My eldest turned 4 and I decided to let her choose an extracurricular to partake in. She chose music - to be specific, piano. I looked around and this place seemed good so I called for information and got a call back super quick. Everyone I spoke with was very helpful... and optimistic. Haha... The place is tucked in a neighborhood down a small street, but it has a private parking lot. There are 4 lessons a month billed monthly. I wasn't sure what to expect with my daughter being the unknown variable because of her age, but the teacher was professional and nice. However, my nugget stopped being excited as soon as she learned she couldn't just "play" freestyle and had to listen to an adult. So, even though kids as young as 4 can start one-on-one lessons... it's up to the individual. Definitely not for mine. We decided to stay but switched over to a group music class geared for toddlers - they have 2, one for 3 and the other for 4 year olds where they learn music basics while having fun. They let us take free trial classes of both until we could decide. My nugget's in the 3 year old one because she never had classroom experience before and she seems to enjoy it - definitely more than the one-on-one lesson, for sure. If she's still interested in a few years, we'll revisit piano but for now, the group lessons are good. The classes are not exactly "cheap", but it is as expected. The teachers are all knowledgeable and engaging, though I feel bad sometimes. My nugget is free spirited and... wild if she's in the mood. The group classes have gotten larger, which is noticeable since they're in a small room, but attendance fluctuates. So far, it isn't a huge cause for concern - what with the pandemic and all. Overall, I will definitely look here for music lesson needs and we are pretty happy so far. read more

Consider hiring teachers independently or looking elsewhere. The teachers here are great but your money certainly isn't going to them, it's going to the faceless higher-ups. If you want to support the arts and make sure these wonderful teachers can keep teaching, make sure you know where your money is going! read more

The owners only care about generating income for themselves, and do not pay the teachers fairly. They take advantage of foreign teachers to not pay them vacation or benefits. I don't recommend this studio. There are plenty of amazing music teachers who work independently in this city. read more

The teachers themselves are wonderful, but many of the teachers have not been paid and Vivaldi Music Academy will not answer their requests for payment. Please hire teachers individually or go literally anywhere else - Your money is not going to the teachers you all are so fond of. read more

Friendly. My son enjoys and is learning some of his favorite songs, I couldn't ask for much more. read more

Vivaldi Music Academy - West U - A little Led Zepplin - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Houston, Texas

Vivaldi Music Academy. For adult lessons, too! I was pretty impressed with "VMA" as I'll call it. They have a really great website with instructor bios and loads of information. They have a good Yelp presence. They come across like you're friendly neighborhood music school but with its game all amped up. They have a beautiful waiting room, which was nicer than anything I experienced in California as a kid. Just the other day, a bunch of kids were "doing homework", waiting for their class, and sneakily watching Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone on the big beautiful glossy TV. Some perks about Vivaldi: -- A nice folder of policies, waivers, and reminders at your first lesson; you sign a copy and return it to them but they have a copy for you to keep -- Email reminders of upcoming classes -- Automated credit card payments for next month's classes -- Range of lesson types: composition, cello, piano, guitar, vocal, violin, etc. -- Make-up lessons - one hour in a group Yes, you can opt in to do recitals. As an adult returning to the piano after 20 years, I'm not sure how I feel about this, even though I'm quite the stage ham! I enjoy that they ask you what your intentions are with music classes. You don't have to go in thinking that you're going to be the next Beethoven. For me, I'm going for an extracurricular and to relieve some work stress. I love soundtracks and musicals, and so far no teacher has had a problem with me learning these. One thing to note, they have a yearly enrollment fee ($25 per individual or $35 per family). Perhaps this helps them keep those automated emails coming. Anyhow, you pay it once in a calendar year in addition to the classes you take. Also, they charge a flat rate of "4 lessons per month" no matter the actual number of weeks in the month. It evens out with a few holiday breaks. --------Faculty Reviews------------- As I have had many a make-up lesson, I have learned this much about piano teachers: 1. Ben [no longer teaching]. Specialties had included jazz and composition in addition to classical. He was SUPER SMART and could "sight sing" along with your piano playing on the spot. I got a really good handle on the jazz theory for the four weeks we studied it before he moved; we had fun exploring Gershwin, Just Friends, and jazzing up Somewhere Over the Rainbow. (Had as a regular teacher from April-June 2015). 2. James J. Favorite composer might be Czerny, as he can't say enough about him. I have this mental block about playing classical, and he's been the ONLY teacher who has made it less intimidating. He figured out quickly that I'm a theory girl, and he had me sight reading AND playing some Mozart within 10 minutes. 3. Jinhua L. Favorite composer is Schumann, who she said is nuts but has amazing music. She helped me break down some classical and was very unassuming. 4. Kristen R. Favorite composer "might be Brahms" but "definitely something from the Romantic [era]". Though the website says she's a violinist, she had a good grasp on teaching piano and helped me through some Satie and John Williams. 5. Matthew G. Favorite composer is Beethoven. This guy has a really broad and sound music history and knowledge of classical and even pop music. He would be really great if someone likes music appreciation as much as the practical doing. He has some fun "listening" assignments and will lend insight into what the composer was thinking when writing various songs. (Have as a regular teacher beginning July 2015.) read more

