I can't say enough good things about BPA.  It's a very warm, welcoming, friendly studio. Elisa,…read moreMark and all the teachers are very supportive and attentive to all students, regardless of their level. My daughter took dance and acting lessons there for years. When my daughter wanted to start tap lessons, she was a little older than most kids and she didn't want to be in a beginner class with all 6 year olds.  BPA had a beginner adult/teen class that was perfect.  She learned so much with Mark in one year she skipped a level the next year. My daughter loved it here so much she would get up early on Saturdays to help out as an assistant in a dance class for the little kids before her own ballet class. Elisa and Mark are professionals from Broadway, TV and film so they are very talented and are excellent teachers but also have a warm and fun environment.   My daughter is in college now training to be an actor and I know Elisa and Mark's teaching and encouragement helped her make it to college

Broadway Performing Arts (BPA) is the hidden gem of North Jersey! With Elisa Heinsohn at the helm…read morewith Mark Bove by her side, they, along with their team of instructors, offer an experience that allows motivated dancers, actors, and singers, at any level or age, to grow into a better version of themselves. As a long time recreational tap dancer, I was originally drawn to BPA to experience another teacher's tap style, but soon after working with Mark, he discovered what I really needed to grow - other dance styles and full body movement. Thanks to Mark, I am learning how to work with my body, which has significantly enhanced the performance quality of my tap routines. It is my pleasure to recommend Broadway Performing Arts!

Excellent music school for children and for serious music lovers. My children have been taking…read morelessons for 7 years now. I love that Teachers can prepare children for competitions and Trinity College of London Examinations.

Dawn is an amazing teacher. I've always aspired to sing when I play guitar and she gave me the…read moreconfidence to find my voice. I always look forward to our lessons. Highly recommend!!

The folks at Finlay + Gage are just fantastic. Helpful, knowledgable and talented, they're exactly…read morewho you'd want to ask for help if you're in the market for any type of musical instrument or services. From rental violins for your budding Suzuki fiddler and a fun variety of ukuleles to gorgeous vintage guitars for daddy and some rockin' amps to plug into, F+G has a wonderfully curated selection of offerings. What I appreciated most was their honesty in evaluating some repairs on an old Fender acoustic dreadnought whose bridge was beginning to separate from the body. After dropping it off for a couple of days, I returned to hear the bad news of how much it would cost to bring back to a proper playable condition and the genuine assessment of how it wasn't quite worth it. Of course, while I was in there, an immaculate used Epiphone SG caught my eye and lingered in my heart until I took the plunge and splurged on my lifelong guitar desire. Therein also lies the danger of stopping in to browse (at least pre-pandemic): You might fall in love with a finely crafted instrument. But then again, that's a risk I'm willing to take!

I waited to write this review as I wanted to spend some time with my guitars after the setup. I've…read morebeen looking for a guitar tech in the Montclair area for awhile (4 or so years.). I've taken chances on other techs in the area and at times received hatchet jobs literally. I noticed Jason had worked for Mandolin Brothers and that immediately gave me hope. I took a couple of guitars in, but was a little nervous about my '71 telecaster with a bigsby. Man I'm excited I found this place. The guitar intonates amazingly and such a quality setup. All the way up the neck. The guitar feels better than it has in a long time. Finally a place you can trust!

Vicki Burns is an amazing vocal coach and her singing is crazy great! I've taken voice lessons…read morefrom Vicki for the last 3 months and the change in my singing voice has been huge. She's also very supportive and creates a really great, positive environment for her singing students. She has a lot of techniques she gives in the lessons on breathing and how to make your mouth and your throat open. Vicki also really cares about her students! These singing lessons are the highlight of my week, honestly. So if you're looking for a vocal coach, Vicki is a really amazing singing teacher - highly recommend!

