I was looking for a unique holiday gift for my friend who is a musician. The thing about musicians is they can't get enough "gear" or instruments into their small living quarters so there is nothing better you can give than access to an entire spectrum of instruments but also to a patient instructor who can also be a guide. Turns out MTS offers gift certificates which is exactly what I needed. The transaction was entirely online and communication was clear. I support great indie businesses and I hope you will too. read more

MTS Studios - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I started taking private lessons with Jesse awhile ago and also did the adult group lessons. There aren't always a ton of options for adults trying to learn music, but I think Jesse has a really great thing going with his studio. Jesse is fluent in pretty much all instruments: drums, guitar, keys,etc -- his musical knowledge is self evident and he obviously loves music. I think he does a great job of building up your fundamentals like rhythm, ear training, understanding song structure, etc. The studio's overall vibe is great and I definitely recommend trying out the group rock band classes read more

We have had a wonderful experience with Jesse and MTS. I was initially looking for someone to come to our house to teach our children music lessons. I wasn't sure where to go at that time so I tried Craigslist for ideas. We came across MTS on the site and I am glad we did! Jesse responded to my inquiry right away and was very helpful from the start. MTS has a nice studio set up with plenty of space and instruments, I think in the end it was definitely a better option than home lessons for us. We have never worked with a studio before so I was unsure what to expect. MTS has been extremely professional, they are there every week as promised and even post all their vacation for the year on their website. We receive constant feedback on our children's improvement and lessons (via e-mail) for them to work on at home. I wasn't expecting that! We have definitely seen improvement during their lessons with MTS and will continue to work with them for the foreseeable future. read more

Jesse is not only a very talented instructor but also a mentor for the teenagers. He is very good at encouraging the kids. My daughter had very happy hours in his academy. We strongly recommend him. Best read more

Music lessons with Jesse have been a great experience for our son who might not otherwise have stuck with lessons or an instrument. Our son started with drums as he was musically inclined but had some challenges with fine motor issues. Jesse was quick to get him listening to and playing songs that he liked, so that he was not only doing exercises and drills. A year later, Jesse encouraged our son to join with 2 other elementary school students in a rock band and soon our kid was also singing lead vocals and eventually started picking up keyboard/ synth and now bass. Jesse is great at motivating and inspiring even tweens with otherwise short attention spans. The rock band training is much more versatile than just learning how to play a predetermined set of songs. The band has been learning to set up their equipment, pick up songs by ear and starting to improv and write their own music. Melissa helped the kids to design a group logo and poster. The kids pick the songs, decide who is playing what part, how songs fit into a set list and have even played a few outside "gigs" without any help or supervision from Jesse. The kids sound great... Like really great. No dumbed down songs here... they are doing the real music from Green Day, Panic! at the Disco, Muse, Fall Out Boy, and some older classics (well, old to the kids). Both Jesse and Melissa have extensive backgrounds in education (Melissa even worked in after school enrichment at my daughter's school) and have a very thoughtful didactic process. I can see how differently Jesse even approaches what he is teaching my son and his bandmates as he tailors it to their individual personalities and interests. Meanwhile, I'm blown away by how much music theory my now middle schooler knows... whether transposing songs to fit his vocal range or discussing themes in the songs he sings at school or other camps. Beyond individual and band lessons, Jesse has been running a few summer camps where kids are put together in a band, pick a few songs (and maybe writing a new one!) and work on them all week culminating in a show on Friday complete with lights and effects. It's a great introduction to playing in a band for the newer students, and trying out working with new musicians and styles of music for the more established kids. read more

We were looking for a piano teacher for our son and MTS was recommended by a friend. Jesse and Melissa are both great teachers! Our son has been going to MTS for a few years and they're fantastic with motivating the kids and mentoring them through the process. They're always flexible with schedules and have a lot of different activities and camps to keep the kids busy and interested throughout the year. They offer individual lessons as well as band practice so the kids can learn how to perform together. Strongly recommend them both! read more

Jesse really knows his stuff. I started out by taking beginner saxophone lessons where he helped me with a project song. After that was finished, I quickly gave up sax and picked up drums instead. Since I was completely unprepared, Jesse helped me source some used gear from Craigslist so I could practice at home. He's really good at explaining music theory and breaking things down so you can eventually master the concepts. read more

My 10 year old son has been attending MTS for over a year now. He started out continuing piano lessons here. But now he is learning guitar and drums too. What I enjoy most is seeing my son playing in a band with other kids. Not only are they learning the fundamentals of music but now exploring different instruments and learning to write and compose their own original songs. Hands down this place breeds creativity! Totally recommend it for people who are lovers of music. read more

My son started taking private lessons with Jesse. His lessons are very educational and fun! Especially when my son and Jesse play together for my son's lesson, it is so nice. read more

My daughter has been with MTS for more than 2 years. She enjoys a lot! She worked with various teachers in that time frame. Everyone there is very professional and knowledgeable. Group lesson is perfect size. It is a small size class; where the teacher is able to work with each student individually. All in all, we like both group or 1:1 training. You certainly want to explore with MTS team! read more

My son started learning music with Jesse - he was referred by another friend of his who has been with MTS for a while. I love Jesse's approach to teaching music. He is so passionate and invested in kids and what they learn. I have been to various other places for the kids lessons and they are mostly interested in clocking their time. Whereas Jesse is committed in making sure kids learn. He allows them to be creative so while they are learning they are also trying to find their own style in music. I am so glad we found him. read more

My children have been taking lessons from Jesse for about 4 years and they love going to MTS. Jesse is patient, kind, and incredibly knowledgable. He always brings new challenges for his students and he understands each student's needs. With Jesse my children have learned how to play multiple instruments, compose their own music, play in a band at his studio, and learn theory all in a fun and relaxed way. Both he and Melissa have built a studio that is a creative and fun place to learn. read more

I've been taking lessons at MTS for a few months. Jesse and Melissa are awesome. they are great at balancing principles/theory with fun, and are very patient and generous with novices like me. highly recommend! read more

Jesse and Melissa are true gems when it comes to music and art education (and more). My son has been taking lessons with Jesse for 5 years and he still looks forward to every session. Jesse majored in music education and is phenomenal with kids (so is Melissa, who has taught art to my kids as well). They are both incredibly talented and genuinely want to share their interests with others. Jesse and Melissa also teach band classes and let the students drive their learning with their own musical preferences (in the band, they get to pick all their own songs and he works with them to learn from and play them). He is a perfect blend of gentle but strict and teaches the kids music theory, how to take care of their instruments, set up accompanying equipment, etc. It seems he really wants to give as many people a chance to love music like he does. He teaches many instruments, including guitar and drums (and lets the kids try out different ones if they are interested). He has a LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-medina-4066033a), where you can find more information (including videos of band performances). read more