Question...........Do you have vocal lessons? ubein@yahoo.com…read more I have a 9 year old granddaughter who is anxious for vocal lessons. Do you teach vocal or can recommend someone who can in Santa Cruz?

I have been taking piano lessons for a little over a year with Diana Brown through Santa Cruz Music…read moreAcademy. I'm in my thirties and had often thought I missed the boat by not studying piano earlier in life. But, I've been feeling extremely happy with the progress (starting as a complete beginner) that we've made over this time so I thought I'd post a review. Diana has a structured but flexible teaching style that has helped me to efficiently develop a well-rounded set of skills. We've focused on learning scales / arpeggios, proper technique, and building a repertoire - sometimes we delve a little further into theory or even some vocal lessons here and there. I've found that she goes above and beyond in tailoring the pace and content of the curriculum to her individual students. I would absolutely recommend Diana as a teacher without hesitation to anyone hoping to start learning piano!

Excellent music teacher! He does it all - guitar, bass, drums, keys, horns, sitar, shovel guitar,…read morespoons (probably), who knows what else? Got to see him in action as a student in standard lessons and in a combo, where he helps students play together with other musicians - an invaluable tool to anyone interested in learning music. He does a great job of meeting students where they are musically, and helps them to grow and build confidence as performers.

Our son has been doing lessons with David for over two months now and we all have had a fantastic…read moreexperience. David is well-rounded and teaches many instruments, which gives him a great advantage with instructing how to perform in an ensemble. David often plays with his students to give them that experience while learning particular skills or pieces. David also has a wonderful laid-back and creative approach to teaching. He teaches the core skills and structure but also allows space for riffing and just having fun with the instruments. I feel this has made a huge difference in our son's experience. His confidence and joy has soared learning with David and he eagerly looks forward to his lessons. Thank you, David!

Andrew is truly a gifted drummer and teacher. He is patient, methodical, and his approach to…read morelearning makes a lot of sense for the beginner student. He has a unique gift of being able to break down complex rhythms into bite size pieces, especially for someone like myself who tends to get overwhelmed easily by the bigger picture. He has a vast range of technical skills including but not limited to years of practice and performance doing West African drumming, mbira, drum set, and various percussion styles. His ear for rhythm is second nature and he possesses exquisite taste in regards to his influence. If you are in the market for a drum teacher, Andrew is a true professional possessing the wisdom and experience to assist you on your journey.

Very talented and patient teacher! I found Andrew to be a very well rounded instructor...After…read moreevery lesson I can tell my technique and rhythm has improved exponentially... Also, on a personal note, he happens to be a really nice fella! Highly recommended.

Here's the thing about Gianni Staiano: he claims to be a piano teacher; however he is infinitely…read moremore than that. I first happened upon Gianni and his love affair with keyboards at a local venue called The Crepe Place. His Funk Trio, 7 Come 11, was almost literally sucking people into the front door and gyrating the floor beneath their feet. I bounded towards the front to see the instrumentation. Well, my eyes ended up glued to Gianni's fervent-foot and handwork on the hammond organ for about 2 hours. As a kid, I had learned some classical piano and listened to rich and multifarious musical styles. In the back of my mind I had been searching for someone to resuscitate my relationship with the piano. I thought, "I found the doctor." Fast forward to one year later and I am grappling with scales, chord voicings, baseline rhythms, ear training, sight-reading, chord progressions, and new songs in Gianni's studio. At this point, honestly, I felt frustrated. This guy is giving me every tool in emporium and I am just NOT a musician, I should give up. ...I'm giving up. Well, I voiced this concern to him and he earnestly reasoned that I was growing as an artist and musician. I just wasn't ready to hear it at that point. I quit for about 6 months, all the while recalling Gianni's simpatico encouragement. My life circumstances changed and I decided to give the piano, music, and Gianni another try. Returning was like sipping an outstanding scotch with a clean palate after having tried it before with a mouthful of soap. Music has a way of defying definition. Gianni continues to patiently help me wrap my head around constellations of musical concepts. His teaching helps me feel that music and life govern each other. The tools he provides allow me to face the truth of who I am as an artist and musician. One of the greatest gifts of Gianni's teaching is self-acceptance, the reminder to love ourselves where we are at this moment and keep working towards our greater goals. Three years later I am preparing for a performance, singing and playing, writing my own music, and showing up at Gianni's studio every week for more. It really makes a difference taking lessons from a performing musician. While I can't say that lessons with Gianni has instantly turned my hands into the likes of Art Tatum, Vladimir Horowitz, or Chopin, I can say that I call myself a piano player, musician, and artist with growing confidence. You can certainly take lessons from him and take his teaching as a literal guide to playing the piano and you will glean numerous playing tips and learn new songs; however, I recommend learning between the lines and trust that the really juicy stuff will digest and give you a rich takeaway in time. So, a 5 isn't enough. I have an infinitude of stars and gratitude to post for Gianni's nurturance of a really, REALLY important part of my life.

