Sessions with Michael are a blast! I started out with Michael as a beginner and going through the…read morefundamentals he's been patient, incredibly supportive and fun. I can definitely feel each week that I'm growing and getting closer to sounding more professional each time. I am also glad that we don't just learn scales and old book songs, he really does tailor the lessons to go over songs that I want to learn and helps me adapt them for singing as well. For me, a session with Michael isn't just a guitar lesson, it's an enjoyable part of my day.

I've been taking Lessons from Michael going on 6 years now. I Have to say ,through weekly lessons…read moreand his encouragement , I feel like a musician. Before him, I had a few other teachers that didn't last . At the start I was never really engaged in the instrument because they would take me through these basic Guitar books and it all just turned into scales and homework. From the beginning that wasn't how Michael worked. He got me excited about the guitar and seriously that's the only reason I've lasted . I go out to see him play professionally as well. He has gigs all over town and I've met quite a few of the Musicians he's played with. Some of these People are Legends.

Back in high school we were each handed an instrument and told to make a sound. I got the guitar,…read morestrummed a dissonant noise, everybody laughed and the teacher said, "Music clearly isn't for you." A scant 25 years later I dared try again, and Roark is the man who made it happen. I'm not naturally gifted, but Roark is endlessly patient and generous of spirit. My lessons have quickly become my favorite part of the week, and I'm happy to say that I'm getting better. If you've ever thought about learning to play guitar and you're looking for a kind, mellow teacher with a great ear and a dedication to nuance, Roark is your man! UPDATE: Now over nine years in, I still love working with Roark! He's still awesome, and now that I nudged him to teach me some music theory, my enjoyment of making music has multiplied. We also jam together more, which is a godsend in these times of isolation. On a practical note, I take a short video of Roark at the end of each week's lesson, so I can review at home.

I've been taking guitar lessons for over a year now. I previously learned but took a break and…read morewanted to get back into playing. In the time that I've studied with Roark, my rhythm playing has improved and he's taught me how to play lead guitar on some songs. I do struggle with playing, but Roark is super cool and patient. Even though I might struggle in a lesson, I ALWAYS leave feeling positive about my lesson and like I improved! He goes out of his way to get you to play the songs you want to learn and he'll make suggestions as well. I definitely recommend Roark as a guitar instructor!

If you're searching for an exceptional music teacher, look no further than Marcus for an instructor…read morewho combines technical expertise with genuine passion and natural talent. Patient, encouragning, and incredibly knowledgeable, Marcus creates a welcoming space where learning truly feels like a joyous journey! With Marcus, you'll not only learn to play the guitar, piano or whichever instrument you're curious from his impressive catalog, but also develop a profound appreciation for the art form along with some serious chops! Highly recommend!

We love Marcus's teaching style!!!! Specific to our son's guitar lesson interests, he has based his…read morecurriculum on songs that our son likes, which has helped keep him really interested and engaged. Marcus offers a really positive approach to teaching, and he keeps the lessons comfortable and encouraging. He's offered zoom and in person lessons, both of which have been really helpful for our work schedules. He's also involved in multiple music projects and bands, all of which are really inspiring for our son. We really value Marcus's style and great vibes and we feel grateful for him every time we hear guitar being played in our home! Thank you Marcus!!!!!!

Vince has been teaching my daughter for the past 2 years or so. The progression that she has shown…read morefrom when she first started is simply amazing. My daughter continues to show incredible improvement from month to month. Vince's patients and teaching methods are effective in having your child understand the principles of guitar artistry. Thank you Vince for helping my child find her inner song!

Amazing teacher. We have been learning from Vince for the last 4 yrs. Great style and we have 10…read moresongs under our belt!

I've been studying various styles of electric guitar, also pedal steel guitar, with Kimberly for 3…read moreyears now. She excels at playing and teaching many different styles, including jazz, jazz fusion, hard rock, and blues. She is a master of theory and technique, and nobody plays better blues than Kimberly. She is also totally nice, and hasn't offended me once in 3 years.

Excellent guitar instruction. Kimberly quickly figures out what you need to learn and jumps right…read morein to teach it. She teaches children, teens and adults, has a great approach, and really knows her art.

Steven is an incredible teacher, I can't recommend him enough!!!…read more I am singer-songwriter that came to Steven with limited skills on the guitar and man oh man, he helped me so much. We worked on techniques and theory through different musical styles and rhythmic issues in my own music. He gave me so many tools that elevated my songwriting. He always listened to my concerns and frustrations with guitar and found creative and fun ways to solve them. Steven is an extremely talented musician himself but is also just a joy to be around. He is compassionate, positive and so patient. He really made me feel comfortable and that I was in a safe space, free of judgment - I'm someone who gets really nervous to play so for me, this was very helpful. No matter how you are looking to improve your knowledge of music/skills on guitar, Steven is the guy, he is the best around.

I can now say that I have been playing guitar for the majority of my life. I took lessons for about…read moretwo years in high school, but as an adult student I thought that with the vast amount of resources available online, there was no need for me to take private lessons. I spent years trying on my own to take my playing to the next level and get through various obstacles and challenges, and though there were victories, there were often times that I felt frustrated and discouraged. It often felt that I was learning bits and pieces of information that were a bit disconnected. I felt that I was a good player who had a bag of "guitar tricks," but I was not progressing the way I wanted to as a musician. Finally, I made the decision to try private lessons again. I found Steven here on Yelp, and since taking lessons with him, I have experienced an incredible amount of growth in my musicianship. Steven listened to my concerns and worked to address them with me from my very first lesson. Together we have been working on not only developing my skills as a guitar player, but as a musician, working towards building a more complete understanding of music theory and applying it to the fretboard. I have found that my practice is more focused and inspired because of my work with Steven and that was something I had begun to struggle with on my own. Whether you are just becoming acquainted with the guitar, or you are an accomplished player, Steven has the knowledge and resources to help you fall in love, (or fall in love again) with playing. I can't recommend Steven highly enough. My only regret is not taking the plunge several years earlier. If you can relate to my experience at all, don't isolate yourself or think that just because you've reached a certain level of playing you no longer need guitar lessons. Contact Steven and continue your journey as a musician.

Mr. Philip (he doesn't mind Philip) is an amazing piano instructor. This October will be a year…read morewith him and I'm looking forward to staying with him as long as possible. You actually get to play piano during every session, his patience and dedication to your growth makes every session enjoyable. He challenges you and meets you where you are, what more can you ask for. He's professional but very personable. He genuinely loves what he does and I think that's what makes him such a great instructor. Not to mention his price point, worth every dollar! I recommend him to anyone who's interested and curious about learning piano. His location is great too, there's always parking!

Mr Philip is an AWESOME instructor. Very professional and most specially he is very kind.read more

My 6 year old son has been learning guitar at SPM with Bob since he was 5. We've had a great…read moreexperience. Bob is super duper patient with my son, and I'm so grateful for that. Guitar is taught using the Suzuki ("mother tongue") method, which means that they first learn to play by ear - as when one learns a first/mother tongue language. We learn to speak by hearing our parents speak, then eventually we learn to write. They don't learn to read notes right away as in traditional music class. Suzuki teachers do have to go through special training in order to get certified, which is why they're hard to find. The new location in South Pasadena is beautiful and a relaxing environment for kids to learn music. I highly recommend SPM! 5 stars.

The best music teacher and school around! Bob is an inspiration and truly the most skilled musician…read morearound. He is incredible with all levels of teaching guitar and other instruments. He is amazing and kind. Cannot recommend his academy enough!!! 10 stars!