MGS rocks! I took roughly a year and a half of weekly lessons as an adult learner with plenty of experience but no training. I wanted to improve my music reading, brush up on technique, and play some classical pieces. Fedja was my instructor, and I couldn't recommend him more He's friendly, experienced, and lessons were always fun with him. While I have full confidence in all the instructors at MGS, Fedja definitely gets 6 stars out of 5. Bonus points for being able to pivot to the occasional bass and piano lessons during our sessions as well. The front desk and management are great too! Shoutout to Karin and Neil, they're a pleasure to work with and are very on top of things. read more

I signed up for lessons with Neil to learn a song to play at my wedding. I had no prior guitar experience. I have a great deal of appreciation for Neil because he didn't try to sell me on learning extra things or taking me on an unwanted journey to build "the basics". He respected my request and delivered so thoroughly. We ended up designing a melody of three of my wife and my favorite love songs. It was wonderful and he made it so easy and gracefully taught me all three songs and designed the transitions and such. Very good musician and a respectful businessman. Highly recommend for musically curious adults. I would have returned to learn more of my favorite songs here and there, but we moved across the country. read more

My teenage son started lessons with Neil in the fall & I am astonished at how far he's come. Neil takes guitar seriously but makes the learning fun with additional practice groups & recitals (with professional musicians sitting in!). Though my son takes private lessons this makes him feel part of a community and he works hard to perform his best. Neil doesn't teach the "rock star camp" way with tablature but rather builds lifelong musicianship by learning to read sheet music, rhythm training & more. I strongly recommend Montavilla. read more

I am a student of Neil's at Montavilla Guitar Studio. I am in my 60s, with no musical education prior to this. I have had "learn to play guitar" on my bucket list for some time. A dream I had put aside from early in life. I am learning much more than I had ever imagined! Neil is amazing! He is so patient, positive, kind and skilled. He is much more than a guy who can play guitar. I am on my second year, with no plans to stop! My life has been enriched by this experience. He is great with all ages! read more

This studio has fantastic teachers. My son looks forward to his lessons every week and is discovering new music that he loves to play. The studio location and set up makes it easy to run across the street to bipartisan cafe for a coffee and come back until it's time to go. I recommend this studio to any kid or adult looking to learn guitar, bass, and piano. read more

I just completed a 12 week "Rock Solid Foundtation" course with Neil at Montavilla Guitar Studio. I started without any knowledge/skills to speak of and Neil was exactly what I needed. He took the time to clearly explain concepts, reinforce understanding, provide just the right amount of challenge to keep things interesting and continually build motivation along the way. I also really like the way Neil uses technology. He has a number of apps that he uses to send sheet music and backup music for jamming at home. When I was stuck on something, he would send me a recording of him playing that song correctly which was very helpful. He also gives every student has a notebook of supporting materials. He's clearly put a lot of thought into the best way to help someone learn. On top of all of that, he's a great guy. He's kind, patient, easy-going and friendly. I highly recommend. read more

Whether you are an actual beginner or someone looking to clean up their technique and re-energize their practice regimen, I highly recommend the Guitar Foundations Classes of Alex Margitich at Montavilla Guitar Studio. All of the classes I have attended have been over Zoom. Being new to doing this kind of group class over Zoom, I was surprised at how deftly information was handled both over audio and onscreen, integrating song recordings and tablature pdf's as well as Alex's verbal instructions. Also, the classes are recorded for easy reference. Alex is very careful in demonstrating techniques and following-up to ensure everyone is with him. He's also excellent at guiding the class thru a progression of skills into playing complete songs very quickly- at pretty much every lesson. This, along with his astute, real-world advice on how to overcome obstacles to practicing is just what I've needed to stay engaged and growing as a guitarist. Finally, every interaction I've had with the folks at Montavilla Guitar Studio has been both professional and positive! read more

I had a great experience with Montavilla Guitar studio. I signed up for a group class, but I ended up signing up for the wrong class and it wasn't a great fit. Neil was soooo helpful and was bending over backwards to fix the situation. I just can't say enough. I'm signing up for another class very soon. read more

Montavilla Guitar Studio and Neil Mattson rock. Having wanted to play guitar as a teenager and become a rock star, I soon became discouraged thinking I could never play the guitar, I was pleased to discover that this isn't true. You just need the right instructor with the right style and method and Neil makes it easy and fun to learn the guitar. I am a fan of his skill and ability, not to mention his patience in teaching. read more

I started my son with Neil using a gift pack of lessons and he continued lessons for 4 years. First off, Neil is the real deal. He taught my son how to read music and some elements of music theory that he carried over into a high school class he was taking. Neil helped him understand the complexity and subtlety of jazz chords, making him a better - and smarter - musician. My son had learned a few things here and there playing with the kids' band at church, but everyone was amazed at how fast he got good. After just a few months, he had learned more than the other kids who had been playing for a couple of years and not long after that their skill levels weren't even comparable - he was approaching the skill levels of the adults who had been playing for years. Second, Neil is a good person who has the patience and persistence to help young musicians focus. And that's a skill that crosses over into all other areas of life. In the case of my son, he helped him set goals for not only guitar practice but school work as well. I can't say enough good things about Neil and his teaching ability/style. He will always be my first referral for anyone asking about lessons. read more