I discovered McCormick a year ago when I found a beginner's open jam session on Meetup. At that time I had been learning bass for about 5 years on my own through YouTube tutorials and tabs. It used to take me several weeks just to learn one whole song at tempo. Improvisation skills were at zero. Plus, I didn't know anyone else who played an instrument, so I wasn't making much progress. The two times I had previously attempted joining a random open jam, I was completely lost and frustrated. But then I attended that first McCormick jam session... What I love about the open jams is that it's run by an instructor, so they'll often suggest easier songs and run through the chords on a whiteboard before starting. The people that attend are welcoming and friendly for all skill levels, and it's nice to see the same faces come back each month. Beginner/intermediate players get a chance to play along to easier songs, but there's also a chance for more advanced players to improvise and solo. I wound up having so much fun that first time, that I signed up for private lessons the week after, and have been going to the monthly jam sessions ever since. If you take private lessons, you can also sign up to join a student band that practices once a week to perform at concerts 4x a year. For beginners/intermediate who think they're not good enough to join a band, or if none of your friends are musically inclined, this is PERFECT. No matter who much you practice by yourself and can play along to a recording at home, it doesn't beat playing live in a group. Private lessons + band practice + monthly jams have seriously leveled up my skills in the past year. Now, I can learn a song well enough to survive a jam session with only a couple run throughs beforehand if I've never heard it before. I can survive a 12 bar blues jam without any prep. Plus I've also connected with a couple people during the jam sessions, and am now learning 3-4 new songs each week! Also, shout out to Jules who's helped me learn songs much faster by simplifying basslines that I thought were too hard to play, and getting me to work more on listening and improvisation instead of relying 100% on tabs. He's an excellent and encouraging teacher, and I've picked up tons of tips and advice in the past year. Really happy I found McCormick! I've always loved playing an instrument, but it's 100x more fun if you get to play with other people. read more

Amazing teacher, amazing students , amazing learning environment to really grow and harness musical skills. I would give it 10,000 stars if I could. read more

Really enjoying my vocal lessons here at Mccormick with Debbie! what a welcoming and supportive community of staff and students to be around. I am thankful to have found this school to help me level up my singing. They also have live shows you can participate in every couple of months where you can be in a band with other students. read more

Learning drums has been a lifelong dream of mine, and starting as an adult definitely came with its challenges--but working with Bryan has been an absolute game-changer. He is hands down one of the best teachers I've ever had in anything. Bryan is incredibly organized, motivating, and truly understands how to break things down in a way that makes sense. He knows exactly when to help push through a groove and, just as importantly, when it's time to pivot so things can really sink in. That kind of intuitive teaching is a rare gift--and Bryan has it. Not only is he a fantastic educator, but he's also made some amazing upgrades to the drum room--introducing high-tech drum kits, new speakers, and a screen for reading music. It's an inspiring space to learn in, and you can tell he puts his heart into making it the best experience possible for his students. I'm having a blast and, thanks to Bryan, I feel like I'm finally learning in a way that sticks. Couldn't recommend him more! read more

I have been taking piano lessons here with Art for the last two years and it has been a great experience! He is very knowledgeable and patient and has encouraged me to go outside of my comfort zone. Kimberly is also fantastic with scheduling. McCormick is flexible and always willing to work with my changing schedule. read more

Art is a wonderful teacher! My daughter is 10 years old and taught herself ukulele during Covid. When things opened up, we decided to put her in ukulele lessons. My first call to the studio, I was connected with the owner, Andrew. He was super welcoming and wanted to learn more about her music interests and goals. Her class was tailored just for her. Art has made a world of difference for her. He has helped her with chords, strumming, playing ukulele and singing at the same time and so much more. He is fun and makes music fun. My daughter is super shy but there are showcase opportunities where she was able to performed in front of others and it has made her so much braver and more confident in herself. We've been here for almost a year and she had asked to extend her classes so that Art can teach her piano as well! You can tell that all the teachers here are so talented and passionate about music. Glad to be a part of such an great studio! read more

McCormick Music Lessons - Amelie at the Summer Showcase - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My son started playing drums with McComick 2 years ago and it was the best decision we made for his music career. Andrew who runs McCormick is encouraging and hosts showcases, jam sessions and get togethers for the musicians to form a community where they have opportunities to play outside of their lessons. The teachers here are top notch and they all have a passion for teaching. Errick is our drum teacher and he has instilled the love of drums in my son for life. My son loves his lessons so much that he practices at home daily on his own. In fact, I often have to tell him "that's enough! Do your homeork!". This is the end goal of signing up for music, to love it so much that you can't stop thinking about it and playing it. I am grateful to Errick for giving my son this gift, he is such a fun teacher that their lessons feel more like hanging out which makes it less pressure, he leads by teaching music that the student is interested in. This made my son engaged from the get go and also gave him the confidence to try music on his own at home. The studio charges month to month. The makeup policy is a little tricky because you have to make up classes within the month. They just came out with an app which helps track your lessons and where you can schedule make up lessons, this makes it easier for you to plan. Andrew (studio owner) and Kimberly (studio manager) are always super friendly and flexible. read more

