Rado is the best!!!…read more As a self-taught acoustic player, I finally hit a plateau after a decade of noodling around on my own, and realized I needed some help. I'd tried watching Youtube videos, but they didn't provide enough structure, and I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere despite putting hours of practice in. I knew I needed some personally-tailored guidance on the things I was struggling with. I sent Rado a message through his website, and I was impressed by how quickly he got back to me. But what impressed me even more than the speed of his response was the care and thoughtfulness he put into addressing my specific concerns and what I wanted to accomplish by taking lessons. I knew right away that I had to work with him! I've been working with him for about three months, and I've seen major improvements in areas I'd been struggling with for years. My technique has improved drastically, and I'm a lot more confident with improv and creativity-based playing now. We even wrote and recorded a song together using his studio-grade equipment! Rado's a top-notch musician, a talented songwriter, and a fantastically kind and funny human being. He's also really flexible about lesson scheduling and can do virtual and/or in-person lessons depending on your preference. I can't recommend his teaching enough. If you're considering starting lessons, Rado's your guy!

I've made more progress in the last few months of lessons with Rado than in the last few years…read morecombined! For years I kept getting stuck in the same place over and over (in my case, barre chords) and finally decided to go for lessons. I am so glad I did because now just a few months later I forget how hard they were, thanks to Rado's drills, and we are already on to other skills. If you are plateauing on guitar and want a real pro to help guide you in the right direction, I highly recommend taking lessons with Rado!

Erik is awesome!  I've been taking lessons for 3 years and…read morestill continuing. The music journey includes composition / improvisation / music theory / classical / Jazz...and so much more! Erik introduces me to a different perspective in understanding and playing music. He always tries to find a very personalized way to enhance my music knowledge and skills based on my style and interest. This is very unique and amazing! His class is super fun! He is very passionate about music and teaching. Erik is also a great musician! His compositions and performances are impressive!

I took lessons from Erik from '91 to '99 and in that time i went from zero to Debussy's Claire de…read moreLune. The trip included music theory, improv, jazz, blues, classical, composition, and organ technique ( sort of ... no foot pedals ). He guided my development and enriched my understanding and appreciation of music. Although I am a vocalist these days it was my work with Erik that provides the foundation for my ongoing musicality.

Be prepared for a wait -- guy working behind the counter deserves a raise , I was there offhandedly…read morebecause my old flatmate left a ukulele when he moved out, which I decided to restring and learn to play from zero ukulele experience Arrived to the shop on Potrero Hill promptly at my 11:30am appt to 3 others outside and then more came ( lots of professional people with fancy pants Fender guitars , and I was there with my pineapple red ukulele ) , an hour later got my ukulele in and told to collect at 2:30 pm. Which was great to offer same day service , I appreciated that. Went back at 2:30pm and greeted by another 3-4 folk waiting with Fender guitars- when it was my turn to collect my ukulele after 3pm , the guy had already been inundated by guitars , he rushed to get mine restringed in 4 minutes, was very patient and attentive but was quite rushed understandably ---- 5 stars for the solo guy working who deserves to have at least 1-2 other people work, he was confident, professional and a total sound guy ......, but all I'm saying is be prepared for a wait on a Saturday !! Also , had no idea so many people have guitar issues --- it was a constant stream of people showing up with very fancy guitars , who knew , what an experience.

Be prepared for a wait -- guy working behind the counter deserves a raise , I was there…read moreoffhandedly because my old flatmate left a ukulele when he moved out, which I decided to restring and learn to play from zero ukulele experience Arrived to the shop on Potrero Hill promptly at my 11:30am appt to 3 others outside and then more came ( lots of professional people with fancy pants Fender guitars , and I was there with my pineapple red ukulele ) , an hour later got my ukulele in and told to collect at 2:30 pm. Which was great to offer same day service , I appreciated that. Went back at 2:30pm and greeted by another 3-4 folk waiting with Fender guitars- when it was my turn to collect my ukulele after 3pm , the guy had already been inundated by guitars , he rushed to get mine restringed in 4 minutes, was very patient and attentive but was quite rushed understandably ---- 5 stars for the solo guy working who deserves to have at least 1-2 other people work, he was confident, professional and a total sound guy ......, but all I'm saying is be prepared for a wait on a Saturday !! Also , had no idea so many people have guitar issues --- it was a constant stream of people showing up with very fancy guitars , who knew , what an experience.

She's so helpful and kind and enjoyable to work with! I love the helpful tips, interesting ways she…read moredescribes things and scales and everything.

