Jonathan is an EXTRAORDINARY voice lesson teacher. He is incredibly well-trained and a very…read morepersonable instructor. In addition, his lessons are very helpful for students of all levels. I am a beginner in singing and truly enjoy his instruction. I highly recommend Jonathan for voice lessons!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!…read more If you want to learn how to sing well, Jonathan is the way to go. Not only does he have impeccable credentials (SF opera, gigs around the world), but he is also a very good teacher. I've been taking lessons from him for almost three years now. I started as a student in Davis, and continued even after graduation. He's very nice, funny, and personable - not hoity toity like you would expect an opera teacher to be. I really appreciate his patience and encouragement. I also appreciate the biannual recitals he organizes for his students. After three years of weekly lessons, I had the chance to perform four times at UC Davis and four times at the Berkeley City Club. I can't recommend him highly enough. He is like the Burj-al-Arab Dubai hotel of voice instructors - 7/5 stars!

He's a great jazz piano instructor. He's patient and obviously very good at what he does.read more

Josh has to be one of the best music instructors in the area…read more I am largely self taught and have tried private lessons over the past 10 years and am usually left disappointed. This is not the case with Josh. I still mostly teach myself but I find myself coming back to him over and over again to check in with my progress so that he could make adjustments. Even though at a certain level I think everyone eventually teaches themselves I now see the value of finding someone who knows his/her stuff to guide you and check in once in awhile. Josh seems to have a natural talent for psychology , which I have found to be one of the most important factors for teaching music. He is able to diagnose habitual errors and try to correct your practicing so that it is productive and fun. He is also one of the few teachers I have had that really tries to get to know what kind of music the student is into, regardless of how simple or complex it is. I could send him tunes ranging from Debussy to folk songs to get him to know the 'sound' I am trying to chase. Needless to say, the guy knows his music inside out. He is best known for klezmer music but I came to him for Jazz. He understands jazz theory and can simplify the concepts (without dumbing it down) to make it practical. He also is trained classically so he brings a deep understanding of the structure of harmony, which can give you insight into your own compositions. All in all if you could afford lessons I highly recommend Josh. If you can't afford weekly lessons I still recommend taking a lesson every once in awhile with him when you are in a rut-- you will be surprised at all the insights he could bring from one lesson.

My son and I each started taking music lessons with Mitch several months ago and it has been a…read morewonderful experience for both of us. Mitch has been great with my 5 year old son James- blending just the right amount of music reading with free play while always keeping things fun. James and I always look forward to "music school" each week! I highly recommend Mitch Schrift for piano lessons for young and old! Michael Witwer (510)776-8409

We would like to add our highest recommendation for Mitch. Our son has been taking classes with…read morehim for nearly a year and we could not be happier. When we moved to Albany from Seattle, we tried out a lot of piano teachers before we found Mitch and, once we did, we knew we had found the right teacher for our son. Mitch is an extremely talented and well educated musician and an equally excellent teacher of young people. He not only teaches our son music and piano, he also teaches him how to learn and practice, which are life lessons. Mitch is patient but he also knows how and when to gently nudge and challenge a student to do his or her best. He builds on a student's existing musical interests and abilities while challenging them to reach a little higher. My wife and I can't say enough good things about Mitch who teaches out of his professional home studio.

Dylan is a very talented teacher…read more As an adult beginner, it's hard to find the balance between having fun and playing some songs, while also learning the less fun but necessary stuff like theory, chord construction, triads, major, minor, dominant chords, etc. Dylan was really able to right away hone in on what level I'm at. We worked together to figure out how to motivate an adult beginner, which is very different from motivating kids. As adults, we tend to be more self-critical. You can hear that it doesn't sound as good as what you know sounds good even after months of practicing, and that is discouraging. His strengths are that he's very patient, good at meeting you where you're at, and finding ways to help you progress without overwhelming you. He's also teaching you enough theory that you're not just parroting a song. His goal is for you to become a true musician, someone who can play with other people, improvise, and not just karaoke through a guitar song. He and I also had similar musical tastes so his song options aligned with songs I loved such as Beatles, Chili Peppers, & Ozzy Osbourne. I highly recommend giving him a shot and seeing if he's a good fit for you.

