Matthew is, hands down, the best music instructor I've ever had, on any topic…read more My musical background - both in theory and technique - is pretty scattered. After college, I decided I wanted to learn the cello, so I searched Craigslist to find a teacher. I recognized Matthew's name from Ifshin's and he had a good review from the Berkeley Parents Network, so I decided to schlep up to El Cerrito (from South Berkeley, without a car, with a large instrument) to attend a lesson. Matthew was able to quickly, accurately, fluidly gauge what topics I understood and which I needed help on, and immediately cobbled together a lesson in which I felt not a single minute was wasted. I came away from that lesson feeling like I'd learned more from him in an hour that I'd learned from other teachers in six months. I was hooked. Since I already had a basic background in music theory, Matthew jumped pretty quickly into teaching me straight from repertoire. Matthew himself is quite an excellent musician - very artistic and expressive - and gives similarly excellent instruction on musicianship. He has the unusual ability of being extremely precise about what he wants you, the student, to do to achieve a given effect. (And is very good at being precise from several different approaches until you have that 'a-ha!' moment.) He's been very patient with me on the days that my head just hasn't been in the game and very persistent in making sure I get something out of those lessons, anyhow. Because of his high degree of achievement in cello and his patience, innovation, and keen intellect, Matthew would probably be a wonderful teacher from everyone from complete novices to seasoned professionals. (He does, in fact, teach both these levels, but I can only speak from my own experience. :P ) I have moved towns twice since I started taking lessons with him and, six years later, he is still absolutely worth the transbay drive.

I am very lucky to have found Matthew as a cello teacher. I started to learn to play the cello as a…read morebeginner since almost a year and can strongly recommend him as a teacher. It has been an amazing experience for me to play the cello ever since I started my lessons with Matthew. He is amazing, extremely patient and explains musical concepts and the cello as an instrument to an adult with great precision. In addition, he has a great ability to communicate and can provide explanations to you that suits perfectly well to the way you can understand, which is essential for learning. He always has an analogy to an everyday movement when you learn a new technique that is a great help. Matthew is a remarkable person and has a great personality. He can combine his understanding of humans with his teaching extremely well. Although sometimes your own performance might not be the best (e.g. because you could not practice enough for the lesson) at each lesson you learn a lot and have a smile on your face after you leave the lesson. What I like the most about Matthew's teaching is that he has an exceptional sense of creativity and tries to unmask this ability in his students.

Dylan is a very talented teacher…read more As an adult beginner, it's hard to find the balance between having fun and playing some songs, while also learning the less fun but necessary stuff like theory, chord construction, triads, major, minor, dominant chords, etc. Dylan was really able to right away hone in on what level I'm at. We worked together to figure out how to motivate an adult beginner, which is very different from motivating kids. As adults, we tend to be more self-critical. You can hear that it doesn't sound as good as what you know sounds good even after months of practicing, and that is discouraging. His strengths are that he's very patient, good at meeting you where you're at, and finding ways to help you progress without overwhelming you. He's also teaching you enough theory that you're not just parroting a song. His goal is for you to become a true musician, someone who can play with other people, improvise, and not just karaoke through a guitar song. He and I also had similar musical tastes so his song options aligned with songs I loved such as Beatles, Chili Peppers, & Ozzy Osbourne. I highly recommend giving him a shot and seeing if he's a good fit for you.

My daughter Lyla has been taking guitar lessons from Dylan DiMartini for a year-and-a-half, since…read moreFebruary of 2025. In that time, she has embraced the guitar as never before and is in the process of becoming a complete musician. Maestro DiMartini is the whole package: a superb and superbly trained performing guitarist, musician, and composer, someone who leads by example. But even more than his musicianship, it is Dylan's empathy and psychological insight that make him a true teacher. He understands when to push and when to pull back; when to compliment and when to challenge. And perhaps most importantly, he knows how to listen: to my daughter's playing, yes, but also to what's going on in her life and heart at any particular time, and to adjust her lessons accordingly. As a professional musician myself (a composer and pianist) who, among other gigs, was a professor at the San Francisco Conservatory for 16 years, I know a good music teacher when I see one. And Dylan DiMartini is more than that: he is a great teacher. We are so, so glad to have found him.

Mike is such an incredible drum teacher. Our daughter has been taking lessons from him for a couple…read moreof years now. When he moved to California, we tried out some new teachers and none of them were a good fit. We decided to stay with Mike, even if that meant lessons would be virtual. He's a awesome dude, and and incredible teacher. Can't say enough good things about him.

Mike is excellent with kids, he is patient and talented. My son has learned a lot in the last year…read more He makes the classes fun for him since he is learning to play songs from his favorite bands Queen, Nirvana, etc. He had zero experience before and now he knows great technique and songs. for He is also very flexible depending on my hectic schedule, I can go for virtual or in person lessons. Highly recommended.

I have taken guitar lessons with Andrew for about two years. I would be considered an advanced…read moreplayer, and my goal with him was to make my formal jump into jazz, and I chose Andrew's tutelage over other teachers. Andrew is a wickedly talented, extremely knowledgeable, and hard-working studio musician and live player. He really is a true working musician, and honestly the kind of player I always aspire to become. As a teacher, he's been really patient with me, but knows when he should be pushing my musicianship's bounds and limitations. The level of enthusiasm he has for teaching inspires a lot of confidence in the people he works with. I've always recommended my other friends who are both beginning and advanced players to at least try out taking lessons specifically with Andrew, with one friend taking up the mantle and several others trying to figure out a way to make it happen. Andrew has been more than just a guitar teacher and instructor. We would have conversations regarding music, the changing local scene, and the art scene associated with it. Beyond the fret board, theory, chord charts, and sheet music, he would always recommend various artists, music, soundscapes, and people to help enrich my overall learning experience. I highly suggest anyone taking their music and craft seriously to hit him up. Also, support your local musician! Andrew does write his own music and perform regularly around the Bay Area.

