I have been taking lessons at the John Payne Music Center (JPMC) for thirty years and have always…read moredeeply enjoyed it. I started at the JPMC as an adult in my thirties with no musical experience. My regular lesson with John Payne has been one of the highlights of my week for many years. Through these lessons I have learned to play the alto sax and to improvise -- something I barely dared imagine I could ever do. And, as a result of experience learning and playing the alto sax, I hear music differently than I did before -- and enjoy it even more I have loved playing in the sax choir wtih Duncan Martin and as part of an ensemble with two different teachers. All of my teachers there have been outstanding: excellent musicians and warm, caring, supportive teachers. They are very good with both adults and children -- and believe fimly that adults with no previous musical experience can learn to play, to perform and enjoy it. JPMC provides a safe environment in which you can learn alone; learn to play as part of group; and, perform! John Payne is not only an inpiring teacher a wonderful human being, but is also a superb musician who plays some of the best jazz and blues you will hear anywhere. Playing in the sax choir means you get to perform onstage with John and his professional band -- one of the peak experiences of my life! I recommend the John Payne music center to anyone who wants to learn to play jazz, blues or a wide variety of other types of music.

I started taking saxophone lessons here as an adult who knew next to nothing about music. I didn't…read moreeven know how to put my saxophone together correctly but my teacher (Duncan is awesome) was very patient and encouraging. He made the process of learning fun. His love of music and his love of sharing music with others kept me coming back for years. They teach people of all ages and believe it is never too early or too late to start. Everyone I have met that works there is friendly and inviting. If you are interested in playing in a group they can help you find people to play with or if you are like me and just want to play for the joy (and therapy) of it that's fine too. The teachers make you feel like music is for everyone, no matter your age, skill level or natural ability (or lack thereof) so it is a comfortable and non-threatening environment. If you ever thought of learning to play an instrument this is a great place to start.

Best guitars and best owners and so welcoming and so open to help and I got a free shirtread more

Highlights: - Friendly and helpful staff…read more- Lots of guitars to check out and try - Melodicas!!! I stumbled into Mr. Music while visiting Boston. I was really excited to check out Allston, and this place caught my eye as I was walking around the neighborhood. I've been playing bass for about 4 months now. I was really excited to finally be able to walk into a music store and be able to actually try out the guitars and see which ones I liked. The staff were very helpful - right away they asked if I needed help finding anything. They pointed me in the direction of the bass guitars, specifically acoustic basses (which I was interested in hearing/playing). Their bass guitar section is awesome! They have a handful of acoustics that you can try out, which is really cool. If you're looking to purchase a bass guitar and want to make sure you're comfortable with it first - this is the place. They have a variety of pics that you can try, too. I've only played with two different pic styles before, so being able to try a handful made me realize what I really liked. They also have a great little corner for trying out electric guitars, complete with a little amp. I tried a lot of different electric basses, and found the ones I really liked. It was so much fun to try out the guitars and find out what I want to save up for. Besides guitars, they have a cute little percussion section and a bunch of melodicas!! The melodica is such a cool instrument, so I was happy to see it getting some love in this store. All-in-all, I walked away from the store with a handful of new pics and a smile on my face. This is such an authentic little shop, you can tell they really care a lot about music. I would love to go back!

They did a wonderful job re-hairing my bow. I was able to drop it off and pick it up the same day…read more They have a small parking lot, and there's also a city lot a block away, so it's very convenient.

Called to see if they could repair a book I of mine. They don't work on violins that they don't…read moresell which is totally understandable. But when I asked who they might recommend they also said they won't give out recommendations either. So I am stuck with them not being able to repair but also no idea who to use for a repair either.

Great people. Was looking for some trumpet accessories. Amazing collection of antique instruments…read more Very accommodating.

My business dealings were an online purchase. There are no dealers in my immediate area for a…read moreproduct I needed and a Google search led me to Virtuosity which had the item I needed in stock. There was a problem with my shipment with the Postal Service causing a long delay in delivery, so they sent me a replacement via UPS which arrived in short order. It's this going the extra mile service that will keep customers coming back again and again. I recommend them highly!

By how busy Mark is -- seems that he doesn't need Yelp... Been going to him for years for my…read morebasses. From routine setups that are great, to him taking one look at a new bass and instantly saying, "return it" (neck was indeed bad) to heating a vintage 60's neck to get the back bow out, while beautifully restoring its cracked binding and a cracked block/surrounding wood, to most recently installing side dots that you would think were factory. He's been great for me.

