I started taking piano lessons with Shawn back on January 2023 and I've seen major progress in my…read moreplaying abilities. Shawn is extremely patient and understanding and genuinely cares for all of his students. After 8 months of lessons with Shawn, I can now play for my friends and family! Exciting and I love piano more than when I initially started. Highly recommend Shawn and La Jolla piano institute! -Alex

We've been coming here for 8yrs now, since my son was 4yrs…read moreold, learning how to play piano. He is almost 12yrs old now, and he play wonderfully thanks to his instructors Shawn. They really know how to work with your child with different personality, even my daughter who started at 4 as well. But my daughter was a bit of a challenge because she wouldn't sit still. They knew how to capture her interest so she would be interested and focused. They Both play piano beautifully. Thanks Shawn and Dan!

Fabulous shop with lots of violins, violas and bows. Jade is super helpful. You can take items home…read moreon trial so you don't ever get buyers remorse! Prices are very reasonable. Jade never rushes you. One of the best things about Jade is that he doesn't try to upsell!. I gave him my price range and we went home with three bows ranging from $200 to over $1000. We ended up buying the least expensive since my daughter loved it. My favorite shop for string instruments in San Diego. Highly recommend!!!

ABOUT JADE SCHULZ (Directions at the bottom) Jade knows his…read moreviolins, violas, cellos, and the bows for all of them. He also knows all the different makers, their qualities and their characteristics that help identify instruments or bows as valuable (or not). Mr. Schulz provides a friendly, familiar, knowledgeable, expertise-imparting experience. He's kinda like the Keymaker in the Matrix, or Chief Librarian Jacosta Nu of Star Wars/Clone Wars lore. He REALLY knows his stuff. While the shop looks humble, do not confuse this place to be just a violin rental place with cheap instruments for rent and no serious inventory for sale. JJS Violins is the destination in San Diego for high-end violins. You can find medium or student or rental tier instruments, but this is a high-end violin shop. PURCHASES If you're in need of a purchase, or even if you're not in need of a purchase, Jade will typically allow you to play through all of his inventory that you might be interested in. There are about 15 violins in the $3,500-$22,000 range on the far right hand wall. Below those instruments are a map dresser full of bows. At the top are the cheapest carbon fiber/composite bows, below that are some cheaper wood bows, then below that a couple trays of super nice bows. Below that are viola bows, then cello bows. On the wall sharing the door are violas and cellos. Price tags vary, but you can get a basic rental instrument to a serious student instrument to a top tier instrument into whichever price tag you want to get to. Jade can access whatever tier of instrument you need. There are loaner instruments that can be purchased for around $750. You'll be allowed to take home any bow or instrument that you want to try out for about a week or so, which is super nice if you're looking to make a purchase, or just get to know the different options. If you're there to play through the inventory, plan to spend an afternoon there. There's a little machine/woodshop in the other room where you can play through all the instruments and bows to your heart's content while Jade works with the other customers. I have been able to play through all the high end inventory and all of the bows and was able to form an opinion of the best instruments and bows within about a 3-hour period. This is with my asking Jade every now and then about the value of an instrument/bow, or where it was made and by who. If it's been a while since you've played your instruments, an afternoon at Jade Schulz Violins will actually help you get your feel back and you will feel re-energized to play again, even if you only ever had a beginner-tier student violin. When you play some of the higher tier stuff you'll say to yourself, wow, I'm pretty good. LOL. As others mentioned, Jade is a friendly and knowledgeable salesperson but also a learned historian and instrument & bow expert. Jade cares that the musician walks away with the right instrument/bow combination. The quality and value of the instruments is high, but if you are ready to go, resourced enough, and know exactly what you want, Jade will help you make sure you walk away with your dream setup. If you're a parent, I have seen Jade fit teachers who came with their students, or parents that came with their students with a great first-time cello or violin purchase with case. The price was always right. RENTALS If you're there to rent, be prepared to spend half an hour to an hour there. There's fitments involved, and sometimes people will be there before you. It's busiest on Saturdays. Going at opening may have a line, but you might need all that time if you arrived after others. It's $35/month for a student violin with bow, case, resin, and strings. I think it's $40/month for a viola, something more for a cello. REPAIRS & UPGRADES Jade can repair or upgrade just about anything. Simple stuff like sound posts, varnish fixes, cracked instruments, cleanings, string changes, Wittner peg upgrades, bridge setup, pickup installs, replacement bits and pieces for your instrument or bows, bow rehairs, Jade can do it. He also has some epic grade cello rosin that works for all instrument types and plays nice and loud and grippy. Try it, you'll be amazed. DIRECTIONS TO THE SHOP You bomb down Torrey Pines Rd past Prospect St, and hang a right on Herschel towards the ocean (North) until you see what looks like a parking lot for the Chase on 7777 Girard. Remember that lot cuz you'll probably need it later. You can't enter there because you can only enter from the alley. Hang a left on Silverado, then take the first alley on the left. Park at the Chase parking lot on your left, or 10 yards down, park on the Ace parking on your left for money, or go 1 yard past that to the house that says Violins on it, and pull in behind Jade's Hyundai Kona mini-crossover. Services: Purchase/Sell/Consign Find out about the instrument you have Repairs/Upgrades Rentals Appraisals/Letters Insurance for instruments connection

