Our experience at Monrovia Music Academy was exceptional! My daughter is only 5 years old and we…read moredon't have any music background in our family- so she really started from scratch! Her piano teacher Johanna is very enthusiastic and fun with her- having her learn through play. Within just a couple lessons, she could play simple songs with sheet music. She learned quickly and was always excited to go to lessons. The front desk and admin are very quick and responsive to any scheduling/makeups other issues that may arise. Thanks, MMA!

We are new to the area and found this gem for taking music lessons. Two of my children have been…read moretaking lessons here since the beginning of the year and were able to participate in the Year End Recital in June. One of them takes piano lessons with Esther and the other takes guitar lessons with Drew. They are both amazing teachers. Esther is so kind, patient and encouraging with my son who can take some time to warm up to a new teacher. My other son really enjoys taking lessons with Drew. He's so talented and he has sparked a joy and love for learning guitar in my son that is so enjoyable to see. The studio staff is always very helpful with any questions I have, and if you are with a Charter School, they are an approved vendor for many schools in the area. Lessons are affordably priced, and if you need to cancel and reschedule, you can get a credit as long as you do so with advance notice. Even if you need to cancel last minute, (which unfortunately happened to us one time when our car broke down on the way to the lesson), they will send a video lesson so that your child can view it on their own. I would highly recommend Monrovia Music Academy! They have lessons for many instruments and offer voice lessons as well and for all ages. If you're still on the fence, you can always request a trial class to check it out for yourself before signing up!

Great staff! The teachers are very professional and accommodating. Both my kids loved their…read moreteachers and their lessons. It was a wonderful experience!

We have been coming to 88 Keys ever since forever. My daughter is currently with Mr. Chris and she…read moreloves him. He's strict but knows how to have fun which is what she needs. She has improved a lot in her piano skills and actually loves playing the piano. Rescheduling is easy and he is responsive to our needs and requests. Office staff is also nice and accommodating.

MaKesa makes music fun and easy for kids to engage with. We take voice lessons with her, and she's…read morefantastic. I highly recommend her.

Helped me learn a lot of great songs on guitar. I recommend going if u want to get started on any…read moreinstrument.

A friend recommended Arcadia Music and I'm so glad she did…read more I literally paying half of what I was at a different store for renting an instrument. The gentleman who helped us, (who I assume is the owner) took the time to properly measure my daughter for the correct size intrument as well as went over proper care. I recently renewed the instrument rental and it was so quick and easy. My daughter was even remeasured to make sure she has the correct size instrument. I was also told that if she happens to have a growth spurt, we can come back and change the size of the instrument at no additional charge. Payment is through Venmo or Zelle.

As the owner of a music studio, I'm very careful about where I refer my students when they need to…read morepurchase or upgrade an instrument. We've had a great business relationship with this string instrument shop, and our experience has always been excellent. The owner was a professional violinist with a symphony orchestra before retiring and opening his shop, so he truly knows violins and string instruments inside and out. He is very knowledgeable, honest, and always gives professional advice based on what is best for the student rather than simply trying to make a sale. We have referred many students and families to his shop, and they have always been very happy with both the instruments and the service they received. It's wonderful to have someone we can trust and confidently recommend to our students. Highly recommended!

I can definitely vouch for this music store. I have been coming here as long as I remember. I have…read morebought my viola, violin, piano, and clarinet from this store. The quality is quite good and this store has several selections from mid range to high quality instruments. They also carry a variety of method books from piano, to woodwinds, strings, percussion, and brass. The manager pays very close attention to detail and I appreciate her willingness to go above and beyond. She also explains the value and quality of each instrument. Which I appreciate a lot. She is very thorough with her explanations. Lees music also provides Piano, Winds, Strings, and Brass lessons.

nice selection of rolls and hand rolls, ample selection for vegetarians. quick fast automated…read moredelivery of fish from the kitchen. friendly staff

Several months ago I purchased a very rare and sought after early 2000's Tama snare drum that I…read morewanted to have restored / cleaned up. I own a few businesses and didn't have the time or energy to disassemble the whole thing and give myself a crash course on drum restoration so I did some Googling. I came across California Drums and spoke with Dan on the phone. Got a good feel for the shop and I'm familiar with Monrovia so I drove down and dropped the drum off. I ended up spending about an hour chatting with Dan and nerding out on drums and running businesses centered around music. Dan took about 3 months but I picked up the drum yesterday and I'm happy with results. Dan knows his shit and has connections in the drum and percussion industry. Visit and support this shop if you can. Avoid Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, and some of the bigger chains if you want to learn from a professional who cares about these instruments and knows his way around many genres and styles. If you need a custom order, go through California Drums. Thanks!

Great drum shop! Amazing! I held my breath as I entered and had to control an immense urge to…read moredepart with a complete drum set It looked, smelled, and sounded like a percussion environment. Staff were great, and genuinely friendly and customer service oriented.

My kids love their arts and sewing teachers. They had so much. I definitely recommend this placeread more

Such a great experience at Max Lee Music! From the moment I walked in, everyone was super welcoming…read moreand easy to talk to. The space has a really comfortable, positive vibe and you can tell they truly care about what they do and the people they work with. Max is incredibly knowledgeable and patient, and he explains things in a way that makes you feel comfortable no matter your experience level. Nothing felt intimidating or rushed, just supportive and encouraging the whole time. I really appreciated how genuine and down to earth everything felt. It's not just a music shop, it feels like a place that really supports creativity and community. Highly recommend if you're looking for lessons or anything music-related. Definitely a spot I'd come back to!