Our son started guitar lessons here several weeks ago and we are happy he did. Between Eddie his teacher and Kimberly deftly running things up front it has been a great and supportive environment to learn a new instrument. read more

Great staff, equipment and environment. I'm new at the drums, and they always make me feel comfortable and encouraged. Looking forward to my next session! read more

Piano teacher - Arthur Ortiz Drum teacher - Alex DeMeulle I can't rave enough about this school! The teachers here are a group of enthusiastic, knowledgeable, inspiring music professionals that give their students the confidence and motivation to play. I love that this school offers you a non traditional way of learning (jumping right into songs that you wanna play while also learning music theory). I play piano with Arthur and he is excellent. He breaks down the piece, explains notations, theory and is always answering my questions outside of class. I'm a beginner piano player and have grown so much since I started practicing with him. My son (8) plays drums with Alex and he is fantastic with kids. He knows my sons capabilities and when to push him, which he needs sometimes. But even when the song he is learning is challenging, my son WANTS to go to his weekly lesson and I consider that a victory. I highly recommend these teachers! read more

McCormick Music Lessons - 2020 showcase - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My older son has been taking voice lessons with Ms. Debbie and we've been so impressed by her. She is always prepared and communicates well. When I asked my son what he liked about his lessons and teacher, he said that Ms. Debbie is patient, listens well, and knowledgeable. She always gives great suggestions and is passionate about teaching. My younger son has been taking drum lessons with Mr. Errick, and we appreciate that he pushes him to improve his technique in a firm manner yet still keeps it fun and approachable. My son has consistently improved since he's been learning from Mr. Errick. Overall, we've been happy with our experience at McCormick. We love that it feels like one big family of music lovers. read more

I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar since I was little. Now that I'm older, I decided to pursue lessons at McCormick after seeing the great reviews and got paired up with Daniel as my instructor. I've never played before and had zero experience prior, but Daniel was patient and knowledgable. He catered our lessons to songs and artists that I liked and would even hand write notes for me to bring home. You can tell that music is his passion and it translates into his teaching. read more

I have two boys that have been getting lessons from McCormick for 5 years now. One plays guitar and the other drums. They both love their current instructors, Jules (guitar) and Errick (drums) and it's been fun to see how much they have truly grown to love music and playing together. Both Jules and Errick are fantastic instructors and really get the best out of both my boys. Andrew (the owner) is great at continuously creating opportunities for the students to evolve their craft (including jam sessions and showcases). Very glad my boys have found a home at McCormick read more

I have nothing but great things to say about this music school. From their management to their instructors. My daughter takes piano lessons from Mr. Art and guitar lessons from Mr. Matt. During the shut down my daughter lost her piano slot with her original piano teacher. Who she dearly enjoyed. After looking for new teachers I came across McCormick Music Lessons. I was pleasantly impressed. Mr. Art has not only continued to teach my daughter piano but he also makes sure to teach her how to read music. At the end of each lesson, Mr. Art and Mr. Matt email my daughter notes from their sessions and give her assignments for their next lesson. I genuinely have seen my daughter grow a lot with both instruments. My daughter is also looking forward to performances at McCormick. Lastly both Mr. Art and Mr. Matt are great with young kids my daughter is 12 years old and she enjoys both their energy. read more

McCormick Music Lessons - Here Mr. Art is teaching my daughter how to read music or maybe quizzing her :) - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Art is AMAZING!!!! This review is long overdue. Art is the best teacher in anything I've ever experienced. His style of teaching is so incredible, patient and clever. Unfortunately my time got bogged up by my kiddos and I fell off the face of the earth and missed my last session. That being said, Kimberly was AMAZING to work with on scheduling. She is the best! Overall incredible experience and would highly recommend. I'm hoping they'll have me back! :) Anyone looking to learn piano, ask for art! :) read more

My son has been going to McCormick for about six months now. He attends 1 hour weekly guitar sessions with Matt and looks forward to it every week. He has improved immensely in the time he has been there. He plays all sorts of rock songs and even attended a fun jam session where he played some nirvana songs with other students! They are always good about rescheduling your session if something comes up and you cannot make it. Highly recommend for those wanting to learn to play an instrument and have fun doing it! read more

Excellent teachers and staff! We have sent 3 of our kids to McCormick Music and have been extremely happy with every teacher they have had! The owner, Andrew is awesome and truly cares about all of the students! McCormick Music treats you like family! read more

I used to get drumming lessons here! Errick was the best. Super knowledgeable and talented.

