I discovered McCormick a year ago when I found a beginner's open jam session on Meetup. At that…read moretime I had been learning bass for about 5 years on my own through YouTube tutorials and tabs. It used to take me several weeks just to learn one whole song at tempo. Improvisation skills were at zero. Plus, I didn't know anyone else who played an instrument, so I wasn't making much progress. The two times I had previously attempted joining a random open jam, I was completely lost and frustrated. But then I attended that first McCormick jam session... What I love about the open jams is that it's run by an instructor, so they'll often suggest easier songs and run through the chords on a whiteboard before starting. The people that attend are welcoming and friendly for all skill levels, and it's nice to see the same faces come back each month. Beginner/intermediate players get a chance to play along to easier songs, but there's also a chance for more advanced players to improvise and solo. I wound up having so much fun that first time, that I signed up for private lessons the week after, and have been going to the monthly jam sessions ever since. If you take private lessons, you can also sign up to join a student band that practices once a week to perform at concerts 4x a year. For beginners/intermediate who think they're not good enough to join a band, or if none of your friends are musically inclined, this is PERFECT. No matter who much you practice by yourself and can play along to a recording at home, it doesn't beat playing live in a group. Private lessons + band practice + monthly jams have seriously leveled up my skills in the past year. Now, I can learn a song well enough to survive a jam session with only a couple run throughs beforehand if I've never heard it before. I can survive a 12 bar blues jam without any prep. Plus I've also connected with a couple people during the jam sessions, and am now learning 3-4 new songs each week! Also, shout out to Jules who's helped me learn songs much faster by simplifying basslines that I thought were too hard to play, and getting me to work more on listening and improvisation instead of relying 100% on tabs. He's an excellent and encouraging teacher, and I've picked up tons of tips and advice in the past year. Really happy I found McCormick! I've always loved playing an instrument, but it's 100x more fun if you get to play with other people.

Amazing teacher, amazing students , amazing learning environment to really grow and harness…read moremusical skills. I would give it 10,000 stars if I could.

Eden has been going to Sounds of Color since kindergarten, from summer camps to now taking a weekly…read moreart class, and she absolutely loves it! Her teacher, Miss Bri, is wonderful. She is incredibly patient with the kids and always comes up with the most creative, fun projects. I especially love how much variety there is. The kids get to explore so many different types of art and materials, so it always feels fresh and exciting. Miss Bri makes the classes fun and engaging while really encouraging their creativity and letting them make each project their own. Eden genuinely looks forward to going every week, which says it all. We've had such a great experience with Sounds of Color and Miss Bri!

What a fantastic opportunity for the kids!!! We love how much love and effort Ms. Bri has put into…read moreher classes. She is one dedicated and loving professeur!

Purchased an acoustic guitar that needed to be re-strung, so I called here & guitar center. Unlike…read morethe round-about way of chainstores and not speaking to anyone, Carlos picked up &answered all of my questions prior to coming in. Later that day, I brought in my guitar &he asked if I had time to hang around a little so that I wouldn't have to trek back to pick it up. After picking out my strings from their wide range, I went with the coated D'Addario. Done on the spot in 15 minutes & he even polished the guitar after finishing up!! This is what sets a small business apart from chains; the quality of care &time spent with customers--Thank you Carlos for all of your help! (COVID concerns: staff was fully masked & patrons are required to wear one as well. Hand sanitizer located on countertop.)

Fantastic Selection and Outstanding Customer Service…read moreConstellation Musical Instruments is the only store I could find in Orange County that sells accordions, and it came highly recommended by another music store. I was impressed by how spacious, clean, and well-organized the store is, with a great variety and selection of instruments. The sales associate was incredibly friendly, patient, and helpful. He even took a brand-new accordion out of a sealed carton, put on the straps, and let us try it. Although we didn't find the right match and didn't make a purchase, he remained kind and patient, answering all our questions thoroughly. Excellent customer service--I highly recommend this store to anyone looking for musical instruments!

We had a poor experience from start to end unfortunately…read more I had called and left three voicemails over the span of two weeks, different days and different times. I never got a call back, and I decided to try once more where I finally got someone and booked a session. (Our other local music school was relocating farther from us, and my daughter really wanted lessons.) Our lessons were.. okay. They didn't always start promptly and they were usually in tiny, hot rooms big enough for one small folding chair (plus instrument and standing student with teacher). We tried it out for a couple months and it was not for us. When canceling, they assured me it would be okay, but of course they continued to charge us the following months. I called, and again no return messages. I called again, spoke to someone and they said James would call me back, but not a word since two weeks ago. I had to dispute the charges with my card, but save yourself the effort I went through and seek lessons elsewhere.

Terrible cuatomer service. Called to get information on guitar strings, was quoted 8.99 and said…read morethey had it in stock, sounded good so I drove to the store. They did not have the brand that they quoted me the price on in stock and only had another brand that was around double the price quoted. Also the price of the strings they were trying to sell me was priced much higher than retail. Needless to say I will never go back.

Ms. Tweena and Ms. April are amazing teachers when it comes to piano lessons and vocal training…read more It's a great warm learning atmosphere. They are wonderful with the kids...and adults alike.

