Outstanding experience! Excellent customer service, very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful to sell…read moremy euphonium! Highly recommended!

This neighborhood shop is worthy of even a modicum of customer service…read more The GM must be operating in some mindset of scarcity or tyranny because their crew are all kind, helpful, and upbeat. Unfortunately, none of them hipped me to their absolute no way no how zero returns policy when i made a purchase under duress and need. They kind of had what i needed so in a pinch, I was grateful. When my situation changed, and I would have gladly accepted store credit they said "no way no how!" to my humble request to return or exchange brand new stuff in original packaging. Its no wonder stinkin guitar center prevails in this economy. Someone help out the underdogs so they can maybe run a good business! Shop at your own risk friends. Happy music making no matter what!

This is a review for the camp only. Some things to know if you put your child in their camp. I…read moredon't usually like to post negative reviews but I do want other parents to know about the following things so they can be aware. 1) On their camp advertisements they mention instruction in many different instruments. What isn't specified is that they only have a couple different instruments to learn on if your child does not own that instrument themselves. So unless your kid has their own Oboe, Cello, Flute etc they can't get lessons. I think they have guitar and violin on hand. Thus, i would not recommend this place for a summer intro to an instrument unless you own said instrument or you double check they have your instrument ahead of time. They will say it's on the paperwork the child needs to bring their own instrument but they don't send you that paperwork until the night before camp starts. 2) They watch a movie every single day. I don't think any parent wants their kid watching tv every day at a camp they pay good money for. Why not have other activities for the kids for breaks from music? Maybe Let them run around in the park longer, or play some games, or talk amongst themselves and make a friend. Another note about the movie watching -- they show the kids PG13 movies. And if your kid isn't allowed to watch PG13 movies they will sit your chilld with the much younger children and watch a disney movie or cartoon. This is not great for those kids 7-11 whose parents may not want their kids watching PG13 movies but also don't want their kid to feel humiliated watching cartoons with much younger kids and not being around their peers in their age group. When my child was there, there were no kids ages 13 and up so it was baffling to me that they were catering to the kids whose parents allowed their young children to watch PG-13 movies.

We are lucky to have SM Conservatory as a resource for our kids…read more I have experienced nothing short of excellent customer service, from the director to the front desk staff to the instructor. When I sit on the couch waiting to pick up my son, I hear laughter, enthusiasm, singing and of course music. It warms my soul. My son loved 3rd grade chorus (and the complimentary bus shuttle is a huge plus for kids and parents!). We are currently taking private flute lessons with Sierra - so far so good! She is patient, kind and helping my son make the ever important first step, a sound! The school music program is great but with so many children my son needs extra one-on-one instruction and this business fits the bill. Looking into the musical theater next ... to be continued!

My first time here and it won't be my last! Loved the intimate space while watching one of my all…read moretime favorite female singers, Jonatha Brooke. The room is normally set up for sales but when a show is on the calendar the staff quickly clears it to set up the chairs for the audience. Since their first impromptu show back in 1968, McCabe's has been hosting the finest in folk, bluegrass, Americana, world music and more. It can accommodate 150-seats and is one of the best listening rooms in the world. The sound engineer was spot at this performance. Most of performers will play one of the guitars for sale here which helps keep this amazing shop going. *Located just off the 405 freeway @Centinela on Pico Blvd *Plenty of street parking (meters) *A few restaurants within walking distance if you want to grab a bite to eat before or after a show. *Guitar lessons available *FYI purchase show tickets online. You will get receive a confirmation email telling you that your name will be on a list at the door (you will not get physical tickets)

