The instructors at Sound Music School are amazing! I have been taking lessons now for several years…read morehere and can't speak highly enough about the professionalism and friendliness here. My lessons are something I look forward to now every week and I am always excited for what song or piece I'll be working on next! All styles are taught and I now have played everything from rock to country to blues to classical to hymnal. If you are wanting to learn a new instrument or hone skills on an existing one, I can't recommend them enough! 2020 update: Lessons have been adapted in the midst of our current COVID-19 pandemic, and I'm happy to say virtual lessons still provide a great experience! To have the ability to continue with such an important and familiar part of my routine is invaluable to me. Thank you for continuing to be here for us all!

I have been taking piano and vocal lessons with Katherine through the Sound Music School and the…read moreexperience has been fantastic! She has a wonderful grasp of how to present concepts in ways that are useful and easy to understand. Within weeks I could already see myself starting to make progress. She is also fantastic at communicating goals and working on material that is relevant and fun. I've been able to bring in music I'd like to work on, but I've also discovered new music that is thrilling to explore. My weekly lesson has become the highlight of my week! The booking process was incredibly fast and simple. My trial lesson was scheduled within the same week I submitted an inquiry, and by the following week I was already on the regular schedule. If you're in the area and looking to take music lessons, I can't recommend this school highly enough!

I started taking cello lessons again with Mannfried Funk, a former Seattle Symphony member. He's…read moregot a great teaching space in his home on Phinny ridge but also makes house calls. He's a super likable guy and very patient. Something I need to get up on YouTube is his comical dog - who literally sings along when he's playing (stops after a bit - it's not a distraction). If you're looking for a Cello teacher in Seattle (or the Eastside) I'd highly recommend him. You can reach him via email at MKFS381@AOL.com

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."…read more --Honest Abe For all those about to bust orchestral maneuvers (in the dark or otherwise), get ready to sharpen your axe. My son's first cello lesson with Mannfried Funk (my friend exclaimed that this is the best musical name a person could have, bar none, and he's dead-on!), began with an almost entirely visual assessment of where he was at skillwise, as evidenced by his physical relationship to the cello. In about 45 seconds, Mannfried had it all dialed in. My kid has always been running to catch up. He started orchestra a year behind the flock in his first school, then 2 years behind the excellent and more intensive Eckstein orchestra (which rehearses daily). In each case, he caught up, and in each case was Most Improved. But all that hustling to "learn the music" meant he never "learned the cello." Mannfried makes this important distinction, and it's incredibly astute. He took one look at everything: posture, limbs, sweep of the bow, and--not unkindly--told him to just put the cello down for a while. It was an awesome lesson. An abnormally long lesson. They talked about physics and gravity, about proaction and reaction, about efficiency, conservation of energy, and minimization of effort. He had Maximo stand up, then return to the chair and position himself with the cello no less than five times to reinforce the muscle memory of what will be an entirely new, more efficient posture. This guy knows his shit backwards and forward. And let's not forget his SINGING DOG. He said that for a while he'd sequester the dog upstairs to keep him from singing along, but he'd still hear him up there, disconsolate and humming. But the lesson. Every student could and should have this kind of a foundation, and truthfully no group instructor will ever have the time and resources (and many would never have the intimate knowledge themselves) to impart this kind of an education--it approached the metaphysical. There are talented practitioners, and there are talented teachers, and they're not always the same people. I'm sure this guy can play like a house on fire, but christ on a cracker, has he got a genius for teaching. He doesn't talk down or patronize, nor is he gruff or the stern taskmaster. He is a persuasive, knowledgeable clinician with an intuitive, and highly prescriptive approach. Not only am I thrilled we've found him, I'm considering reinitiating lessons myself. I could not recommend him more highly to any student at any stage of their musical evolution. And for beginners, a few sessions with him ought to be mandatory.

Derek is a great drum teacher! Our son looks forward to lessons every Monday, thanks Derek for your…read morekindness!