I'm a working SAG-AFTRA film and television actor; and, I booked a part in a major studio feature…read morefilm. My character plays guitar and sings. Playing guitar is in my zone, but I am not a trained singer; hence, I started searching for singing coaches on the Internet. I found HEATHERVOX. She had a lot of positive reviews; hence, I scheduled a session with her; and, I am so happy I did. - She has a beautiful singing voice; and, she immediately assessed my singing competency baseline. - She immediately started me on vocal techniques that quickly controlled the movement of my neck, mouth, and vocal cords. Most importantly, she taught me the importance of relaxing the vocal cords throughout the octaves. - After 40 minutes of teaching proper singing techniques and using the techniques she taught me going up and down scales, it was time to apply the techniques to a song. - I sang, Here Comes The Sun, by the Beatles; and, I was amazed -- I immediately noticed the improvement in my singing -- now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't just "add boiling water and instant noodles" kind-of- thing, but it was a drastic and noticeable improvement in my singing voice. I still have a lot of work and practice to do. Now, I have more controlled volume, my voice is more robust, colorful, and dimensional, AND I am able to hit higher notes easier without strain. I was also amazed with the added tone quality Heather gave me through her singing techniques. Heather recorded my session; hence, I have a starting baseline of my singing voice. I can track my progress. I also have recordings of the techniques she taught me; so, I can replicate them while doing my homework. I have 6 months from today, 23-January-2025, to get my singing skills on-point; hence, I am 100% certain, working with Heather, will get me to my goal. I scheduled additional appointments with her, and she gave me homework and exercises to work on before my next session. I really enjoy the straw exercise -- extremely helpful. Finally, I like that Heather has good business ethics. She assessed my progress and gave me a class schedule that matched her forecast of my progress within the 6 months -- she didn't try to sell me more lessons than I needed. I'm very happy working with Heather to get me to my singing goals for this feature film. Check 6! /s/ Alfonso Faustino

I will be honest: the idea of taking piano lessons for the first time as an adult was both an…read moreexhilarating and frightening prospect. Luckily for me, one of my good friends recommended that I check out the Community Music Center, and overall, I had an excellent experience! My instructor was Erick Peralta, and he covered both music theory and piano technique with patience and great skill. I thought that he paced the classes well, and the only reason I stopped working with him is due to leaving the Bay Area. I also appreciated how he integrated and referenced modern pop music while also making sure I learned piano standards. Finding practice piano rooms can be a challenge during peak instruction periods, but more often than not, I could find an open piano to practice right before my early afternoon classes. There were also some minor communication snafus when I tried to register for classes, but generally, staff at the center were welcoming and friendly.

We've been involved with CMC during various phases in our family. My kids took lessons here but…read moreare not aspiring musicians and one quit after middle school and the other way earlier that that. It's expensive to pay for piano lessons if your child is really not interested and we could've used that money towards kinetic activities which was more in line with what they preferred. Not all the teachers were patient with the kids and our youngest had a bad attitude and went through 3 teachers. The first instructor was a brilliant musician but was curt and impatient with him most of the time. The second instructor, another brilliant musician, asked us not to bring him back on a couple of visits. The 3rd instructor was the most patient with him but it really wasn't his cup of tea and we finally agreed there was no purpose served to keep trying to enlighten him. I have been taking adult choir lessons 4.5 years now with a CMC instructor, Ms. Wilmurt, who is just fabulous and everyone in our group classes adore and love her. She also teaches a young children's choir and the kids love her too. No instructor wants a student who is unmotivated, lacks commitment and is uncooperative. So judge carefully if you think your child or yourself are suited to take music classes. It is a big commitment but well worth the time and effort if you're truly engaged and open-minded to learn music.

Kerry is a great teacher and a super talented musician. He doesn't force a rigid agenda on you, but…read morerather encourages you to learn the songs and techniques that will keep you interested. Highly recommended.

My parents bought me lessons with Kerry wing for my birthday when I was a minor. Kerry taught me…read morehow to play a couple songs on the ukulele when I was a junior in highschool (7 years ago). He recently contacted me on social media (I'm guessing he added me through the suggested contacts list having had my phone number stored in his phone from when we had lessons when I was a minor) and started sending me unsolicited sexually suggestive messages, sending me shirtless photos in bed of him next to his ukulele as an attempt to seduce me then after all this, finally asked for my name after I asked if he had remembered me. He realized he in fact did remember me and remarked how talented I was when I was at 16. This is not the experience I asked for nor should a teacher of young people be soliciting themselves online like that.

Our daughter has loved music at home since she was small, so when she turned 3, we decided it was…read moretime to enroll her in formal classes. We initially tried private piano lessons at another studio for two months, but she just wasn't enjoying the one-on-one setup. ​Everything changed when we ran into Exploring Music's booth at the Autumn Moon Festival and met Betty. They were offering a trial class, so we decided to give it a shot. From the moment we stepped into the trial, we knew this was the perfect fit--our daughter was instantly so much more engaged in a group environment! ​We signed up for their 3-month weekly session for the 3-5 age group, and it has been a complete game-changer. Teacher Nicole is phenomenal--she is so patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about her students while maintaining great professionalism. Under her guidance, our daughter looks forward to going every single week, and we've watched her transform from being shy to confident week after week. ​You can tell right away that Exploring Music is a true neighborhood favorite. People are constantly walking in just to chat, connect, and hang out--it's such a warm, friendly community hub. They even place a piano outside on the sidewalk for passersby to play and explore their curiosity, which is such a lovely touch for the street! ​On a personal note, when I was looking to purchase a gong for work, they were able to source one for me using their industry connections and deep music knowledge. I've truly enjoyed every single conversation with everyone on their team. ​Exploring Music played a huge role in helping our daughter blossom, and we couldn't be more grateful to Betty, Teacher Nicole, and the entire team. Highly recommend!