I am a senior and upon retiring decided to learn to play the guitar. I really enjoy music and believe the guitar was the center of my favorite music genres. After consulting the Internet for local music instruction available, I chose McCormick Music. With three months under my belt I feel I made the best choice. My instructor is Jules who is a professional as well as an instructor. Jules is firm without being forceful in getting his expertise at playing the guitar planted in my head and fingers. At this point I am beginning to be able to play the notes and chords to some of my favorite tunes. McCormick Music is not only valuable for the instruction of music. It is a music experience. They create programs that allow one to practice playing in groups of other students, so one can gain the experience of playing along in a band and the experience of playing in front of a live audience. read more

The experience here was so bad! First the teacher just do around 20 min instead of 30 min, and spend almost 7-8 more minutes to talk about kids. I was confused, how about I just pay 20 min and pay for another conference?! Also after I send them an email to cancel the payment. They still charged my every month without any service! If I didn't check my bill. I think they will charge me forever! How could they do that?! Just want to mention people check your bill frequently. read more

I have been playing guitar for many years and I took up piano about 8 years ago. I've taught myself and I've taken lessons at other music schools over the years. I started taking piano lessons with Arthur Ortiz at McCormick in April. I'm having the best experience at McCormick! I first talked to McCormick's owner Andrew on the phone. Andrew also teaches guitar. I found him to be very easy to talk to and welcoming. He answered all my questions and he asked me about myself and my musical history. I started taking piano lessons with Arthur Ortiz in April. Arthur is an awesome music instructor! He's very patient and fun to work with. He's very personable, talented and passionate about music. Arthur has been helping me work on reading music better (which has always been a struggle for me ), work on scales, finger exercises and songs that I want to learn. My piano playing has improved a lot over the past 4 months. McCormick also offers opportunities to play with other students in bands that will ultimately perform. I started working with a group in June and that has also been a tremendous learning experience. Daniel has been our group instructor and he is also an excellent music instructor. He's very patient and kick back. I highly recommend McCormick for beginners, intermediate, and advanced musicians. And if you are looking for an excellent piano or vocal instructor, Arthur Ortiz is excellent! read more

Andrew the owner is very welcoming. My vocal instructor Art is great as well! I had no prior singing experience and he was very encouraging and patient with me. He is knowledgeable and sends me supportive materials after each class to practice. I had a great experience at McCormick. read more

Jules Martinez has instructed me on the guitar for almost a year. He's done a great job teaching me to site-read music sheets, play chords and chord progression. He gives increasing complex drills that improve my site reading and guitar playing. I like that he encourages repetitive exercises that force me to learn from and correct my mistakes. I HIGHLY recommend Jules as an instructor for the novice, intermediate or expert guitar student read more

My son has always been adamant how he prefers to be self taught watching YouTube videos for piano and refused lessons.  After a year of playing I convinced  him to check out McCormick Music in Costa Mesa.  The piano instructor Art comes highly recommended even from friends of mine that have not been here, just word of mouth from other parents.  Fast forward 4 months and my son is loving piano lessons, understanding theory and building the confidence to perform.  For guitar lessons Daniel is the man!!!!! read more

This place is awesome!!! I have never played or taken any lessons in my 36 years on earth but have always loved music and had an interest, I was set up with 'Art' Arthur Ortiz and he is incredible!! He is gracious and helpful and makes you feel better than you are and makes you want to keep coming back. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time I never thought I'd be able to pick this up so quickly, sure makes me wish I would've started earlier!! read more

Arthur Ortiz is a wonderful instructor. My daughter has really enjoyed and advanced in her piano this past year! Merlaina O'Conner read more

My son has been a student (guitar) of Daniel's for almost four years. He's an incredible teacher who has helped develop a love of music for my boy in a supportive, motivating environment. I always receive a follow up email after each lesson with music they have practiced. They have extra events to showcase the students for friends and family to attend that are well organized and fun. Highly recommend Daniel if you are looking for guitar/bass lessons!!! read more

Can't say enough good stuff about these guys. Where to start? I decided to get back into guitar and started looking for places to get lessons. Andrew was helpful and professional, setting me up with a trial lesson with Jarett. I loved my trial so I decided to stick around. Jarett's a fantastic teacher, able to break down complex musical concepts into digestible form, while being supportive and understanding when I made (many) mistakes. In addition to the lessons, they offer a real community for developing musicians, with regular jam sessions as well as special lessons on recording music and more. This isn't a machine trying to churn out cookie cutter instrumentalists, they're interested in developing real musicianship. During my time here, I've encountered other students of all ages and skill levels, across all instruments, so there's no excuse not to get playing. Why are you still reading this? Go forth and rock. read more

