Very cool place for kids to learn their instrument and join up with others in bands! Billy is…read moreenthusiastic and very welcoming.

Hands down, the best music program around for kids! My 10-year old LOVES everything about 3…read moreO'Clock Rock and so do we! This is how kids should learn to play music - in a garage (or studio) with their friends. The kids learn so much more than just how to play an instrument - they learn how to work together as a band and they listen to all kinds of music that they wouldn't have wanted to listen to with their parents (same music, they just like it better coming from someone else). The best day of the week for my son is Mondays when he rocks out with his band and his teacher Brett. He's becoming a killer drummer, learning how to play guitar and singing - his confidence is through the roof! Great Program!!!!!!

Amazing store. Adam is a master guitar repairman! He helped repair and glue the seams of my son's…read moreMartin.

Very helpful staff. We were looking to get my son his first electric guitar and they were so…read moreknowledgeable and we're not pushy at all. I felt the used guitars were very reasonable and great quality. Such a cool little shop so happy to support a small business.

I'm so pleased with the service I've received from this wonderful local shop. Adam ( the owner )…read moreset up my new Stratocaster and fixed my Martin so perfectly. I feel like I can play so much better now. It's nice to practice without the stress of knowing the guitar is just not right. Extremely happy!! The entire staff is friendly and very helpful. Definitely getting my next guitar from Mountain Music!! I know they will help me get the perfect guitar.

Craig and Gregory both so lovely and kind as I walked in and quickly bought a guitar to learn on,…read morenot even remembering which way to hold it ("are you left handed?" - Craig) Gently mentioning lessons, picks, etc... yes, please, and I promise I'll be back. A very cool space run by nice people who help, don't push, and don't make you feel dumb for not knowing anything. Love a local business too.

Okay, so this place is amazing. I have no idea how it's not yet been reviewed on yelp, because…read moreapparently it has existed for 8 years. But sometimes locals miss the best sh*t! From the website: Oaktown Jazz Workshops (OJW) is a non-profit, community based, cultural education organization dedicated to passing on the tradition of jazz music to young people through music instruction and educational presentations. Teachers are all professional musicians, and passionate about their craft. Not only does Oaktown Jazz, based in Jack London Square, train our next generation of jazz musicians locally here in Oakland, ages 8-18, but they occasionally offer concerts for those of us who love to watch live jazz. There is a schedule of events offered here: http://www.oaktownjazz.org/main/our-mission/ The venue itself is spacious, with a number of small tables and chairs and good acoustics. There is no food served here, but they allow you to bring in outside grub. You can even bring in beer :) The people who run this place are really nice, and if you're lucky enough to see a concert, it will be a good night!

Emery is currently teaching our 13-year-old son acoustic guitar, and he is phenomenal. He is warm,…read morefriendly, encouraging and an amazing teacher and musician. Emery lets our son choose the songs he wants to learn (while supplying helpful suggestions and feedback on the choices), and he then uses each song to teach and reinforce skills and technique. Incorporating fundamentals in this way keeps our son engaged and excited. It is always a delight to hear the two of them playing together--Emery is instilling a deep love of music and a sense of accomplishment and confidence in our son that is so valuable at this age. Emery is a wonderful teacher and a truly kind soul.

Emery has been teaching our son guitar for over a year, and -- simply put -- he is FANTASTIC. Emery…read moreis both a very talented musician and a natural-born teacher. His method with our ninth grade son is to let him pick the song which he wants to learn on guitar and then use it as a vehicle for teaching technique and music theory. This pedagogy seems to be working very well since our son (1) loves to practice the guitar (since it is always a song of his choosing) and (2) has significantly grown in his musicianship since his time with Emery. As a teacher, Emery blends his Oberlin College Conservatory training with an innate ability to connect with young people. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a better guitar teacher than Emery. He has our 100% endorsement.

Andrew is an amazing drummer and a great teacher. He is patient, funny and able to see what you…read moreneed and then explain to you clearly what you need to work on to improve your drumming skills. He is also an expert drummer who can cover any style of music. He is a quick learner who does his homework when called for a session or tour. And he is an all around nice guy. What more do you need in a drummer and/or drum teacher? Two thumbs up!

