1.5 years and 4 violin teachers later, we found the ideal violin teacher for my daughter:…read moreAgnieszka! Agnieszka is insightful, thoughtful and patient with my daughter. She explains musical concepts in a way that my elementary-aged daughter understands, and gives analogies that simplify complicated musical theories. During lessons, she is engaging, patient, and student-focused. The half-hour lessons fly by each time! Though she clearly has high expectations, Agnieszka is also understanding that developing skills take time and many mistakes need to be made to become better. I absolutely recommend Agnieszka to anyone (young & old) looking for an attentive, kind and encouraging violin teacher.

I am a retired adult and was lucky to find Agnieszka to help me relearn how to play the Violin. I…read morehave been taking violin lessons from her since April 2020. Initially my lessons were on zoom but we have transitioned to in person at her studio. Agnieszka is patient, kind, and gives clear instructions. I highly recommend her to students of all ages. She is a talented violinist who has the gift to also teach!!!

I thought it might be time to do a little 5 year check in! That's right, I've been taking lessons…read morewith Ciara for 5 years now and have enjoyed every lesson and over the last year have enjoyed watching her business grow and flourish! She now has multiple piano and voice teachers at the school, all of whom are fabulous people and teachers. In the time I've spent with Ciara, I went from having no idea what a C scale was to writing and recording my own songs! Ciara has been there with me every step of the way and has provided me with just as much emotional support as she has musical support. I've also participated in a couple of her other projects: Join a Band SF and Collab (with the fabulous Heather Pierce, voice teacher extraordinaire!), and I really enjoyed both projects and learned a lot, while having a ton of fun. On the business side of things, I appreciate that Ciara is up front with her policies from the beginning and feel like she has always treated me and from what I hear, other clients, very fairly. We're kind of a family, and Ciara has done a great job of keeping that communal spirit with the annual Master Class and the Recital, where our friends and family and our MMS (McAllister Music Studio) family can enjoy and witness the progress we have made during the year. Lizzie and Carlos are true gems, with voices like angels and the patience of Saints. If you are looking for a fun, supportive environment to learn a new instrument or brush up on your skills, I highly recommend Ciara and all of the teachers at MMS!

An obvious 5 stars! I've been taking piano lessons with Ciara every week for almost a year and a…read morehalf, and it's been one of the best experiences (and life choices) I've made since moving to San Francisco. I took piano lessons when I was a kid, but quit when I was 11, and Ciara made me feel like I picked up right where I left off, 11 years later. I'm learning music theory, writing songs, learning covers - she designs your lesson plan around your needs and goals, and makes the entire learning process approachable rather than intimidating. Whether you're a singer, songwriter, piano player looking to explore a new genre, or a piano newbie who can't read sheet music (like me)...McAllister Music Studio is the place to go :)

I've known and worked with Cherie Lebow musically for many years. When I ran a music program at a…read moreprivate high school in SF I hired Cherie to offer lessons in singing, guitar and help with some of the small groups the kids were forming. I've also known her as a professional musician as she worked with my music tech company laying down guitar and vocal tracks for sample libraries and such. I've recommended Cherie to various friends of mine who do booking and produce and promote shows. She's a consummate professional who knows her stuff and has been teaching for many years in NY and Bay Area. She's also a good communicator, lots of patience and a nice person to interact with. If you want something that is better than some online pre-packaged method-of-the-week - and to work with a real musician, composer and artist - Cherie is the real thing. She's recently re-located from SF to Marin, and I'd encourage Marin-ites, beginners and up to check her out!

I have to give Cherie 5-stars. She recently moved her teaching business to Marin and I'm so happy I…read morecan finally get back to lessons with her. I studied with her years ago when I lived in SF, I was a complete beginner back then. Now I'm breaking into writing songs and she has helped me get over a huge block I've had for years. She's really helped me expand my guitar skills so I can write with a fresh sound. And how to fine tune my performance.

Mandy is both a skilled musician and adept teacher. My daughter has been taking piano lessons with…read moreher for 4+ years now, and the experience has been a total delight. Mandy's steady approach has helped my daughter build competence and confidence, appreciation and understanding. Mandy is so encouraging and patient, and she really finds a way to bring out the best in each individual.

Our son is lucky to have been taught by Mandy for the last 6 years. The reason why Mandy is such a…read morefantastic teacher is because she has been a performer for most of her life, who happens to enjoy teaching. She doesn't just teach how to play piano, she teaches how to *perform* which is very different from most other piano teachers. I learned from a piano teacher when I was a child, so I can play the piano. But every time I listened to her lessons to our son, I always learned something new because I never learned any aspect related to performance, which is an art in and of itself. She taught him how to decipher the music and try to understand what the music and musician were saying, not just playing the notes like I learned. Performance aspects like scratching at the keys to give it a light touch, or even simpler things like playing repeated notes with multiple fingers instead of the same finger to make it sound more even and to preserve finger endurance. His understanding and love of music evolved the more he learned from Mandy and to the point where he listens to classical music on his way to and from school because he genuinely loves it. He even spent some parts of his lessons listening to and learning from Mandy about his favorites like Moonlight Sonata Movement 3. We are truly grateful for Mandy and everything she has taught our son about music that we could never do ourselves.

