I've been taking my son to music class with Toby at Outer Village and it has been an absolutely incredible experience! Toby is so warm and kind and friendly, not to mention an incredible musician and vocalist. This is clearly her passion and I feel so lucky that we found her and her class !!!! Cannot recommend enough !! read more

Toby is one of the best violin teachers you can have, My son Sian has been playing with her for 7 years and has lots of improvements in violin. My son is now 10 and when he was 3 Toby took him! I highly recommend Toby to learn violin or voice lesson while having fun read more

My daughter has taken violin lessons with Toby off an on for several years. Through Toby she has grown tremendously as a musician and a person. Her combination of skillful instruction along with the fun relaxing atmosphere of her home (you actually feel like you're a part of her sweet little family) make it the perfect setting for learning music. Toby is a true treasure! read more

Toby is the best! She is definitely warm and approachable, and I love singing with her! I can already hear an improvement in my singing after a few lessons, and more confident in the range I didn't know I had :D Plus, my almost-1-year-old son loves going to Little Ladybug classes with Toby and he's amazed whenever she plays the violin. He has a lot of fun playing with instruments and scarves, and the songs we learned in class help calm him down while he's in the car seat. Toby is very talented and knowledgeable, and she's an excellent teacher! I highly recommend her, she is the perfect person to help you reach your goals and beyond! read more

My 7-year old daughter has been taking violin lessons with Toby for about seven months, and it has been a wonderful journey for her. Toby is such a positive, energetic, fun, and inspiring violin teacher. Her teaching method is excellent. Thanks to Toby's encouragement and patience, my daughter's violin skills have improved and her love and interest in playing the violin is high. My daughter looks forward to Toby's lessons (as do I). We feel very lucky and grateful to have Toby as our daughter's violin teacher, and I highly recommend her to anyone who is thinking about learning violin. Toby also has a wonderful music summer camp. Her camp is an excellent way for anyone to learn a little violin. This is where our daughter first had violin exposure, and she has loved to play ever since. read more

My voice lessons with Toby have been some of the most enjoyable and valuable music lessons I've taken. I studied music in college and took numerous music lessons on various instruments and a few voice lessons. Toby is the only one who actively tries to put you at ease which, in turn, allows you to learn and sing better. Not only is she pleasant but she is also very knowledgeable. Despite having sung my whole life and currently singing in a competitive chorus, I have learned so much from Toby. I learned how to sing and even speak in a healthy way that doesn't fatigue my voice quickly. I can now sing with support and still sing freely. Her methodical way of teaching you new music removes all anxiety as it is very incremental. Would definitely recommend. read more

Toby is an amazing teacher and she has taught me many things about violin and life. If you're considering a violin teacher, Toby is fantastic! read more

Very satisfied and am excited to go back for more violin lessons. Toby makes me feel comfortable and is really good at explaining proper techniques. Thank you, Toby! c read more

Toby is an amazing violin and singing teacher! Our 6-year-old daughter has learned so much over the past 8 months over Zoom, which is an impressive feat! Toby is so knowledgeable, patient, positive, fun, yet firm in her instruction and truly has a talent for instructing the little ones to keep them interested, engaged, and learning. She plays the violin so beautifully and her voice is exquisite. From our experience, the Suzuki Method works well and Toby has been able to quickly pinpoint any issues our daughter is experiencing and provides real time corrections and follow-up exercises to help build a solid foundation. Toby is so sweet and works closely with parents to address any issues and quickly picks up on our daughter's mood and flexes to encourage and bring out the best in her in the lesson. Toby is a star and we highly recommend her! read more

Toby is a miracle. Not only is she an accomplished skillful violinist and singer, she's an incredible teacher. She's upbeat, has angelic patience, and knows how to deal with youngsters' shenanigans. My 4 year old take lessons with Toby, and so do I! Thanks Toby! read more

