Music Center of Hawaii is very small but the amount of instruments and service far exceeds their…read moreshop size. They are one of the only shops that repairs saxophones, violins, and standup bass's. They have a huge selection of violins, flutes, saxophones just to name a few. The staff is absolutely top notch any thing you need for your bowed instrument is there.

Best experience I've ever had in a music store. My son was freaking out because his saxophone…read moreneeded some repairs, and the employees did an amazing job helping me a getting his saxophone up to par. they were extremely knowledgeable and knew exactly what they were talking about and helped me find exactly what I needed. We will definitely be back and be doing all of our music store needs right here.

Unacceptable Service & Zero Priority I am beyond frustrated…read morewith the service I received today, and I ended up walking out. My wife, my two kids, and I walked into this establishment around 4:35 PM on March 25th. We were greeted at the front by Ted, who told us he'd be over to help us "real soon" and instructed us to head back to the electronic drums. Couple other staff asked if we needed help which we did, and was told they couldn't really help us because they weren't the 'drum guy' and to wait for Ted. We waited. For 25 to 30 minutes. When Ted finally decided to show up, he gave us maybe five minutes of his time. Instead of actually helping us make a decision, he left us with more questions than answers. He told us he'd be "right back," and then disappeared for another 10 minutes. From where I was standing, I could see him at the front of the store helping people who walked in long after we did. The breaking point was when he finally came back to our area...but not to help us. He started assisting another person who had just arrived. At that point, I was losing my cool. He knew we had been waiting patiently for a long time, yet he continued to treat us like we weren't a priority. Once he finally finished with the latecomers, I had to confront him with the facts. I told him exactly how long we'd been sitting there while he ignored us for newer customers. Instead of offering a solution or taking accountability, he just hit me with excuses. Then, he actually had the nerve to ask if I had "more questions." I told him flat out: I was ready to check out 30 minutes ago, but he left us hanging high and dry. I was literally about to tell him which set we were buying, but after that experience, I decided right then and there that we wouldn't be supporting this business. We walked out. Bottom line: You need to get your priorities straight. UPDATE: I'm updating my previous 1-star review to 5 stars because of one person... Senior Manager Anju (I hope I spelled that correctly). After that initial visit yesterday which left us feeling disregarded and unimportant... Anju reached out to me personally to make it right during our phone call. It takes a true leader to own up to a mistake and honestly she did so with such grace. Took full accountability for her store and them some. When we returned today, we weren't just 'customers' we were felt like actual guests. Anju provided the kind of high-touch and personalized support that made the store feel more like a community. She was patient, informative, answered all my questions and incredibly kind to our 5-year-old. She made sure we walked out happy and we left with the perfect Roland TD-07DMK Electronic Drum Kit and a matching V-Drum Amp. I felt Anju made it her mission to make sure every detail was handled perfectly so we could focus on the excitement of our daughter's musical journey instead of the issues we faced previously. It's easy to be a good store when things go right, but how you handle things when they go wrong is the true test... Anju passed with flying colors. From here on out we'll be supporting this business under her leadership. Mahalo for turning this around for our family!

They have such an extensive variety of musical instruments! I went on a Black Friday sale day but…read moreI still received top notch customer service. I was never forgotten and was constantly being asked if I "needed anything" while I tried out a new guitar that I purchased that morning. Prices seem comparable to other local music stores. I almost forgot to mention that their website provided me with much more information about the guitar that I was looking at than I could find on my own via Google! I should've started my research there first!

So great to have Peter round to help me create my crazy ideas for guitars, or to take on the work I…read moredon't or am unable to do. Thank you Peter for all you do, and have done over the decades! Call him, share what you want done and make a new friend!