I've had the pleasure of taking drum lessons with Andrew for almost 3 years while he was working at…read moreRed House Studios in Walnut Creek. If you want results Andrew is the man you want as a teacher. He has an impressive list of credentials (just check out the description at the bottom of the page) and has pretty much been playing drums all his life. He also fronts his own band, Felsen, which puts on one hell of a live show. I started taking lessons with Andrew with very little knowledge of how to play drums, I could do a basic rock beat but that was pretty much it. We tackled a lot different subjects: how to arrange a kit, proper playing posture, rudiments, fills, 3 and 4-way limb coordination, shuffles, rolls. That was just a general list but I learned so much I could go on and on. Andrew is well-versed in other styles besides rock; I got a chance to learn about various Latin and funk grooves as well. Andrew also has an endless list of artists and songs that best exemplify the techniques he's trying to teach you. As I thumb through my lesson notes I'm amazed at how much material we've covered in such a little amount of time. Andrew is very meticulous when it comes to technique and knows about the finer nuances that separate the good drummers from the great. When you play, Andrew is always able to perform a thorough analysis and then put together a set of exercises to help you overcome your shortcomings. Andrew has very high standards, but like any teacher, one must tread a balance between challenging a student enough to keep them motivated, but not pushing them so hard they give up in frustration. I always felt challenged, but I also felt that Andrew would set reasonable goals that were appropriate for my skill level. As a busy working professional there were times where I barely had time to practice, even then I would walk out of every lesson learning something new. Andrew is also a very accomplished producer. He helped me produce the first song I ever wrote, which was a huge milestone for me as a musician. I learned a lot about song writing and the common song structures used in today's music. I also learned about microphone configurations used for recording drums. I would highly recommend Andrew to anyone interested in taking their drumming to the next level and beyond!

Juliana is an amazing teacher! I started self teaching January of this year and quickly realized I…read morewould need more professional guidance and help, and Juliana has been a fantastic tutor for all things piano and music theory. I get to practice what I want and she is always accommodating for the pieces I bring in. I get a lot out of our sessions and find good motivation working with her, cannot recommend enough!

We have been taking classes for about 4 months with Juliana via zoom. My daughter is eager to…read morelearn. She is being challenged every week, gets practice assignments and is making consistent progress. My daughter has LD and not once has she felt frustrated with her lesson plan. She is always happy to take her class and looks forward to hopefully take her classes in person in a near future.

Magnolia Music School has been such a wonderful experience for our family. My 8-year-old daughter…read morehas been taking group ukulele lessons with Sara for the past four months, and the growth we've seen in such a short time has been incredible. Sara is an exceptional teacher -- patient, encouraging, and incredibly skilled at working with kids in a way that builds both confidence and joy. My daughter is now so inspired that she's ready to move into private 1:1 lessons starting January 2026, which says everything about how positive and motivating this experience has been. Magnolia truly feels like a special place. There's a strong sense of community, creativity, and care that comes through in everything they do. We feel very grateful to be part of it and so thankful to have both Sara and Kat in my daughter's life. I'm beyond excited to see how she continues to grow and thrive next year. Highly recommend Magnolia Music School to any family looking for thoughtful, high-quality music education in a warm and supportive environment.

We have had such a wonderful experience at Magnolia Music School over the last 4 months! My…read more7-year-old daughter has been taking ukulele lessons with Sara Jayne, and I really can't say enough good things about her. My daughter has tried both the group classes and private lessons, and she absolutely loves them. It's rare to find an activity where she consistently leaves happy and excited for the next one, but that's always the case here. Sara Jayne is fantastic with this age group. She has a great way of keeping the kids' attention and makes the learning process fun while still being structured. She does an excellent job of reviewing past concepts and building new skills on top of them, so the progress feels very solid. If you are looking for a supportive and effective music environment for your child, I highly recommend Magnolia Music School and specifically Sara Jayne!

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

Love this place! Great personal service. They always do an amazing job efficiently and with very…read morereasonable prices. Bonus, the place has a great vibe but maybe because it's filled with beautiful instruments