I studied piano with D'Arcy for over 25 years. Over time, I began giving solo and chamber music concerts. I usually studied classical music, but D'Arcy works in different styles, so I also studied improvisation with her. She's always been flexible about my repertoire and she's really responsive to my needs. After I took D'Arcy's Musical Composition workshop, I was able to notate my own music and developed a deeper understanding and appreciation of piano literature. Because D'Arcy is a composer, she provides a very unique perspective in her teaching. Since studying with D'Arcy, I've gone on to play jazz, pop, blues and latin music. The strong musical background that D'Arcy provided me has helped me to go on to play professionally with various groups. I highly recommend taking Piano Lessons with D'Arcy! 5 stars! read more

D'Arcy's infectious enthusiasm for music and piano literature inspired my daughter, Ananda. D'Arcy always made sure that Ananda loved the music they played, giving her complete freedom to choose her repertoire. She played through many pieces for Ananda each time she was about to start a new piece, offering them to her like an international buffet. Ananda received a thorough training in theory, piano technique, music history, analysis, and piano literature in her lessons. During her high school years, Ananda took two piano lessons a week. High school students often stop taking piano lessons due to their increased workload, but she was able to meet Ananda's unique learning style and keep her inspired. Ananda studied with D'Arcy for six years, and continues to play on her own at college. As a parent and professional educational coach, I would highly recommend D'Arcy's piano lessons. read more

You have found the best piano/music /composition teacher in the Bay Area (teaches in San Francisco and San Rafael)! I have studied piano and music for the past 15 years, in both private and public settings that have included the Berklee College of Music and UC Berkeley, and I can honestly say that D'Arcy has been one of the very best teachers that I have studied with during this time. I started studying with her just over 6 months ago, and in that time I have grown as a pianist, composer, and overall musician in ways I didn't think possible before. I have found that one of the most difficult parts of finding a good teacher is to find someone who can adapt to your style and goals, while at the same time still acting as a teacher and pushing you in new and challenging ways. Most importantly I found it was hard to find a teacher who actually listened to what YOU wanted to achieve in music, but D'Arcy has done just that from the beginning. Before studying with her I had a background mainly in rock, pop, and jazz piano and composition, and with her I hoped to focus and improve upon my classical piano chops, theory, and compositions, while at the same time integrating this with my previous musical interests and skills. D'arcy has done all of this, tailoring each lesson to my specific and overall goals, and with her MA in Music Composition and experience as a professional composer and pianist, she brings a working knowledge of music that is unparalleled. Regardless of your age or previous experience, or if you want to study piano, theory, composition, or general musicianship, classical or otherwise, D'Arcy is the teacher for you. read more

I thought it might be weird to take beginner piano as an adult. But it was great! D'Arcy spent time figuring out where I was musically, and she always kept my goals in mind. Then she helped pick the kind of music and exercises that would help me reach those goals. We had a pretty good time together. If I didn't like a piece she suggested, or if I had a question, we would change direction to match what I needed. She had a ton of little "tricks" that made all the difference in my practice. She was also very encouraging. She always made me feel like I was succeeding, even on my bad weeks. read more

D'Arcy was the best piano teacher I could have asked for. I took private lessons with her for a few months and I went from having no musical knowledge whatsoever to feeling confident in my abilities so I could start writing my own music. I had a very specific need for a piano teacher to teach me more about composition and music theory, rather than the traditional approach of learning through playing other people's songs. When I was a child, my parents had forced me to take piano lessons and I never appreciated them because the teacher never fit their curriculum to what I wanted to learn. It was always the same cookie-cutter teaching of learning simple songs and eventually working your way up to more complex ones. A lot of piano teachers I found in Marin only taught children and were unwilling to teach an adult, and wanting to expand my musical knowledge as an adult it was difficult to find someone willing to show me the ropes. D'Arcy was the only piano teacher I could find I was willing to change their normal curriculum to fit my needs. And once we got started I knew she was the perfect teacher for me. If you're unsure about which piano teacher to learn music from and you're in Marin, look no further than D'Arcy Reynolds. Show listen to what you want to accomplish as a musician, and show you the best way to meet your goals. I have never been this excited about music in my entire life, and I know that D'Arcy will spark that same excitement in all of her students. read more

D'arcy Reynolds was the best composition teacher I ever had, and I also took composition lessons from three university professors. I have fond memories of studying with D'arcy. She was loving, kind, encouraging, and skilled in explaining concepts clearly. She made composition fun. Many years later, I still use the concepts I learned in her classes. Thank you, D'arcy! read more

D'Arcy Reynolds brings wide experience and training - academic and intuitive - to her teaching. Her interests cover a broad range, from the fundamentals of classical performance, composition, and orchestration, to the music of other cultures and improvisation. As a fellow professional who has devoted his life to the art, I can recommend her as a unique, talented, and supportive guide into the world of living music. read more