As I clicked on the option to rate this business with five stars, a corresponding message comes up…read moreon my screen, saying "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" I thought to myself, "how apt." I firmly believe that in terms of vocal teachers in a Orange County, Jennylyn Chung is as good as voice teachers get. Her traditional Bel Canto style of singing is especially what makes her studio so fantastic for every style of singer. I started taking lessons from Jennylyn because I had talked to one of her students, who recommended that I try a lesson with her. The voice teacher I had before Jennylyn had me straining and belting, which hurt in the process and eventually did negative things to my voice. For so long, I was under the impression that singing was work and that this wear-and-tear I was experiencing would eventually iron itself out, which is what my teacher seemed to think. She didn't seem to take my concerns seriously and brushed them under a rug. Right off the bat, Jennylyn started helping me rebuild my technique. Unfortunately, I had to start from square one again because everything I knew was strained. Since then, Jennylyn has helped me take almost all of the tension out of my voice and replaced it with comfortability, ease, and confidence. I cannot say that I've quite arrived in the time that I've been taking lessons from her, but I know that with every day that passes, I'm getting closer and closer to my goal. I'd recommend Jennylyn to anyone and everyone who is serious about learning to sing well. Don't waste your money with teachers that teach at a university and claim to be an amazing teacher by backing their argument up with their degrees. Jennylyn does have a Masters in vocal performance (if I remember correctly) from Cal Baptist University, but her experience in the real world, having been with countless misguided teachers, is was really makes her the most competent voice teacher in Orange County. Jenny's extensive experience with many types of teachers and teaching styles gives her a clear picture of what vocal students often go through. She knows a damaged voice when she sees one and she can help fix and repair it. Even for those without damaged voices, Jennylyn knows how to lay the foundations down so that you can reach your full potential, no matter where you've come from in the time that you've been singing. The bottom line is that if you want to take voice lessons with a teacher who really knows what technique to teach and how to teach it, come to Jennylyn. I can't imagine that you'd be disappointed.

First time around, I was confused. Wait, we start from bottom of range and build up to a higher…read morerange? I was used to being told by my previous teacher that I needed to start from middle of range and vocalize to the top to build on the lower range. What I did not realize is that her purpose is to get all of her students to sing relaxed with a neutral larynx position at a quiet volume and build up to a large sound once the vocal chords can relax from bottom to top without stretching the chords. The key is a gentle and natural zipping of the chords that occurs naturally when we speak correctly, however with a background of vocal strain some gentle vocalizing is required to build strength in the vocal chords so that you have one, unified voice and not two or three distinct voices. The whole process might seem unusual and unlike other teacher's you have studied from, but I assure you, she has spoken the most sense to me than any teacher I have ever had and I have had several at the university and throughout the seemingly professional community of south and north orange county. I am appalled that there are not more quality and caring and gifted teachers like Jennylyn. She is not only great at breaking down things in an easy-to-understand way, but she is a kind and giving person who will truly support hard-working and driven individuals. She will encourage you and challenge you and she will help you reach your goals, be that becoming a better singer for fun or a professional career.

I can't say enough good things about my experience at The Music Shop, and especially about my…read moreinstructor, Dave Wheeler. I'm a 72-year-old saxophonist who picked up the saxophone for the very first time after retiring from a 40-year career in biochemistry spanning academia and research. So yes, I came in knowing enzymes better than eighth notes. Dave has been an absolute gift. He brings a deep well of music theory knowledge, practical musicianship, and real-world experience to every lesson. More importantly, he has remarkable patience and creativity. He listens carefully, identifies where I'm struggling, and then designs clear, effective strategies that make practice both productive and enjoyable between lessons. What I especially value is that Dave doesn't teach from a script. He adapts to the student in front of him--age, background, learning style, and goals included. Thanks to his guidance, I've made steady progress, gained confidence, and genuinely look forward to practicing and improving. If you're considering lessons at The Music Shop -- whether you're 08 or 78 -- I can't recommend Dave Wheeler highly enough. He's the real deal. -- Michael Van Allen, student https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelavanallen/

I'm sharing my experience to help others make an informed decision…read more I brought in a ~1-year-old student flute (purchased on the West Coast) for what I now know were minor adjustments. At the time, I followed the technician's recommendation for a full COA. When the instrument was returned, it played essentially the same as when I dropped it off. I brought it back a second time. It came back slightly improved, but still not properly adjusted. A few weeks later, I visited an independent flute technician in Brooklyn. He immediately identified the issues, charged nearly half the cost, spent over an hour on the instrument, and fixed it correctly. It has remained in excellent playing condition since. Based on this experience, I would not return here for service or purchase. I would strongly encourage others especially parents of student players to seek a second opinions and verify the quality of work.

I took voice lessons from Patrizia for about 2 years and it was a fantastic experience. She is able…read moreto adjust her teaching styles to what best works for the student (we are all very different in how we learn and what resonates with us). She does a great job of trying different analogies to help your brain relate to what you're trying to do with very precise movements that you cannot see easily. I was very impressed with her patience as well - I was terrible coming into this, and I improved dramatically. She also is very motivational and keeps you from beating yourself up too much - learning to sing can be a frustrating experience and it helps a ton to have a coach that sees the best in you. She is also a very friendly and great person - highly recommend.

Pat has taught me since 2011. She accomplished the impossible when she took me on! She not only…read moretaught me to sing but in public as well! Her concerts are always special and fun. Her knowledge is superb. Her method is exceptional. Her patience is endless. She puts her heart into every lesson.