J'adore la Bibliothèque Française. Je pourrais y passer des heures. J'aime parler français !! Et…read morepourquoi pas avec un nom comme Jeannine ?? C'est le seul endroit à Boston où je peux parler français, lire et écrire, sortir des CD de musique française et avoir une panoplie de livres. Le bâtiment est magnifique, avec tous ses murs blancs et ses beaux lustres. Niché dans le calme de Back Bay, c'est l'endroit idéal. J'avais l'habitude de venir avec mon whippet, Coco Chanel et de passer le temps à lire ou à regarder la télé. Leurs événements sont spectaculaires; tellement amusant, surtout les soirées des vin et des fromages. Et Le Jour de La Bastille.:) J'ai travaillé pour Air France et TWA en volant dans le monde entier en tant que Airline Supervisor; mes souvenirs. J'ai passé du temps dans le sud de la France notamment à Monte Carlo. Superbe !! La bibliothèque française offre un avant-goût de la France dans notre petite ville de Boston. J'ai les plus beaux souvenirs que je garderai a mon coeur pour toujours!!

I won't even pretend to not be biased…read more French is one of those languages that mesmerizes even the most stoic ears. I volunteered for one of their holiday events a couple weeks ago and almost moved all my earthly possessions into a broom closet. I like the building that much. The unrealized 'yupster' in me likes the entire neighborhood, actually. The Black girl in me can't get with anything gentrified. I still cringe when I order at Starbucks. Hell, is it even gentrification? Boston's so old, we could probably just call it natural change. Anyway, they offer language classes and a discount for members that teach French. They also take on volunteers and interns for all who are interested. It's a nice environment and they have an amazing library. C'est tout.

I began learning the piano with Inga in 6th grade after trying several other teachers. Her passion…read morefor music, focus on technique, and wide breadth of knowledge enabled me to learn really rapidly and play advanced pieces in only a few years; I can confidently say she is the best music teacher I have had. Another strength of Keys for Kids is that it is a one-stop shop. You can begin learning here during the summer programs when young, then join the group lessons, and finally progress to private lessons and reach a high level -- all under one program. I had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend private lessons at Keys for Kids, especially if you want to learn piano to a high level!

My girls have been going to Ms Inga for 2-3 years. She is a patient and effective teacher…read more She teaches music theory in a way that makes it understandable and fun for the kids and combines it well with playing the instrument. It's great to watch the older kids play very skillfully during the 'all class graduation' performances. Highly recommend Keys for Kids for those looking to learn and understand music.

-Wonderful school that teaches India's culture, languages…read more -Run entirely by dedicated volunteer staff and their devotion is amazing. -Classes are held every Sunday and are run on par with the regular school calendar. -Free yoga class for parents or bring your laptop or a good book to read while your children are in the classroom. -A great way for parents and children to connect to their India heritage. -Other locations in Nashua and Norwood.

My 4 year old daughter attends the Spanish language enrichment class here and I can't say enough…read moregreat things about it! Her teacher, Emily (who is also the program director) is incredibly sweet, patient and knowledgable. The class is conducted in full Spanish immersion and I can tell that Luna is already learning and understanding so much (even more than her older siblings who are taking Spanish in school). Parents are invited into the classroom after each "unit" for the kids to present what they've learned. My daughter loves going to Spanish class!

I took Spanish lessons under Jose at The Greater Boston Spanish Group for a few years. Prior to…read morethese lessons, I'd spent years in high school and college with teachers who focused primarily on Spanish grammar, but Jose pushed me to just speak the language. From him I learned to listen for context and to use words I know to describe words I don't. He catered our Spanish language conversations to my work and my interests to make it easier for me to speak at length. While I'm by no means fluent, with Jose's guidance, I now trust in my ability to communicate in the language. I strongly recommend booking a lesson with The Greater Boston Spanish Group.

