Quick summary: extremely knowledgable, flexible, tailored to my specific needs, reasonable and…read moreaffordable pricing... a music teacher who really cares I feel super fortunate to have found Devin as my piano teacher. I was classically trained growing up but in recent years have been craving to learn jazz piano, especially wanting to improvise. It felt like a far-off dream, but through my few lessons with Devin I have been pleasantly surprised at my own ability, which he has helped me unlock. He truly is so knowledgable and delivers that knowledge skillfully -- as in, he doesn't overload you with irrelevant information, and only relays what is relevant to the current subject we are working on. Devine is encouraging but does not give empty praise -- he is very transparent with his feedback and this feels very effective. He keeps me super engaged -- there is a great balance of theory and explanation / allowing me to apply the theory through playing and answering questions on the spot. There have been moments, especially at the beginning, when I felt intimidated and nervous to improvise on the spot (as this is something I'd never really done before). Devin was understanding of these emotions and created a safe space for me to go out of my comfort zone. These moments of being challenged are super invaluable to me and his method of doing so really suits me. The lessons are paced well for me and feel very tailored to my needs. Devin always prioritizes my questions for each lesson, and based on those, creates a lesson plan on the spot to address them all. I really enjoy the fact that I can ask super specific questions and we can go on tangents about music theory and history. Speaking of music history, I also appreciate that Devin is so acknowledging of the fact that we are playing in the realm of Western music, which is only a small fraction of all the musical cultures that exist. As a person of color, this foundation of thinking is really important to me. I searched for a long time to find an in-person teacher because that was what I was used to, and I believed it would work best for me. However, I realized that the online lessons work perfectly well and I can't see any downsides of them. I think this is partially because I have enough background in technique, so I don't need him to be adjusting my hands / seeing my fingering and all the other physical stuff associated with piano. This being said, perhaps if you are a complete beginner, try to start with in-person lessons with Devin to make sure you have all the basic techniques locked in as this will affect your playing later on. I am used to more structure and rigidity -- my classical lessons always centered around learning a piece and playing it during lessons, with very clear homework. So it took some time to get used to the more flexible and free-form nature of learning jazz piano (and perhaps it is also his particular teaching style). I think it has been an excellent practice for me in self-discipline. However, if you benefit a lot from extreme structure, you can always ask Devin to provide that. I am personally enjoying the challenge of improvisation as my homework! Devin has offered me many tools and frameworks for thinking about piano and improvisation, all of which have made piano feel way more approachable and inviting than it used to. I also marvel at his ability to be so enthusiastic, engaged and creative for each and every lesson. I've had many music teachers in my life and he is one of the best!

Devin is an amazing music teacher. He's easy to work with, very knowledgeable and professional. It…read morehas been a great pleasure to study piano with him since September 2020. I've had many musical breakthroughs since then. Devin is a patient musical guide. His technicality and training helped me to achieve my dream of singing popular songs with full piano accompaniment. I have a deep appreciation for music and my prior music teachers were rigid in their approach, which didn't enable me to grow musically. Devin's flexible, caring approach helped me to immediately tap into my abilities at the keyboard. It has helped immensely that Devin offers remote lessons via Zoom, which make it highly convenient for students living further away. I look forward to more musical breakthroughs with Devin as my guide. Highly recommended!

I have been taking adult piano lessons with this organization for a year now, and it has been an…read moreincredible experience. Starting from scratch as an adult can be intimidating, but my primary teacher, Ms. Candice, made the process feel incredibly easy and approachable from day one. Her patience is unmatched, and I truly appreciate how she respects the specific musical genres I am interested in while building a solid technical foundation. I also had the pleasure of working with Ms. Bhakti within the group for a short period, and I was impressed to find they shared the exact same vision and values. It's clear that as an organization, they truly understand my personal goals for my musical journey and respect them. Every lesson is a perfect mix of technique, music history, and an 'eye-opening' exploration of different genres and musicians I never would have discovered on my own. If you are an adult looking to start your musical journey in a supportive, professional, and well-aligned environment, I cannot recommend them highly enough!

