My kids were initially very excited to learn piano. We decided to go to Branka because one of the…read morestaff members at Gray school recommended her. Unfortunately we didn't have a good experience and stopped coming after 3 months. My daughter and son were taking lessons together and Branka was constantly comparing them in an unkind way and it seemed very intentional. Every single session this would happen and she was constantly making negative comments during the lesson about how my daughter was progressing. We are not overly soft people but her comments were starting to get abusive, unhealthy and non productive. I explained to Branka several times that my daughter is 3 years younger than my son and she will need more time and she said in front of my daughter that she has preschoolers that play better than her and laughed. At my daughter's last lesson she was crying afterwards and really upset. Branka speaks in riddles and also has a heavy accent so she is not the best at explaining things and she is very difficult to understand while teaching. She is also older and her thinking is really outdated and she was constantly making comments to my kids that we didn't like and it was uncomfortable because we never knew what was going to come out of her mouth. We tried to stick it out but it just wasn't working. She is also really eccentric which we are not opposed or judgemental to but it was getting to be very overwhelming. I like that she is straightforward but she was not patient and was careless with how she expressed herself. The lessons were more damaging than helpful and I regret bringing them here. I don't think Branka is a bad person and I'm sure she's a great pianist but our experience was honestly not good.

Knowledgeable music teachers…read more Able to connect with all Social Emotional Maturity Levels Fairly priced Regular Recitals leading to advanced performance invitations

Not enough good things to say about Dirk!!!! I reached out to him to fix a guitar that was broken…read moreby a student. Soon as I told him I was a teacher, he said he would do his best to fix it for free!!!!!!! This guitar had a BAD break! Dirk fixed it!!! Made it look brand new and it sounds great!!!! He was reliable with communication. Even worked with me for crazy hours of drop off and pick up. He's amazing and I will definitely be back!!! Thanks Dirk!!!

Specialists with string instruments, luthiers, are getting harder and harder to find. Especially…read morethose that a restore and refinish vintage guitars and amplifiers.

Excellent teacher. My 11 year old started working with Blake on Guitar and has now switched to…read moreBass. Blake manages to keep him super motivated by mixing the timing and chords lessons with real songs. He posts music and practice materials online in a dedicated folder for my son as well. My son's band is also starting to perform and Blake has worked heavily with him and the band on not just songs and timing, but on performance, picking set lists, and a million other details that have helped them really get off the ground and deliver shows at an incredible level for a bunch on 11 and 12byear olds. Highly recommend Blake for all ages and all skill levels. He can really dial in the appropriate lessons.

I started taking guitar lessons with Blake in order to surprise my finance with a guitar…read moreperformance at our wedding, and I'm so thankful to have had Blake as my guitar teacher for 7 months! I have never touched a guitar before (besides moving it to vaccuum underneath haha) so I was incredibly nervous about my ability to play guitar. However, each week, Blake would give me guitar exercises and drills to improve things like scales, chords, alternate picking, and more. The moment I started my lessons with Blake, I knew I made the right decision of going with him as my teacher. He patiently helped break down songs I've been wanting to play into more accessible chords as a beginner. It's clear that he loves guitar/music way past providing lessons, and passes his love and knowledge for guitar/music onto his students. Blake not only was my guitar teacher, but also helped me perform at my wedding as a bassist! I'm so thankful for all his support and encouragement throughout the lessons and I couldn't recommend him enough!

Love this studio!! Woman owned!…read more My daughter is now 7 and has been taking lessons here since she was 4. I took piano lessons from age eight until age 16 and wanted a place that could start my daughter sooner. Raffia Music Studio was the only one that would start my kid at 4, plus it offers so many other types of musical instruments, voice and performance training. I am a serious researcher. I have always made exhaustive lists weighing the pros and cons of any endeavor. After researching several studios, I decided this was the one! Consistency is key in becoming good. We've had the same teacher since we began 3 years ago. Srimal is not only a teacher, but performs regularly with a band around town. I appreciate when a teacher also honors their craft by doing it. Srimal is very patient. Works to get the best out of his students. Pushes them, but also meets them where they are. Every winter, there is a recital where you get to enjoy seeing all the students performing their pieces. I highly recommend Raffia Music Studio!