I have always envied my friends who have beautiful singing voices and wanted to get voice lessons to improve my singing and learn to use my voice with the proper technique. But this was something that I didn't have the courage to do for fear that the lessons would become one of those things I hate to go to because I'd feel extremely pressured by the teacher to become a professional or to be perfect. My goal was just to have a prettier voice, not to be a professional opera singer. My work schedule for the next four months would be more flexible so I decided that this would be my opportunity to get in a few lessons to learn the fundamentals. I decided to look up on Yelp to see if there were any private voice teachers in the area and found many that were either too expensive or were intended for those who aspired to be professional singers and make it big. The only one I found that seemed to have the option to 'learn for fun' was Music with Toby. After visiting Toby's website, I was convinced that it was worth a try to contact her and find out about pricing and if she could meet my need. I was very impressed that she responded within 24 hours (even though it was a weekend) and her email was very organized (which I love!) and filled with clear detailed information. Another issue I had was that I am moving after my 4 months of work ends so I can only do a short term of lessons. Most music schools or teachers prefer to take 'serious' and 'committed' music students for long-term lessons (or at least that was my concept) but Toby was well prepared to offer me a variety of prepaid lesson options (at a discount too!) for my short term availability. They were reasonably priced and she also offered a free trial lesson to see if we're a good match before I make a decision. I did not feel pressured in any way at all. I really enjoyed all my lessons with Toby! She has great personality with a lot of positive energy. She gives very good descriptions and very visual explanations on how to control my voice and root of breath. She is very flexible and adapts very well to all different types of people and different music styles. She also makes you feel very comfortable and at home and makes sure that you inform her whenever anything is uncomfortable. She makes me laugh so much with all her jokes too! Extremely hospitable! :) Oh, she also tries her best to accommodate your schedule and sets up a time that works for both you and her. Another reason why I really wanted to work with Toby was because she has a very credible background in violin and voice. I checked out her videos on YouTube too and she is super talented and I can tell she really knows what she's doing and understands the techniques thoroughly. Overall, if I didn't have to move soon, I would continue to take voice lessons with Toby. I received a lot of help from her and I definitely recommend that anyone interested in improving in violin or voice should at least try out a trial lesson with her! :) read more

Our 9-year old has been taking violin lessons with Toby for about a year now, and I can't say enough good things about her! My daughter is counting the days until we see Toby next, and has not once complained about practicing, she is so very motivated. Toby makes everyone feel welcome right away, and through establishing a wonderful relationship with the children while teaching the big picture and the details, she manages to bring out the best in them. My daughter has made great progress, I love listening to her & going to Toby. Toby also does fantastic violin & arts summer camps, to put it in my daughter's words "EVEN better than the lessons, because I get to do more!" read more

This is from a 8 year old kid. "The lessons are fun you learn step by step and it works. Toby is a great teacher" read more

Toby is an AMAZING violin teacher. My 10 yr old was frustrated with her violin class at school and wanted to quit. Before allowing her to quit I thought we should try a private lesson. My online search led me to Music with Toby. Going into the first trial lesson my daughter was open, but apprehensive. My daughter wouldn't stop playing for 45 minutes after Toby left! We've continued lessons and I'm always impressed with how supportive, clear and fun Toby is with my hard-to-focus child. I highly recommend Music with Toby. read more

My 10 year old has been taking lessons with Toby for about 6 months now. She absolutely adores Toby. Toby is always so patient and encouraging to my daughter. She makes the lessons so much fun and easy to do. All her corrections are made so nicely but she really pushes my daughter to try her best. If your child wants to lean violin, I would highly recommend Music With Toby. She is absolutely awesome! read more

Music with Toby - A wonderful lesson with Toby - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me

On a recent trip to San Francisco, I found myself with extra time on my hands. What better way to whittle away the hours, I thought, than with a little self-improvement? Lucky for me, a close friend recommended Toby's voice lessons. To say they did not disappoint does this lesson a disservice. I took voice lessons for a semester in college, so had some experience tuning my pipes, but Toby really elevated my thinking about how to sing. And made it fun. All in an hour! Are you looking for an impossibly talented teacher who will provide improbable oodles of fun? That is a rhetorical question. Of course you are. Seek no further. read more

