay and Facebook marketplace and couldn't find what I was looking for. I gave up and started looking for a used Yamaha piano. I just happened to be driving down Winchester and I saw the Yamaha dealer sign. Ann was busy with another customer but was able to squeeze in some time to help me out. I went in not expecting to find anything. After looking at a couple of Yamahas I asked Ann if she had exactly what I was looking for the last 6 months. It arrived safely. The movers were careful and punctual. The piano was in much nicer condition than I could have imagined. It looks like new inside. It plays and sounds like a dream. The classic Steinway sound I fell in love with at the concerts. Much better than they sound on YouTube. Ann's prices are very fair and her warranty can't be matched. I highly recommend her and Music Exchange if you haven't stopped by already.

We bought our digital piano from Music Exchange. My wife visited on a weekday morning (easy to get…read morean appointment), and Armand was very helpful and patient (brought a rambunctious toddler). Very knowledgeable and played pieces on multiple pianos for comparisons. He didn't push any specific model; he was most interested in finding what suited our needs. Later when we ordered the piano from them, it was delivered 2 days later without any issue (the delivery team were professional piano movers, and assembled the piano in their truck before carefully bringing it into our home).

Small but nice shop for the string instruments! Staff was…read morehelpful and nice. It is small but everything is around and you can find all you need Good spot to repair or consult on your internment. Parking is extremely small.

Expert repair, sales, selection. I have found my archetier!…read more And next to delicious food in Japantown.

I've returned to playing drums in my 30s, having spent 15 years away from what I love…read more I came to know Rhythm Academy's owner, Paul, from when I took lessons at San Jose Pro Drum shop and have always seen his investment in and enthusiasm for the local drumming community. Becoming aware of the local "who's who", it's clear that Paul has assembled a solid group of professionals with real world, working experience and a dedication to teaching drums. When I first started lessons with my instructor, Kirk, I told him that my biggest frustration was with my hands. Having been away from playing for so long, I wanted to feel as comfortable as possible playing stickings at different tempos. Kirk loaded me up with great activities and made sure to steady my progress so that I didn't try to get ahead of myself. He also made sure to illustrate how the sticking patterns I practiced applied to playing the drums themselves. As I've progressed, he reminds me that what I'm working on always comes back to fundamentals and, more so, playing drums on the drums. Kirk has a lot of resources and approaches to complement learning what I'm working on, but always comes back to putting in the work to build endurance and muscle memory. Even with weeks where I've had less time to practice than desired, Kirk always finds something new and relevant to renew my focus. I especially like that his classes aren't rigidly linear. Kirk starts off each class by asking me what I've been working on that week, and makes sure to expand what I'm working on. He also gives ample time in class to practice together, carefully observing how I'm playing and giving feedback to make suggested adjustments. Sometimes I get stuck or have questions at home, and don't have the benefit of instant feedback, so this is especially valuable to me. Lastly (I think!), Kirk has a true love for all different genres of music and their histories, and can quickly tie a rudiment, time signature, or feel to give a percussive explanation to the essence of a style. While I can always imagine, "What if I'd stuck with it when I was younger?", I've seen so much progress with Kirk that I feel confident I can overcome any frustrations I have learning and following my passion.

My son (now 5, started at 4) takes drum lessons with Chris. It's been so fun to see him develop a…read morelove for the instrument and a joy in learning. Love it here.

Our child has been taking music lessons at the Music Place for the past 2 years, and it has been…read moresuch a wonderful experience! We searched everywhere for a good music therapist for him back in 2024, and we were so fortunate to have found The Music Place as well as a great therapist! Since then, our child has had the opportunity to work with several teachers & therapists - including Janice, Ben, Michael, Asher, Jason & Charles- through an initial assessment, various adaptive lessons, and music camps - every single experience has been extremely positive and fun! His current therapist, Patrick, has been amazing & our child eagerly looks forward to his sessions every week. Over the past couple of years, the Music Place has helped our child's abilities truly blossom, and he has made incredible progress with singing, playing the piano, performing and even composing his own songs. They take a strengths-based and child focused approach, and every staff member has always been so patient and kind with him. The Music Place's motto is "Where learning is FUN and every child is special!", and based on our experience, they completely live up to it! We are so fortunate to be part of the Music Place family!

It was where I had a piano and voice recital once, for my own pupils. The hall is nice. Acoustics…read moreis great.

My daughter had a great experience with her lessons with Joe Valdes at the Guitarist. Joe both met…read moreher where she was at and challenged her to learn new skills. The lessons were easy-going and enjoying, but also very productive, with my daughter learning new songs every week and greatly improving her general technique, her ear for picking up songs, and her finger picking. Best of all, she just really enjoyed the experience, and always looked forward to her lessons, which is a gift for a busy teenager. Management was flexible and easy to communicate with.

My kid has been learning music privately with Tim S. for almost 6 years. I just started in Nov…read more2025. We have fun learning a mix of theory and guitar. My kid started with ukulele and he seamlessly transitioned her to guitar about 2 years ago. He is the best at meeting students where they are while nurturing their talent and interest in music. We're fans of his teaching style. It's also nice to have a variety of options. There is always someone in the office ready to help. I'm not sure about value but I think it's standard pricing about $56.50 for 30-min lessons. Their recitals are chill and they sell instruments, books and anything else you need to learn!

My 12-year-old daughter has taken singing lessons from Maestro Smirnov for nearly three years and…read morehas become a little diva. When she began lessons her upper range was extremely weak and I just wanted her to be able to audition better for school plays. Now, after what she's achieved, that seems like a trivial goal. She now confidently performs in talent shows and youth musical theater. Maestro Smirnov teaches classically and my daughter does her share of Ave Maria's but also sings musical theater and pop (think Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You"). Her lessons gave her the courage to audition for America's Got Talent and she even got a call from producer but alas she didn't get in. Maybe next year. My 15-year-old son has taken piano lessons from Maestro, for about a year and benefits from how Maestro weaves theory, technique and playing into one. This is still a relatively new effort and so it's too early to see full results but my son definitely plays with more feeling than he did a year ago. Maestro is a very knowledgeable musician and teacher. At first I thought his high-knowledge and style might be better for university students (and he teaches all levels of skill) but he's actually very engaging and warm with his younger students. Highly recommended.