The staff and teachers are very friendly. There are lots of opportunities to perform. And my…read moredaughter was able to learn a range of instruments. The idea of playing in the band as soon as you learn an instrument is really excellent.

School of Rock is a must for any young person who loves Rock music and wants to perform. With…read moreprograms and lessons for young rockers at every level, and an incredibly supportive and knowledgeable faculty and staff, School of Rock Boston is an absolute gem.

My son has been a drum student at SOR for quite a few years now. He has loved it since he started…read morethere and still does! Great management, great teachers, great gigs. Always willing to accommodate. If I could give them 10 stars I would!!!!

I am the founder of The Vocalist Studio International and I know Lauren Bateman personally, as a…read moremusician, as a business owner and as a voice coach. I have been to the LB Music School. This school has excellent facilities and qualified teachers. As for Lauren, she is flat out one of the best teachers I have ever met. Here command of vocal technique and understanding of how to teach students how to train voice and therefore, how to apply it to singing better is world class. She flat out is one of the most qualified voice teachers in the Boston region. Anyone that participates in this school is going to get a great experience.

My 8 year old son has been taking music lessons at LB for almost a year and I can't tell you how…read morehappy it has made him. Little background, my son has autism and adhd. To say he struggles is putting it mildly. He strives to be like his peers and do the things they do, but unfortunately some of his struggles just make that too difficult for him. We tried soccer and t-ball. Those just ended with him in tears feeling defeated. Music has always been something that interests and soothes him. So, we thought we'd give lessons(he likes to sing)a try if he was on board. Since our initial email the teachers and staff at LB have accepted my son with open arms. I can 100% guarantee the half hour he is in his lesson he is striving. He is happy and gets to express himself without being judged. He is included and pushed to shine. He gets to be himself and the rewards we get from that are priceless!

Tima skipped foundational steps in vocal training, completely omitting core basics like…read morediaphragmatic breathing before rushing into singing. Without these essential mechanics, singing is barely manageable. It felt like she was using our paid time to gain teaching experience rather than delivering proper instruction. To make matters worse, she abruptly quit without providing any explanation. I thought our sessions were progressing well, but I suddenly received a phone call from her supervisor instructing me not to return, with no reason given for the sudden cancellation.

I have been taking lessons at the John Payne Music Center (JPMC) for thirty years and have always…read moredeeply enjoyed it. I started at the JPMC as an adult in my thirties with no musical experience. My regular lesson with John Payne has been one of the highlights of my week for many years. Through these lessons I have learned to play the alto sax and to improvise -- something I barely dared imagine I could ever do. And, as a result of experience learning and playing the alto sax, I hear music differently than I did before -- and enjoy it even more I have loved playing in the sax choir wtih Duncan Martin and as part of an ensemble with two different teachers. All of my teachers there have been outstanding: excellent musicians and warm, caring, supportive teachers. They are very good with both adults and children -- and believe fimly that adults with no previous musical experience can learn to play, to perform and enjoy it. JPMC provides a safe environment in which you can learn alone; learn to play as part of group; and, perform! John Payne is not only an inpiring teacher a wonderful human being, but is also a superb musician who plays some of the best jazz and blues you will hear anywhere. Playing in the sax choir means you get to perform onstage with John and his professional band -- one of the peak experiences of my life! I recommend the John Payne music center to anyone who wants to learn to play jazz, blues or a wide variety of other types of music.

I have taken all 4 of my children to the Music Pups class over the years. They really enjoy it. The…read moreolder ones still like to sing along now that the youngest is learning the songs!

The Keys for Kids program is a great introduction to piano for kids starting at 4-7 yo. A small…read moregroup class, well taught with an excellent curriculum. An affordable, fun start to piano lessons. My daughter took lessons in the program for 4 years.

