I cannot recommend Joanna enough. She is hands down the best teacher I've been exposed to for any…read moremusical instrument. When our 9 year old son demonstrated some talent on my drum kit, my wife and I set out to enroll him in formal lessons. We had introductory lessons at a few different places (both in person and via zoom/Teams/etc.). For us, Joanna was the perfect blend of fun and technique/theory/structure. We opted for weekly 30 minute lessons via Zoom. Initially, I was hesitant about "remote" lessons, as I grew up only knowing in person lessons. Two years later, we are still doing weekly lessons and I'm extremely happy with the progress of my son. As an added bonus, sitting in his lessons has made me a better drummer. Joanna is truly a professional as both a teacher and a drummer. She provides a practical approach to learning different patterns and breaks it down to the basics, so anyone can learn, all demonstrating how these "building blocks" are used by professionals. Worth Every Penny! Some final considerations: 1. Seasonal recitals (both in-person and remote) all students to perform in front of other students and their families. This was important to us, for our son to learn to overcome stage fright and being in the spotlight. 2. We were primarily remote in our lessons, but every 6-8 weeks we were able to book an in person lesson with Joanna @ More Music in Long Beach. I love the idea of supporting a small Mom&Pop music shop vs. the big box music stores (Guitar Center). Side note, I've used Moore Music for some guitar setup work and they're top notch as well. 3. Joanna periodically has group meetups where students and their families get together (usually at a park) to socialize and learn more about each other. 4. Joanna also assigns monthly Listening Assignments, where she ask the student to listen to different styles of music. This is a great way to expose students to songs/genres they never knew. 5. We primarily play electronic drums, but for this last recital my son performed on acoustic drums. This was a big adjustment for him, but a great learning experience. Joanna is flexible and always teaching new skills. I'll say it again: WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Joanna is very patient, my 7 year old loves his drum lessons, She makes it fun for him. He's been…read moregoing for a couple months and he has learned so much. Joanna has different teaching methods that made it easy for him since he wasn't able to fully read when we started the lessons. I definitely recommend Joanna.

We were in Long Beach for a month or so, and I wanted to take advantage of our time here. It's…read moredefinitely been tough during the pandemic, and so we were a bit cautious of an in-person music class, but definitely glad that we went ahead and participated. Our daughter was about 18 months at the time, and I would say that overall, she really liked it! It's a bit on the pricey side, honestly, but if your kiddo isn't normally exposed to live music or musical instruments, I would definitely check it out. Bill is a true musician/artist, through and through, and opens up the rest of the rooms after the class for your kiddos to explore. you don't have to worry about "oh no, what if my kid touches something??" Bill welcomes kids to explore and play --- incredibly inviting environment. Julie did a wonderful job creating a sense of community in the class. she has an amazing voice, and engaged us in some fun songs. After some songs, my daughter would say "more!". The only part that made it a little tough was that the sound was quite loud and so was Julie's voice, so it actually made my daughter cry a couple of times (she is a bit sensitive to noise, though!) My husband is a musician of sorts, so our daughter has been exposed to several instruments already, but this place has quite a few more :)

YES A GOOD MUSIC ACADEMY!!…read more So my family has been trying to find a good music academy. We finally found one after tons and TONS of researching as well as referrals and I cannot be more please. Took me a while to get this review up but I thought I might as well since I've been active today on Yelp! This academy goes above and beyond. The teachers are kind and my kids love it here. Super nice academy and when I sit in on their lessons, my kids are so so happy! I have a little on at home and want them to be more involved since they're not all about sports at the moment. Honestly 10/10. We chose here instead of a local place because of some concerning rumors and we couldn't be happier!

Lilia Pershina deserves more than five stars as a Piano teacher!! She is an incredible mentor who…read morehas taught me so much about not just the Piano but musical theory as well and every time I go to a lesson I'm super excited to see what she will teach me on that day. I came to Lilia only a few months ago after having studied with another teacher for about 18 months and had problems with my hands hurting after practice and concerns about my ability to actually recall and play music once I had learned it. Immediately Lilia could tell 2 things: first, she could see that my technique needed work (I had a lot of tension in my hands) and I can honestly say that after even just a weeks of working with her my hands had stopped hurting during (or after) playing and as someone who is nearing 40 years of age, this is an absolute relief. The next thing she made me aware of, was that I wasn't actually reading the music. I had a (bad) habit of studying and memorizing the pieces but then not being able to follow the music because through practicing I would not actually follow the music with my eyes because I was too busy checking on my hands. I'm pleased to say that with her help this issue too has quickly been resolved. She also has a knack for knowing just the perfect piece for me at the right time, and I can say that my confidence in playing is improving tremendously. She even has me practicing my sight reading daily, which is slowly getting better as well as she pushes and gives me the foundation I need to believe I can do it. As I noted earlier, she has been teaching me musical theory and believe me, I have had other teachers in my life try to teach my theory and it was always sort of just thrown at me in overwhelming chunks and non sequiturs that never seemed to lead anywhere. The exception lies here. Lilia doesn't just explain bits and bobs. She has me working out of workbooks that are presenting musical ideas that I couldn't understand verbally and slowly guiding me further and further through each level. She often times will stop and ask me if I understand the concept, and honestly there have been times where she has to explain it to me about 5 times over before I can understand what she is trying to teach me, but she is so patient and thorough and every day I can see an improvement. Her studio is right in the heart of Long Beach, and it is quiet and very professional. In her studio, she has both an upright and a Grand piano side by side so you can try either one alternately depending on your needs. I myself, had never actually had the privilege to play a grand piano and so it is really nice to go over there and have the ability to play on one. In addition, by having two pianos it allows her to play duets with you, or also for her to quickly show you how to play something without having to switch back and forth each time on the same piano. Also, as an added plus for anyone who hates driving in this city, her house is on a fairly open, sleepy street and as a result parking is super mellow and has never presented a problem. If you are looking to start your children in lessons, I would highly recommend Lilia. And if you are an older learner like me, or if you have never played but are interested in trying, she has shown me that it's never too late and will help you achieve your goals. Honestly, after having so many mediocre music teachers over the years charging 25-30% more per hour, I find her prices to be super reasonable in comparison and an absolute steal for the one on one guidance and care she provides. I hope to be a student of her's for years to come, because I know under her guidance I will continue to surpass all expectations of my abilities and absolutely further my musical journey. Thank you Lilia! See you next week!