In addition to being a really patient and extremely capable teacher, Toby is just about one of the best people that you're ever going to meet in this life. My son and daughter have taken violin lessons from Toby for close to 2 years and they absolutely love and adore her. Her music skills are top notch and she is able to reach my children and her other students on a level that they can understand and relate to. If you're looking for a drill sargeant to get your prodigy ready for Carnegie Hall there are other options out there. If however you want your child to love violin and music in general then Toby is the way to go. I can not say enough good things about her and how she has been such a positive influence on my children (and me too)!! read more

She is an amazing teacher that I have ever met! She knows how to interact and communicate with the kids and she is very passionate about teaching kids. It is important but not easy for teachers to draw students' attention and keep it during the lessons. But Toby knows how to make it sustain. There is an energy and fun-always still going on, which you won't be able to find easily in other teachings( believe me, I am also a music teacher and I have observed many other lessons in which kids got bored eventually and lost the focus). She continues developing her teaching career by completing Suzuki trainings every year. She knows what kids need at their level. I strongly recommend her for your kids. read more

My daughter was getting frustrated with her former violin teacher and the pressure to be '"PERFECT " after learning only 2 months. She was ready to quit and then I realized she needed to change teachers. That is where Toby comes in. I searched online for a violin teacher in my area , that has a lot of experience with children , and read all the wonderful reviews online about Toby. I gave Toby a call and she spent a long time chatting with me about her background and teaching style. My daughter has been taking lessons from Toby for almost 2 moths now. We are very pleased , Toby is wonderful with children and a fun teacher!! We are very lucky to have found Toby!! read more

Toby is simply amazing with children. As a protective mother, I can say honestly say there is no one else I would trust more with my child. I actually learn a lot through her watching her interact with my daughter. As an experience and conscientious music teacher, she engages effortlessly with my 2-year old daughter. I love seeing how my daughter's imagination being ignited through playing music, art and play. I recommend her without reservation. If I could give her 6 stars I would! read more

Toby has been a wonderful violin teacher for our 5-year-old son. She is positive and patient and has a ton of experience teaching young beginners. She breaks the lessons down into bite-sized pieces and has lots of incentives to keep young kids interested (like the treasure chest!). Our son's favorite part of taking lessons from Toby has been participating in all the terrific group activities she organizes--from monthly studio classes to the Halloween fiddle fest. I haven't heard of any other violin teachers who have invested so much energy into creating a community of young players who can have fun together and support each other. We are big fans of Toby! read more

My 4 year old daughter had a trial violin lesson with Miss Toby Branz. Miss Toby was very patient and enthusiastic. She knew just how to talk to little kids. In addition to teaching my daughter the correct position and the parts of the violin, she also taught my daughter and me about good manners. I just love Toby. Unfortunately, my daughter is not ready to have formal lessons yet. But I would definitely call her when my daughter is ready, and I highly recommend Miss Toby for anyone interested in learning the violin. read more

I'm 11 years old and I have loved taking violin lessons from Toby for the last 3 years. She gives lots of useful, but not criticizing advice, and I don't think I've ever seen her in a bad mood! She is just a happy and positive person. I look forward to violin lessons every week because she is a wonderful teacher. I think kids would definitely enjoy learning with Toby as much as I do! read more

I've only had two voice lessons so far with Toby. They have both been fantastic, and I'm confident that I will learn a lot through working with her. I decided to take voice lessons with Toby to learn how to use my speaking and singing voice in a way that is healthy and less painful. It didn't take long before Toby recognized some of the ways I've been using my voice that are causing vocal fatigue and pain, and she has tailored exercises and instructions to help me use my voice more comfortably. She also uses a lot of imagery to emphasize the point or goals of different exercises. It is clear that she has extensive training, and I feel lucky to get to learn from her. She is kind, enthusiastic, and non-judging, and creates a very welcoming environment to learn in. She is responsive and easy to schedule lessons with. read more

My five year old daughter has been taking violin lessons with Toby for about six months now. Every week when we leave her studio I marvel again at our extreme good luck in finding her (on Yelp no less)! Toby is truly an outstanding teacher. She is such a warm and friendly and inviting person that you feel happy just being around her! She has a real knack for explaining complicated concepts in an easy to understand way and she makes every lesson fun and interesting and yet meaningful and productive. No doubt there are lots of great violinists out there who teach lessons, but Toby is that special kind of teacher who does much more than merely help her students become technically proficient at their instrument. If you're looking for someone who will really "get" your child (no matter their age, temperament or skill level) and nurture them onward while also imparting a real enthusiasm for music, it really, truly is hard to imagine anyone better than Toby. And, as an added bonus, Toby is extremely good at communicating with parents, responding quickly to emails and sending out regular updates. We really can't recommend her enough!!!! read more