So glad I found Peter--not only is he an incredible luthier, but he's also an absolute gentleman…read more I brought my Fender Strat in for some intonation issues, and Peter knew exactly what to do--and then went above and beyond. He did a full fret dress and worked out a slight heel kick so the notes wouldn't fret out. He fine-tuned the intonation, deepened the nut slots to make the first fret easier to play, cleaned out all the pots, and straightened the neck. He also adjusted the whammy bar and corrected the bridge, which had been pulling up too far. It now sits closer to the body with a gentler angle--still allows a half-step pull-up, but with better stability and improved tuning. The guitar plays so much better now--and Peter even promised I'd sound just like Stevie Ray Vaughan. I'm pretty sure by "now" he meant in about a million years. Peter works out of his home in Aina Haina. It's a little tucked away at the end of a driveway , but if you follow his texted directions, you'll find it. Although I did drive past said driveway the 1st time around LOL. Happy Shredding!!

Go on their FREE tour if you want to learn about their 100 years of history and expertise in the…read moreukulele making world. Still family owned and ran, this gem is worth checking out. You can see in every piece they make that they have a true love for the craft! Mohala!

Purchased the wrong size tenor hard case and the Kamaka crew exchanged it no problems. That's what…read moreyou want, no drama no issues. Mahalo

Craig has been fantastic!!! As a gigging musician he really has been teaching the nuances that I've…read morebeen utilizing to hone my voice. He's super non-judge mental and really just wants to make me sound good, which makes singing in front of him confortable. I honestly have been skeptical of singing teachers in the past, as I have had experiences just singing scales over and over again. Craig is the real deal. I noticed vast improvements in my vocal tone after just a few lessons, and was hitting notes well above what I thought my vocal range was. He also helped me discover my middle voice, which now allows me to sing with ease without straining. I can go on and on about the benefits I've noticed, but I don't want to make this post too long. If you're considering getting a voice lesson from Craig, I suggest scheduling your first lesson, and thank yourself later, haha.

I've had 3 voice teachers in the past, and none have made such an impact to my singing as Craig…read morehas. ngl, I wasn't impressed at first, but we found our rhythm after 3 lessons, and my level improved by leaps and bounds within a couple of months. I never even knew what a mixed voice was before him, but him helping find it was so transformative. I came to him an amateur, and within months, I am singing professionally with a band! I get excited when it's time to come see him (twice per week) bc I know we're going to hit another milestone, or another new vocal ability! And the huge smile on his face when I get that "aha" moment, you can just tell her takes personal joy, pride and gratification in the knowledge that he has a hand in that (in my progression). I also love that he can help with any genre, I dip my toes in theater, rock, pop, Spanish/mariachi music, he can help all of it!

I just booked a lesson on October 3rd and we showed up for our appointment today, October 16, the…read moreplace is completely empty and the phone number (808) 845-7751 is disconnected. No one is responding to our text messages. No signs are posted, nothing. No notice, no phone call, nothing to let us know they went out of business.

Gary deserves 10 stars!!…read more This review is long overdue. I was recommended by a friend to see Gary and my voice has improved tremendously since. I first came to Sen Music Studios for talent training for the Miss Chinatown pageant. I've never seen a singing coach and Gary was very accommodating and helped me develop my style and brought confidence to my voice when singing. He is a musical wizard and has some of the best equipment I've seen. Long story short, I trained and developed my voice with Gary for approximately 3-4 months and received the title of Miss Hawaii Chinese Princess in 2014. In case you were wondering, I sang Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon." I've also seen him for two other competitions afterwards. Prior to seeing Gary, I had extreme stage fright and my vocal chords always froze up in front of an audience. If you are looking for a professional to help you improve your voice, I recommend you give him a call. Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next!!