My daughter started with Musicians in the Making since she was 3 years old. Back then, she enrolled…read morein their music program with the elderly that was held in a senior center. My daughter had so much fun learning about music and that motivated her to try learning piano. She started with Ms. Nathasya and when she left, we were lucky to have Ms. Candice as her teacher. My daughter loves Ms. Candice. She loves going to her class. Her teaching approach is student-centered learning. She lets my daughter choose between songs or choose songs that are going to be learned based on her interest or something that would spark her interest. She also prepares teacher-made materials for activities and games to help my daughter understand concepts in music / piano better. Also, Ms. Candice is proficient in terms of managing my daughter's mood or behavior during class. She knows what to say and how to encourage my daughter in playing the piano or in focusing on the task at hand. Our children's extra curricular activities can be an additional cost to our monthly expenses, but what makes our money worth more here is the additional activities prepared monthly by MITM. Whether it's a zoom class with an expert or musician, performance class, picnic, field trip, or recital, all of these activities further my daughter's learning, appreciation, and love for music. So yes, we totally recommend MITM. Inquire for a trial class. :)

My husband and I hired Nova Jazz as a quartet for our wedding in spring of 2026 and they were…read morewonderful to work with! Easy to communicate and plan with and their performance really elevated our reception. We let them know what kind of vibe and tempo we liked ahead of time and they did the rest choosing songs to play for the reception to keep things upbeat without being overpowering. Daniel checked in with us at various points throughout the night to ensure the vibes were right and if we needed any adjustments. Nova Jazz also was able to play a special request song outside of their listed repertoire for our first dance which we really appreciated and was very special for us. We'd recommend them for weddings and any other special events when you want extra pizzazz!

Working with Daniel and his band was all around an amazing experience! After reading all the…read morereviews and listening to a few of their videos online, I knew I wanted Nova Jazz Band to play at my company's 30th Anniversary celebration I was planning. TLDR; they exceeded every expectation from start to finish, and Daniel made everything completely stress-free. From our very first correspondence, Daniel was very friendly, quick to respond, knowledgeable, and incredibly professional. The music was phenomenal - very classy and perfect for our occasion. The band totally nailed the vibe. Daniel's attention to detail was next-level. He thought of all the little things that usually fall through the cracks - from what songs should play during the band's breaks, to how the sound system was set up, to which speakers the recorded music should come from. He even coordinated with the venue director to make sure there wouldn't be a single hiccup. Basically, he handled every possible thing before I could even think to worry about it. Everything ran like clockwork and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Daniel and his team went above and beyond in every way. I can't wait to hire them for a future event! Highly, highly recommend!

We have these guys play for our conference last year and I can't believe I haven't written in a…read morereview for them yet. The music was a lot of fun and they got everybody dancing. They had a great spirit. We're gonna try to hire them again this year.

VERY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE with Jose Hernandez, per the contract their 'band leader', on a event…read moreheld of just last night. Booked them last December for a 70th BD party to be held May 2. Paid the deposit at the same time. Communicating with Jose the week prior I requested the trio set up an hour before the event started so no last minute sound checks etc. and the evening could start on time and go smooth. Needed a live mike so BD speeches could be made prior to their start time. He said not a problem. The BD started at 5 PM, still no trio. Dinner started at 6:15 PM, still no trio. Booked to play from 7 to 9 PM. Were they even going to show up ? No communication with either myself or the venue. Band showed up at 6:45ish to set up after the evening was in full swing. No apology yet (from Jose who I had negotiated the event with) and was told by Luis, the evenings lead, was all they knew they were hired to play from 7 to 9. TOTAL lack of professionalism in running your business and communicating with your client. Will NEVER recommend your business to any potential future clients. I would NEVER want my friends to go thru the same stress and anxiety we experienced last night.

