Our family has been in the Silicon Valley Classical Guitar school for many years. We absolutely love the school and all the teachers. The teachers are all competent classical guitarists, and many years of experience of teaching. They use rigorous Suzuki method to teach, but with warm and gentle approach. My older son started learning classical guitar with Patrick since he was 6 (now he is a high schooler). Patrick is super patient and nice, and always provides positive feedback and encourages the student to be better. We really appreciate his gentle way of teaching. Patrick is a great musician. Under his guidance and influence, my older son enjoys practicing guitar everyday, and is willing to come out of his comfort zone to try several guitar competitions. My younger son started his guitar lesson with Scott 3 years ago. Scott is a great teacher. He has good sense of humor, and is very detail and technical orientated. He can also identify student's strength and weakness and adjust his teaching accordingly. My young son thrives and looks forward to each lesson. All the teachers in the school work very hard to build a classical guitar community. They organize frequent recitals each term and provides tons of opportunities for students to perform. Before the pandemic, they have guitar ensemble classes for different levels. My kids really love the biweekly rehearsal with their ensemble groups. Through the ensemble program, we also get to know the other great teachers, Rob and Angelica. They are passionate in teaching and sharing their love of classical guitar and music. My kids not only learn classical guitar from the school, but the love of music and the joy of sharing music with others. We are really grateful! read more

We've been going to SVCGS for 2 years now and this place is amazing! After trying out a class in another studio and hating it, we came here based on a recommendation from a friend and we've been very happy ever since. Teacher Scott is absolutely fabulous with the kids, he has endless patience, a positive attitude, a great sense of humor and such a great way of adapting his teaching style and the level of technique to match the child's age and maturity. He has also been great with scheduling, and has worked with us whenever we needed to make adjustments. The additional group classes they used to hold before COVID were also a really nice bonus that allowed the kids to play along with other kids at their level, and Rob was always great at running those and making them fun and engaging. I recommend this place wholeheartedly! read more

I've learnt classical guitar with Teacher Rob Watson for 2 years. Now my family is moving so I have to terminate the class. I'm an adult student, and have limited time to practice. Rob is a very good teacher, comparing learning music with coding (yes, I'm an software engineer, and he knows that will help me understand how to learn music). For a while in 2017, around the holiday time when I didn't have classes with Rob, I practiced a lot, or maybe too much at home. Then I got some hand issues. Once I was in class with Rob again, he checked all details on how I sat, how I held the guitar, how I pressed the strings on the fretboard, and how I plucked the strings. I remember at that time I went to a hand therapist, who also plays music and is very experienced with music players' hand issues. She let me play as usual and checked my technique from the aspect of ergonomics. She said my technique looked very good and agreed that I was just playing some chords in a stressed way during the holiday. She also asked me about my teacher, took pictures of how I played, and would show other patients this is the right way to play the guitar. I loved playing. And with Rob's help, I climbed up to Book 6 in this two years. I was pushing myself too much and trying to learn too fast. Rob told me to slow down the pace and spend more time on each piece. That's a very important guidance for me. I was enjoying the music more since then. As a teacher, Rob also shares a lot with me, since he knows I'm new to the state and my language is not perfect. He also learns some coding in his free time. I guess that's because he loves the silicon valley very much. Sometimes I feel Rob is my good friend, my good music teacher, and my good life mentor. Now since I'm moving, I cannot finish Book 6. I told him I really like two songs in Book 7, Canarios and Sounds of Bells. He then helped me with Sounds of Bells before I leave. I cannot say how grateful I'm. I liked music two years ago. Now I looove music. read more

SVCGS is such a wonderful school with such great teachers. I've been attending classes here for more than 10 years and I would definitely recommend it. My teacher Angelica Wilson teaches in a fun and educational way and this learning style helps me a lot because it makes me want to practice my guitar a lot. It is a very fun experience to learn and grow better. read more