My daughter Lyla has been taking guitar lessons from Dylan DiMartini for a year-and-a-half, since…read moreFebruary of 2025. In that time, she has embraced the guitar as never before and is in the process of becoming a complete musician. Maestro DiMartini is the whole package: a superb and superbly trained performing guitarist, musician, and composer, someone who leads by example. But even more than his musicianship, it is Dylan's empathy and psychological insight that make him a true teacher. He understands when to push and when to pull back; when to compliment and when to challenge. And perhaps most importantly, he knows how to listen: to my daughter's playing, yes, but also to what's going on in her life and heart at any particular time, and to adjust her lessons accordingly. As a professional musician myself (a composer and pianist) who, among other gigs, was a professor at the San Francisco Conservatory for 16 years, I know a good music teacher when I see one. And Dylan DiMartini is more than that: he is a great teacher. We are so, so glad to have found him.

A little over a year ago I read the only review on Yelp of this instructor. I was looking for a…read morepiano teacher close to our house for my 9-year-old son. I figured it would take a while to find the right teacher for him. But we were lucky. Kathryn is the real deal. She lives to teach, and she's really good at it. She and my son seem to have a soul connection; she understands him, finding music that she knows he'll enjoy playing. This keeps his lessons and his practice alive for him--piano is exciting and interesting. There's love and care and time put into everything she does to prepare for lessons with my son. Kathryn has healthy, realistic expectations for him, and I appreciate this. A teacher myself, I see the wisdom in how she works with him. Kathryn taught both piano and music theory in Cal's Gifted Young Musicians program for 30 years--her many years of experience are a BIG asset, and she is whip-smart and fun. I love the twinkle she has in her eye, and the special way she is able to connect with children of all ages (we have strayed a while as she teaches other children who come after us). I also love that she is slow and methodical in her thinking and speech--she works with great intention. If there were a "slow-food" version of piano teaching, my guess is that Kathryn could really market her approach. My son started with her without having any knowledge of musical notation or instruction; a little over a year later he is playing advanced musical pieces, and understanding complicated music theory. My son, as it turns out, has a "gifted" capacity for music. Kathryn knows how to work with all capacities and arranges the lessons so they are appropriate for each child. She doesn't take children under 5 years old normally ... she prefers to start at a more developmentally appropriate age. That said, Kathryn never turns down anyone without meeting them and the parents for a tryout lesson. You can learn more about her on her website: http://kathrynwinterpiano.com/ Or contact her via phone: 510.527.3839

Kathryn is a wonderful piano teacher! She taught my 15 year old daughter piano for 9 years. My…read moredaughter showed up at age 6 to her first lesson not knowing a single note of music, and over the past 9 years Kathryn helped shape her into a mature pianist who has developed a true love of music. Kathryn has a very gentle, organic approach to teaching piano, and before your child knows it, they are reading music and counting rhythm. It is a tears free approach to teaching and learning! Kathryn does hold her students to high standards, and will expect that your child will practice daily, and it is worth it! http://kathrynwinterpiano.com/

I attended Jon's music class with my 4-year-old for about six months or so, and it was such a…read morewonderful experience for both of us. Jon is kind, fun and weird in the most delightful way. He exudes enthusiasm and positivity. He also has a clear gift for making music fun and accessible for young kids. He uses little toy doggies, dinos, and action figures to teach musical concepts like how "D the dog lives inside the two black notes". I also remember him getting into this weird story arc about how a monster was trying to eat him and the kids needed to play the right note to save him. Jon brought in a variety of real instruments for the kids to explore during class -- electric guitar, a mini cello, some woodwinds, and more. This is in addition to the many instruments that are in class every week. The drum set was definitely my kid's fave. Jon was thoughtful about including every child in the activities and he had a gentle way of encouraging the shyer kids to participate without pressuring them. He'd end each class with a dance party and a call and response: "I am so proud of you!" and the kids would respond "That's me!" After class, Jon would play with the kids out on the playground, and they would laugh and laugh and chase Jon around and then get chased around by him. My son absolutely adored him to the point where he would incessantly wrap himself around one of Jon's legs when they were playing.. It's not often you get to see someone doing a thing that seems so perfectly tailored to their deepest selves, but that is definitely the vibe you get watching Jon at Jon's School of Music. It is a great time playing music with a great guy. Highly recommend :)

