I've been studying voice with Dr. Lee Strawn for two years, and he is an incredibly passionate and…read morebeloved vocal teacher. It's hard to gauge progress in yourself, but fellow singers (and opinionated strangers) have remarked on how my voice and stage performance have blossomed under his instruction. He's approachable and witty, and experienced in many styles of music. Whether you're a newbie who only sings in the shower or a seasoned professional, I've seen him work his magic on ALL levels of singers at every age. I would recommend him to anyone!

My vocal challenges have defeated many skilled teachers over three decades. I find it extremely…read moredifficult to access my head voice and to produce any sound in that range. I have made more progress in overcoming this in a year with Lee than in all of the prior efforts combined. He is always encouraging and positive and has worked patiently and incrementally, valuing each small step of progress which helps me feel hopeful and stay motivated. I've watched him experiment with my voice, always informed by his deep understanding of singing technique, anatomy, and pedagogy, and then take what he's learned to come up with new exercises to create further opening and stretch me. There are moments where we both stop and smile in awe at a pure, free-floating, high note issuing from me where before that note would have been unattainable and anything approaching it would have been forced and impossible to sustain. I am discovering the head voice I lost so long ago and I'm liking the sound I'm producing!

Pierce is an incredible teacher and a great person!…read more I took lessons with Pierce for about 6 months. Going into lessons, I could not have imagined that the progress we made was even possible. For example, I have gained about 4-5 new notes in my "mix" voice, which were far too high for me to sing beforehand. Pierce helped me reach my potential with very tailored exercises that helped me understand some of the more nuanced and abstract concepts in singing, such as resonance in the "mask" and engagement of the vocal folds. Pierce makes it easy for his students to practice at home by recording exercises and sending them to you after your lesson. This helped me to make my practice sessions structured, consistent and efficient. Most importantly, Pierce is a kind person and supportive teacher. I perform regularly in the area, and Pierce went out of his way to attend my shows, and even invited his friends to come along with him. I can't recommend Pierce highly enough!

I grew up doing musicals, but never took lessons or had any formal training. When I started lessons…read morewith Pierce I hadn't performed in over 10 years (I'm 28 now). He started me out slowly, teaching me warm-ups and the general physical elements (e.g., hard palate, soft palate, diaphragm, etc.) of the voice. Over the last year, I've made great strides with my vocal development and recently performed in a production of Pirates of Penzance with confidence from his tutelage. Pierce bases much of his instruction on his own experience. As a performer himself, he can expand beyond typical voice instruction and offer tips for performance as well. His studio is also a nicely private setup that makes for a safe environment to "make mistakes" or to make discoveries. I've greatly enjoyed working with Pierce and highly recommend working with him.

"The Meisner Technique Studio is an A+ Plus "Hall of the Elite" (10/10) This school has taught me…read morethe science within the art of becoming an actor. The adventures this place has brought me is like nothing I've experienced before - from sharing real life experiences to telling fictional stories and everything in between. You are in for a ride if you ever get the blessing to learn here while you feel the wind take you out of your seat. By completing the total intensive 2-year training from Jim, you'll learn how to be your genuine-self as you develop the art and craft building your blueprints of an actor. The training level here consists of developing a high level of focus, susceptibility, and a wonderful imagination - all having it be about the people around you. By putting in the effort, you can earn the stepping stones to tell yourself - you're an actor. This place is a fun and a safe environment - and anyone from all types and walks of life can be an actor through the training. With all benefits obtained aside - the greatest take away I learned from this school is how to listen. It was a gift to learn this skill, weaving the ways and paths paved where I did not know best how to use it. Whether it's for acting, relationships, professionalism, hobbyist, skillset, etc. You name it - To be able to harness how important it is to learn why we have to listen is extravagant and tenfold. "