My daughter wanted a piano teacher who would nurture her love of music beyond learning scales &…read moremusic theory. Gianni has introduced her to jazz, blues & latin rhythms. She has developed the confidence to take on new music by recognizing the chords & patterns within each piece of music. Gianni has an engaging personality along with his creative teaching style. Each lesson provides guidance & a deepening connection with music which inspires her to keep playing.

Cole is a true gem. He is patient, he is flexible, and he is just a cool guy. In his studio, my son…read more(now almost 14) learned the basics (how to hold the drumsticks, how to read snare drum rhythms in the music) but also got a chance to try out the marimba and to learn Brazilian samba beats while Cole accompanied on his own drum set. In three years, my son has gained more and more limb independence and the ability to play quite complicated rock grooves. Cole is also so open to supporting whatever kind of music the student is interested in, whether it's rock, musical theater, or even music from a video game. Special shoutout to Cole for transitioning to FaceTime lessons during the pandemic and always being flexible about scheduling when wrinkles come up.

Awesome drum teacher for my 5 year old daughter! Cole is not only a terrific drummer, he has been…read moregreat with a kid still learning her fine motor skills. Within 2 lessons she had down some basic skills and within 4 she has some basic drum beats that she can sustain! She totally shows off for friends and family! He was super reliable, made it fun and talked to her level without dumbing it down. And he has been super patient. He even recognized that she was not quite ready to be hardcore about practicing, and recommended we keep it fun for her, take breaks from lessons when we need to, and she'll come back to it. (Who does that?!) He's super reasonably priced, totally worth it, and just a cool down to earth guy. Cole even got a 40 something mom with no music background (that's me) to throw down a basic rock beat on the drums. I'd recommend him for kids just learning, for serious musicians wanting to go the next level or needing to work out some kinks, or even adults new to drums but wanting to channel their inner rock star. He's got skills.

We have been learning drum with Mr. Rick for over 4 years, my son has become a real drummer and…read moreloves it every day! Thank you Rick for instilling music passion in our children, we appreciate you!!

My son has been going to Mr. Rick for almost more than a year now and he loves his drum classes …read more He is very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching drums.He makes sure that my son has fun doing this rather than making it a serious class! He also conducts yearly performances which is fun to participate and showcase your drum talent !

After staring at a little-used guitar in my house for 10 years, I decided to take lessons in my…read more60s. I found Ron through his reviews, and it has been an awesome experience to start playing a new instrument at this age. Ron really focuses on proper technique and holding the instrument/playing the instrument correctly from the get-go, but is also thoughtful about customizing the position of the guitar and your fingers to make it comfortable and easy. Ron is incredibly patient, always encouraging, and just a delight to spend time with since he makes you feel comfortable no matter how you're playing. He clearly enjoys sharing his passion for music, even with beginners.

I joined Ron's Performance Workshop in 2019, after having studied two years with an on-line…read moreclassical guitar school. When I arrived, Ron quickly spotted difficulties I had with right and left hand position, posture, and excess tension, which are very difficult to assess in a video format. He worked with me in a patient and positive manner, and I gradually understood the whys and hows of the basic skills I'd been missing. These improvements led to other positives such as easier playing, better tone, and more enjoyment of the instrument. I've been attending Ron's Performance Workshop continuously for the last four years and have seen all of the students, from intermediate to very advanced, continue their progress with Ron's coaching. I use the word "coaching" because there is no lecturing or over-teaching. Ron pinpoints the source of a student's difficulty and offers solutions concisely, based on his extensive teaching experience and knowledge of the repertoire. Each session leaves me feeling that I can and will improve my skill and enjoy the pleasure of playing.

My two boys' piano skills improved so much during their three years with Heather. She encouraged…read moreexcellence through attention to detail in their weekly pieces--dynamics, staccatos, no pausing--and in their preparation for recitals that were held twice per year. She also prepared them well for the rigorous Certificate of Merit test, which is optional but a great way for kids to be recognized for their progress and hard work (and it's fantastic for resumes and school applications). In addition to her instruction, Heather introduced us to a number of apps and tools that helped our kids learn. My boys benefitted from these as did my daughter, who was a beginner and took lessons for one year before we moved out of state. She got a great foundation with Heather; we highly recommend her!

I think this business is closed. I called 3 times over a 4 week period because of the great reviews…read moreand because a friend was using her.I left messages and she never responded. Not very professional. ;(