Breakthrough Moments From the Very First Lessons…read more I can't recommend Danielle LoPresti enough as a singing teacher. She is amazing--supportive, patient, and incredibly kind. Almost immediately after I started taking lessons with her, she helped me break through obstacles that I had struggled with my whole life. What I appreciate most is her holistic approach to singing. For me, it's about expression, not perfection, and Danielle truly understands that. She creates a safe environment where I never feel judged or rushed, which makes it much easier to explore my voice and grow with confidence. Another thing that makes her classes special is the community she has built among her students. She organizes opportunities for us to meet and perform, which is incredibly valuable. Watching and learning from others is inspiring, and it also reminds us that many of us share the same challenges--stage fright, nervousness, and sometimes the pressure of perfectionism. If you're looking for a supportive teacher who truly helps you grow as a singer and as a performer, Danielle is fantastic.

I attended a class in West Contra Costa Adult School (May-June 2026). Danielle was the instructor…read more Even though everyone had different levels of singing experience, she integrated everyone excellently. I usually don't give reviews of any kind; however, Danielle deserves to be recognized. Her experience instructing clearly showed with the results of the class. Personally, she helped me a lot since I didn't have any vocal coaching and pushed me to break out of my shell.

I'm a professional vocalist and I've had the pleasure of working with Michael for about 2 decades…read morenow. His knowledge of all things music is as deep as his insights on arrangements I've asked him to comment on, as intricate as his mind-blowing compositions, his quirks as endearing as any musical genius'!

I am a current student studying piano with Michael. I really appreciated his emphasis on basics…read more(e.g. breathe, removing tension in the body, posture, and even how to set up the piano bench). He also doesn't just teach piano playing but also the broader music education: composers / pianists to listen to, music theory, etc. One caveat is that expect the pace of learning to be a bit slower compared to other teachers potentially but I think it's a worthwhile tradeoff to build solid foundations.

LJ is an inspiring, encouraging vocal coach who knows the voice. He listens intently for nuanced…read morevariations in breath support, pitch, vowel shape, and tone, and gives supportive feedback. After just two lessons, I can hear and feel the difference in my singing. LJ is an amazing instructor.

Did vocal and piano. LJ is an excellent instructor. Very patient and talented. Looking forward…read moreto more lessons.

Tracy Cruz is a fantastic vocal teacher. Her depth of expertise allowed me to improve significantly…read moreand understand so much more about singing as well as uncovering my own strengths and weaknesses. She's also a blast to work with! Her energetic and fun personality make lessons really enjoyable and encouraged me to practice and improve. I also really appreciated how we worked on many dimensions to singing - the technical side, the musical side, the performance side, and more. This approach enabled me to become a better singer in multiple ways, which I'm truly thankful for. I would strongly recommend Tracy to anyone who is interested in becoming a better singer, a better performer, or who is interested in learning to sing for the first time.

I messaged Tracy via Yelp and she replied back right away! We set up a time to talk about her…read moreprogram and if I'd be interested. My first impression of her: kind, enthusiastic, and professional. She carried these traits until the end of my time with her. During our sessions, she encouraged me to keep trying and go out of my comfort zone. Now I am more confident in my voice!

Sam has been an incredible help in my career and in my personal life. She coaches with the perfect…read morecombination of empathy, intelligence, curiosity and pragmatism. Sam handles big and small: from communication in meetings and presentations to rethinking your career. Sam highlights what matters. She'll prompt you to think about big changes in achievable steps. If things get tough or you start to fall back into old patterns she'll help you recognize the pattern and move past it. She genuinely cares about the people she works with and it shows.