My boys have been taking lessons from Saideh (violin) and Jillian (piano) for a few years and I…read morestrongly recommend the school, and both teachers. They foster a love of playing music by focusing specifically on what the kid needs, with flexibility and creativity to keep the kids interested. My kids have chosen some more "popular" songs, which they've really enjoyed learning, and I appreciate this approach to keep them going. And they freestyle too, which is really enjoyable. And both teachers have been helpful and organized as we balance other activities to ensure they're getting their lessons.

My daughter has been with Nurture Music for two years, learning piano, and she has had wonderful…read moreexperiences with the piano teachers she has had! Teacher Andrew is just the right balance of firm but friendly and I am so pleased with how much progress my daughter has made and in the confidence she has built. Saideh organizes wonderful recitals which are encouraging and warm, and really gives the students an opportunity to showcase their hard work in a safe environment. I am so grateful that we found Nurture Music and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a strong music program.

I was actually Rachel's very first piano student as a kid and after a 30 year hiatus I found my way…read moreback to her as an adult student of both piano and guitar. Taking lessons with her again has been such a gift. Rachel is an absolutely incredible teacher. I have taken lessons with her both in person and remotely and they are equally excellent. She has an amazing ear and can instantly hear exactly where you are getting tripped up even over video. Her ability to pinpoint issues and explain them clearly makes learning feel approachable and motivating rather than intimidating. Beyond her technical skill, Rachel is just the best human. She truly cares about her students as people and always takes time to check in and connect. She encourages you to explore whatever styles of music you are passionate about. With her I played everything from classical to show tunes to jazz and I even took a brief detour into folk guitar. Her openness and enthusiasm make lessons fun personal and creatively fulfilling. She is also wonderful with kids and I genuinely cannot wait until my son is old enough to start lessons with her too. If you are thinking about taking lessons with Rachel do not hesitate. You will not regret it.

Rachel has been our sons' piano teacher for years and is FANTASTIC! It's always been key to us…read morethat our son not only know how to play piano...but that he appreciates and understands the JOY of music. We all know people that had started learning and then quit...and later regretted it (and we didn't want that to happen). Rachel can not only teach and inspire ...but she also retains students (yes even boys :) Rachel is amazing because she makes piano interesting and FUN. The beautiful thing is that she comes from a legend piano family, so music and creativity is in her veins. She is fluent in many, many musical styles, and teaches guitar as well! We are crushed that she left our area...but our loss is your gain! We highly recommend her to inspire and teach your little ones or YOU! (What a fantastic New Years' gift for your whole family)

Marla is a wonderful and dedicated teacher…read more I originally came to her just with some long ago choir experience and no formal music school background. And because of that, I don't know many of the terminology or what they mean. So I really appreciate that Marla has always been patient and super adaptive in coming up with new exercises or creative visualizations to fit me, and find alternative ways to help me learn. I have been working with Marla for many years. And since then, she had taught me good foundations and helped me develop my voice and expanded my range. I feel like she cares a lot for her students and is very supportive. I would not be where I am w/o her on-going support and guidance.

Marla is a great voice coach. My 16 year old daughters voice has improved during the few months…read more(COVID) working with her virtually. My daughter has told me that the techniques taught by Marla have made a positive improvement + impact in how she sings. Prior to Marla my daughter said she would just sing but now she'll implement the tools taught by Marla each time. She is patient and skilled. We are strongly considering in working back with her again once in person lessons and the pandemic improves. She accepts Zelle payments which are convenient and offers a new student discount fir a few lessons. Thank you for your help Marla!

Chelsea was prompt in her communication and was readily available. She was able to solve my issue…read moreand would definitely recommend her services as she is knowledgeable in her field.

It was really important for us to select a piano teacher who could help inject the love of learning…read moreto play, appreciating and enjoying both the music and the instrument. Piano should be a passion and a hobby and not a chore. Chelsea delivers on that and more. She's become a family friend who has seen our son develop his talents over the many years. We really appreciate her easy-to-work-with style and her ability to allow our son to choose his musical selections while still providing challenge and growth. He's improved his playing tremendously since having her as a teacher. The convenience of having her visit our home to deliver her lessons is also a wonderful plus. Thank you so much for all that you do Chelsea!