It has been a dream of mine since I was a kid to take voice lessons. The closest training I ever…read moregot was high school chorus and a couple music classes while in college. But even after taking these classes, I've always wanted to do more. But when life got busy, I ended up putting this passion on hold. As I got older (and hopefully wiser lol), I realized there will never be a right time to do the things we love until we make time for them. So I did a quick Google search and found Grammy award winning soprano, Audrey Luna. And this is where I started my beautiful musical journey. To be honest, I really was a bit scared and anxious to reach out to her knowing I had no real musical background. But I took a leap of faith and sent her an email to let her know I was interested in private voice lessons. She responded promptly and inquired about the reason for wanting voice lessons. And I told her for personal development. She quoted me a reasonable price for a trial session. And before I knew it, I was attending my 1st private voice lesson :) Although she is a world renowned singer AND Grammy award winning soprano, she truly is a humble and kind person. During my lesson, she taught me how to do some vocal-warm ups and improvements with my singing technique. I was able to immediately notice a difference in my singing ability, which really surprised me. She helped me to determine what my range was. All my life I thought I was an alto because I was told this in my high school chorus class. But with Audrey's guidance doing vocal-warm ups and help with technique, she was able to reveal the soprano in me to my great delight :) If you are looking for a friendly, supportive, patient, kind, knowledgeable, vocal coach who has solid technique and the voice like an angel, look no further. Audrey is everything stated above and so much more! For one whole hour, you will have access to a vocal coach with over 15 years of experience who teaches any level (including beginners like me), who is able to sing and teach in all genres and multiple languages. For all the years of experience and knowledge Audrey has, you would think her voice lessons would cost an arm and a leg. But her prices are so affordable, she has students ranging from young to old and even internationally. Audrey has helped me achieve a personal goal, and this has meant so much to me. I feel so lucky and privileged to have a vocal coach of this magnitude guide and support me in this wonderful musical journey. I highly recommend her. You won't be disappointed.

First of all: Audrey is a wonderful colleague and a great teacher!…read more I am an opera and concert singer (working mainly in Germany and Europe) and have worked with many teachers and coaches. When I had the opportunity to sing the extremely difficult coloratura part of "Ariel" from Thomas Adès' "The Tempest," I became aware of Audrey. She has successfully sung this supernatural part at the world's greatest opera houses (MET, La Scala, Vienna, etc.)! I felt very honored when she immediately agreed to help me. And all of this online (due to the great distance between us). Her singing technique is so experienced and stable that she can master the most demanding parts with a healthy voice, and she can also teach this technique. Not many teachers are able to listen to or see their students online and correct them so precisely and effectively. Audrey does this very well, and I firmly believe that live lessons with her would be even more brilliant! She also attaches particular importance to the development of musical colors, dynamics, phrasing, and expression/acting. I was able to successfully perform "Ariel" with her and haven't wanted to stop working with her since. Now she advises and helps me with classical repertoire such as Queen of the Night, Olympia, Blonde, etc. I would also like to emphasize that Audrey supports me with repertoire questions, career planning, and mental training, which is essential in this business. I can recommend her to every singer (whether beginner, advanced or professional)!

I needed help with my baby girl, my acoustic guitar. I'm by no means an expert, and honestly,…read moredespite some experience on stage, I'd still barely call myself an intermediate guitarist, so when my acoustic's connections went on the fritz, I was at a loss for what to do. I asked one of my much more experienced and knowledgeable musician friends, and he instantly suggested BR Frets. He was then confirmed by another guitarist friend of ours who was hanging with us, saying they're hands down the most skilled people on island that they both know of, so I went ahead and made an appointment. Both friends said to expect a couple of weeks, maybe 3 depending on how busy they are, as they do get quite a bit of business, and to try and get an appointment when I can, so I did as soon as I could. I was greeted warmly by Chris, who asked me some pertinent questions, took a look at Hayley, and gave me a clear idea of what to expect; either he can fix her, which if he can, he'd try to do so that night. If he can't clean and repair the connections on my pick up, not only would they likely need to send out the pickups for diagnostic and repairs, but the cost to do so would jump up significantly, showing me how much the piece costs broadly and then factoring time and labor. Sure enough, I called the next day, as advised, and Wes said to come back on in to pick her up. I got there and spoke with Wes, who told me Chris stayed up a bit the previous night to make sure Hayley's good and ready to go, and she was back in action! They also only charged for the time and labor, which was more than fair for the quality they provided and all the relief they gave me. Definitely worth coming to them when guitar help is needed.