Nightingale Music is a play-based, child-focused early music education series, whose quality and…read moreconsistency are unmatched in San Diego County. The classes are held in a colorful, carpeted studio and led by warm and welcoming teachers, many of whom have some form of early education training or experience teaching or working with children in their fulltime jobs. The program at Nightingale has been running for over 20 years, and Jennifer has it dialed to perfection. Each 8-week session has its own theme ("Hooray for the Holidays"; "Mother Goose Rock & Rhyme"; "Wonderful World of Music" to name a few) and its own theme-related songs, but the rhythm of the classes is consistent from week to week and session to session, providing an ideal environment for this tender age whose brains thrive on routine. The school also has an incredibly generous makeup policy to allow for any planned family vacations or unplanned family illnesses, and visiting family members and friends are always welcomed to watch or participate in class. My daughter attended her first Nightingale Music session when she was just 7 months old, and has been consistently enrolled since she was about 14 months. Now at two and a half, she can sing her solfege scale on pitch, and understands the fundamentals of rhythm, tempo, and dynamics. She stops and dances whenever we hear music out in the world (or asks me to play music on my phone so she can dance in our backyard), and sings constantly. She's made friends with some of the other kids in her cohort, imprinted onto a few of her teachers, and Jennifer has made us feel like part of a larger Nightingale family from the very start. As a 70% SAHM, I've tried out a lot of Mommy-and-Me type classes around San Diego, but Nightingale is the one that we've stuck with, and the one that I would most recommend.

The highlight of our week going to our Nightingale music class. We took classes at the park,…read moreoutdoors and we always have laughs and smiles, running, bubbles, singing and just so much fun. It's fun for the babies/ toddlers/ kids and also for the parents/ caregivers. Met lovely people too. We also loved Ms yuru sensorial classes (the whole family loved these classes, especially the grandparents).

I went to the Kalabash Studio in La Jolla for a Monday morning yoga class. This studio is charming…read moreand comfortable. There is a faint smell of cedar in the air, and children's toys and instruments strewn around. The wood-panel flooring and wall-to-wall mirrors give the main room a rustic feel and makes the space feel open. Our instructor, Janice, was kind and encouraging. She was also conversational and polite, making sure we were comfortable and checking in with us to make sure we were reaching our full potential. The yoga incorporated pilates that engaged our cores and arm and leg muscles, so that we could find that sweet-spot combining challenge and comfort. We left the workout feeling invigorated, rejuvenated and ready to start our day!