If you are contemplating a Steeldrummer for an event, I highly and enthusiastically recommend Paul…read more He played at my housewarming happy hour event over the summer and his music added the exact ambiance I was seeking to create for my party. He kept in touch with me from the day I contacted him, returned messages promptly, and alerted me when he was stuck in traffic on the way to my house. It actually worked out perfectly because he made up the time by playing into the evening under the lights. His price is reasonable and there is no question you will get the value for his hourly rate!! And he will absolutely earn a tip from those of you who appreciate talent and customer service. If you need a Caribbean vibe, give him a call!

From the owner: Steel Drum Entertainmentread more

I am so impressed with the music provided by Musical Heart Strings for the wedding reception I…read morecoordinated. They played a vast repertoire of music, from classical, to contemporary, to video game and movie theme music. They were kind, professional, and flexible. I highly recommend it!

The most beautiful live music we could have imagined! We hired Musical Heart Strings for our…read morewedding in Sonoma, and they were absolutely incredible. We first heard them play a few years ago at our friends' wedding and were completely blown away, so booking them for our own was a no-brainer. Their music brought such warmth and elegance to our ceremony and cocktail hour, and they struck the perfect balance between timeless classics and modern favorites. On top of being incredibly talented, Gretchen and her team were also so kind, professional, and easy to work with. If you're looking to add something truly magical to your wedding day, this is it!

Paul is a great classical guitar teacher. He's helped me a lot with my technique and musicality and…read moreis extremely patient, thorough, kind, knowledgeable and a really nice guy. His expertise in baroque music (Bach, Weiss, etc) is impressive and really helpful with interpretation and phrasing. He very clearly knows the instrument and the repertoire very well and knows how to give relevant and helpful tips and exercises for improving technique and musicality. I'd definitely recommend Paul to anyone looking for a classical guitar teacher.

Paul is fantastic! He was recommended to us by our son's improv jazz piano teacher and we have been…read moreextremely lucky to have him as a teacher. He has been teaching bouzouki to our son for the last few months. He is a very talented musician, an excellent teacher, and has wonderful rapport with kids. Our son has made great progress and, more importantly, has quickly cultivated a deep love and appreciation for this special instrument. We most highly recommend him!

Celebrity Gems provided Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a bar mitzvah party I videotaped a while…read moreago. They were realistic and were the hit of the party. I've also seen the bands he has arranged for wedding receptions. Owner Stan has high standards, and the parties are top rate.

Stan, of CG Entertainment arranged - a number of years ago - an emcee for my mother-in-laws 75th…read morebirthday party. The emcee was a great singer, got the crowd engaged, and made my MIL feel like a queen. Thank you, Stan, for finding just the right person to do the job. We will also use Stan's talented abilities to get the perfect officiant for my daughter's up-coming wedding next year. Stan really knows how to match up the client with the right person from his large list of entertainers. Stan is a "gem." Thanks! Gail

This Mariachi is the best in the Bay Area -- their customer service is incredible. They are always…read moreon time, presentable, are amazing musicians, their repertoire is large, and are very kind and entertaining. I have not only had to honor to sing along them, but I have them play at family gatherings like birthday parties and weddings. If you have not heard them yet, give them a try!

We contracted them for my moms 60th bday celebration we loved them so much definitely recommend…read morethem for all events very professional and sang amazingly will definitely work with them in the future again

Rose did an incredible job for our wedding at Elliston Vineyards. She goes above and beyond, she…read moretruly enjoys what she does. She enjoys the music and the happiness it brings out. Rose has a huge list of songs to choose from, and is willing to learn other songs to accommodate to you. She did two for us, she did purpose by Justin Bieber for me to walk down the aisle and for when my groom and I were walking down from the ceremony she performed best I ever had by Drake. I was impressed with how generous, kind, and caring rose is. Rose has phenomenal talent! You made my ceremony a memory I can never forget with the performance you gave us. I highly recommend Rose for all weddings and events!!!

Amazing performer . Amazing personality . Excellent musician. Strongly recommend for any event .read more