Buying an oud has been a longtime dream of mine, and I finally decided to take the first step…read more After some research, I came across Timbre Folk & Baroque and visited the store yesterday. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed. I had the pleasure of meeting Mark and his daughter -- both were incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They took the time to patiently answer all of my questions, without ever making me feel rushed or pressured to buy anything. That level of honesty and respect is rare these days, especially in retail. It was clear to me that they care more about helping people find the right instrument than just making a sale. If you're looking for a place where you can trust the people behind the counter, this is it. I'm truly grateful places like this still exist. Thank you, Mark!

Easy to work with, responsive, knowledgeable. Convenient location. Fixed my husband's old guitar…read moreand also will be taking lessons with Pete!

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

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'm a professional vocalist and I've had the pleasure of working with Michael for about 2 decades…read morenow. His knowledge of all things music is as deep as his insights on arrangements I've asked him to comment on, as intricate as his mind-blowing compositions, his quirks as endearing as any musical genius'!

I am a current student studying piano with Michael. I really appreciated his emphasis on basics…read more(e.g. breathe, removing tension in the body, posture, and even how to set up the piano bench). He also doesn't just teach piano playing but also the broader music education: composers / pianists to listen to, music theory, etc. One caveat is that expect the pace of learning to be a bit slower compared to other teachers potentially but I think it's a worthwhile tradeoff to build solid foundations.

DO NOT pay a deposit to place an order to Mike. If you see a…read morecompleted instrument for sale in his workshop, buy it if it is good. But no deposit. This is what happened to me.... I used to trust him, and put down $1800 in October 2016 for a custom Tenor uke. It's January 30, 2018 today, 1 year and 3 months later. No uke, no news, nothing. I called, emailed, messaged...... I wish there was a ukulele forum that I could warn others about Mike's scam. I have a feeling I am not the only one out there.... Now I see through his antics like giving free lesson, educational chats, etc. It's all to make you part with the deposit. Even if his instruments are suppose to be good, it feels really bad owning an instrument from such an unscrupulous person. And how can students go to learn from such a dishonest person, who is only interested in your money? If you give him a deposit, you are just giving away charity money.

Mike is a fantastic teacher! Took the beginner class tonight and I learned a ton of techniques that…read moreI wouldn't have learned from youtube videos. He focuses a lot on building a good foundation and good habits so you can have a better practice as you learn and start playing songs. The class flow was fun and I barely felt the 2 hours pass. I would definitely recommend attending a few classes. There's so much to learn and absorb from the simplest techniques.

ELVIS IS BACK BABY!…read more Drum specialist Elvis Katic spent serious time with me trying to procure a small niche item. He took the lead on problem solving issues with the manufacturer/distributor, then ended up going beyond above-and-beyond to make sure I got what I was looking for. It's great to find someone who genuinely wants to see people thrive and do their thing musically. If you're ever in Emeryville come through and visit a legend.

Got my strat set up here by Eduardo and it came back playing beautifully. He helped me with string…read morerecommendations and was super helpful with my questions. I appreciated how he was cool and patient, and did not make me feel out of place being an amateur guitarist.

We have bought a new Yamaha CVP805 from Ela Fox and we are amazed on her efficiency and service…read more She is super good at giving us recommendations for the pianos and trying her best of finding the best piano matching our needs. She has offered us a great price and even one-day shipping for my piano. The aftersales service are fantastic. We had questions about our piano and she replied immediately. We have not expected that she will answer our question even during the weekends. She is so kind that she uses her own time trying to find the answer to my questions. I would highly recommend that you check out this store and the amazing services.

Bought a Yamaha N1X from Ela a year ago. She was super helpful and it was an easy process. Delivery…read morewas quick. Minor issues with the Yamaha and they recommended a Yamaha tech and everything was fine under warranty. Highly recommend. Thinking about them now because I want an upgrade!

Berkeley Musical Instrument Exchange is truly a Berkeley tradition. 33 years in business, They…read moreprovide local musicians of all kinds a trusted place for repairs. They buy, sell and trade a wide range of new and used instruments including a line of high quality, well priced, guitars that they have manufactured to their specs. This family business is a comfortable, reliable and educational place for musicians of all skill levels and traditions. They deserve your support. www.berkeleymusic.com

The staff is very knowledgeable , and they have a variety quality used instruments at good prices.read more

I have been taking piano lessons with Ernie for a few years now and I'd highly recommend him as a…read moreteacher, especially if you are beginning to learn an instrument in adulthood as I have. He's very knowledgable, insightful, and most importantly, a very supportive and friendly instructor. He's also full of stories from a life lived in music and has a helpful anecdote for every occasion. Ernie is always reliable and punctual about lesson dates and times but always understanding if I need to reschedule, given the proper notice in accordance with his posted policies. I look forward to continuing my lessons with Ernie and I'm grateful for his instruction.

I have known Ernie for about 5 years. His passion is music and he is very talented! When I hear…read moreErnie play, I get goose bumps. He knows how to hit the notes that create emotion. I like his music a lot. Ernie shares his talent with people of all ages. He teaches piano, guitar, flute and clarinet. He also helps people learn composition and arranging. It is never to late to learn a musical instrument! And with Ernie as a teacher, you will have a lot of fun too!

I'm so happy that Beats Antique store "Shadow Box" is open-! They have Beats antique merchants and…read moredesigners jewelries. All jewelries are one of kind and just beautiful-!!

Walked in for the 1st time not knowing it was there. Purchased some really cool leggings . With…read morekiller bee on the but haha. Very nice lady named Jenny working there. They have a small bit of clothing from local designers.

What a fabulous instructor!! I have been taking weekly half-hour lessons with Eric for almost two…read moreyears. I am retired and learning to play the drums is something I've always wanted to do. I made a great decision in choosing Eric as my drum teacher. He customizes each lesson to meet my needs and he is very patient. He is a skilled drummer, an experienced teacher, and I have been thoroughly enjoying my lessons with him.

From the owner: Virtual drum lessons with Eric Garland - You vaccinated? Lets talk about in person lessons!…read moreHelp with learning many styles of drumming. Specializing in jazz, rock and groove based drumming. Preparation help for auditions. Learning to read drum notatation. Learning to improvise. Solidifying your technique and working out physical pain issues while drumming. For in person lessons in my studio in Berkeley - if you're vaccinated, lets talk!