Kalabash takes a lot of pride in what they do and it shows…read more I have been here a few times for their free openings and amazing music shows that they have every so often. I recently went to their one year anniversary and some of the teachers were playing music on the patio and it was awesome! It's clear to see the caliber of people who are involved here. The building is open, beautiful, and full of light. Everyone here is incredibly friendly. As a teacher I think this is an incredible learning environment.

A warm Saturday morning, I braved up and bit the bullet. Walked my Telecaster up the street for an…read moreearly lesson, after years of self-taught good luck. Met my teacher, a real nice guy who asked me relax and tune up. So I did. We went over some scales and jammed over a some chords. We talked bands and life. I got a tour of the studio and a grip of kudos for the elbow grease I'd spent on laboring over the instrument as a layman. Then I walked back home, with the confidence to keep strumming--and an invite to return. A great day it was.

I came here to record a couple piano songs because of my (forceful) parents…read more The guy, I don't remember his name, was very patient and worked with us very well. The end product was great- I sounded tons better than I do normally, ha! The pricing is really great, 30 dollars an hour. Overall, it was a great experience. Would recommend to others!

Came here on a whim while visiting San Diego and ended up spending over an hour playing guitars and…read morechatting with the staff. All three of the men there were very friendly and knowledgeable. I ended up walking out of there with a very nice limited edition Gretsch. I highly recommend coming here. I know I'll be back next time I'm in SD, hopefully with a little more cash in hand.

Jeff and Matt are two very professional gents who gave me sound advice and were very helpful…read more Please do not hesitate to make Mark's Guitar your first guitar stop and chat with Jeff and Matt for all your guitar needs.

i've only been playing guitar a couple of years and I was looking for a place to buy some pics as I…read moream new in California originally from Massachusetts. The woman in charge there I think her name was Shannon was very hospitable and friendly. The place looked really hot decor was great with rock gods all over over the walls, but it's primarily a place to go and rehearse live so when I get back to playing I plan to go back plus I'm getting the band back together again looks good to me

Mark runs a very respectable business here! Staff is excellent and rehearsal spaces top notch! If…read moreMidway Rising closes this unit it will be a huge loss to the musical community! Mark played at our son's wedding last July and he is the BEST!

I am an adult who has been looking for piano lessons in San Diego for a few years. I started with…read moreKatherine a few weeks ago and I'm very relieved to finally be in good hands. I can highly recommend her.

I highly recommend teacher Katherine from K&M Music School. My kids have been learning the piano…read morewith her for only 2 months, but I already noticed a significant progress on their skills. She focuses on building a firm foundation for kids, including music theory and fingering techniques. She help my kids not only play the songs correctly and accurately, but more important play with better musical abilities. Katherine will provide proper materials to improve kids skill according to their levels and problems. The most important thing is Katherine is so nice and patient to kids. My kids just love her piano lessons!

I couldn't recommend Ali enough. I've always wanted to throw myself towards musicianship, and Ali's…read morehelping me create a solid foundation there that I didn't have the confidence nor guidance to start building upon on my own. Lessons at Sweet Notes are some of the highlights of my week. I always leave our lessons ecstatic, and I'm grateful for being able to develop a singing voice that I've always been curious in discovering with his help. I'm glad I spend time learning with Ali. With his help I'm improving in an aspect of my life that I care about passionately, and I couldn't be more thankful. Easy five stars.

My 6 year old started studying piano with Sweet Notes about 6 months ago, and he is already getting…read moreready for his first recital in June. He practices everyday!! Without us asking him to! Needless to say, he's shown incredible progress and we are thrilled / relieved we have finally found a teacher who really knows how to engage him. We've tried a few other teachers in San Diego over the past 2 years, but none of them really clicked with my child or made the instrument come to life for him. Ali is wonderful at teaching kids. I'm not sure if it's because he's had the highest quality training himself, but he's sort of a wonderful kindergarten teacher and concert musician rolled into one. Amazingly patient and very adaptable to a kid's personality / disposition. He uses simple techniques but manages to encourage my son to learn surprisingly challenging pieces, all while keeping it very positive and fun. We are very happy and highly recommend Ali as a teacher.