The courses offered by The Meisner Technique Studio have been wonderful for me. This review covers…read morethe intro classes, the formal training, the commercial elective, and the business class offered after the training is complete. I am a software engineer, and I first found the studio online in the hope of improving the way I communicate. I wanted to speak more clearly, improve my pronunciation, and become more confident. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to dip my toes into acting. The intro classes were a perfect fit for me in that regard. I made the right decision in continuing through the training, and I owe a great deal to these courses. My friends and family have seen vast improvements in the way I speak and carry myself. I also just so happened to fall in love with acting. For someone who had never really encountered the acting world before, this technique has been a blessing, for lack of a better word. It centers on active listening and being present. That alone has been instrumental in my life. My imagination has grown, and, most importantly to me, so has my confidence. I found confidence in discovering that there are people out there like me who share my beliefs and enthusiasm. What I especially valued was finding a safe space where I could be myself, while the person I was working with could also be themselves. In a world of masks and appearances, that experience was incredibly refreshing. I owe a lot to Maeve Montgomery, who taught the intro classes I took. She is warm, approachable, and genuinely an excellent teacher. She understands each student while also being aware of the dynamics of the whole class. Without her, I do not think I would have continued into the formal training. She was a wonderful introduction to acting, and her passion for both the craft and teaching was immediately apparent. Then there is Jim Jarrett, the studio's founder and teacher of the formal training. His enthusiasm and passion for what he does have no equal, and they make a lasting impression. This class expects a lot from you. I was never late, I prepared, and I put in the effort. That effort paid off. It is deeply rewarding to prepare the way the class teaches you to prepare, do the work, and then see the result. I have truly grown through this class and found myself. I still have my career as a software engineer, but I now better understand what I value about it, including interacting with my team. I am more confident when presenting material to other people. I have learned to embrace the camera, embrace the spotlight, and be myself. I have also learned how to keep growing. One of the course's most important lessons is that learning never stops and the training never truly ends. We are given tools that allow us to continue doing the work ourselves. And I want to act. It is crazy to think now that I would do anything but act. This is who I am now. I was also able to take the commercial class early in the training. It teaches you how to begin building a career: pursuing jobs, creating a résumé with limited experience, presenting yourself professionally, and understanding what it takes to work as a commercial actor. The course was short but effective and very tactical. It focused on exactly what you need to begin working, while giving us tools we can continue using to improve on our own. The business class took that even further. Once the formal training was over, we had the opportunity to take it, and it is very different from the training itself. I grew even more. It has been a roller coaster, but a fun ride, and it contains a wealth of information. Again, the theme is learning how to continue learning. If we keep drilling and applying the information, I believe it will pay great dividends. The formal training is now over for me, and it is time to get to work. I feel increasingly confident that I understand what is expected of a professional actor and what I need to polish: my résumé, headshots, self-tapes, and audition technique. The course covers it all. You need to commit, and that is what I have done. I am very glad I did. I am still improving as a person. I do not want to spoil the fun, but there is a lot in store for anyone who decides to take these courses. A theme shared by all of them is self-improvement, and you get as much out of them as you put into them. I want to close by saying how thankful I am to Jim for everything he has taught me, and for the wonderful environment and community he has built and nurtured. I cannot wait to see how the business course ends, and I cannot wait to see how my acting career begins and blossoms. Thanks for reading.

Let's just say that without Matthew (and God) I would not be the musician I am today…read more I first found Matthew on Yelp! when I decided at the last minute to apply as a music major to colleges. Although I played cello since middle school, it was very casual and only through the school's music programs; I even stopped playing the cello my last two years of high school. So imagine my panic and scramble to find my first private cello teacher in San Francisco with the goal of improving my playing to audition for colleges with a four month timeline. Matthew was very enthusiastic and supported my potential to get into a music school; in reflection, I think he was the most positive and encouraging person during my entire audition process. He fully supported my playing by transforming my passion for music into a technical and musical base to work with, fully showing the colleges what I would be capable of accomplishing. But that's not all. Matthew went above and beyond by helping me record the videos professionally for the audition process, even letting me borrow his cello for better sound, and even helped me edit the videos so that they would be the most presentable work to the colleges I applied to. We also went through the most realistic school choices for my current skill level and came up with some state schools in California with strong music programs (Cal Poly Slo, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach) and a private school (Biola University). Throughout this whole process I did not feel discouraged by Matthew even once. In the end, I got accepted to all four colleges for cello performance and I could not have done it without Matthew's generous help. But that's not all. Once I had accepted that I would be a music major, Matthew also went above and beyond to help me pick a new cello to buy for the next few years of school. As he has gained a strong network of musicians in SF, he knew where to help me look and off we went. He even came with me to play the cellos for me so that I could hear the potential sound of each cello. We were able to get a cello in our budget and a reasonably priced cello case thanks to Matthew's personal recommendation and expertise. But that's not all. Throughout Matthew's time as my teacher, I was able to fully entrust myself as his student because of his professionalism as a music educator who leads by example. Initially, I was drawn to Matthew as he was a musician that is greatly connected to the music community in SF, including being a chamber coach for the SF Conservatory and performing at many venues and gigs. But in our lessons, I truly got to know that Matthew is a professional cellist that exudes passion for the cello from his expressive and captivating cello playing to his vast knowledge on cello repertoire and technique, including orchestral excerpts and cello pieces to learn to grow as a cellist. In addition, Matthew was always clear about lesson plans and prices so that it best protected his career as a musician but also gave the most accountability and expectations for budding cello students to follow as well. This was helpful in setting a consistent lesson schedule --- which saves the hassle for both teacher and student! Needless to say, here I am, as a cello performance major, four years later, ready to start my own career as a musician. It has come full circle and I am now coaching and teaching others music! I am forever grateful to Matthew for making my musical career possible. I never felt alone during this musical journey due to Matthew's constant encouragement and support and his love for sharing the cello with others!

