Mike really knows his stuff when it comes to music, from performing, down to the nitty gritty…read moretechnical details of recording and producing. I've worked with Mike in an educational capacity-- he was the instructor and conductor for a community orchestra I was part of. He was a strong communicator and director, provided excellent direction and advice, all while maintaining an easygoing attitude. He's excellent with people and does a fantastic job teaching. If you're on the fence about hiring Mike, DO IT! You won't regret it.

Mike is such a talented musician, and such a lovely person on top of that. You definitely won't be…read moredisappointed if you work with Mike!

Nice little music shop that rents, repairs, and sells new and used instruments. I was surprised at…read moretheir variety of items, considering they are rather 'off the beaten track'. Plus, their prices are better than some around town. Good customer service and knowledge about products.

Once again, Mr. Castleman came through for us. I totally forgot (my bad) to come back and write a…read moresecond review in march, after he fixed my daughter's cello. What a great job he did! Not only did the major stuff get fixed, but also every nick and scratch was filled, smoothed and removed. The cello looks a lot better now. Also, he saved us some money by working on repairing existing pieces, instead of just replacing the bow. He did advise us on better handling of the bow to avoid future problem, and also that the bow fix could be just a temp thing, and might still fail. That was back at end of March. The bow is still being abused daily here! =) Once again, thanks for the artisan-ship, for the professionalism and for the time you took talking to my daughter and I. We always learn something valuable from you! =)

Go here!!!! Very very helpful and friendly staff. They…read moregenuinely wanted to help me get the best deal and did not try to upsell me on anything, which was a relief. They weren't condescending to me as a beginner either, and gave me the information I needed. Great atmosphere, super chill and laidback. Incredible prices too. I got a fender amp for half the price of what it would be at other shops.

I came in looking for a small travel size guitar. Hannah welcomed me with a smile and took time to…read morefind me exactly the guitar that would fit my needs. She (and Darren) gave me expert advice, and I ended up with a guitar that was great. They even did a pro set up on the guitar (awesome service BTW!!) Highly recommended!!!

Tim Bertsch is extremely experienced in both teaching as well as performance offering his students…read morea multi faceted perspective. He is kind, professional, and adaptive in accommodating various skill levels. The sound academy of music locations are clean, easy to find, safe, and comfortable with safe and accessible parking. The lesson plans are skillfully crafted and heartily comprehensive but most importantly Tim customizes classes that are accessible to each individual's unique requirements. As an instructor he remains present, engaged and patient throughout the duration of your lesson so you receive the highest rate of efficacy on your investment of time and currency. I love watching him perform in his band Jaded Mary as well as solo for his Soul Resonance project and have included some action performance photos.

One of the best teachers I have ever known. Tim is very present and patient and very Positive when…read moreit comes to teaching. He is very confident and can show you almost any song you want to learn just right then and there, very skilled and knowledgable. At 40 I'm learning old time music and Tim Bertsch has really helped me gain confidence in my playing skills.

Anna is a good teacher, patient and helpful. She really understands the way voices work and helped…read moreme not only with my singing voice, but with my speaking voice as well. For years I was straining to speak and she helped me speak confidently with my natural voice which is now more relaxed and doesn't hurt my throat anymore.

From the owner: I teach singers across genres to sing higher, with more power and smooth vocal breaks. My…read morespecialties include developing a mix, light chest singers, running out of breath and range expansion.

I have been working with Pascal for just over a year and I cannot speak highly enough of Pascal as…read morea guitar instructor. He is not only an exceptionally skilled musician but also an excellent teacher who has transformed my playing in just a short matter of time. Pascal can easily and clearly explain material and concepts, often approaching things from multiple angles to ensure complete understanding. Whether we're working on lead guitar techniques, rhythm guitar fundamentals, or diving into music theory, he maintains a strong balance that keeps lessons engaging and comprehensive. His teaching style is also approachable and professional, which has helped create an environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and pushing myself to improve (something I was nervous about, having never played guitar previously). Although I was at first hesitant about the commitment of in-person lessons, I have also really grown to appreciate the fact that lessons are in-person. Pascal has an eye for detail and a very well-trained ear, which allows him to provide real-time adjustments on everything from basic technique to nuanced elements like the way in which the pick is being held, thumb position, hand placement, and arm angles, etc. I believe these types of corrections that would be difficult to identify on my own (again, having no prior experience), and would likely not come through in most online/recorded lessons. These small refinements have made a large difference in my playing ability, to the point where even minor adjustments (like a slight adjustment to wrist angle) allow me to play a chord or a progression that I was struggling to play on my own during practice. As others have commented, I would also recommend double lessons, which I find to give me a great amount of items to work on before my next lesson. On a personal note, I genuinely look forward to my lessons with Pascal. Pascal's enthusiasm and encouragement have motivated me to practice consistently and focus on development in ways I do not believe I would have if I were learning independently. I also do not feel pressured if I have a busy week and have not been able to dedicate as much time to the material (although that rarely happens, as I enjoy the material so much). My wife has even commented on how much progress I've made in such a short time (she likes listening to me now). As someone who firmly believes you get what you pay for, I can say without hesitation that Pascal is worth every penny. If you're looking for a guitar instructor who will genuinely invest in your growth as a musician, Pascal is an excellent choice.

If you want to be able to pick up a guitar and confidently turn the music in your head into…read morereality, Pascal will get you there. He has the experience, skill, and patience to tailor each of his lessons to provide meaningful and rewarding progress towards your musical goals and, in my case, beyond what I thought I was capable of. I started playing guitar as an adult, and had little idea of what I wanted to get out of the hobby. After years of sporadically learning pieces of songs from online lessons, I came around to the conclusion that I enjoyed guitar enough to take it more seriously. Initially, structured online lessons yield great results, but I quickly started hitting skill plateaus that forced me to move in a different direction to feel like I was making progress. After diversions into music theory, gear acquisition, and some in-person instruction, my interest in guitar was stronger than ever, but I just wasn't getting that much better at playing the thing. Then I found Pascal's website and thought he sounded like someone I should reach out to. The first lesson I had with Pascal completely changed my view of what I could get out of guitar in such a positive way. Biased by my previous experiences learning other instruments, I went in thinking that learning could either be structured and chore-like, or relaxed and fun, but unproductive. I was wrong. Pascal immediately put me on a track that was both structured and personal, and made me enjoy playing so much more. I wish I had hours every day to devote to practicing, but I struggle to find even minutes most days. Even with that constraint, the progress was immediately tangible. One of Pascal's greatest strengths is explaining why he's teaching something and laying out realistic expectations for progression. I became much more aware of the small increments of progress I was making and my basic skills improved dramatically. As lessons progressed, the connections between the lessons became more and more clear. The fretboard transitioned from being intimidating to comfortable, and the fear of getting "lost" started going away. At no point did I have to sit down and memorize anything to get to that place; it happened naturally with the lessons. I waited to write a review for a couple years because I wanted my recommendation to be credible for someone like me: a person whose interest in playing guitar has exceeded their skill and is looking for a teacher to bridge that gap. If that sounds like you, I wholeheartedly recommend reaching out to Pascal!