This is the early childhood music class you're looking for. This is the one…read more I am the proud father of a very musically-inclined 4-year-old. We've tried just about every music program around that's aimed at pre-school aged kids (including the early childhood music program offered by a certain prestigious private school). What we wanted was a program where our son would be learning musical fundamentals and getting real, hands-on exposure to instruments and concepts, but most importantly HAVING FUN while doing it so that he would have a positive association with music education and each class would leave him wanting to explore further. It took us long enough, but we finally found Jon's School of Music. It was the last stop on our journey to find the perfect music class for younger kids, and we've been going for over a year now--with no plans of stopping any time soon (our youngest will soon be enrolling as well). This is exactly what we were looking for. My son absolutely COMES ALIVE in Jon's class; it's his favorite part of the week. I can see him growing musically week-over-week, I can see his creativity blossoming, and again, most importantly: I can see the JOY he is experiencing in his journey with music. Because that's what it's all about (or should be, in my opinion). Music should be FUN. And at Jon's School of Music, it's a full-on riot. Jon is highly engaging and the kids adore him; the class is full of goofiness and fun--but Jon also sets limits and boundaries for them (teaching them to respect the instruments/handle them properly, keeping them on task, and enforcing some basic rules), which I think is not only appropriate, but IDEAL and super helpful for kids at this developmental stage. Kids respect Jon and they listen to him, and developing the skill of being able to take direction from someone other than a mom or dad is REALLY critical for young kids--it's an underappreciated side-benefit of this program. Seeing a couple of the negative reviews here, I can't help but wonder if they're just coming from a place of adults who aren't used to having any limits set for themselves or their children. From my perspective, Jon is running an exceptional and unique program and has learned from many years of experience what works and what doesn't, and how he needs to structure things for the greatest impact. So, yes. There are rules. They're simple & easy to follow, and in NO WAY take away from the fun. But if you're looking for a free-for-all where kids and parents alike can just sort of do...whatever, whenever...this isn't that. Jon's class may look like chaotic fun from the outside (by design), but there's an actual program here. I think 99.99% of the parents who try this class understand and appreciate that structure. I can (and do) wholeheartedly recommend Jon's School of Music to anyone who wants to put their child on a lifelong journey of finding joy and excitement in music. 10/10

Kevin is an excellent guitar instructor from the basics up. I've learned so much from him through…read moreour lessons, particularly when it comes to playing using better form, scales & arpeggios, and going back to basics as way to scale up one's playing ability. He's a pleasure to work with and truly a teacher at heart. I would recommend him for players of any age level or ability as a foundational start to becoming a stronger guitarist.

Kevin is the man! I've been going to Kevin for about a year and I could not be happier that I found…read morehim. He takes a genuine interest in the growth and development of his students and truly can help anyone with anything at any level. Kevin also does a great job at relating things back to music theory so you learn beyond the song you are working on - you learn guitar. As a beginner, I have appreciated Kevin's patience and way of breaking things down into an easy and digestible way that leaves you confident and motivated to go home and practice at the end of the lesson.

As an adult learner with no prior experience playing guitar, I got a tremendous amount of support…read moreand guidance in learning. I haven't worked with many of the instructors but there's a teacher for every type of learner. Ian's got over a decade of experience and is an extremely capable instructor. Classes are well worth the money if you're looking to develop any of the awesome skills you can get through learning guitar.

This place is great in many ways! It is easy to sign up, offers flexibility and plenty of…read morescheduling options, the teachers are excellent, the location is good, and it is always simple to get in touch for help. I highly recommend it!