When my little sister announced that she was having her wedding on the beach in Tulum, Mexico, I…read moretold her that for her wedding gift I'd learn how to play the cello and perform my favorite piece, Bach's Suite No 1 in G, at her wedding...that was coming up in 6 months...even though I've never picked up a cello in my life. As luck would have it, I met Matt that same week during once of his performances. After being amazed by how beautifully he played the cello, I quickly approached him after the show, told him about my audacious goal, how worried I was about letting my sister down and how there was probably no way that I could be performance ready in such a short amount of time. Matt was kind enough to listen to me as I ranted at a mile a minute before putting my mind at ease by assuring me that anyone can learn the cello. We began lessons immediately and I remember how patient Matt was with me even though I kept holding holding the bow like a chicken drumstick. But a couple of months later, I was learning about shifting finger positions, producing quality sound from the strings and maintaining rhythm & tempo. While Matt was great at teaching me technical skills with the cello, he also got me to dig a bit deep and taught me how to express my emotions through this instrument so that the audience can feel the music instead of just hearing the notes. This helped me to let go of thinking of the piece as a combination of quarter notes and eight notes but as a story that I wanted to tell to the audience. On the day of my sister's wedding...well...how can I say this..I totally nailed it! Sure, some parts were still a little bit sticky (I'm sure it didn't help that I was crazy nervous) but I vividly remember during the standing ovation that I felt so happy for my sister and so proud of myself for actually pulling this off. And of course, I couldn't have down it without my cello teach Matt. Thank you again Matt!!!

I started working with Dave this past fall. I am a busy working parent, long time solo classical…read morepiano player, and I wanted to work on music that's a little more social: getting a better handle on my singing voice, while dusting off some rusty basic guitar accompaniment. Dave has been a total delight. He is a great musician, who brings expertise across performance, technique, theory, improvisation. He's a master teacher, who has a honed sense of how to balance instructing, listening, synthesizing, motivating, challenging. Most of all, he is a light of a person, someone who is here to share the good, through the language of music. Our time together was one of the highlights of my Fall. Thanks to Dave I have a much better sense of my singing voice, both my technical ability and awareness of what choices I can make as a singer. Same has been true for my guitar. And the whole experience has reopened a door to making music together with others. I look forward to seeing where it goes next! Thank you, Dave!

Dave has been an outstanding guitar and ukulele teacher for my two kids, ages 9 and 13. He is kind,…read morepatient, and deeply respectful with them, and both of my kids have grown to love their lessons. They appreciate the way he allows their interests and song choices to guide their lessons while also offering his ideas and new challenges that stretch them as musicians. My son was pretty reluctant about starting lessons initially, but working with Dave has completely transformed his relationship with music so that now he finds great joy in learning new songs and playing guitar independently. Dave is a true master of his craft and just an all-around great human, and we feel lucky to have him in our lives.

Scott is an excellent drum teacher and musician. He has a deep wealth of musical knowledge which he…read moreis able to share with students in a simple, understandable way. Scott is easy going and patient, with an infectious passion for the drums. I've taken drum lessons with Scott for a year, and have progressed more than I thought possible. I highly recommend Scott as a music mentor, he quite literally rocks!

I've studied with Scott for about a year, and have had great results! I came to the table having…read morebeen a drummer for a long time but not having any real technique, and Scott did a great job of helping me build up my technique and feel more confident behind the drum kit. I also felt that we worked on a strong variety of playing styles and types of exercises, and these really helped me be a more well-rounded drummer. I was unsure at first about taking lessons online, but was totally convinced after the very first lesson. Scott has a very professional camera setup that he uses to fluidly switch between different shots, so I was very easily able to see and hear exactly what he was doing. In the end, I felt like I was able to get even more clarity than I would have in person!

I've been taking my son to music class with Toby at Outer Village and it has been an absolutely…read moreincredible experience! Toby is so warm and kind and friendly, not to mention an incredible musician and vocalist. This is clearly her passion and I feel so lucky that we found her and her class !!!! Cannot recommend enough !!

Toby is one of the best violin teachers you can have, My son Sian has been playing with her for 7…read moreyears and has lots of improvements in violin. My son is now 10 and when he was 3 Toby took him! I highly recommend Toby to learn violin or voice lesson while having fun

We couldn't have hoped for a better violin instructor. Mr Wilcox taught my daughter from…read morekindergarten all the way through high school, and the impact has been incredible. He is professional, patient, and deeply dedicated to his students. Beyond technical skill and talent, he brings warmth and personal attention to every lesson, helping students grow not just as musicians but as confident individuals. We are so grateful for the years of guidance, encouragement, and inspiration he has given. Truly the best teacher we could have asked for

Mr. Ed has been my violin teacher for over 15 years! He is a wonderful, caring, and creative…read moreteacher. He is the best teacher ever and really cares about his students both in their musical career and their personal life. Any person that takes lessons from him will become a skilled, developed musician.