I went to Starving Musician (Santa Clara) in search of an electric drum amplifier and an Epiphone…read moreSheraton. I was in luck this day as I found both a brand new e-drum amplifier and a used Sheraton at fair prices. Looking the guitar over I noticed the nut for the instrument jack was loose and asked that it be tightened prior to purchasing. On a semi-hollow & hollow body guitars this can be a tedious task, hence why I asked for assistance. The guitar tech, Dimitri, stopped what he was doing and went above and beyond my expectations to remedy the problem. It was not a quick fix and he kept me updated throughout the process. Starving Musician is my first stop when looking for music gear. They have been around as long as I can remember and offer the best trade-in value for your used gear. Always a great experience.

Basically a great place for nice condition used equipment at decent prices with sales people to…read morehelp you with your selection. You can also sell some of your stuff here. However, sometimes.... ? A few days ago, I got this... I came in to sell or consign an 8 track reel to reel Tascam 38 in hardly used, pristine condition, value $800-1,000+. I was told that they do not sell this kind of thing and to go to Rasputin or Street Light. ????

Joel is great to work with and he really shines as an MC. He has so much experience with leading…read moreparties for adolescents and that is likely not a skill you find around every corner! He made my daughter's party so fun and meaningful back in 2023, and we are hiring him and his team again to do the party for my son this summer!

When I was asked by Joel Nelson himself how were the DJs he dispatched to my son's Bar Mitzvah, I…read moretold him, in one word...fantastic! From start to finish, Joe and Jovan were easy to work with, helpful, fun, and whatever I asked them to do, they did it without flinching. Joe did a wonderful job of leading the Jewish traditional dancing while Javon was great with the kids, leading the games. His break dancing was off the hook! Best of all, their pacing of the evening was spot on. I would definitely use them again!

I had my first piano lesson with Neil last night. So I've been playing for about ten months. I quit…read morewith my prior teacher because all we did was go through Alfred's adult piano book and learn a new song every week. He could help me with problems I was having with various things so I decided to give up. I checked Craigslist and found Neil. And the difference is night and day. Neil is an awesome teacher. He has his own lesson plan which gas a combination of skills development and song playing. His approach was exactly what I was looking for. In just one lesson Neil was able to connect the dots for me in several problems I was having that I couldn't get help on before. His approach to teaching intervals is mind blowing in its simplicity. My first goal I had for piano was to play this song by George Winston. My last teacher didn't want to talk about it. Neil pulled the music out of my bench and showed me how to get started (he can come to your house!). I've been playing it all day. I actually am so inspired. You couldn't find a better teacher. I'll check back in a few months and give an update. But, so far, I am totally excited.

From the owner: Whether you're looking for coaching on chord-playing, sight reading and improvisation or to…read moreintroduce your child to the wonders of music, I offer a music learning experience uniquely tailored to your needs. We can meet at my studio in downtown Los Gatos or in the comfort of your own home - your choice.

I've never heard a harp played in person. But once Esther Lee let her fingers flutter over the…read morestrings, I was in awe. So beautiful! I also had the opportunity to hear her sing, and it really is angelic! She is extremely professional, playing from weddings, special events, to therapeutic sessions. She is also a personal instructor, training her students to one day be as good as her! Harp players/instructors are quite rare, and I highly recommend Esther Lee. You won't regret it!

I'm a composer of chamber and orchestral music, in varying styles. Esther has been performing and…read morerecording my music for over three years. She's a sensitive and gifted musician, who is also a joy to work with. I look forward to a long and productive relationship with her in my ongoing concerts and recordings. She's one of the top harpists in the Bay Area.

We hired Mariachi Trío Estrellas de Oro for my friend's wedding, and they were absolutely amazing…read morefrom start to finish! Rigo was my main contact, and he was so friendly, caring, and incredibly easy to communicate with. Our venue had very poor cell service, which made coordinating a surprise performance a bit tricky--but Rigo went above and beyond. He even called ahead of time to make sure he had the exact location and understood where he needed to be so everything would go smoothly. Despite the challenges, they showed up right on time, patiently waited for the perfect moment, and completely made the bride's day. It was such a special surprise, and they executed it flawlessly. On top of that, they played an extra song so the couple could have a first dance moment--which wasn't even planned--and it ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the night. We will absolutely be hiring Rigo and the group again in the future. Highly, highly recommend!

