Best guitar teacher in Santa Cruz!!!! He's patient, and insanely knowledgeable. I'm a better…read moreguitarist and musician because I worked with Rory. Thanks!

From the owner: As a private guitar instructor, Rory Cloud has given over 6 thousand one-on-one guitar lessons…read moresince 2005 to students of all ages and backgrounds, children to adults from absolute beginners to advanced students entering into college programs. Rory has a diverse background as a both a performer and an educator, with over 30 years experience as a guitarist and over 20 years working professionally in the industry. His performance background includes experience across many genres of music, from rock, to folk, indie-songwriter, hip-hop, jazz, funk, reggae, as not only an electric and acoustic guitarist, but also as a drummer, percussionist and vocalist. Rory tailors lessons to meet your individual goals and aspirations, whether you're just starting out or more experienced and seeking to elevate your skills. Feel free to reach out with any additional questions or to book a lesson, either by phone or through the website. Lesson packages are also available for a discount.

Question...........Do you have vocal lessons? ubein@yahoo.com…read more I have a 9 year old granddaughter who is anxious for vocal lessons. Do you teach vocal or can recommend someone who can in Santa Cruz?

I have been taking piano lessons for a little over a year with Diana Brown through Santa Cruz Music…read moreAcademy. I'm in my thirties and had often thought I missed the boat by not studying piano earlier in life. But, I've been feeling extremely happy with the progress (starting as a complete beginner) that we've made over this time so I thought I'd post a review. Diana has a structured but flexible teaching style that has helped me to efficiently develop a well-rounded set of skills. We've focused on learning scales / arpeggios, proper technique, and building a repertoire - sometimes we delve a little further into theory or even some vocal lessons here and there. I've found that she goes above and beyond in tailoring the pace and content of the curriculum to her individual students. I would absolutely recommend Diana as a teacher without hesitation to anyone hoping to start learning piano!

My son and I both take private lessons at Sharp. I am studying voice with Sydney and my 11 year old…read moreboy studies drumming with Elliott. I just love what we are both learning! Low-pressure, high-attention to detail. Just my style. Sydney is really helping me, a 50 year old woman who NEVER SANG and would never dream of doing it in front of anyone, find my natural voice and it's starting to sound pretty good! I also like that Elliott plays accopaniment to Sebastian's drumming so they are making music together that gets him excited beyond the basics. They also have a beautiful location.

I study singing with Sydney and my 11 year old studies drumming with Elliott. We love our lessons!…read moreThey are both so knowledgeable and encouraging. I have studied with many teachers of performing arts over the years and these are very special teachers! Beautiful location,too!

Ginny is incredibly effective voice teacher. She has a deep understanding of what it takes to sing…read morewell and to perform. She provides her students with actionable feedback, exercises to do at home between the lessons and invaluable insights of how to up level their natural abilities through hard work and practice. I can't recommend her highly enough!

I'm so grateful to have worked with Ginny. I went to her feeling unsure of my voice. She helped…read moreme develop my confidence, range, projection, and a clear sense of the vibrations of sound moving through my body. I'm now singing in 2 choirs! As a bonus, she also helped me with guitar. She's an incredibly talented musician and cares about her students. Thank you so much Ginny!

This place was amazing. Really nicely curated collection of instruments and accessories. Friendly…read morestaff, and accessible instruments. Reminded me of Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto. Highly recommended for acoustic instruments, ukes, mandos, guitars, oh my!

I walked in and I told him I had two desires: to buy their cheapest decent guitar and to play their…read moremost expensive guitars. He pointed to the cheap guitar and then to several racks of wonderful expensive guitars made by Martin, Santa Cruz and other small guitar makers with big reputations. I sat there joyfully for a couple hours. I think playing guitars that cost $10,000 and up. then I played and bought a $250 Fender acoustic. This is one of my favorite music stores and i hope they hang on. when i eventually buy a very expensive guitar-- I really want to deserve it first---I will buy it from this fine establishment. I love visiting guitar stores, and it's becoming a rarity because of the internet. I've watched my favorite guitar stores go out of business. I hope sylvan lives on forever.

Every time I go into Wise Music, I am greeted by people who are genuinely happy to see you and…read moreshare their knowledge. Bryan has been great at handling my overcomplicated upgrades for my Schecter and old Ibanez and pointing me in the right direction with the techs. He was also a pleasure to talk to on the phone when he called to provide updates. Their tech Alex was super helpful when discussing an upgrade I didn't think was possible. I asked, on the off chance, if we could put active pickups in a 25-year-old passive Ibanez. Alex accepted the challenge with positivity and excitement. He said it would be no problem and explained what he was going to do. He also went ahead and installed some custom Guyker locking tuners on my Schecter. They are red and chrome, matching my body. He did a fantastic job! Robert is a dedicated guitar tech. I first met him when I came in to upgrade my Schecter. I had a complex humbucker set unad he was so positive and confident that I knew I had found the right place. I went back on a whim to see if I could replace my old Ibanez passive humbuckers with the ones he removed from my Schecter. I genuinely thought I was going to be laughed out of the shop. However, Alex and Robert both thought about it and were once again positive and enthusiastic. I handed over my guitar and parts, and the shop just had a very can-do attitude. I got a call after a few days to say it was done. I'm amazed at their turnaround time, as the technician's room always looks stacked with axes. Robert also went above and beyond when installing the active humbuckers in my Ibanez. I originally asked to keep the middle pickup just to be kept in but dead because I didn't want a big hole in my body. Not only did he get the actives in, but he also managed to wire it so the middle passive is still live! So my old, crappy guitar can now shred but also go back to my old punk-pop days . It also now has six voices to choose from, combining the passive and active pickups. Madness.... I highly recommend this music store! For all your guitar teaching needs, just ask for Robert

Frank is the best! He knows everything I needed to repair my guitar's neck that needed an artistic…read moretouch. He is one of the best luthier's around.

Too cool for school. Signed my kiddo up for singing lessons. He has a couple learning…read moredisabilities-dyslexia and auditory processing. Really not too big of a deal, just needs to take his time learning. Told the owner that when we signed up. He told me to tell the instructor. Tried to talk to the instructor about his needs before his first class, and she blew me off saying "It's singing. He won't need to read." A week later she prints out lyrics to read on the spot. I watch him freeze up and just stare at the paper. My kid learns by listening and needs to take his time reading. She would know that if she didn't blow me off. A few weeks later, after the lesson she reminds him to practice, and as he says he will, the owner, who was in the room, laughs out loud at him. My husband even calls him out on it. No response or apology. We never went back. Here's the thing. Many artists have quirks that are actual gifts. But society often deems them as not enough because they are not neurotypical. I thought for sure this business was about lifting up ALL kids. They project as a laid back cool musician business, but really aren't.

Great place for the kids. COVID safe and Awesome people. My…read moredaughter has made long term friends there who share passion for music and understands her on a different level. I do recommend this program. They really work with each student to help develop the confidence to preform and be thier best selves. I have seen positive changes in my daughter that I am very thankful for. They do shows everywhere. You get a band page with videos and pictures. So many wonderful memories in such a positive experience.