I'm in my 60s. I began taking piano lessons with Susan Parrish before Covid, Zoom, and social…read moredistancing. Piano lessons have changed very little for me. Susan guided me through purchasing a simple USB mic and headphones (Amazon). Lessons are now held using a laptop and Zoom. We can communicate easily using these devices. She sees me and I see her. Though I miss going to her studio, I'm satisfied with the new lessons arrangement. I'm as motivated to learn in my home as I am in her studio. Same lesson - different environment. I can roll with this.

Like many folks in their 50s and 60s, I started playing piano when I was young (4 or 5), took…read morelessons until I was a teenager, played in the school orchestra, and then abandoned studying music when other things became more important. I continued to play on occasion, and have always owned a piano, but it was growing stale for me, because I wasn't learning new techniques or being challenged at all. In my early 50s, I decided it was time for some lessons. Initially, I was looking just for some guidance with new pieces to learn and some technique tune ups. I took a beginning music theory class at a local college, taught by Susan Parrish, decided she would be a good person to try lessons with again, and started what I thought would be a short series of lessons. Susan is what I call a "serious" teacher, someone not only a talented player, but well educated, devoted to teaching piano, and very professional in her approach. I enjoy working with her, and have gained an appreciation for how she works with young student. As I've said numerous times to Susan, I wish I'd had a teacher like her when I was young, because I would have grown up to be a much better musician than I am. Susan is serious about teaching piano, but what works best for me is that she's also committed to helping her student enjoy playing. She encourages me to select and tackle the pieces that I find interesting (and my tastes are all over the place, from Chopin to Pink Floyd), and then helps me to approach learning those pieces with patience and creative techniques. I'm now aware of entire layers of subtlety in playing that I never knew existed before, and how they enrich both my ability to play and my enjoyment of playing. I derive immense satisfaction from sitting down and playing, and look forward to having more time to play in the future. I cannot thank Susan enough for reinvigorating my relationship to playing and enjoying music. I think students of all age will benefit from studying with someone who understands so much about music and is so willing to teach to the individual and being a sense of joy to the endeavor.

Wonderful way to learn music or new instruments. The Abbotts and those who teach for/with them…read morehave real passion and know-how. This is by far the most supportive and non-threatening learning environment around. Bring friends, kids, and anyone you care for and want to share music-making with.

We love Musical Me! Teacher Keeva and Mrs. Elizabeth are so warm, fun, and show they genuinely love…read morewhat they do. Music class is the highlight of our week. They create such a welcoming, no-pressure environment where every child can participate in their own way. We see a huge boost in my daughter's confidence and social skills as the weeks go by. It's been a great place for us to meet new people and make new friends. The music is also fantastic. So catchy in fact, that I'm humming it all week. This program is well organized and so thoughtfully run. If you're on the fence about signing up-do it!

Soon after our daughter was born, friends began mentioning Music Together as a good baby activity…read more However in between naps and feeding, we didn't have a consistent schedule until she was about 6 months old. Music Together offers a free trial class, so we tried that first. My daughter appeared comfortable as soon as we entered the classroom- she was looking around, babbling, and playing with the welcome drum in the middle of the room. We did the trial class with Teacher Jenn and then signed up for summer classes with Teacher Elizabeth. Both teachers were energetic, patient, and welcoming. The class provides CDs and a song book each semester, so you can listen to the music at home or in the car. They also have an app you can use to download the songs. The song book has the lyrics as well as sheet music. The class always begins with a hello song and ends with a closing song. The rest of the songs vary depending on the semester/instrument focus. Teachers provide a variety of props: scarves, tambourines, egg shakers, etc. Any dirty/wet props go into the dirty bin to be disinfected. Parents- be prepared to move and get a mini workout! You will be lifting baby, rocking baby, and holding baby while dancing in a circle and across the room :D It's best if both you and baby wear comfortable clothes that you can move around in. They also ask that you remove your shoes when you enter the room. A few notes: -They offer the program in many South Bay cities. You can go through the city's park and recreation center to find the schedule. I saw classes in Saratoga, Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Cupertino -It's $120 for the summer session (6 classes) and $50 for the lab fee -Each class is scheduled for 45 minutes -A lot of the caregivers and babies have been attending for a number of semesters, so there is a nice parent & baby community -They have baby only classes for under 8 months, and mixed age classes for 0-5 years old. The website explains that by being exposed to children of other ages, your child will learn differently than if he/she was in a class with same-aged children

My son and I both take private lessons at Sharp. I am studying voice with Sydney and my 11 year old…read moreboy studies drumming with Elliott. I just love what we are both learning! Low-pressure, high-attention to detail. Just my style. Sydney is really helping me, a 50 year old woman who NEVER SANG and would never dream of doing it in front of anyone, find my natural voice and it's starting to sound pretty good! I also like that Elliott plays accopaniment to Sebastian's drumming so they are making music together that gets him excited beyond the basics. They also have a beautiful location.