Mark is an ace. There is no better guitar tech around. He has taken my hopeless 97 MIA jazz bass…read moreand brought it back to playability. Also my MIJ strat setup was great.not to mention past setups of my 63 precision and 67 fretlessed precision bass. Ridiculously knowledgable. Will take the time to explain anything. Very easy to park and drop off/ pickup w lots of on street parking in Brookline village. Highly recommended. Steve K JP, MA

I just wanted to thank you SO SO much for fixing my Gibson Les Paul. You did SUCH a good job that…read moreit sounds like it did when it was brand new nearly 20 years ago, NO ONE has done such a great job as you have. A thousand thank yous, I got completely lost in the moment playing it and it's been years since I experience that unless I was onstage in the zone. I'm thrilled my step father found you, your going to be my forever go to for anything regarding fixing my guitars. Price was VERY reasonable- in a world where everything is to much, you certainly are priced fair. Thank you.

I walked into Mike's, because I was in the market for an electric and live in the neighborhood…read more This was my first electric, but I knew I wanted something decent with good tone. I told the store owner what I was looking for, and he showed me what was in my price range. He also very kindly told me that I was welcome to try any of the guitars--even though I very clearly could not afford them! I thought that was cool! He left me alone to play the guitars. I was able to take my time--as I didn't really know what I was looking for. I was so happy with one of them, that I went ahead and bought it! I've had it for about 2 or 3 years now, and I still love it!

Music Makers studios is an excellent place to have music lessons. It is a personalized experience,…read morewith skilled professional teachers that are amazing and really care for the student. My son has been taking clarinet lessons with Bob for the last 7 years! My son's high school jazz band teacher was impressed with my son's abilities ... all learned from Bob. During covid times we are meeting remotely... but before covid we would go into the studio and always be received by a warm, friendly, music community and that was a lot of fun. I see people of all ages at the studio, retirees to young kids. So if you are looking for a place to take music lessons ... look no further. p.s. I found them reasonably priced too

Growing up, I learned to play classical flute. But I always wanted to learn to improvise on the…read moretenor saxophone. Thanks to Bob Brenner at Music Maker Studios, I have learned to do so on the tenor, alto and soprano saxophones (and sometimes even on the flute)! Even better, it has been fun to learn. I've made good friends playing in an ensemble, and I've even been able to play gigs for money. I will be grateful to Music Maker Studios for keeping music in my life for a long time to come.

I've had an incredible experience at Musician's Playground since I started last February. What…read morereally made the difference for me were the instructors Miles, Rocco, and Thomas, who helped me build the confidence to play the guitar more freely and start improvising in ways I never could before. They don't just teach you what to play, but how to think about music: the theory I should know, how to actually practice effectively, and how to keep learning beyond the classroom. There's a real emphasis on listening, rhythm, and interacting with the people around you, which completely changes how you approach playing. For me, it's gone from "can I play over this song?" to "I have ideas about what I can improvise here," and musically, that's one of the most freeing shifts I've experienced in my life. Also big shout out to Dave and Brooke at the front. They are always there to welcome everyone in and make sure you feel comfortable from the moment you walk in, which really sets the tone for the whole place. The variety of classes and sessions they offer means there's always something new to explore, and the value of the group classes and membership is honestly unmatched. Completely worth it. Everything is accessible, the instructors are fantastic, and the environment is genuinely welcoming. It's been an immense creative escape, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to grow as a musician or just reconnect with music in a meaningful way. It's rare to find a place that makes you feel both challenged and completely at ease, but this is one of them. Boston, don't sleep on this hidden gem!

There are not a lot of recent reviews, so I thought I would add my experience in case it helps…read morepeople find what they need. I was excited to try piano lessons here but my experience was not client-centered. First, the person who connected with me about discussing what I need was going to call me on the phone but was inconsistent about scheduling. Then, although everybody was polite (if you discount my instructor asking me "no, but where are you *really* from"), the instructor I was matched with definitely did not start with where I was at and imposed their own perspective and agenda on me for how we would be learning because it's what they were familiar with. Also, during the lesson, the space was loud because people could be overheard singing. So, it was very difficult to hear the instructor and concentrate. Looking back, I think the person that I initially connected with to discuss what I was hoping for probably just wanted to make a sale instead of being straight up that perhaps what they had to offer did not match my needs.