I've been playing more in open D tuning and got tired of retuning my Taylor every time I wanted to…read moreplay something in open D. So I took my old beloved Takamine F360s out of the closet and decided to leave it in open D. But it was playing rough. The action was very high even after I adjusted the truss rod. Also the intonations were off. I took it to a major guitar store in town and the luthier there said he couldn't help me because the guitar needed much more work than he could do. Then I found Chris at BR Fret shop. OMG what a God send. Talk about someone who cares passionately about guitars and knows the instrument like Wolfgang Puck knows pizza. Chris identified that the problem came from under the bridge where through years of humidity, that area was bulging and pushing the bridge up thus raising the action. He took it apart, sanded under the bridge then put everything back together along with new strings. I was completely blown away at how low he got the action with no buzzing. In fact it made my Taylor seemed hard to play in comparison. So I ended up taking my Taylor in for an adjustment as well. Pro tip : make sure you register your Taylor guitar with Taylor manufacturing and they will pay for the adjustments at certified Taylor shops. I hope Chris and his assistant Wes never decide to leave O'ahu. We are very lucky to have them here in our little corner of the ocean. Happy pickings...or strumming!!

We bought a Pahulele after seeing Reid's booth at Art&Flea. We were amazed by the design (the whole…read morething packs up into itself - the neck, the strings all can fold up into the body) because we like things light and portable. Couple weeks later we picked up a soprano one from Reid at Oahu Makerspace. At first we were surprised how quiet it was compared to a regular uke (his ukes which we also check out are siiiiiiiiick!) but we wanted to support Reid, his innovative design, and local (plus his prices are super reasonable - $125 for a handmade instrument!) so we scooped one up. So glad we did. This is the sweetest little instrument with such a special sound - which we are appreciating more each day (and night - perfect for playing at night and respecting keiki sleeping next door). Mahalo Reid.

From the owner: At Ho'okani Music Company, we build handmade ukuleles, guitars, drums, and more! Everything is made…read morehere in our Honolulu workshop in Kalihi. We also specialize in stringed instrument repair services. Luthier Reid Shigemura has over 15 years experience building and repairing musical instruments. We do everything from basic instrument setups, fretwork, and refinishing, to violin / viola/ cello / upright bass bow rehairing and bridge work.

I had the honor of working with Brandon Onishi during one of the most difficult and emotional times…read morein my life -- my mother's funeral. From the very beginning, Brandon was incredibly kind, professional, and easy to work with. He communicated with me by phone and text, which made everything simple and smooth during a time when I had so many things on my mind. We were able to quickly secure the date, and the booking process was very easy. I paid the deposit through Venmo and the balance at the event. On the day of the service, Brandon handled everything beautifully. His setup and breakdown were effortless, and his music created such a meaningful atmosphere throughout the entire evening. During the funeral program, his music added a level of comfort and reflection that truly touched everyone in attendance. What made the day even more special was the music he played during the dinner reception afterward. It brought warmth to the room and allowed family and friends to gather, share memories, and celebrate my mom's life together. One moment that meant so much to me personally was when Brandon took the time to learn a song just for the service -- "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. Hearing that song played live during the service was incredibly emotional and moving. Many people who attended told me how powerful and beautiful that moment was. Later on, Brandon shared with me that he now performs that song at other events because of how meaningful it was. Knowing that a small piece of my mom's memory continues through the music he plays is something that means a lot to me. If you are ever looking for someone to provide music for a special event, I cannot recommend Brandon Onishi enough. His professionalism, talent, and genuine care truly made a difference on a day that meant everything to my family.

The first time I heard Brandon perform, his music struck a chord in me (no pun intended) and I…read moreinstantly became a fan. I wholeheartedly endorse Brandon. His music stands out because he's not merely a musician, he's an artist who sings and plays from the heart and connects with this audience. I attend as many of his public performances as possible, and if I had an upcoming private event I would absolutely hire him. Marie B.