I study singing with Sydney and my 11 year old studies drumming with Elliott. We love our lessons!…read moreThey are both so knowledgeable and encouraging. I have studied with many teachers of performing arts over the years and these are very special teachers! Beautiful location,too!

Ginny is incredibly effective voice teacher. She has a deep understanding of what it takes to sing…read morewell and to perform. She provides her students with actionable feedback, exercises to do at home between the lessons and invaluable insights of how to up level their natural abilities through hard work and practice. I can't recommend her highly enough!

I'm so grateful to have worked with Ginny. I went to her feeling unsure of my voice. She helped…read moreme develop my confidence, range, projection, and a clear sense of the vibrations of sound moving through my body. I'm now singing in 2 choirs! As a bonus, she also helped me with guitar. She's an incredibly talented musician and cares about her students. Thank you so much Ginny!

What a joy it is to have Ms. Jean as my child's piano teacher. She teaches with exceptional…read morededication, patience, and passion. Complex musical concepts are explained in a clear and approachable way, and she intuitively recognizes which areas each child needs additional support, reinforcement, or challenge in. The music pieces my child learns are thoughtfully selected to match her skill level and interests, making piano study both engaging and enjoyable. Beyond playing the correct notes, Ms. Jean encourages her students to interpret the music--to express its emotions and stories. She introduces this through creative storytelling, making musical expression come alive. Attending one of Ms. Jean's recitals is truly inspiring. Her students perform with grace, confidence, and artistry, skillfully shaping phrases and conveying deep expression through their playing. For my child, learning piano has become more than simply practicing notes--it's an exploration of emotion and musical depth woven into each piece. Under Ms. Jean's guidance, I see my child growing into a true musician. I am deeply grateful to have Ms. Jean as my child's piano teacher. -- Grateful Parent

I have been with Ms. Jean for 5 years now. She is very patient and kind to my twins and they've…read morelearned a lot, and won some competitions too! From the beginning, Ms. Jean made my kids feel comfortable and encouraged them to continue. My biggest fear when starting was that my kids would burn out or not enjoy practicing. But every week they want to do it!!! So surprised! Ms. Jean also has performances at her studio so everyone can practice playing in front of others. Overall recommend!!

Heather Houston is a gift to this planet. Her impeccable pitch and songbird voice is a perfect…read moreguide for anyone that wants to open their voice. I started with Heather in her singing circles for women which she holds 2-3 times a year. I continued with these for 2-3 years and then was invited to be a part of her all women's choir. We sang songs from all over the world. I have also on occasion called on Heather for a private voice lesson to work on pitch, vocal technique, diaphragmatic breathing, chest vs. head voice, etc. Her leadership is masterful. Whether you are a professional singer looking for singing lessons, or someone who would like to strengthen your speaking voice, or you would like to feel more empowered in who you are, her gentle and compassionate coaching will give you the tools to fulfill your desire. I feel so much more confident in my voice, in my work, in myself, because of my work with Heather over the years. Her playful spirit and wonderful sense of humor are a joy to work with. She is definitely the best in her field. I have searched for equal or similar and am yet to find it. Thank you Heather! You and singing have changed my life!

My 16yr old daughter has been singing with Heather for almost four years. I knew my daughter…read morepossessed a wonderful voice, but I had no idea her range. Heather has helped my daughter find her full vocal range, and has given her opportunities to realize the larger world of music, operatic, foreign, and broadway. Heather's musical inspirations have been instrumental in the development of my daughter's musical inspirations, I have loved watching each step on this journey for both of them. I highly regard Heather as a professional, a musician, and a mentor for my daughter. We are so honored to know her and have her in our lives.

Leah has been our piano teacher for 3 years, with our second child now enrolled with her too. (They…read moreare 8 and 5). She is patient and kind, and that is just with me (the parent!). She helped me to find ways to support my perfectionist child (who would never play through a mistake and so kept getting stuck), and is now also guiding me in helping my middle child who is naturally musical but has no desire to practice. Both kids LOVE Leah, and really enjoy the group format of the class. Leah provided innovative solutions during COVID which has continued to support her in-person teaching as we move forward. I cannot recommend her highly enough! UPDATE: the boys are now 10 and 8 and are still at Vibrant Valley Music Studio. In their 4th grade year, our school rotates the classes to play wind instruments (we had clarinet) and strings (we had viola). In both semesters, our eldest was able to pick up the new instrument with surprising ease. He had the advantage of knowing how to read the music, and has also developed an ear for it too. After just 8 weeks on the viola, he confidently stood and played a piece at his spring concert. The transferable skill was notable. Thank you again, Leah, for filling our house with music! We can't wait for our third to start with you in the fall!

My kid is taking piano classes from Ms Leah. She is very passionate about teaching music to…read morestudents. Everything is planned to a tee, very organized and efficient in communication. For learning any musical instrument, practice is the key to practice and thats why she has put together reward programs which is driving kids to practise without having to feel burdened about it. My kid is looking forward to her class and eager to follow practice schedule that she has created for her class. If you are looking for perfect Piano teacher, look no further, She is the one!!