Sam has been a before and after for both my personal and professional life. Coming from another…read morecountry where English is not the first language has been somehow challenging, and I have struggled at communicating feedback, decisions, or stories because I felt very self-doubtful. After several sessions, I noticed that we weren't tackling specifically that, but many other aspects of how I talk, the words I use, why I say the things I say, among other things, that all indirectly were adding or affecting me in many other ways, but super related to my insecurities. Sam has helped me feel more confident with myself and with my inner voice (no pun intended). I have become more mindful of the words I use, in a natural way. I can't stress enough how much Sam has impacted me personally and professionally. So grateful to have met her!

I had Emanuel as my vocal coach and really enjoyed working with him. I liked his teaching style,…read moreand with each session I felt more confident and could see my singing improving. He does a great job explaining things in a way that's easy to understand, even getting into the anatomy of how the voice works, which I found really helpful. I had to miss a few sessions because of work, but Sarah and Emanuel was always great about helping me schedule makeup sessions and was very responsive whenever I had questions. Overall, I've had a great experience and would definitely recommend this studio to anyone looking to improve their singing in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Always a vibrant organized session. Sarah is very good all…read morearound! Nice personality and excellent technique.

Working on a studio project is a unique endeavor that every musician should seriously consider. Our…read moreband just finished an EP with ModernTone Studios, and had an incredible experience! Jacob truly went above and beyond, helping us create a record that we are really proud of. We were nervous to take on our first studio project, but ModernTone gave us the support we needed to evolve our songs past what we had hoped for. Jacob wasn't just an engineer for us, he shared an expert creative perspective that influenced some of our most exciting ideas. From our experience with major revisions in pre-production to granular adjustments in the final mix, ModernTone was clearly the right choice for our record. We had agency when we wanted it, and support where it mattered most. Not to mention the access to powerful equipment for a highly customizable and polished sound. Any Bay Area artist or band looking to see how their original songs can grow in a professional environment should definitely check out ModernTone!!

Five stars for Briget Boyle! I'll admit, I was skeptical…read morewhen I saw all the glowing reviews for this studio. But now I totally get it. I just had my very first vocal lesson ever with Briget, and in just one hour, I learned more than I thought possible. She helped me prepare for an upcoming live performance, gave me practical tools and a huge boost of confidence! Briget brings a warm, intuitive energy and truly listens, not just to your voice, but to you. I'm so excited for what's ahead and cannot recommend her highly enough!

Natalie is an excellent voice teacher. I've been working with her a little over 6 months and in…read morethat time, I've made significant progress. I've been singing since I was in high school, so I came in with some knowledge but I'm now doing things I didn't think I could do before. She's helped me strengthen my breath support, navigate my passagio better and find a healthy belt. I feel like I'm singing with a brand-new voice. I really appreciate the way she explains technique. Although it takes some practice to get the hang of things, her exercises really help to make the technique stick. Natalie is a great singer. She has a warm personality, a welcoming space and online scheduling. I can't recommend her enough!

Awesome teacher! Very accomplished, professional and patient, and great for all ages! My wife and I…read moreare taking lessons to brush up on singing with each other at home and we love it!

Miranda is absolutely fantabulous!!! I don't know what else to say other than she truly is a master…read moreat her craft. My daughter has been going to her for a couple years and she has blossomed under the guidance of Miranda. Truly amazing!

If you're looking to take your singing to the next level, I can't recommend Miranda enough! She has…read morethis amazing way of breaking down vocal techniques into something that's approachable and personalized to each student. I have made huge discoveries during our time together that has been transformative to my singing. Along with being a true expert in music and vocal performance, Miranda is an absolute delight to work with! She has a personality that makes you feel totally comfortable and confident. Whether you're an adult looking to improve your singing or a parent trying to help your child develop their vocal skills, she's THE PERFECT TEACHER and worth every penny!