We drive from Noe at the end of the day for violin lessons for my daughter and inevitably the drive seems tiresome, but each time we arrive it feels so worthwhile. Toby is a fantastic teacher. She is patient and encouraging and makes the lessons fun. Her love for music is infectious and she makes playing a complicated instrument joyful. Don't hesitate, just go. read more

Toby is absolutely wonderful! My baby and I attended her Lil Ladybugs music class. She is so sweet and welcoming. The class is fun for both the babies and adults. Some of the songs from class are still stuck in my head a few months later! We will definitely sign up again! read more

My daughter has been taking violin lessons with Toby for 3 years now and I can not say enough about what a terrific experience it has been. Toby is a warm, encouraging, patient and extremely positive teacher. She meets students where they are and never fails to spread her love and joy of music to the people she teaches. I wish I had a music teacher like her when I was young. read more

Toby is amazing. She made me feel welcome from our first conversation. She obviously loves what she does. When I didn't care for a piece of music, she went out of her way to hear me and to come up with music that I got excited about. Her positive attitude creates a space that is safe for me to risk trying new things. I strongly recommend Toby. read more

Toby is an incredible teacher, especially with kids. She managed to make even the first few lessons on learning posture for violin fun for my six year old. We just started with a new teacher because of logistics reasons, but I can now truly appreciate how great Toby was for laying down the foundation, which is so important for beginning violin. She also gets a lot of credit for getting my daughter excited about learning and practicing. If Toby's schedule allows, we would definitely try to go back for monthly lessons with her! read more

We enjoy our violin lessons with Toby, and our eight year old LOVES them. Toby is very enthusiastic, patient, knowledgeable AND fun. She paces the lessons very well for the young student, providing lots of variety, but with plenty of substance, too. She's also very good about giving specific instructions for our daily practice. I'm a music teacher, too, so I know how hard it is to balance work with fun, and Toby is VERY good at keeping the young one's interest and enthusiasm while still providing good solid information. We highly recommend Toby! read more

My 7 year old son takes violin lessons with Toby for almost 2 years.. Toby is truly amazing. She has "tricks' to help a wiggly 7 year old boy focus (and every once in a while she has him to do some jumping jacks!) She "gets" kids and makes the lessons age appropriate, and fun while advancing the kids' skills. She models for the kids how the violin should sound - and how to position their body. My son (and I) look forward to the lesson, because Toby is so fun - and so incredibly warm. Really - if she has room in her studio for you - look no further. read more

My son just finished up violin summer camp with Toby, and he cannot stop talking about it! Toby is incredibly warm, open, engaging and skilled at what she does with the children. Always positive, encouraging and setting high expectations, Toby really has a special way with kids. My son gained so much enthusiasm for playing the violin, as well as confidence in playing in front of a group and as part of an ensemble. I would recommend her to anyone, and we will most certainly be back with her again for next summer's camp! read more

Toby is a fabulous, gifted and skilled teacher. Whether you are a beginner, looking to sing for fun, or already know how to sing but would like some additional expert instruction, you will find Toby more than able to meet your needs. She observes and listens closely to the needs of each student and works with each student to design lessons to meet their individual preferences and desires. I started taking lessons with Toby after being told that because of a physical condition I could no longer play violin. Because I cannot imagine my life without a musical instrument to play, I decided to take voice lessons and found Toby. Having never studied voice before I was amazed to find myself singing arias within a few short months. My husband, who had not sung before, was inspired to take lessons as well. Toby really helped him improve the quality and pitch of his voice, all within a relatively short time-frame. My husband and I both love our voice lessons. Toby is dynamic, creative and makes learning and practicing fun. She is also incredibly supportive and never makes you feel self-conscious as she guides you into finding your own unique, beautiful voice. read more