Ok, after all these years I finally MUST review my beloved alma mater. I can't believe I've waited…read moreso long! This experience totally changed my life for the better. Permanently. I can't truly describe what this high education meant to me at the time and even now. We're talking about the nineties, in which I graduated with a masters of music degree from this prestigious internationally recognized institution along with some of the best international talent in the classical music world! I mean to name just one, the renowned mezzo Denyce Graves was a colleague! Attending NEC is easily one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I ended up here, as opposed to Juilliard, Eastman, or another top conservatory because I did my homework! I am a true coloratura soprano and I heard some of the best professional coloraturas in the business and inquired who their instructors had been. The same names kept popping up. Among them was the illustrious Helen Hodam, so I wrote her a letter of introduction and headed from Miami to Boston for the dreaded audition. Best possible news-She accepted me as a student and was able to help get me some scholarship funding. I still can't believe how lucky I am to achieve my dream. The things I learned and the experience I was exposed to can't be measured. I've sung professionally ever since and the technique lasts forever. Also, the closest friendships with even my talented BFF last to this day. Miss Hodam has sadly passed on, but the tradition continues on. I couldn't be prouder to hail from the great oldest free standing conservatory in the US. Thank you, NEC. May you stand throughout the next millennium!

Back in the day, we were in Boston almost every weekend seeing my sister in law who was a student…read morehere. I've sat through a few student performances and saw others on the Green T line. It was and still is one of the favorite places for students to practice and pick up some extra cash. LOL I undestand, Government Center was one of the most profitable. Since then, depending on what city we lived in, we have always found some alum. Many were church organists, but some were voice majors who were paid section leaders and fill-ins on Sundays with the choral. It makes you appreciate how successful graduates of NE Conservatory become in life. Nice!

We sent our younger kiddo to Bigelow after moving to the neighborhood and have had a wonderful…read moreexperience. She's in the preschool classroom, and her teachers are incredibly creative and engaged. Bigelow is Reggio Emilia inspired, and focuses on child-led learning, so when the teachers noticed our kid and several others were interested in writing letters, they incorporated opportunities into everyday activities. Boom, our 4 year old is writing! The facilities are also lovely, and include a large shared space for gross motor play even when the weather is yucky. Most of all, we have really appreciated the community of other families, many of whom have become friends.

My 7yo son went to Bigelow from when he was 3yo to 5yo and now my daughter is in her 2nd year…read morethere. It is a cooperative so parents head the various committees and get to set the various policies but there is a director and teachers so nit parent run. The teachers are wonderful, creative, loving, I cant say enough good things really. They create many opportunities for children to explore and discover. Also, parents can volunteer to spend time in the classroom which is super fun. The classrooms are spacious and inviting with lots of windows and there is a giant playroom in the center of school for those days that outside play isn't an option. The school has a very large fenced yard that has trees, giant sand pit with water pump, track for biking/scooting/push alongs, and garden. It is truly a gem.

I've been a member at Artisan's Asylum since 2017, and it's been one of the most meaningful…read morecreative communities I've been part of. I started out pretty tentatively, just learning and exploring. Over time, I got more involved and eventually became the laser shop lead for four years. That experience opened the door for me to build a small business creating bamboo candle lanterns and piggy banks--something I never would have been able to do on my own without access to the tools and support there. That's really what makes a makerspace like this so special. You get access to equipment that would be wildly expensive (and impractical) to own yourself, and you're surrounded by people who are both learning and generously sharing what they know. A recent moment really drove that home for me. I needed to test out my tent system for an upcoming show, but the weather outside was terrible. I was able to set everything up in the common space and run a full test. Honestly--such a small thing, but incredibly helpful, and exactly the kind of flexibility that makes this place so valuable. These days, my focus has shifted to painting, and having studio space at the Asylum has been just as important for this next chapter. I have the room I need to work in encaustic, lay out panels, prep surfaces, and wrap finished pieces for transport. The shared spaces make all of that possible in a way that would be hard to replicate anywhere else. It's a welcoming, diverse environment with something for everyone--whether you're just curious or looking to build something serious. If you've ever thought about trying something new, take a class and see where it leads. You might surprise yourself. Time to get creative.

completed the jewelry 101 course. Fantastic instructor who led us through a series of steps…read morelearning the correct techniques on every tool in the Artisan's Asylum jewelry shop. We completed a ring (which my wife liked) over the two day 6 hour course. I have had some previous experience but this was an excellent learning process that taught me many things that improved my skills. Highly recommend taking this learning journey!! Great value for your money.