I have been getting lessons from Angelica for a few months now and she is amazing! She is very attentive, friendly, and warm, and truly cares about her students. I am amazed at how far I have come as a guitar player in just a few months of lessons with her. Angelica is a wealth of knowledge and I look forward to every lesson with her! read more

My 9 year-old and 6 year-old sons thoroughly enjoy taking classical guitar lessons from Rob Watson at SVCGS. The school's approach to teaching music is both serious and enjoyable, taught by competent and accomplished musicians. Teachers Rob Watson and Scott Gossage, who alternately lead group lessons, have both been playing guitar since childhood and have pursued rigorous training themselves. At the same time, they bring humor and light-heartedness to their teaching styles without ever compromising high expectations for precision and technique. The Suzuki method enables a child to fall in love with playing music without first learning to read the notes and to experience the joy of achievement in a rewarding process that is not overwhelming. Parental involvement is part of the Suzuki method and it's a beautiful way to spend quality time with your child as you engage in their learning experience. My son started at the Longay Conservatory of Guitar and found the environment there stiff and uncompromising so we were delighted when the Silicon Valley Guitar School was formed. This way, we can enjoy the same high quality of teaching but in a positive, pleasant atmosphere that we all look forward to. We'll be sticking with SVCGS for many years to come. read more

My daughter has been Scott Gossage's student since she was eight, and she is now sixteen--that's eight years of the best music training a parent could ever hope for. Combining the Suzuki method with his engaging, infectious humor and a super-high level of professionalism and musicianship, Scott makes lessons fun for kids and interesting for parents. And when I say professional, I mean basically that your kid will never know if the teacher is having a bad day--each and every lesson is a POSITIVE experience. The Suzuki classical guitar repertoire is beautiful and incredibly well planned out from the very first piece. Kids learn real music that parents enjoy hearing and helping with (and yes, parents are very involved in Suzuki music learning). Music reading, ensemble playing, and musicianship are integrated into the program as appropriate to the student's level, always in a fun, positive way. As students move into middle and high school, Scott understands their and their families increasing need for flexibility and exploration--the guitar is, after all, one of the most versatile instruments around. Now in high school, my daughter is playing at a level that most guitarists only dream of. Hearing the music and watching her hands and mind at work while she plays is truly amazing. If you are looking for a great music program for your child, one that will give him or her a skill that will last a lifetime, look to the guitar, and check out this school. read more

I have been learning classical guitar with Rob for about 1 year. This is my 3rd attempt at learning guitar and it is the longest by far. The regular weekly lessons with demonstration and feedback are a great motivation to keep practicing. Feedback during lessons is specific and constructive and I have never felt demoralized after a lesson like I have with prior teachers. read more

My son had an opportunity to have his first class with Rob, I would say the first class was nothing less than awesome and I thank Rob for helping my son with his first class. Rob provided with the trial Guitar and shared with me his approach moving ahead. Thanks Rob for creating the great guitar impression for my son. read more

My 11-year old son has been Rob Watson's student for about a year and a half and has been studying guitar for 4 years. We moved from PA to CA and were looking for a Suzuki guitar teacher. We feel very lucky to have found Scott and Rob. Rob is a very effective and wonderful teacher and I see my son thriving under his tutelage. My son is very detail-oriented and Rob understands that about him. Every lesson is different, fun, engaging and my son has enough to work on till his next lesson. The group lessons are taught by Scott who is absolutely a delight. Rob & Scott are wonderful teachers who take their art and jobs very seriously and make learning fun. We are thrilled to be part of the SVCGS family. read more

My 11-year-old daughter has been taking lessons here for two years. The staff are all extremely talented musicians as well as patient and friendly teachers. The studio is open for very flexible hours. The Suzuki method has been effective for us, as it allows young children to learn "real" songs immediately and get excited about playing more, while building on theory and technique. Angelica has such a fantastic way with kids and teaches my daughter to meet high standards without feeling pressure. She makes some awesome analogies that are relevant to what my child's interests are. The twice-annual recitals are great performance practice without too much stress. We have valued our positive experiences here and will continue for years to come. read more