I had such an amazing experience with Mariachi Trio Estrellas De Oro! I hired them for a surprise…read morebirthday party at a restaurant patio in Mill Valley and it was better than I could have imagined. I arrived only moments before the guest of honor and the band was ready to go--they started playing right after the big "surprise" and it made it so special! Rigo was super easy to work with, and all of the setup coordination was between Rigo and the restaurant directly. Very talented group of guys, the party was an absolute hit. Thank you Rigo and Mariachi Trio Estrellas De Oro!

We've been attending Teacher Sean's Music Factory since my son was around 9 months old, and it's…read morebeen a fantastic experience! Without family nearby, he tends to be shy around others, but he absolutely loves Teacher Sean's class. He lights up with the biggest smile during the songs! I've also discovered new music beyond what we hear at Library Storytime, which has been a great tool for distracting or calming him when needed. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend signing up for Teacher Sean's Music Factory!

Amazing performance, very entertaining and energetic! Everyone enjoys the show! We love Sean's own…read moremusic! Check them out on Spotify!

We hired this mariachi band for my wife's birthday party, and they absolutely exceeded our…read moreexpectations. From the moment they arrived, they brought incredible energy and created such a fun, lively atmosphere for everyone. Their performance was excellent -- great vocals, beautiful instrumentation, and a fantastic song selection that kept everyone engaged. You can tell they genuinely enjoy what they do, and that energy really made the celebration special. They were also very professional, punctual, and easy to work with throughout the entire process. If you're looking for a mariachi group that will elevate your event and leave your guests impressed, I highly recommend them. We would definitely book them again! -- Contratamos a este mariachi para la fiesta de cumpleaños de mi esposa y superaron completamente nuestras expectativas. Desde el momento en que llegaron, trajeron una energía increíble y crearon un ambiente muy alegre y divertido para todos. Su presentación fue excelente -- muy buenas voces, instrumentos impecables y una selección de canciones que mantuvo a todos entretenidos. Se nota que realmente disfrutan lo que hacen, y esa energía hizo que la celebración fuera aún más especial. Además, fueron muy profesionales, puntuales y fáciles de coordinar durante todo el proceso. Si estás buscando un mariachi que eleve tu evento y deje a tus invitados impresionados, los recomiendo totalmente. ¡Sin duda los volveríamos a contratar!

They play and sing very well I have my event and all my guest are delighted…read more They come on time I'm really recommended!!!!!!!!

DJ ET is to blame for my wedding reception NOT going as planned…read more You see, in our planning, I had said, listen Ivy Hill, we are thrilled to be working with you as part of our event at Sand Rock Farm. We were excited to have a cellist playing as our guests got to mix and mingle. And yes, we were really looking forward to music being played as we ate and enjoyed our LONG awaited wedding reception (that had been postponed cuz...ya know...Covid.) But we said it repeatedly...There really was NOT going to be ANY dancing. There was dancing. Lots of it. And it is all DJ ET's fault. THANK GOODNESS!!!! Honestly, working with the entire team at Ivy Hill was a dream. Their selection of musical genres and musicians is nothing short of impressive. I will warn you now...that questionnaire is exhaustive...like it gets INTO the songs you like. But it is TOTALLY worth it. Matt reached out right before our reception just to check if we were good and to get us in touch with DJ ET. The cellist was AMAZING. And before you ask...YES...he can and WILL play a Game of Thrones medley. It was AMAZING. He also learned the music to my father's favorite hymn. When I heard him start to play it, I just started to cry because thanks to him, my father, who passed some time ago, was there...in that song...and in that cello. I can't recommend Ivy Hill Entertainment enough. They clearly have put in the work of bringing on the best of the best when it comes to musicians, performers and DJs. They take the headache and worry out of the planning and logistics. True pros in every sense. And my special nod to DJ ET who proved that the Mills Brothers and Blacksheep really DO belong on the same playlist.