Wow, I'm so glad we found Tweena!…read more We wanted our 5 year-old to begin piano lessons. We checked with our neighbors and friends and explored a couple of options. Most were ladies offering lessons in their homes. They had excellent reviews. But my wife talked to Teeena, and she offered a complimentary lesson. Heck yeah. My wife had a 'feeling' about Tweena. Tweena's studio is on the second floor of the historic Santora Building in DTSA. The building is beautiful, and Tweena's space in the southwest corner fronts Broadway and the arts plaza with Lola Gaspar, the Gypsy Den and the CSUF art space. The ceilings are maybe 20 feet high. Beautiful oak flooring. Nicely decorated. There is an ample reception room with a couch for waiting. One studio is smaller, while the large practice space is probably 400 square feet, with a grand piano and electric, as well. That's where our daughter takes her lessons. I love going in there. It is like going back in time. We knew this was the place for our daughter following that first lesson. My wife's 'feeling' totally validated. Tweena is young, and she knows how to interact with kids, while commanding their attention and respect. Our daughter loves her lessons, and she is learning quickly, so quickly that we are struggling to keep up with her! Tweena also gave us some excellent advice about whether to buy a baby grand or an electronic piano. I can't recommend Tweena highly enough. She is all we could have wished for as a piano teacher for our daughter. Plus, you are in DTSA with all the food opportunities to experience! We couldn't be more pleased.

This was actually the second music store I went to, and I ended up finding DMX Music Center by…read moreaccident, but I'm really glad I did! I came in looking for a cable to connect my Bose S1 Pro to another speaker without having to use the app, and Jesus was great. He knew exactly what I needed and helped me get it all figured out. While I was there, he also helped me get some guitar strings and a tripod stand for my speaker. Really great customer service, knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. What started as an accidental stop ended up being exactly what I needed. Definitely glad I found this place and will be coming back!

In response to Jesus's response…read more My receipt states that the repairs goal was to get the bass to make sound. When I got my bass back I couldn't turn any of the knobs without the sound cutting out. But I guess it was my mistake to assume that you guys would to a proper job. Additionally, you guys told me that you guys would call before starting the repair to give me a quote but that never happened. I just received a call after the fact. The person who first helped me called and told me the repair would be 35$ but when I came in to the store the guy tried to charge me 45$ and when I told him about the price that I was given his response to me was "well she didn't fix the bass." Anyways, I'm over this, but don't try to act like you guys have done nothing wrong.

Great, hangout good music great music, good atmosphere enjoyed the experience I'll return in the…read morefuture

Beatnik Bandito is more or less a radical little place that's keeping music alive wile being hidden…read moreaway amongst the many buildings in Downtown Santa Ana that most would overlook! Inside you will find a number of collectible vinyl records for decent prices as well as many other random items and some vintage clothing. In coming here I wasn't to sure what to expect but what we found was an awesome little shop that's keeping the music scene alive by having shows of all different types of music to entertain the crowd. During music events it seems as if you have to enter through the back alley way which is kinda nice because there is a decent size parking lot there and you don't have to walk to far. The shop itself is rather small as in there was about 30 people here watching the band and it was packed just enough so that it wasn't hard to move around. The sound was awesome all the bands sounded really good and overall this was a great time as the people who own the store were very nice and helpful as well. Overall if your looking to see a band in a small shop that's full of super cool vinyl and just a totally positive environment overall then you've found the place! I'm not sure when I will be back here again but I'd definitely come back as we had a good time and enjoyed an awesome music event!

We rented out a viola for elementary school music class. We paid a monthly rental fee…read more The viola we received was like new. We were so impressed with the service, the product and the pricing. Dropping off at the end of the school year was easy peasy and all the staff were chatting with us and so friendly. Highly recommend if you're unable to get your hands on an instrument at the school.

I recently visited Irvine Art and Music to select a new GS Mini-e Mahogany, and I couldn't be more…read moregrateful for the assistance from Gabriel. His help was incredibly valuable and made the experience both enjoyable and stress-free. Gabriel was patient and knowledgeable, introducing me to several options and allowing me to hear and understand the subtle differences in each guitar. He didn't rush the process and ensured that every choice was tailored to my desired style and size. The GS Mini-e Mahogany turned out to be the perfect fit for my emotional storytelling music. Thank you, Gabriel, for your excellent service and for making this a memorable experience!

Would definitely recommend School of Rock Santa Ana! My son has been going here for a little over a…read moreyear now. He takes vocal and piano lessons. The instructors are awesome and very talented! They know exactly how to keep kids engaged in learning while having fun. My son hadn't taken any classes before going here and now he doesn't want to stop!

Fantastic place. They put on amazing events. My daughter loves the classes and teachers. Very easy…read moreto chat back and forth with when we've had billing issues (she's a complex case because of charter school credits). Highly recommend.

We have been so fortunate to have Susanne Lee as our daughter's piano teacher for almost nine…read moreyears! I don't normally write reviews, but after nearly a decade of lessons, I can honestly say she has been such a wonderful part of our daughter's life. She has a great sense for choosing music that is enjoyable while still challenging our daughter and helping her grow. I especially appreciate how she knows when to encourage her to move forward and when not to push too hard. She has helped our daughter build her skills and confidence without ever making piano feel stressful or overwhelming. Most importantly, she is kind, patient, and genuinely cares about our daughter. It's clear how much she loves her students, and my daughter absolutely loves her in return. We are so grateful for the years of encouragement, patience, and care she has given our daughter and for the role she has played in her musical journey.

Miss Susanne at OC Music Center is an outstanding piano…read moreteacher for kids and adults, beginners through advanced. She's been teaching in Orange County since 1982 and really knows how to keep students motivated without being pushy. My family has seen kids who used to fight practice start looking forward to lessons, and adults who thought they were "too late" actually progress. Clear instruction, good musicianship, and she does in-home lessons which is a huge plus. Highly recommend for anyone in RSM / South OC.