My 6-year-old has been taking piano lessons here for several months and it has been a very good experience for him. His teacher is understanding, friendly and relatable, and also very good at teaching and motivating him. All of the teachers I have seen all seem to have the same approach, and the staff at the front desk are friendly and helpful. We highly recommend Vivaldi! read more

We were having class with them before Covid, then they closed,the frontdesk have told me that we could do make up class later anytime. I called a month ago asking class information and our account information like how many class left in our account as I remember should be few left and planning to continue with them, the manager said they can't find the information since it's expired since they offered visual class during. Seriouly, they billed me every month now they can't find anything? She said she will call back but nothing yet. If you leave a message asking for class information they call back pretty quick. read more

The campus tour is great. We showed up about five minutes until closing time on Sunday, yet the receptionist was so kind, she stayed a bit to give us time to explore. My daughter was not so thrill about the extra curriculum (typical of kids nowadays, they prefer ipad). Any-who, i was very impressed about the place. New facility. Cozy decorations, and has rooms for practice or actual one on one lesson. I am thinking about taking lessons for myself and hopefully, hopefully could convince my kid to join. Since Music should be fun and not forced. Vivaldi seems to practice this ideology which is in congruent mine. So i like this place. read more

If you are looking for a terrific violin instructor who can teach concepts, form, beauty, and joy - consider Courtney Park at Vivaldi, West U. She is patient, thorough, direct, kind, and has a gift for finding the best brief but vivid metaphor or example for explaining the "why" behind a certain note, technique, or reason for holding the bow or elbow the correct way. I have two very different boys taking lessons from Courtney and although they are nearly on the same Suzuki page, she reaches them each where they are and with their personalities in mind. Same high standards for both. Great instruction is universal, it reaches across age and style. Courtney is a beautiful violinist AND a great instructor. The quirks of Vivaldi (we have never made it to a make up lesson - for reasons listed by other reviewers -- we just try to not miss any lessons!) are worth it because of her instruction. The office staff is generally very friendly and prompt. If you have a problem, email is best way to resolve it. We have also had a year of lessons at the Bellaire location and it was a delightful experience. Has a larger parking lot and waiting area. Bellaire was super-responsive about turning OFF the cartoons and letting the waiting siblings listen to/watch classical concerts and ballets on the TV. It is more peaceful now that West U seems to be playing Holiday music instead of programs that are unsettling for our 5yo. read more

We sure are glad that we found Vivaldi Music Academy for our daughter. She is 4 and loves to sing... they had a perfect option for kids her age in their Kindermusic class. The instructor is great with kids and has good methods for teaching them the fundamentals of music in a fun way that they understand and retain. The school also offers private lessons in everything from cello to piano to voice. The owners are always there and are very friendly... all in all, a great experience. BOTTOM LINE: Best music school for kids that we could find in the Houston area. read more

Great school, teachers and staff. They have all types of music classes such as piano, voice, violin, etc. They also have Kinder Music programs for the younger ones. They just celebrated 300 students which is great considering they are fairly new. This is a great place to be and I highly recommend it. read more

Outstanding lessons from highly trained teachers and a very caring administrative staff who keeps everything running smoothly. They keep me very well informed about any changes due to weather/COVID/life and I am so impressed. I really appreciate how flexible they've been with Zoom classes during the pandemic! read more

We love how friendly and helpful the staff are. We especially love Mr. Lachlan. Pretty sure we'll be with them for several more years.