I was looking for something that my son could get into aside from his video games. When I suggested he learn an instrument, I thought it'd be a long shot. But he agreed to check it out and said he'd consider guitar lessons. After day 1, he was already willing to buy an electric guitar which I was only too happy to do so! It's been a month now and he enjoys his lessons with Daniel a lot. He says that he is pretty laid back, patient, and nice. We're very happy that we found the right place and the right instructor! read more

Art is a wonderful patient and knowledgeable instructor! The lessons are a pleasure to have as a student and I look forward to many more sessions. read more

I took lessons from Andrew approximately 4 years ago, when he was teaching out of his apartment, but life got in the way and I had to stop. I decided to pick the guitar up after I retired and I contacted Andrew. Little did I know that Andrew now had the McCormick Music School. I spoke with Andrew and he remembered me and he also remembered the type of music I am interested in. He set me up with one of his instructors, Jarret Glodt, and it has been one of the best educational experiences that I have been involved in. Jarret is a phenomenal teacher who speaks to me in a way that I completely understand this "language" of music. I have learned so much in my little time with Jarret. I am so glad that I reached out again and that McCormick Music School is leading me on my journey through the world of music read more

I'm currently taking piano lessons with Arthur Ortiz and he's the best! He possess all the qualities you look for in a teacher--kind, caring and knowledgeable. Art has helped me feel more confident in my piano playing. He's great at listening to what you would like to improve on. He's helped me improve my sight reading, makes sure I get homework every week, is patient and overall a great teacher! read more

I took vocal lessons with Art Ortiz for two years! He was very encouraging and helped me improve my confidence and technique in singing. He was open to working on whatever songs I was interested in, and he always wanted to hear about my personal life outside of singing. Such a kind and motivating teacher! read more

Art is a fantastic piano teacher. Our son took piano as a child but as a teenager wanted to relearn. Art has advanced him so quickly. He is gentle, kind and informative. He also plays beautifully. I would highly recommend Art for lessons. read more

This is an awesome music studio! Both my kids have been taking lessons from Daniel for nearly 2 years. My 11 year old on guitar and my 9 year old on bass. Daniel is a fun and patient teacher. He keeps my kids interested and highly motivated to master songs that are current or that my kids have requested. It has been wonderful watching their tremendous growth and love of music, all in less than two years! read more

I lived the classic story of taking lessons as a kid, not liking it, my parents warning me I would regret it one day, then quitting and ultimately regretting it. Fast forward about 15 years and I had the passion to play again. I went to the internet and fortunately stumbled upon McCormick through yelp reviews, so figured I would return the favor! Andrew took the time to talk through my playing experience, songs I like, and what I was looking for out of lessons. He found the best fit for me and that was Arthur Ortiz. I truly have enjoyed working with Art - he's an extremely friendly guy who really knows his stuff. I read through Krisy's comment and she really hit it on the head, Art knows when to be encouraging and patient but also knows when to push you when you're feeling like you can't quite get a song or scale right. One of the things I appreciated most was the freedom to pick up whatever song I wanted to work on (a liberty I didn't have as a kid that ultimately took my joy out of playing) balanced with music theory. I feel like it is so easy to put the music theory piece to the side when you're trying to learn an instrument yourself and I'm glad Art was there to hold me accountable and logically take me through different scales and arpeggios. I highly recommend McCormick! read more

I can't say enough about this place. They do a lot with very little, and the jams and performances you get to participate in are so so important. My teacher was Daniel Larrea, and he was always there help me break things down and understand them. Like so many things, the more you put in the better the results. My experience with McCormick music was that I gained much more by adding them to the mix. I only stopped because I moved away! I'm even on their website! Haha. read more

I've been taking guitar lessons from Daniel Larrea for awhile now and he has been helping me immensely. He is extremely knowledgeable and has been very patient with my ineptitude. I highly recommend Daniel to anyone interested in learning or becoming more proficient at guitar. read more

This review is for Mr. Art Ortiz. My children started taking lessons with Mr. Art about sevens months ago, singing for my daughter and ukulele for my son. They both love Mr. Art. He himself is a talented singer, pianist and musician and has a great combination of challenging my kids to perform their best, along with being extremely patient and explaining concepts in a clear way. Time flies during our lessons, and each week I am amazed how much my kids are progressing. Mr. Art has taught my daughter the fundamentals of singing including how to breathe correctly, singing vowels, and bringing out dynamics within different pieces. Mr. Art challenged my son to play ukulele pieces outside of the instructional book, and never got frustrated when my son could not play a difficult chord. Instead he provided different tips and cheered my son on when he finally got it. Mr. Art is one awesome teacher and mentor! read more

Clean and awesome place to take voice and instrument lessons!