Bay Area theatre's best-kept secret! These are easily the best acting classes around. There's no…read morepomp or bluster here, just good, practical tools that can really unlock your craft. The fact that the training is primarily geared towards theatre, not film and television is also a major asset. Better yet, the Meisner classes are balanced out with additional workshops designed to engage your entire instrument. Throughout the different levels, there is ongoing work in Linklater Voice, Movement, Feldenkrais and screen technique. I cannot recommend Graham Smith's movement class highly enough. In Rachael's classes, there is a level of work being done that I very rarely see onstage in the area. However, you really need to know what it is you're signing up for before you commit to this program, and evaluate if this is what you want as an artist at this time. This is way more than just an "acting class" where you brush up on your monologues and scenes...... it's a highly intense immersion into the labyrinths of emotional work. Every day in class is a journey with its own ups and downs. There are going to be times where it feels like your very soul is being pulled this way and that, and not everyone is psychologically at a place where they can process that kind of experience and implement it in their acting work in a positive, productive way. A number of people, mostly men, left because they just weren't prepared for that level of depth. You will never make it through these classes without self-discipline and a true thirst for the craft. The program is also a major time commitment. Though the training is technically only part-time, in order to be well prepared for class you must spend many hours during the week rehearsing with members of the group and finding strong activities/fantasies............... something that is daunting and stressful initially but becomes easier as you move along through the training. Rachael is a superb instructor. She is easily the most discerning acting teacher I have ever studied with.......... her intuition and ability to tweak the technique for the individual needs of each student is impressive. She's highly demanding, but nurturing, kind, compassionate and most importantly, human. And she doesn't act like a guru. We've all heard horror stories about abusive, irresponsible Meisner/method acting teachers who lord over their students, turn the classroom into a cult and bring about reactions through manipulation. But Rachael couldn't be further than that. She understands this technique thoroughly and wants you to get there in the most honest way possible, without shortcuts. Once you've explored a particular emotion enough, she emphasizes the importance of coming back to yourself and moving ahead to the next challenge. The school has only been in place since 2011 (though Rachael has taught for over 20 years) but if you are serious in your ambitions to act, it's a great place to be.

I came to Waterfront at a time when I was searching for an acting program that could crack my…read morepassion and creativity wide open; while simultaneously holding my vulnerabilities, building my confidence, and providing me with a tried and true approach to acting. I was looking for a wild and raw truthfulness, a deep commitment to crafting, and a dedication to art as a multi-faceted thread within the fabric of culture and society. I was ready to come alive! I audited a number of classes throughout the Bay Area, and as soon as I walked into the Waterfront and met Rachael Adler I knew it was the place for me. Her charisma, presence, passion, and truthfulness is infectious! I joined Waterfront's year-long intensive conservatory program to learn the Sanford Meisner approach to acting. Rachael was a student of Meisner's at the New York Playhouse. I don't think there is a way to draw a picture of what one can expect to experience throughout this year-long intensive because it impacts everyone in such different and profound ways. The medicinal qualities of this program actually surprised me - and I'm so thankful for it. Not only did I grow as an actor, but I grew as an artist, a human being, and an individual. The Waterfront's professional program teaches the Meisner approach and leads actors through a physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual transformation. Rachael has this uncanny ability to excavate an actor's instrument, teaching an actor how-to: be present in their body, listen, act truthfully, pick-up impulses, land intentions, maintain points of view, tapping into real emotions on demand, and so so much more. Essentially, Rachael pulls actors into the fast-paced and high energy sport of acting - teaching students how to sustain their endurance and energy - while discovering how to interpret it all and create their own blueprint. Waterfront also offers amazing adjunct classes throughout the year with incredible teachers, including - Linklater Voice, Alexander Movement, YAT Method, Shakespeare, and more. With so much access and support, every student walks out of the program with a new understanding of their own instrument and a built-in network of master teachers. I cannot say enough about the Waterfront, I truly feel like I have another home; and in Rachael, I've found a lifelong teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. No doubt in my mind, the Waterfront Playhouse & Conservatory offers a leading program in the Bay Area for professional actors wanting to learn the Meisner approach. If you are serious about acting and are ready to make a deep commitment to developing your craft, Waterfront is the place to be!