I started studying with John in Oakland just before he moved to Denver. He made such an impression…read moreon me in those first few lessons that we decided to continue instruction via Skype after his move. That proved to be an excellent choice. John is a gifted teacher who takes his own playing very seriously. This means that he is constantly growing as a musician and sharing those lessons with his students in a way the they can relate to. He meets the student where they are, but does not give in to the temptation to cater exclusively to their wants; John preaches balance in playing and practicing and will not hesitate to prescribe work in weak areas. Every time I see John in person, he has grown as both a player and a teacher. He is at the forefront of 'ukulele education on the national and international stage. If you are interested in deepening your understanding of the instrument, you should run - not walk - to Ukulele Inspired Studios.

This review is long overdue! I took ukulele lessons with John when he was based in Oakland, from…read more2015-16. I was brand new to the uke, and needed to start with the basics. There were many things I loved about my lessons with John. First off, his positive energy and enthusiasm made our lessons such a pleasure. Something else that made John's approach totally unique was that his lesson content is very student-driven; rather than assigning me songs to practice, he would ask me what I wanted to learn. I would show him songs I was interested in, and he would help me figure out how to play them. In the weeks when life was busy and I didn't have a song in mind, he would make suggestions that I could choose from. He also challenged me by incorporating musical theory into our lessons, and took into account my prior knowledge from playing piano and singing. Another unique aspect of John's teaching is that he would video record new finger work or strum patterns, and share the videos with me. This way when I was practicing at home and didn't remember how to play something, I could always rewatch the videos. If you're at all considering taking ukulele lessons, I highly recommend that you work with John!

I grew up in a musical family…read more I was a reluctant classical piano student for 10 years. On one hand, I was fortunate to have had lessons from one of the most renowned organists/pianists in the Washington, DC, metro area. On the other hand, I had little love for the keyboard or the music I was assigned to play. Nevertheless, I learned to appreciate good music and good musicians. The same year I quit the piano, a Gibson J-45 acoustical guitar arrived at Christmas. Like many teenagers, I day-dreamed about playing professionally without understanding what that required. Other things in life got in the way of guitar playing and the Gibson got sold. Forty years later, my wife and I were attending an art auction. The first item up for bid was a guitar with two months' worth of lessons. I made an opening bid... my wife gave me a surprised look... I didn't expect to win... I did. That's how I got started with Lyle Long - purely by chance. It's been one of the most satisfying, educational experiences in my life. I've studied under some exceptionally talented music teachers. Lyle stands at the top of that list for two reasons: his talent as an exceptional guitarist; but more so, because of his exceptional teaching skills. He has an uncanny ability to get to the essence of issues that frustrate music students. He does this on both an emotional and technical level. He has the unusual gift of being able to connect with both adults as well as young children. It is truly amazing to watch (or experience first-hand) how he translates complex music theory into easily understood concepts; guides students to understand these concepts with achievable techniques based upon their current skill levels; diagnoses errors and corrects habits; all of which combine towards building a strong foundation of confidence. For young people especially, I think acquiring confidence in something that they can value (and others value) is critical. I came to my first lessons with a lot of uncertainty about my technical capabilities and knowledge. Lyle literally started by returning me to a very basic level and showed me how much of the theory and techniques that I had learned many years earlier had actually gotten in the way of making me a better musician. I sometimes leave my lessons with thoughts about how very different my music life would have been if I'd had Lyle Long for a teacher forty years ago. If you are considering musical instruction for yourself, or for your children; at levels anywhere between beginner to professional, I highly recommend Lyle Long. You will not regret your decision.

My daughter really loves it here! Ty is a wonderful instructor who has helped my daughter learn so…read moremuch in a short time and gives her confidence in her ability!

So far so good. The people that work here are extremely friendly and know what they are doing. My…read moredaughter went in for a 1 on 1 guitar lesson while they gave me the tour. Plenty of space and just an awesome atmosphere. Waiting for my daughter to complete her lesson and see what she thinks. $205 /month for one 45min lesson per week $315/month for one 45 min lesson per week and a 3h class per week (group)

Melissa is an amazing teacher. I love the group guitar lessons I have taken from her. I am still a…read morenovice, but she demystified guitar basics for me. She deconstructs music, songs and guitar skills that had been daunting - and she patiently guides through it. She isolates and breaks down new skills, material and challenging sections, then puts it back together. She works in the perfect balance of big picture overview and repetition and practice building muscle memory - while learning songs from day one. She is realistic about the need to practice to improve. She enjoys music and emphasizes the fun of playing and singing. She is a very clear communicator and well organized business owner, too. Class schedule, program during class and follow up is consistently solid. I cannot say enough good things about Melissa and Forte Music Education! So much that I've given gift certificates to her class to my friends and family who aspire to play guitar and have been stuck. Melissa is an excellent educator, musician and business owner.

I have had the most wonderful experience working with Rachel Grindle for voice lessons this year…read more Rachel is patient, friendly, and extremely kind. I was a complete beginner and she made me feel so comfortable to sing in front of a stranger for the first time. I would highly recommend Rachel and DMI for any one looking to get music lessons.

I was in town at a conference and looking for a place to practice piano and guitar while I was in…read moretown. I called Denver Music Institute and they were incredibly helpful and accommodating. I will definitely go there again to practice if I am in Denver again!

To preface, I think if I had reviewed School of Rock when I was still attending the school, my…read morerating would have been higher, but looking back on my experiences there I've found that it fostered a toxic environment. If you're looking to learn an instrument, it's great, but the social aspect is not well managed. Students who did not put school of rock first (over regular school, other activities, and jobs) were not respected by instructors, even though this should have been a fun extra curricular. I found in my personal experiences, staff being rude over missed rehearsals due to illness (pre-covid), lack of respect for seasons off, and an overall disappointing attitude when it came to high schoolers not putting music first (even when it was just an after school activity). The staff frequently became closer with students (showing, at times, blatant favoritism), and instead of instructing them and being the adults to look up to, became involved in petty drama of teenagers - even taking sides if their "star student" was showing less than admirable behavior towards other students. It could have been a fantastic after school experience- and it certainly had its positives, but as long as the school continues to operate the way it does, I would be remiss to recommend the Littleton school. I did have fun at the shows and learned instruments - but I can't say it was worth the experience I had with the instructors at this particular location.

All-Star group of instructors here. We tried multiple music programs to try and get our kids…read moreexcited about playing an instrument to no avail. Once we took them to School of Rock they were hooked. I highly recommend this group of folks.

Alex is an amazing guitar teacher, all levels. We were looking for a new guitar teacher for…read moreintermediate level and interviewed several people. He is exactly what we were looking for. Update 1/15: Alex recently moved to Old Town in Arvada -- 5612 Yukon St, Arvada. He continues to be a great, motivating teacher - kind and knowledgeable. Excellent for all levels.

Alex gives his students a well rounded music education. He is enthusiastic, committed, creative,…read moreand gives 100% to his students.

Daron was great to work with! Very responsive, reasonably priced and came out asap. He fixed my…read moreissue right away. I've saved his info for future issues.