Highly Recommended, Quality Entertainment: Wow - what a fantastic experience! Ivy Hill…read moreEntertainment truly is your "one stop music and entertainment shop." From working in events, I understand that heartfelt, professional, seamless entertainment is a key component to creating a memorable celebration. It brings people together, inspires guests, and sets the tone of your party. I've worked with some pretty cool musicians, but Ivy Hill Entertainment definitely stands out as the BEST. When it came time to plan the ultimate personal event - our wedding - we wanted a music-based celebration that stood apart from "typical wedding music". The idea was a multi-musical-styled evening showcasing classical music, New Orleans Big Band, a roaming violinist at dinner (Ivy Hill's gal, MJ, even played pop hits like Stayin' Alive and had everyone singing!), an intimate pub sing-along, and finally a rockin' reception. This was certainly an ambitious repertoire! I began researching bands/musicians and initially fell into a short panic. Most bands didn't seem to have the magical vibe, musical diversity, network, and professionalism (Can we count on the to show up for gods sake...) for me to book. In fact, none of the musicians resonated with our event's style.... and then I found Ivy Hill Entertainment. WOW. Game changer. From the moment of contact to the actual execution we had an amazing experience that was fun, stress free, collaborative, easy, and QUALITY. Ivy Hill has many options on how to book talent - actually super talent. You can hire anyone from a dope DJ to solo musician to the 9-musician "build-a-band" act we employed. My initial contact was Brian Bergeron who not only understood our vision, but encouraged us to make it happen. What an awesome guy. He was just as excited as we were! In fact, that's what stands out about Ivy Hill - their passion for music and events. They truly love what they do and understand the honor of being part of your event. Ivy Hill also offers such quality musicians! I couldn't believe we had all these cool people playing our wedding! It was great to see their musical backgrounds and sound samples from the website and resources. For our wedding, they supplied everything from the sound technician, musical equipment, speakers, musicians, and even an amazing Bandleader extraordinaire: Jon Devoto. Man, this guy was incredible! In addition to coordinating the musicians, he was also the lead singer, MC... and as a special request, include some mind-blowing tap dancing. Everyone loved him! I wish I could go through each of the musicians (Debbie Ilana, the New Classics, MJs Brass Boppers) because they brought so much flavor & style. It was like a mini-musical festival. The best part is that whatever you decide to book - whether it be an intimate musical vibe, dope DJ, or full-blown band - they deliver a memorable performance and professional experience. This team is full of talent and heart. They also have a big network of musicians and DJs so you don't need to worry about flaky musicians or no-shows. God forbid someone gets sick, they have the resources to ensure you are set. I trust them implicitly. I knew that I had nothing to worry about when booking them. The communication was clear and timely. We were in-line every step of the way. In fact, they are the only company I will use for future events. If you seek a top-notch service, this is the place for you. As you can see form their website, Ivy Hill Entertainment has a lot to offer. They exceeded our already high expectations. It is my pleasure to write this review and spread the word.

Both of my kids have  had a wonderful experience at California Conservatory of Music. They started…read morelearning since 2007 and it has been great. Chris Mallett is such a great teacher, very patient, encouraging, and great with kids. He made learning guitar fun while still helping my children build strong skills and confidence. My kids always looked forward to every lesson and have continued playing guitar even though they are in college.  I really appreciate the positive environment and the way the instructors inspire a love for music. I highly recommend this school to any parent looking for a great place for their child to learn guitar. Thank you for instilling the passion for music in my children's lives!!

I love coming here all the time! I have the best teacher here. She's very smart and tells me all…read moreabout music sheet and about how to improve my singing as well. Great place for anyone interested in learning music.

My daughter had a great experience with her lessons with Joe Valdes at the Guitarist. Joe both met…read moreher where she was at and challenged her to learn new skills. The lessons were easy-going and enjoying, but also very productive, with my daughter learning new songs every week and greatly improving her general technique, her ear for picking up songs, and her finger picking. Best of all, she just really enjoyed the experience, and always looked forward to her lessons, which is a gift for a busy teenager. Management was flexible and easy to communicate with.

My kid has been learning music privately with Tim S. for almost 6 years. I just started in Nov…read more2025. We have fun learning a mix of theory and guitar. My kid started with ukulele and he seamlessly transitioned her to guitar about 2 years ago. He is the best at meeting students where they are while nurturing their talent and interest in music. We're fans of his teaching style. It's also nice to have a variety of options. There is always someone in the office ready to help. I'm not sure about value but I think it's standard pricing about $56.50 for 30-min lessons. Their recitals are chill and they sell instruments, books and anything else you need to learn!