I feel lucky to have found Lilia on my first try after moving during the pandemic from NY to CA. As…read morean adult piano student, she has helped me towards my goals of having nice pieces to perform on demand, expanding my limited knowledge of theory and just appreciating my time practicing. She uses direct instruction, workbooks and has shared some very useful videos of both performances and practice techniques. Her studio is in a lovely, private location and all of her dealings are very professional. She works with you on makeups and vacations. Overall, she is my dream piano teacher!

Hands down, best music school in town…read more My (young adult) child had been talking about learning drums for a while, but felt he was too old to begin. I let him know it's never too late to learn a musical instrument and talked him into trying a lesson at a couple of different music schools. Both were okay, but he just wasn't feeling it and didn't want to continue. I found Rok Music Academy and talked him into giving it one more try. He walked out of his first lesson with Ronnie absolutely thrilled. I believe his words were, "That was fun!" Ronnie was very friendly and personable and made my son feel comfortable. He really listened to my kid share what kinds of music he wanted to learn and Ronnie custom designed lessons just for him. My son has remained engaged for more than a year and looks forward to his lesson. He always tells me what songs he is learning and how encouraging Ronnie has been. We love the owner, Stephanie, and the price for the lessons is completely reasonable. I'm so thankful I didn't give up on finding a music school just right for him.

Great team over there. I had a couple lessons with Anthony and he's an amazing instructor…read more Stephanie, one of the owners is fantastic as well and very accommodating to my schedule. I highly highly recommend this place to everyone, especially as an adult beginner. Wishing them luck with everything!!

Christina is the best. We were blessed to have her come to our home. She was prompt, personal and…read moreinspired my 10-year old to stretch herself. I still had issues with my daughter rehearsing. But the lessons were a welcome highlight with Christina. He recitals were well planned, and she needs as big of a fuss about the beginners as she did the more advanced students. Genuinely kind and committed :-)

I highly recommend Jeanine (Nina) for any age or piano level. I started playing when I was very…read moreyoung and played on and off for many years. Last year (at the age of 55) I decided I wanted to get back to advanced classical music and work on my performance skills. From my very first session with Nina, I knew I had found the perfect teacher! She has a very encouraging and relaxed approach to her teaching. She also provides a unique holistic way of teaching which I have rarely found with any piano instructors in my past. The strict and traditional approach of most teachers is not what you will find with Nina. She adapts each of her lessons to each of her students. She gets to know them personally and works to fit her program to match the student versus making the student adapt to any one style. Along with being a great teacher for children, I would STRONGLY encourage any beginning adults to try her. Piano can be very difficult for adults, but I honestly believe Nina can work miracles with any age or level because of her adaptable and patient approach to teaching Definitely give Jeanine Craig's studio a try. You will not be sorry!

Ms. Nina is a patient and kind instructor. I highly recommend her for students at any level and…read moreage. The space she uses to teach is so relaxing and I love taking a quick nap on your lounge chairs or just enjoy watching my daughter get more and more excited about playing the piano. There's always parking and you can either wait in your car, outside, or inside. She's very passionate and encourages my daughter to continue to learn even when not at practice. Ms. Nina is an amazing communicator. Pick this place for your piano lesson needs! You won't regret it.

I've been learning piano with Lara for about four years now, and it's been an awesome journey. Lara…read morehas not only taught me all the technical stuff but also helped me really become passionate about learning piano and making the songs we learn my own. Her patience and enthusiasm make every lesson fun and motivating. She is always finding new and improved teaching modalities/platforms that keeps classes fun and evolving. I can't thank Lara enough for all the support and encouragement she has given me.

TL;DR - Passionate instructor + Revolutionary method = Best lifetime value…read more Lara's specialty sets her apart among piano instructors. Her teaching method focuses on getting students to learn rhythm and sight-reading. While it sounds basic, it is really the foundation of music. By focusing on these skills first, it enables the student to do so much more over time. Mastering the ability to sightread alone empowers me to learn any new sheet music, and not quit in the process because I got overwhelmed or frustrated... I am 30 years old and took 3.5 years of various music courses during my schooling, including violin, guitar, percussion, and piano. None of my previous instruction ever set me free in the sense that I could go pick up some random, unfamiliar sheet music, and learn how to play it in minutes on my own. That's where Lara's lessons have been different. Despite only going to Lara's lessons for 3 months, I feel like I could learn any popular music song on the piano in a single day--eat your heart out Maroon 5! It's been a great experience so far and I look forward to continue my progress. Another benefit of her method is I will be able to learn how to sing and play simultaneously--something I never believed would be possible for me!

Adriana is incredibly kind and enthusiastic about her work! She has taught me so much about proper…read moresinging technique helped me uncover a voice I didn't even know was in there! I am excited to continue being her student. She has provided me with opportunities to sing in public as well as tips on how to sing at my church. She's great!

My daughter, Dorothy, has been taking vocal lessons from Adriana since Summer 2022. In that time,…read moreshe has grown in technique, knowledge, and confidence with her vocal performance.