The staff is super knowledgeable and patient even on the phone during high times. The process of…read morebuying a violin is easy

Rented instrument for my kid. Insurance was not offered. Instrument broke (which was normal) and…read moreended up having to pay full price. The 2nd rental they asked for more money because they made a mistake in billing. One time they billed me 2x and I had to call to get it reversed. Avoid this place.

I am a new violin player and went in to check out the student level violins. Edmund the owner…read moregreeted me at the door and patiently showed me the various options. At the time I was renting a very poor quality violin from a different shop. I was paying $40 per month for it, and I was interested in trying a better quality instrument. I ended up leaving with a brand new Satori Prelude that is so much nicer than my previous rental, and Edmund rented it to me for only $30 per month! If I like the instrument after those 3 months, I have the choice to purchase it and the $90 that I already paid for the rental counts as credit toward the purchase price. I am not an expert by any means, but all the instruments there seem really well made. They all have higher quality fittings compared to my previous student rental options, and are set-up by a luthier so they sound their best. I can already tell a significant difference in the quality and sound of this violin, even though it is still considered a lower-end student instrument. I would like to add that I was actually initially interested in the next tier up which is called the Soloist. But Edmund steered me toward the Prelude which was several hundred dollars cheaper! That is rare thing, where he easily could have convinced me to get a more expensive instrument and make more money, but did the right thing and said the cheaper instrument would be more than enough at my level. With that, they earned a repeat customer. Do yourself a favor and check them out if you are looking for quality instruments from an honest and genuinely kind shop!

Wonderful family-run business I have had the pleasure of visiting a couple of times in the past…read morecouple of weeks. My first visit was for an adjustment ona new electric violin that I bought for my daughter. It came from Europe, so I had to find a local luthier. They did a fantastic job! I went today for an issue with my daughter's acoustic, which they quickly and thoroughly resolved. The entire family is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and generous with their skills. I couldn't recommend them more!

You would be very hard pressed to find a comparable teacher to Dhiren, and he offers so much more…read morethan a typical piano program. Firstly, HIM! He's as professional as they come, puts out and actively works on his craft, and has so much more knowledge and resources to help his students. Secondly, the instrument! Go find me a piano program that has a comparable instrument for you to play on. It's not a free on from Craigslist, like so many schools have. The instrument matters. And his is top tier. Thirdly, the inspiration of having a teacher that plays, and is kind and clear with his students. Go listen to his album! Now go google the other teacher from some other school you're thinking about. Piano should be taught by pianists.

My 9-year-old son has been on and off with piano since he was six. He never disliked it, but he…read morenever felt excited about it--until we found Dhiren. Now, even though practice can still be a challenge, he looks forward to his lessons every single week. That alone is already a big win for any parent. What makes Dhiren stand out is that his teaching truly matches the name of his studio--Innovation Music Studio. Most children's piano lessons follow a traditional classical model: read notes, play what's on the page, master one piece at a time, stick strictly to curriculum. There's almost no ear training, no exposure to modern or global music styles, and little room for a child's natural creativity. Dhiren completely reimagines what music education can be. Yes, he builds all the classical foundations--reading music, learning scales, proper posture, technique. But he takes it far beyond that. He introduces kids to music they instantly connect with: The Beatles, African rhythms, jazz standards, melodies from around the world. And he invites them to experiment, improvise, and create, right from the start. One of the biggest differences is his focus on ear training. There's a running joke about classically trained pianists: ask them to play "Happy Birthday" and they'll say, "Sorry, I don't have the sheet music." With Dhiren's students, that never happens. My son learned most of his Christmas songs simply by listening and figuring them out on the keyboard--something he'd never been taught to do before. This taps into the way music is actually experienced and created in the real world today. There is a huge gap between the way traditional piano is taught and what many parents actually hope music will give their children. Most of us don't need our kids to become the next Yo-Yo Ma. We want them to strengthen their brains, develop a love for music, and--most importantly--gain an artistic language to express themselves. Dhiren's approach gives them that from day one. He nurtures the pure, unfiltered creativity kids naturally have, instead of waiting years for it to show up. As someone who grew up with strict classical training myself, I can see the difference clearly. I started piano at six, quit at twelve from lack of interest, and only discovered the joy of jazz at forty-two. Jazz felt like a whole new world--freeing and expressive in a way classical training never allowed. Watching my son experience that sense of freedom now, at nine years old, is incredibly meaningful. Dhiren is uniquely qualified to shape this kind of music education. He's classically trained, a skilled jazz pianist, and holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology, which means he deeply understands global musical traditions and cultures. This gives him a rare ability to connect kids with music from many worlds--not just what's printed in a method book. You can also feel his dedication. I often sit in the next room during lessons and end up not reading my book at all because I'm too absorbed in watching him teach. I learn so much just by listening in. If you want your child to receive first-class music education--the kind that nurtures creativity, builds strong musical foundations, and plants a seed that will grow for a lifetime--you HAVE to start with Dhiren. I recommend him wholeheartedly.