I want to be fair here, because this is really a story about two very different visits…read more The first time I came in, I worked with Barry, and he was fantastic. I had never bought a guitar in my life and barely knew what questions to ask. He sat down with me, pulled close to ten guitars off the wall, and played every single one so I could actually hear the differences for myself. He never once rushed me or made me feel like a clueless beginner taking up his time (great player btw!) By the time I walked out I had fallen for the shop and found the exact guitar I wanted, a Taylor 114ce. I was so excited that I could not wait to come back the next day to buy it. I had also planned to sign up for lessons there. The next day is why I'm writing this. Barry wasn't in, and the guy working the guitar repair counter helped me instead. He acted like I was a massive inconvenience from the second I walked up. The store was nearly empty at the time, just one woman trying out a guitar in the back and another customer making conversation up front, both of whom were perfectly friendly when I chatted with them for a minute. The guitar I wanted was a floor model with two deep scratches gouged into the front, the kind that do not buff out, plus a pickguard worn down from being played constantly. It was still priced like it was brand new. When I asked if anything could be done about the price, he went to check and came back offering fifty dollars off. I asked if he could come down to seven hundred and he flatly said no, though he said he could throw in strings. All of it came wrapped in the same cold attitude, like I was lucky he was even bothering with me. I decided to leave and went to another shop that had the exact same guitar, brand new and so pristine it clearly had never been played. I did not even think to ask for a discount because it was in perfect condition, but they gave me one anyway and knocked ten percent off without me saying a word. On top of that they set me up with a stand, a tuner, a capo, a handful of picks, strings, and even a hat, and discounted those accessories too. They were thrilled to help the entire time. I bought my first guitar there and booked my first lesson there too, and I walked out feeling exactly the way you should feel buying your first instrument. So if you go to McCabe's and you get Barry, you will understand why this place has the reputation it does. He was the reason I almost became a customer for life. There was also a gentleman there both days who I believe may have been the manager. The second day he gave me a quick hello and then stepped into the back right as I pulled the guitar down to start the process. I have no idea whether he picked up on how that interaction was going, but I really wish he had been out front for it, because a ready and excited first-time buyer walking out empty handed could have been saved. If this somehow gets back to Barry, thank you for helping me find my first guitar.

I feel so lucky to have found Payam! My 5-year-old was taking traditional Solfege lessons before we…read morestarted here and the shift in the joy she had learning was clear from the start. They move fast, yet it somehow seems effortless. She absolutely loves her teacher Miss Ira who is talented, encouraging, patient, and fun -- and who can also play Frozen and K-Pop songs, which shows my daughter what is possible with the instrument in the best way. They have 5 piano lesson rooms in the location, each one decorated with a different colored wall/design. Parking underneath is free and such a relief to have. And I appreciate that their system is set up so that any of the other amazing teachers (Michael! Sol!) can step in for a makeup or extra class and know exactly where the student is, at each week or each level. I can see how much my daughter appreciates moving up the "levels" and knowing she is making real progress. She apparently talked so proudly about her lessons at school that some of her classmates asked to learn piano, too. That's some magic right there. My daughter is developing such a love of and connection to music here, it is contagious. I know it's cliché to say a place feels like family, but it does. Thank you Alexandra and Rustein for leading the charge with joy and Ira for making my daughter's experience here so warm, friendly, and positive. I know it's just a matter of time before I start my own lessons here, too... I definitely recommend trying the free lesson and see if you have the same great experience.

We absolutely love Payam Music! Our son's teacher, Leo, is truly wonderful and the perfect fit for…read morehim. He is patient, helpful, fun, and knows exactly how to challenge my son in all the right ways. Most importantly, he has made music fun and exciting. My son genuinely looks forward to his lessons and adores Leo -- which says everything. Alexandra, the director, is so warm and welcoming. She always greets us with a smile when we walk through the door and communicates clearly and promptly via text and email if there are any changes. It makes everything feel organized and easy. The school itself is clean, safe, and incredibly accommodating. We are so grateful to have found such a positive and supportive environment for our son's musical journey. Highly recommend!

Realm is a place like no other -- if you can't imagine middle-schoolers being caring with each…read moreother or can't imagine a community (including students) that doesn't tolerate bullying, then you might want to take a look at Realm. Realm asks: what if students could love learning, embrace challenges, and be active in creating a strong community because they want, not because the teachers tell them to?! As a former tenured professor, I can safely say that I have no worries about how well my kids will be prepared for college and beyond. I love Realm -- the only danger is that once kids come to Realm, it's hard to get them to leave.

The Realm has been an amazing place for my son to grow, learn, and thrive! The teachers are caring…read moreand so dedicated to making every student feel valued. They all love what they teach and it shows. There are so many fun and unique classes such as philosophy, film making, and improv comedy. There are also traditional classes such as math and science but they are made to be fun and engaging. You can choose what works best for your child. The Realm is truly a magical place and I feel so lucky that we found this school!