I've learned more about music in 3 months of lessons with Andrew than I did in the 10 years I'd…read moreplayed guitar previously. He's patient, enthusiastic and remarkably talented. I really can't recommend him highly enough.

Mike is an incredible instructor. I am an adult learner, and having never played an instrument…read morebefore in my life, I was intimidated to say the least. I've now been with Mike for 4 years. His guidance, patience, and passion demonstrate that it is never ever too late to learn. I've had the chance to meet fellow students - of all ages and walks of life - and Mike does an excellent job of meeting the student at their level and connecting 1x1. Whether you intend to learn for school, fun, or professionally Mike can certainly help guide you and progress at a pace that's comfortable for you.

Conor at Acorn Music is a wonderful teacher! It's no exaggeration to say that he reignited my…read morepassion for music. I took music lessons on and off as a kid, but never stuck with it long enough to get good at any one instrument. I had no patience for music theory and practice always made me frustrated. I'm glad that I gave it another shot with Conor. What I like most about his approach is how fun and effortless it feels to learn under his guidance--his enthusiasm for playing and teaching are infectious. I'm excited for my lesson each week. I found Conor through a friend who knew I was looking to get back into guitar, and I've been taking weekly lessons with him for a year now. My original goal was to learn a few campfire songs, so he tailored his approach to this, but rather than simply showing me some chords, he makes sure that I understand the "why" behind what I'm doing. I actually started to get more interested in music theory as a result--Conor explains it all in context, making it easy to understand and apply. And he has a knack for identifying what's giving me trouble in a particular song or section, not just telling me what to do but showing me how to do it (it also helps that he's super patient). I've got a few songs under my belt now, but I'm definitely sticking with my lessons for the foreseeable future, and getting psyched about setting more ambitious goals for myself.

I've been taking guitar lessons with Conor at Acorn Music for 2 years. I can proudly say that I'd…read morenow actually consider myself a guitarist! I started out trying to teach myself, but like many people that go that road, I keep hitting roadblocks. When I began lessons, I could barely even play a few simple chords. Now I can write my own songs, jam with friends, improvise over many different chord progressions, read lead sheets and chord charts, and read music... it's pretty incredible what I've been able to accomplish in 2 years with Conor. He is a super talented musician and a great teacher - his approach clear, enjoyable and very effective. He's got a real knack for how to isolate my individual needs as a student and zero in on exactly what i need to practice to meet my goals. Most importantly, he provides me with skills that I can use to begin to "teach myself". Thanks to his guidance, I now get more out of a 30 minute practice than I used to get out of 2 hours. Not only have the lessons been super awesome, but the entire experience has been very "together". They provide in-home lessons and have really put a lot of work into the over all experience . All aspects of Acorn Music are well very professional - from the email communications to the website, scheduling, policies, billing, and invoicing. I can't recommend this business enough!

Jonathan is an EXTRAORDINARY voice lesson teacher. He is incredibly well-trained and a very…read morepersonable instructor. In addition, his lessons are very helpful for students of all levels. I am a beginner in singing and truly enjoy his instruction. I highly recommend Jonathan for voice lessons!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!…read more If you want to learn how to sing well, Jonathan is the way to go. Not only does he have impeccable credentials (SF opera, gigs around the world), but he is also a very good teacher. I've been taking lessons from him for almost three years now. I started as a student in Davis, and continued even after graduation. He's very nice, funny, and personable - not hoity toity like you would expect an opera teacher to be. I really appreciate his patience and encouragement. I also appreciate the biannual recitals he organizes for his students. After three years of weekly lessons, I had the chance to perform four times at UC Davis and four times at the Berkeley City Club. I can't recommend him highly enough. He is like the Burj-al-Arab Dubai hotel of voice instructors - 7/5 stars!

I have been playing guitar for a little over a decade. I've had many teachers but no one has been…read moremore effective than Patrick Bradley and his staff of awesome musicians and teachers. There is no set curriculum. They know we all have different tastes and musical goals and they create a plan based on whatever musical direction you want to go down. They also have a jam week where students get a chance to showcase their skills and get a feel for the stage. You get the same quality instruction you would get at a university but for a fraction of the price! Please give this school a chance you will not regret it!

My son Edward has been taking lessons at Bradley School of Music, and I couldn't be happier with…read morethe growth I've seen in him. Not only has his skill on the keyboard improved tremendously, but his confidence and excitement for music have grown as well. The environment here is positive, inspiring, and very student-focused. His instructor, Brooks Lundy, is phenomenal. He has that rare ability to both teach and genuinely connect with young musicians. You can tell he truly cares -- he encourages the kids, challenges them in the right way, and brings out the best in each student. The opportunities for students to perform and collaborate with others have also been amazing. Watching Edward play with his bandmates has been one of the highlights for us. If you're looking for a place where your child can learn music, grow creatively, and develop real performance experience, Bradley School of Music is the place. We're grateful for the care, passion, and professionalism they bring to every lesson. Highly recommend!