Miss Emily is such a great piano/voice teacher. She connected well with my daughter and I have seen…read moresuch great improvement in the few months my daughter has been taking lessons. Miss Emily also has done wonders boosting my daughters confidence. She usually has great anxiety, but overcame her anxiety and performed so well at the music recital! Raffia has also been a joy to work with. The whole process has beeen flawless and I have never had any issues getting any questions I have answered immediately. I highly recommend Raffia Music Studio.

As soon as I walked into the store, a staff member greeted me and offered help--even though he…read morelooked busy handling some paperwork. He asked what I needed, and I explained that my acoustic guitar had a broken peg tuner. I already had the replacement part with me, so I handed it over. Instead of jumping straight into recommendations or upselling, he immediately tried to fix it on the spot. Once he confirmed it was repairable, he quickly cut the string, replaced the tuner, and got everything back in place. The whole process took less than 10 minutes! I live in Carson, so driving out to Lakewood and getting it fixed the same day was such a relief. This guitar isn't for professional use--it's for my daughter who's just starting to learn--so having it ready right away saved me a lot of time and hassle. He even tuned it by ear in seconds, which was really impressive. Overall, a smooth and pleasant experience. I really appreciated the quick, no-nonsense service and would definitely come back again for future repairs!

They understood what I wanted and responded right away. Their work is…read moregood.**************************************************************^*************^*^*^*^^^^^^^

We are so grateful to have found Joyful Music and Arts (JOMA)! It is not just a music school, it is…read morea character, life skills, and self-esteem factory. Our son started at age 4 in Mr. Makinto's Music Bus class. As parent watching on, I witnessed Mr. Makinto's exceptional expertise translated to our little guy's level. Mr. Makinto's calm and commanding presence consistently kept the children's attention. I am a 1st grade teacher, and I know how difficult it is to do this! From the Music Bus class, we began private music lessons. We opted to continue with Mr. Makinto, because my son formed quite an attachment; however through scheduling changes and travel needs he's had multiple teachers at JOMA all of whom are terrific! Mr. Makinto holds highest standards for both his teachers and students. Finally, there is a lovely community feel at JOMA. It's not one of those cold "music store" music classes or franchised rock and roll places. You sit on the sofa and chat with other parents while your child learns in a nearby studio. We also love gathering with the JOMA families at the yearly music concert, which is refreshingly unpretentious. We're so lucky to have been recommended to JOMA!

Wonderful place to learn music. Makinto is a great and inspirational musician and instructor…read more Other instructors are similarly skilled. We have had decades of relationship with JOMA and highly recommend them - for kids and adults alike (my husband, daughter, and grand niece all have had classes there!)

We spent months in a music school and Emmalee was not processing or learning in the pace we were…read moreexpecting. We discovered Dr. Olena's music school by walking in. She has a dual doctorate degree in theory, vocal, and music. She has over 40 years experience in teaching. Dr. Olena is calm, professional, soft spoke & works very well. Emmalee learned how to properly sit, place her hands, play the piano, and read notes in a short amount of time. We highly recommend Dr. Olena, her price is generous for the degrees she holds. If you want to learn piano and or vocal, Dr. Olena's experience and credentials speak for itself.

Taking singing classes here has been one of the best decisions I've made. My teacher is incredibly…read moreencouraging and supportive -- she knows exactly how to make you feel comfortable, even if you've been shy about singing. Each class feels uplifting. She celebrates every bit of progress and helps you find your own unique sound with so much patience and positivity. I leave every lesson feeling more confident, inspired, and proud of myself. If you've ever wanted to sing but didn't know where to start, this is the perfect place.

To be honest this guy Dave is a straight shooter. He will not cater to anyone's bullshit or being…read morelate to group. This place is great to get your programs done and very convenient around work schedules. He has different classes on different days and all you have to do is show up on time and pay your dues. Anyone who complains about this place obviously has deep rooted issues otherwise they wouldn't be having to do these classes. As a graduate from this program I have referred others who have unfortunately been put in a situation where anger gets the best of you. A great place to learn coping skills and how to control your anger.

FUCK THIS PLACE ! The Old Man Dave is very rude and very Racist !…read more I came here to do classes when I got here the old man was very frustrated & for some reason was being very rude to me ! I chose not to even put up with him