Aaron B has been teaching bass guitar to my son for a few months now. My son is really enjoying…read moreit, and I appreciate Aaron's balance of discipline and fun.

I took voice lessons from Erica for a year and was thrilled with my experience. Erica is a very…read moreknowledgeable and experienced teacher. She is really great at explaining difficult concepts. She has a talent for giving feedback in a constructive way that does not make you feel discouraged. My singing improved much more than I expected going into lessons. I would recommend her for anyone looking for good voice or beginning piano teacher.

Erica is a very patient and encouraging voice coach. I always leave each lesson feeling like I've…read moreprogressed in some way; which is major considering I started not being able to exhale a "tss" for longer than 6 seconds. I've definitely been able to apply what I learned to my rehearsals/performances and am able to see my progress there as well. She really tailors to the student and what their goals are.

Guitar lessons with Dan were my weekly retreat from a hectic workweek. Dan is super patient with…read moreyou every step of the way. Somehow he manages to urge you to practice (something I have trouble with) without being naggy or making you feel guilty. He listens to your concerns and musical tastes and incorporates them into each lesson. He lets you pick the genre and even songs that you'd like to play. His classical training means that you get experience in sight reading music and musical theory. I'm a bit of weird bird that I like blues and punk rock. He taught me the basics in both so I can have a great time just jamming out with him or with some of my talented friends. Overall, if you're looking to invest some money in lessons, Dan is the place to go.

Dan is great. Young guy, super fun and super talented. He explains things very clearly and never…read moregets frustrated. I'd gladly recommend him to anyone out there looking to learn how to play from the ground up. I've been taking weekly lessons now with Dan for about 3 months and can already see some real results. Pat

Sam is a phenomenal Instructor. You can not find a better, more effective teacher in the area…read more I've been working with him for about 9 months. I've been drumming for 15 years. I've played in active bands in a variety of genres (pop, rock, jazz, metal, fusion etc...). I've done a music theory degree, and studied music both a serious industry member (live audio reinforcement) and as a performer. I can say, without any doubts, that Sam has been one of the greatest musical mentor's I've ever had the pleasure of working with. His knowledge of musical genres is unparalleled - he can seamlessly move between contemporary pop, classic jazz, world music (afro-cuban, afrobeat etc..) and more, all the while giving deep insights into the musical relationships between them. Sam's technical skill is exceptional, and his ability to distill complex techniques which he's refined over the course of years into small teachable lessons is exquisite. He possess the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses in a performer, and can use that insight to drive your development forward in ways which will truly expand your playing. Sam possess a calm, friendly personality that creates a comfortable, safe environment in which to learn. When working with him I feel like I am part of a team dedicated to furthering my musical development. His attitude is one of always looking forward for ways to improve while focusing on making lessons fun and engaging. As a drummer of over a decade, who had recently sought to push himself to new levels, Sam has been everything I had hoped to find in a teacher.

I've been taking drum lessons with Sam Esecson for well over a year now - and while he works mostly…read morewith younger students, Sam is a great teacher for adults as well. In particular, he helped me move from getting down the basics on my own to being comfortable playing in several different live band and group situations. I'd recommend him not only for kids and novice adult students, but also for more experienced drummers looking to improve their hand technique, their musical feel (especially in jazz and latin), and their dynamics and finesse. His studio is large so it never feels cramped and set up so it's not super-loud during a lesson, which is a bonus!

One lesson with JT and I knew he was The One Teacher I wanted. After going from one guitar teacher…read moreto another, I was so happy I had finally found the best. I've been taking guitar lessons with JT for a couple of years and I'm so thankful to him because he's given me the gift of music. I would recommend JT to anybody that's serious about learning guitar.

Dr. Krentz is an excellent teacher. He is very demanding, but in a logical and humorous way. He…read moreexpects a lot of his students, but is such a great teacher that his students can usually meet his lofty expectations! He really emphasizes building a strong foundation of technique. I consider myself a pretty tough critic, but have to say that my son has made dramatic improvement in a short period with Dr. Krentz.