Green Brooms Music Academy has been an incredible experience for this 40-something looking to…read morerebuild confidence. I'd always wanted to take vocal lessons, but anxiety--rooted in a childhood experience--held me back for years. From the very first lesson, Isabelle made me feel completely at ease. She created such a safe, supportive space that I've been able to let go of a lot of that fear and finally enjoy singing again. With her guidance, I'm discovering a vocal range I didn't even know I had! It takes a truly special teacher to help someone work through emotional blocks, and Isabella is exactly that--patient, talented, and a joy to be around. Not only has my confidence grown through this journey, but I'm now getting ready to perform in my first-ever adult recital--something I never thought I'd be brave enough to do. If you've ever felt nervous about trying music lessons as an adult, this is the place. I can't recommend Green Brooms--or Isabelle--enough.

I've been attending this Academy for several years now I'm…read moreso happy they reopened because I will continue to support and most of all master my instrument the instructors are fantastic the energy there is amazing what a wonderful gem in Santa Monica

We love this place ! I have 3 children…read more We had them at another place in the Palisades (which was sweet but they didn't learn anything) I cannot believe the difference - a loving environment but they still learn! Yes - parking is a pain but it's LA so let's be real

I am so in love with this place. My son takes drum lessons and my daughter take voice lessons with…read morethe owner Paulette. In less than a month my daughter is confidently performing an Amy Weinhouse ballad at live event coordinated by Paulette! And my 8 year old son can punctuate my bad jokes with an actual rim shot!(budumbumching!)

This is a review for this past week's Berklee Los Angeles Summer Program, the "Songwriter and…read morePerformer" session. First of all, it makes me really sad to mark this so low because I REALLY wanted to enjoy this program - I had high hopes and high expectations for this seminar. Big names in the instructors and institution, I thought I would learn a lot from this on a number of fronts. It also makes me really sad because I could tell a lot of the instructors were great, and I liked them, but the program just did not deliver. For multiple reasons, I came away with very little. Given that there are people considering this program in the future, it's only fair to give disclosure and advice to decide whether or not this one-week workshop will be beneficial to you. The biggest thing: the depth covered in classes is not at all what was advertised. On the official program website, it promises learning will include: for composition "chord progressions, chord sounds, and modulations ... inversions, reharmonization, use of pedal points and ostinato," for lyric writing "setting words to music and music to words, alliteration, rhymes and near rhymes, and writing from title. Participants will have opportunities to collaborate with fellow students," and for recording "how to produce quality demos and ways to market them." I'm thinking, "Yeah!! Berklee!! Intense!!!" Sadly, not so. In composition/notation, I was taught the basics of what makes up a chord and how to write down your own melody, what's already there - nothing about chord progression, modulation, reharmonization, etc - the things that go into shaping a song. There was nothing on lyric writing, and there was no collaborative songwriting activity in any class. In recording, there were the basics explaining what separate things were but very little on how to put that together, on quality and nothing on marketing. I'm going to summarize the rest because this thing got too long, hahaha. 1) If you're already a serious musician with an understanding of music theory and how to write your songs, I'm not sure you'll learn a lot on composition in Berklee's L.A. program. The same goes for if you've taken a class on recording before. 2) Be aware that most of the attendees are young high-school age and this colors the whole workshop. No matter how old you are, if you're a really serious musician already, these four days may not provide the intensity you're seeking. Which relates to side 3) If you're serious and already involved in music, I would say the ASCAP EXPO conference is a lot more helpful. It's about the same amount of time and 1/3 the price, full of top industry professionals and offers a variety of seminars you can pick yourself. A lot better at facilitating networking and collaboration as well. That said, if you do decide to try out the workshop, 4) be very aware from the first day what your needs are and be vocal if you find that you're not learning or growing. Know that the groups are organized by music level, and that there is mobility between them - I didn't even know classes might vary by level and so didn't know this was an option. Probably because you're not really supposed to know unless something is wrong... Anyway, as in all organizations, some staff are more helpful than others, and I found the program director to be the most able and receptive. Go to the head! Unfortunately, I only got to talk to him on day 4 after things were over. My disappointment with the Berklee L.A. Summer Program, especially the discrepancy between what the class descriptions promised and what I actually got, led to me cancelling the following week's Producer/Songwriter workshop. The past week's experience, in addition to being told that I couldn't see the upcoming week's Producer schedule because "it did not exist and was going to be made over the weekend," just did not inspire confidence or trust in the institution's programs. So, thus was my Berklee experience, which I ended by driving home to Jeff Buckley.