We're approaching 15 years in total with NMA, including multiple teachers starting from Musical ABC…read moreclass, 1:1 lessons for our two children, and even for me, taking up first time piano lessons as an adult. Svetlana and team have inspired our children and us as parents, including voice lessons for my wife. I highly recommend NMA for families or indivuals interested in fostering appreciation and enjoyment of music.

Newton Music Academy is a great place for kids who want to explore music. My son has been here…read morelearning piano for almost 7 years since he's four and a half. We had several teachers during the journey and every teacher is fantastic. They really know how to motivate the kids and find the best pieces for them to enjoy the music. The instructors are also very respect to the kids by listening to their opinions and understanding of the music. Moreover, the director, Svetlana is always super patient and helpful to find the best suitable instructor to make the smooth transition, and extremely supportive to help the kids grow naturally. We feel really lucky to join the NMA family, a true nurturing place for kids to enjoy the beauty of music!

My daughter has been dancing here for 8 years. She loves it and has made some lifelong friends. I…read morerecommend them for your dancing needs.

My girls have been going to this studio for three years and love it! I would recommend any of the…read moreclasses.

When I was younger, I took ballet, pointe, modern and jazz extensively in the New Haven area, but…read moretook a hiatus during college. Feeling the desire to move beyond the monotony of the gym, I returned to ballet, starting with the adult classes at Fresh Pond Ballet 2 years ago. Nina Alonso Hathaway is a wonderful teacher. She presents clear, no pressure instruction while helping her students to improve their skills. I've had many teachers who believe the path to becoming a better ballerina involves insults and physical torment, and Nina is about as far from that camp of teaching as possible. She works with Blake Barich as well, who teaches with her, and Blake maintains a similar philosophy to teaching as Nina does. Her studio is affordable and a good choice for adults with hectic lives, as instead of a semester fee, she offers a 10-class card for $105 dollars. If you need to miss a class, you are not going to lose on your investment. Adults of all levels join her adult beginner classes, and students who have had training in the past are welcomed to dance with her advanced students (and even invited to take part in their annual ballet production at Pine Manor College).

There is something not quite right about Fresh Pond Ballet…read more Fresh Pond Ballet is past its prime. I learned the hard way and don't recommend sending a youngster to classes w Nina. I have 2 daughters and both have taken classes at FPB and other schools and the contrast is dramatically different. First of all, the place is a disaster. Having a lifelong relationship with dance - I have always taken lessons and belonged to gyms. I am an athlete, not a princess, so I don't need my workout space to look like a spa. But this "school" is a joke. There is no place to change, you have to step over strollers and parents changing diapers in some weird hallway, and I always feel like I am in the way or somehow in the wrong while trying to get my daughter ready for her class. I asked Nina if the bathroom had any more paper towels one time and she snapped at me with too much detail about her landlord not doing something or another and how it wasn't her responsibility to potty train children! I was astounded. Which brings me to Nina. My girls started classes with Nina last year. They were so excited to take dance lessons and learn how to dance like ballerinas! But Nina's critical nature and short temper soon took the wind out of my daughters' sails. Like I said, I've taken dance classes off and on for my whole life and have an understanding and appreciation for the discipline and hard work it takes to become good at dance or any of the performing arts. But Nina seemed more focused on keeping her students well behaved than well trained. My oldest daughter never asked to quit (even though 2 of her friends did) and went to every class, but I could see her mood change and as we would get closer to the class. She would set her jaw like she had to endure the class. It was stressful. My younger daughter's class was completely disorganized. Beginner classes always have a variety of levels but my daughter's skill actually got worse in Nina's class. The girls went to a different (not to be named) school this year and have blossomed. The school welcomes parents w a pleasant environment and they don't harass us with rules about where to sit and how to stand and when to pay. They have parking for cars and strollers and the teachers can focus on teaching the art of ballet. The teachers are firm but kind and my daughters have re-discovered their love of dance. Reading the previous reviewer's post about how the school really worked for her as an older returning student makes a lot of sense. I think that the teachers at FPB just don't have the energy for teaching to youngsters any more.