As a mandolin player, I wasn't sure how helpful a lesson would be with someone who doesn't actually…read moreplay mandolin but I had heard such great things from fellow musicians about Colin I had to give it a try. I'm really glad I did! Colin is an excellent music teacher who explains music theory in a clear, practical way that immediately applies to your instrument. He quickly helped me see keys and scales differently and gave me tools to approach improvisation with much more confidence. I was honestly surprised by how much progress I made so quickly. If you're looking for help with music theory, improvisation, or just becoming a more versatile musician, I highly recommend taking lessons with Colin.

If you're looking for a music teacher who makes students feel comfortable and excited to play,…read moreColin is fantastic. My son can be a bit shy, but Colin's friendly and patient approach immediately put him at ease. Miles was up and playing something he recognized in just one lesson, which was way faster than I expected! Colin explains things clearly and gives great technique tips. My son left the lesson genuinely excited about playing. We're so grateful we found such a great teacher.

Question...........Do you have vocal lessons? ubein@yahoo.com…read more I have a 9 year old granddaughter who is anxious for vocal lessons. Do you teach vocal or can recommend someone who can in Santa Cruz?

I have been taking piano lessons for a little over a year with Diana Brown through Santa Cruz Music…read moreAcademy. I'm in my thirties and had often thought I missed the boat by not studying piano earlier in life. But, I've been feeling extremely happy with the progress (starting as a complete beginner) that we've made over this time so I thought I'd post a review. Diana has a structured but flexible teaching style that has helped me to efficiently develop a well-rounded set of skills. We've focused on learning scales / arpeggios, proper technique, and building a repertoire - sometimes we delve a little further into theory or even some vocal lessons here and there. I've found that she goes above and beyond in tailoring the pace and content of the curriculum to her individual students. I would absolutely recommend Diana as a teacher without hesitation to anyone hoping to start learning piano!

Here's the thing about Gianni Staiano: he claims to be a piano teacher; however he is infinitely…read moremore than that. I first happened upon Gianni and his love affair with keyboards at a local venue called The Crepe Place. His Funk Trio, 7 Come 11, was almost literally sucking people into the front door and gyrating the floor beneath their feet. I bounded towards the front to see the instrumentation. Well, my eyes ended up glued to Gianni's fervent-foot and handwork on the hammond organ for about 2 hours. As a kid, I had learned some classical piano and listened to rich and multifarious musical styles. In the back of my mind I had been searching for someone to resuscitate my relationship with the piano. I thought, "I found the doctor." Fast forward to one year later and I am grappling with scales, chord voicings, baseline rhythms, ear training, sight-reading, chord progressions, and new songs in Gianni's studio. At this point, honestly, I felt frustrated. This guy is giving me every tool in emporium and I am just NOT a musician, I should give up. ...I'm giving up. Well, I voiced this concern to him and he earnestly reasoned that I was growing as an artist and musician. I just wasn't ready to hear it at that point. I quit for about 6 months, all the while recalling Gianni's simpatico encouragement. My life circumstances changed and I decided to give the piano, music, and Gianni another try. Returning was like sipping an outstanding scotch with a clean palate after having tried it before with a mouthful of soap. Music has a way of defying definition. Gianni continues to patiently help me wrap my head around constellations of musical concepts. His teaching helps me feel that music and life govern each other. The tools he provides allow me to face the truth of who I am as an artist and musician. One of the greatest gifts of Gianni's teaching is self-acceptance, the reminder to love ourselves where we are at this moment and keep working towards our greater goals. Three years later I am preparing for a performance, singing and playing, writing my own music, and showing up at Gianni's studio every week for more. It really makes a difference taking lessons from a performing musician. While I can't say that lessons with Gianni has instantly turned my hands into the likes of Art Tatum, Vladimir Horowitz, or Chopin, I can say that I call myself a piano player, musician, and artist with growing confidence. You can certainly take lessons from him and take his teaching as a literal guide to playing the piano and you will glean numerous playing tips and learn new songs; however, I recommend learning between the lines and trust that the really juicy stuff will digest and give you a rich takeaway in time. So, a 5 isn't enough. I have an infinitude of stars and gratitude to post for Gianni's nurturance of a really, REALLY important part of my life.

My daughter wanted a piano teacher who would nurture her love of music beyond learning scales &…read moremusic theory. Gianni has introduced her to jazz, blues & latin rhythms. She has developed the confidence to take on new music by recognizing the chords & patterns within each piece of music. Gianni has an engaging personality along with his creative teaching style. Each lesson provides guidance & a deepening connection with music which inspires her to keep playing.

I have two elementary aged children who have been taking piano lessons from Beau for a few years…read more Wow, I cant believe the progress they've made! They enjoy seeing him every week and always come out with smiles on their faces. Beau is easy going while also attentive and understanding of where the kids are at and what they need. He keeps them moving at a good pace and gives them a nice balance of progression through their leveled books, in addition to fun options in regards to songs that they get to pick out themselves. He is an incredible musician himself and truly wants every student to succeed, but more importantly, he wants them to find their own love & passion for music. I also appreciate that he's been helpful & flexible with our ever-changing schedules. I'd definitely recommend Beau for any age of learners. My kids and my step dad have all benefitted from his expertise!

Beau is the best piano teacher around! He has taught my daughter for years and she is playing…read moreamazingly. She looks forward to her lessons more and more every week!

Ben is an amazing teacher! I started practicing as an adult. He's extremely patient and is able to…read morebreak down any obstacle into manageable parts. Can't recommend enough!

Our 13-year old was transferred to Ben when her previous teacher, who had been highly esteemed for…read moreclassical piano training, decided to retire. So far her progress with Ben has been great. He's got her playing some very advanced pieces with good rhythm and clean fingering. He's enrolled her in a demanding program that requires a lot of music theory training - stuff I never heard of when I was learning music theory as a kid - and I think it will pay off down the line, especially if she goes into an area of music that uses non-standard modal keys or jazz. Ben's got a formal approach to teaching, and this is probably good for kids like my daughter, who need a short leash to be reminded to polish what they're leaning before moving on to new material.

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!

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.

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