My son has been taking lessons here with Ms. Courtney for a couple of years now. He has had a wonderful experience. We are lucky to have found a teacher that not only understands the instrument, but also understands how to work with children. read more

I stopped coming here after Dominique left. But really the final straw was when the staff messed up my scheduling TWICE in a row and I missed my last 2 lessons with my absolute favorite music teacher of all time. I am still to this day very disappointed in Vivaldi for doing that. Pros: Nice facility Professional and qualified staff Cons PRICE- they are way too expensive. Obviously capitalizing on the fact they are the one of the only music school around. No trial! You can't have a trial with any of the teachers- you just have to pay for a full month and hope for the best 2 months at Vivaldi and I still love it here! I've said it before and I'll say it again; Dominique is great. She's truly the best music teacher I've ever had. She's knowledge and supportive. She's becoming a great friend. I always look forward to my lessons with her. Ask for Dominique if you want to transform your voice. You won't be disappointed. read more

The teachers here are great, facilities are great, administration has a terrific attitude. Couldn't be happier.

My daughter took lessons at Vivaldi. The Saturday make-up classes were only once a month not every Saturday as we were told when we signed up. Most importantly, the Vivaldi model is to just run students thru as quickly as possible. When my daughter got a brand new violin, we swung by Vivaldi to get help tuning it. The owner was at the front desk and when we asked if he could help tune it, he said, "No--we can't do that for you"--even though he plays the violin. Vivaldi wants your money--but it is not really interested in helping your child learn. read more

My son has been going to Vivaldi for the last 2 years & has loved it. However, 1) their teachers change frequently so just when he gets used to someone, the teacher is no longer there. 2) The costs are ridiculous!! They have increased their prices at least twice in 1 year. The cost is now $180/-from $160 which mind you was increased just months earlier. Classes are only 30minutes & the price is for 4-weeks. And mind you, there is no flexibility of a private session with your teacher in case you miss a class. They have a master class which is really bunch of kids of different levels & with different instruments doing "who knows what"!! read more

Great place to learn music. Very good with kids. Professional in managing scheduling and recitals. Dedicated teachers who are patient, nurturing, and strict as needed, but also make music fun for kids. Make-up classes for missed ones are in a group setting - would like it if they had real make-up classes since my child dos not enjoy the group sessions. One make-up class for two missed or some such arrangement would be good, especially because we still pay for all the classes we miss. This is particularly an issue when we are out of town for two or more weeks. read more

My daughter has been taking voice lessons since last summer. We started out with a temporary instructor for 2 weeks...once we were assigned our permanent teacher, my opinion of Vivaldi went way up. We adore our teacher...she works well with my daughter, she picks music that is consistent with my daughter's likes, and she knows what she's doing. We did our first recital this January and I was very impressed with the program and venue. Nicely done. I've always had very favorable interactions with the staff...always friendly and happy to see us. read more

My daughter has had lessons at Vivaldi for about a year. I have been very happy with the friendly and helpful staff and the kind and talented instructors. I have and would continue to recommend Vivaldi to others. read more

We enrolled our son here shortly after the school opened. The owners are very visible and actively involved with all their clients. All of the instructors are highly trained and excellent with students. They have a great variety and do everything to accommodate parents/students. Also, if you miss a lesson you can make it up. The hours are flexible and it is very clean inside. We love Vivaldi and the staff. I recommend this school to everyone I know. read more

My daughter has been at Vivaldi for violin for almost 6 years. In that time she has gone from a tiny little one plucking her violin to playing in her middle school's advanced orchestra. Courtney Parks is most responsible for that. While playing in her schools' orchestras is a great experience, the one on one environment and attention, the opportunities to perform, the ability to move through material at a pace fitting for each student, is unmatched. The school has accommodated our family's changing needs over the years for scheduling, working with us on having two kids there on two different instruments to make it workable, and allowing for unlimited make ups whenever there is a conflict. The staff knows each child by name and has always been very quick to handle anything we asked. read more

