Fantastic organization Great teachers, friendly environment,…read morea bright spot in Montclair's great music scene.

Amazing service, friendly atmosphere, quality music education from highly trained professionals…read more This well-established business in Upper Montclair offers the best private music instruction in the area. Lots of talent has walked through this place over the last 4 decades! Annual springtime music recitals showcase the students achievements. Can't say enough good things about Montclair Music Studio! Added bonus: nicely decorated windows for the holidays and throughout the year.

I've been taking guitar lessons with Ivan for a few years. Guitar lessons with Ivan are much more…read morefun than any school orchestras and bands I was a part of when I was younger. He is a great teacher and allows his students to improve their technical skills while also giving them the opportunity to learn their favorite songs. It is one of the highlights of my week and I would recommend to anyone else interested in learning to play.

Ivan is a very talented musician, and that translates very well into his teaching. He has helped me…read morea lot over the years. For the past few summers, I've been taking a set of 5-10 classes from him, and he has always helped me get to my next level of playing and of understanding the guitar. I highly recommend him for guitar lovers of all levels.

My husband and I thought the music school itself was wonderful. The trial class was engaging, and…read moremy daughter really enjoyed the lesson. Our personal concern--and this may not matter to other parents--was that my daughter spoke less about the class itself and more about why some of the male instructors were dressed in ways that confused her at her age. Explaining to her why males were dressed as women was not what I wanted to do at this age. While I respect personal lifestyle choices, I personally prefer an environment where my young child's focus is fully on the class and music rather than these kinds of distractions. Overall, the teaching quality seemed good, but this particular aspect made me realize the school may not be the right fit for our family

OMG! This is the best place to learn music. I've been doing this for four years and it is the best…read more Staff is incredible and everyone is nice. The price is a little expensive but is worth it. 5 stars forever definitely would recommend.

Came into town for a gig and needed drum sticks and I came upon this place!…read more So welcoming and organized. The employee was able to get me in and out so quick it was beautiful. If you're a traveling musician and need something, this is a great stop!

Nope! I brought my guitar here on a Friday for an adjustment. Mike, the owner said that I had to…read morechange the strings as part of the adjustment, the cost plus strings would be around $70, and it would be ready by the end of Tuesday. End of Tuesday - no call. End of Wednesday - no call. Finally, Thursday morning, I call them to ask about my guitar, and they said it was ready. If it was ready, why no call? Anyway, I go to the store to get my guitar. I see that they did not adjust the guitar like I requested. The store clerk put Mike on the phone. He tells me first that the guitar technician found that there was more work to be done, and that I should leave my guitar and that they had to ship it off to fix it and so on...So why did you tell me that the guitar was ready? Then he tried to tell me that I still had to pay for services because they did a set up and changed the strings. I told him, in other words, you did everything except what I asked you to do. He then tried to go on saying, "I'm 67 years old. I've fixed guitars for bands all over New Jersey..." And yet you couldn't (or wouldn't) fix mine. In the end, I did not pay for services that I did not receive, and I took my guitar elsewhere that fixed my guitar in one day...WITHOUT changing the strings. Why are people so desperate to try to swindle other people out of their money??? *Oh, and before Mike or anyone else tries to debunk this review, I HAVE THE VIDEOS TO PROVE IT!*

Both of my kids have taken lessons here as have all my neighbors. I have also worked with the…read moreowners on a bunch of projects and she couldn't be any more big hearted and compassionate. Not only do they offer classes for pretty much every instrument under the sun, but they also have recording engineering classes, free picture day, rock band groups for the kids, and a whole array of other creative programming. They stay on top of everything and are extremely well organized. Their staff is friendly and accommodating, and their rescheduling program is totally fair. I've seen or heard about at least four parents go off on staff for the most ridiculous reasons, and their staff keeps their cool, straightens it out, and the parents leave. Very happy. Even difficult people find this location to be wonderful in the end. That's real customer service right there. I'm proud to say that. I am a huge fan of this Local community staple and I hope they are here for many many more years to come!!

My wife and I have been sending our children to the Nutley School of Music for the last three years…read moreand we could not be happier with the school. Kyong has done a wonderful job attracting very well qualified instructors. The proof for us is measured in the development my kids have demonstrated each year. The facilities are all top notch including the rehearsal rooms, waiting areas and recital hall which features an impressive baby grand Steinway. What is also great about the school is the live telecast they provide during recitals. This allows for loved ones to view the recitals live from afar. I should also mention my kids thoroughly enjoy attending the school. The direction they are given is challenging but fun at the same time. And lastly, I appreciated Kyong's level of engagement. She is always seen interacting with the students, teachers and waiting parents. Johnny C

Both of my kids attend. My oldest does voice lessons and my youngest takes piano. They really like…read moreit there because the teachers are really nice. After every class my youngest comes home and tells me enthusiastically what she learned. From my daughter: one of the good things about the teachers is that they are very understanding, they don't give you too much information in one class.

When you imagine a music lesson (or recall your own), I'd bet it involves some stodgy teacher…read moreforcing you to do scales, and the student avoiding practice and dreading the actual lesson...who could be motivated to learn that way?!? No one!! Mark Murphy's School of Music takes an entirely different approach and is a wonderful experience, where you or your kids will be excited to learn to play piano, drums or guitar (or sing) and actually WANT to go their lessons. It is truly a special place - all the instructors are young musicians who have a great ability to connect with the students. When you're waiting in the lobby, the place has such a cool and friendly vibe. Mark himself is always there greeting parents and kids with high fives and fist bumps, while the din of 5-10 simultaneous lessons can be heard all around the studio. Such an inspiring energy when the students hear their peers learning! And the kids get to choose any music they like to apply to what they're learning. MMM even forms rock bands for kids who want take it in that direction and help them get gigs around town. Can't say enough positive things about this place!

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.