Super cute music store! They have way more than what you think. I went in on a whim to see if they…read morehad harmonicas, and they had three different types to choose from! I didn't even know there were that many options, but the employee was very knowledgeable, helpful, and nice! Will be back once I've mastered the C-scale harmonica

This is a great spot in Noe Valley to study music. I have been taking 30-minute piano lessons once…read morea week with Oliver Levy since January. For the previous two years, I had been relearning piano on my own after a couple decade hiatus. But getting back into study mode with a teacher launched my playing further than I ever expected. Oliver put challenging pieces in front of me to learn that I probably wouldn't have sought out on my own. In particular, he turned me onto Chopin's Nocturnes, and helped me go from "there's no way I'll ever be able to play this" to "is it considered obsessive to play this seven times a day because I'm addicted to the way it gives me chills every time?" 5/5, would recommend. PS: There are some pretty harsh reviews for this business, but I never once experienced any negative vibes. All around great experience for this guy, a happy customer excited to continue growing into the best musician I can be.

Please be aware of the ongoing fraudulent activity from Russo Music School. They have deducted…read moremoney constantly and I Have lodged an official Better Business Complaint. Next step: Complaint with Consumer Affairs California to Shut your business down permanently. For all those who have had ratings like mine do not hesitate to act on the spot and take legal action as you see fit. Thieving behavior that was reported as fraudulently changing the business information and retaining financial information to deduct money long after the cessation of classes is called Theft in broad daylight. This is in addition to her persistent efforts to disparage my son not that she's anything worth paying for! She failed at her job as a music teacher the only skill set she has she cannot perform properly and cannot inspire students to learn. What she is good at however as are the remainder of the chosen music teachers is to act uptight and rude and baseless and change their identity to commit financial theft. This is despite the blocks I put on my bank end and they advised me that Nicole Russo mostly changed a few details so that the information she had saved about my card she deducted on an erratic basis in exorbitant disproportionate amounts. Please refer to the files or evidence to support my review. I am sure those of you out there who experienced this can relate to me. Also, be sure to collaboratively issue complaints with BBB and Consumer Affairs California and I am sure if they see a red flag, Russo Music School Should be permanentlY SHUT DOWN for theft, misrepresentation, identity tampering, abusive work environment, and the barrage of violations that are being committed. Looks more like the Russo School of Theft to me! I Have the evidence to back that up (attached) and more! NOTE TO OWNER: ANY REPEAT OFFENSE AT ATTEMPTING TO STEAL MONEY WILL BE MET WITH ME ISSUING A POLICE COMPLAINT OF THEFT.

Recently drove to SF from the Peninsula because after lots of research this is the only store in…read morethe Bay Area worth visiting if you need to purchase a new or used classical guitar and want to benefit from a robust inventory of options at various price points. The attention we received over the course of two visits and the patience that allowed us to try many guitars and ask countless questions before we decided was simply incredible. The kind of service that I had forgotten even existed. I purchased a used classical guitar made in 1974 for myself and my son got a 7/8 Alhambra. We are both very very happy!

Best acoustic guitar selection in San Francisco. Nice guys…read moretoo. Stop in and spend some time trying out a bunch of beautiful guitars. Then buy one and take it home. Be happy.

I started my singing journey at Songbird Studios just before the pandemic in January 2020. I…read morecouldn't be more content that I stuck with it! I look forward to my lesson every week (and sometimes even plan my week around it ). Like, literally planned my Oahu vacation last week around this 45 minute lesson, folks I love how Songbird matches each student to a coach based on their musical taste and style -- and I'm so so happy I was matched with my coach, Alex! Alex is *always* so positive and encouraging in every single lesson She helped me find my vibrato, and identified the TA-driven areas of my voice that needed more attention early on. She's great at troubleshooting when I'm struggling, and has an acute ear for the little tiny finishing touches that make a big difference in your sound. I recently compared a video of myself singing now to a year ago, and I've truly come so far! I also love attending the virtual master classes on the weekends (free for members!) to learn new skills and perspectives. I've always been shy and anxious when it comes to performing, but I've come to love the monthly Singer's Circles -- Christina def elevates the fun level too. :) Thanks Alex and the Songbird team for sharing the joy of singing with others and for offering this tight-knit & supportive community Over the past year+ I've met so many talented and admirable people, and learning to sing has given me a reason to love & value myself a little bit more

OMG. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The good: location,…read morecost and flexible schedule (you can go every week or every other week) I love that! The Bad: Very commercial The Ugly: They use high-pressure tactics /Hard sell techniques, which I found very off-putting.