From the friendly, accommodating and professional staff to the amazingly talented instructors, we love everything about the Vivaldi School! Alyssa teaches our 10 year old son voice and piano. She is not only patient and kind, but also very talented and motivating--inspiring our son to enjoy music and want to practice on his own. :-) read more

We enrolled our 4 year old at Vivaldi Music Academy into their choir program. Subsequently we began to notice the lack of interest they had in her. From the owners to teacher, they showed preferential treatment to certain kids and I was reluctant to admit it at first. Then when my husband started noticing it, it was time to pull away from a unhealthy atmosphere as she had not experienced discrimination until now. But I can see how others would feel differently, just my point. read more

My daughter has been taking violin lessons for over 2 years. With Courtney's guidance, I've seen my daughter grow in leaps and bounds in both her musical practice and her confidence. The front desk staff is phenomenal too! They never fail to greet us with a smile! read more

The owner and his team and wonderful. This is a high quality music school and I can not give them enough praise for their excellent music program. The Kindermusik class teacher is specifically exceptional and we can't wait to have another class with them! read more

Love this place! Very professional and clean and organized. The pianos are lovely, the teachers are fantastic. The recitals have been top notch. I asked my son to help me with this review and he stated that his teacher (Mr. Lachlan Fife) is very patient with him and that is why he likes it so much. My son is 8 and had taken 3 previous years of instruction with three different teachers and never liked piano before. Now he loves it and practices on his own. I've seen a lot of progress. read more

Vivaldi Music Academy is a great place to BEGIN lessons with A LOT of caveats. You need to be aware that the program is almost entirely focused on children. If you're an adult learner you might want to look elsewhere. I've had mixed experiences there. On one hand, the instructors and staff are kind and attentive. My teacher is gifted, and his substitute teachers equally so. However, the makeup policy is laughable. As an adult I sat in makeup classes with beginning children. Makeup classes sound nice but they're a waste of time. No refunds are given for missed classes, no matter the reason. You're locked into a rigid schedule that you can't change. The real beef I have with them is that they have recitals, but you don't get the opportunity to warm up beforehand anywhere. If it's a 'destination recital' yes, you get the opportunity to perform on a major concert hall stage, but good luck being actually ready to perform. They do destination recitals at famous venues for which you have to shell out a lot of money for the venue (upwards of $600 + travel expenses), and when you arrive, good luck, you're on your own. It sounds impressive at first - being able to perform at something like Carnegie Hall - but the inattention to the students at such venues reflects the lack of professionalism and acumen that any business owner should have for their paying customers - the students or their parents. It's not about the students. It's about using the 'destination recitals' as a marketing gimmick. So, it's a mixed bag. The staff is attentive and considerate, but from a business point of view they're not 'quite there yet'. I spent a lot of money here (read: THOUSANDS of dollars) and it ended up on a sour 'note' because of their lack of preparation. At $300+ a month tuition, I would have expected better. In the end, they treat their paying customers ("students") like the children they teach, not like actual, real, paying customers who have a choice of where to spend their hard-earned money. This doesn't surprise me, because almost all students are children. The parents pick up the tab. Vivaldi is experiencing a lot of growing pains. I wish them luck, but I'm not going back there. Adults, look elsewhere if you want to be treated like an adult. read more

I searched for years trying to find a good classical guitar teacher in Houston and finally found this School! I have been attending for two years and it has great teachers and facilities! Friendly staff as well - they deserve to do well and have just opened a second facility which I hope does as well. read more

Very professional organization and location managed by the people who are obviously living for/with the music, people that are performing their job with passion to deliver/offer best condition and knowledge for their student. Unique place for our kids to learn music and develop themselves. Welcoming us with good hospitality, positive attitude and always with the smiles. read more

I took voice lessons at Vivaldi for about 9 months and the people were nothing but polite, courteous, and super accommodating. I would recommend the academy to any one because of its very convenient location, the stellar teachers, and the relative inexpensive price. It is about $144 for 30 min/ week and I really enjoyed my time there. I wish them good luck and a good opening for their second location in Bellaire! read more

Very flexible and relaxed atmosphere for young musicians to begin their craft. The teachers are attentive, communicative, and have a good sense of where each student needs to be. There is a family atmosphere when you walk in the building. We have enjoyed studying here for the past 2 years. read more