851 Music Studio

J Shelby is a great music teacher. In only 4 months he has taught my 7 year old granddaughter to play well. He teaches all the basics from the foundation of knowledge, history, and an imagination that captures a child. And he knows how to teach with repetition, clarity, and attention. The best I've seen in my many decades as a musician.

Great school and very private. My son learned to play guitar from this school. The location is not the most convenient but worth the drive.

Great drum teacher for our son - Jeff cares about his students and teaches from his great experience, touring with all sorts of bands all over the world. Caring teacher in a great venue in historic arsenal area.

Met Jeff the other day. I purchased a mint Crate 212 tube amp from him. a Great music store and professional teachers.! A fantastic music studio in the heart of Benicia.! Thank you!

J Shelby and his CONSISTENCY towards my son is remarkable. I mean, overtime you go, you enter, warm smiles from him and his crew. Eagerness for the instructor to teach quality music everytime. One thing is for sure, you've got to remind your kid to practice 15-20 minutes everyday. Been going her for almost three months now and they boy has picked up a lot of knowledge and emergence of musical interest. I seem him glide over musical note sheets and try them both over Piano and Guitar.

This is the best place ever! My 6 year old started taking classes here about 6 months ago. We decided to give piano class another try after a difficult experiencing with another teacher at another location. My son loves piano now. Teacher J is patient, fun and always engages with my son to a point where my son is laughing and learning at the same time. My son never feels pressured or rushed, and I love watching my son gain confidence and pride as he is becoming a little musician.

Teacher J at 851 Music Studio has taught my 6 year old how to play the piano with confidence and joy. My son went from dreading piano practice to asking to practice at home after we found Teacher J. I love watching my son create his own music and get excited when he comes to class and laughs and learns with Teacher J. It is in the easy going and fun nature Teacher J brings to each class that has helped my son gain confidence and appreciates music now. Teacher J is not only a great musician, but he is an excellent teacher because he is patient, fun, and listens well to his students.

Took guitar lessons with J., who is a seriously nice dude and a good teacher. I learned a lot from him and improved dramatically. I did stop after a while because his music style wasn't quite what I was looking for -- plus, I was really hoping to tie into the local band scene and J. wasn't really into that. But working with him inspired me to keep improving. I don't hesitate to recommend him to others.

My daughter started violin with Aina Davis four years ago. I cannot stress how important it is to have a good teacher. Aina has an eye for fine details and you want a teacher with that quality along with passion for the instrument. If you are looking for a violin teacher for yourself or your child Aina is a teacher you can trus

851 Music Studio is wonderful! J Shelby is just what you want in a music teacher. He is knowledgeable and patient. He is simply a good teacher. J tailors his lessons to each student. He is pleasant to study with and is always full of good music history that helps students understand music, not just play it. I highly recommend 851 Music for parents who want to give music to their children and for people of any age who want to learn music in a fun and supportive environment.

My 10 year old son Andrew has been taking guitar lessons at 851 Music Studio with Jay for almost 2 years. He loves it, has stuck with it and looks forward to his weekly lessons. My son now brings his guitar everywhere and will play for anyone who will listen. He has also begun to study Music History and learning different genres. Jay has been amazing with my son, so patient and really moving at a pace that Andrew can follow.

Its an environment that Andrew has thrived in. Several times I have peeked in on the lesson and Andrew's smile lights up the room. I would highly recommend 851 Music Studio to anyone who wants to pursue music lessons.

Great place! I take guitar with Jay and have always had a welcoming and terrific experience. Great location and environment. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for lessons as they offer piano, voice and many other types. Two thumbs up.

My son and I are beginner guitar players and J has been great. He is very patient with both of us. I always look forward to the next lesson. Would recommend J to any one at any age.

I don't understand what the previous review of "poor" was about. In my honest opinion, that "anonymous" person who wrote that review must stress over everything in life. Even if the staff does not answer a phone call, they never fail to return your call a.s.a.p. Seriously, the negative review sounds like it's only based on 1 experience. The knowledgeable and friendly staff are MORE than willing to help their current and potential students.

They are very accommodating! I have been attending this studio for approximately 5 years. I have been studying guitar, music theory, voice, and piano which guided me into meeting great instructors, friends, and finding opportunities. The staff is very helpful to students, and the students' families/friends. I can honestly attest to these claims along with many other students.

My son can't say enough about what a wonderful teacher J. Shelby is. J. has been teaching Dave guitar since he was 5, almost 8 years ago! We have followed J. from location to location in Benicia, but we were really impressed by the professional studio that he has now on Grant Street! J. goes out of his way to help his students stay motivated and really find out what they want to learn. Dave has gone from acoustic, to electric and now classical acoustic guitar with J. J. has helped him with his band, having sessions with Dave and his friends to help them improve their performance. J. is not just a teacher, he is a friend to my son, someone he really respects, but feels comfortable talking to. Dave is often motivated by J.'s obvious passion for his music and the pleasure he takes in playing guitar. Benicia is blessed to have such a wonderful teacher in our town. Thanks for everything J.

What a great place to learn to play any instrument! I'm so impressed with this studio and highly recommend it. Excellent teachers. Very high quality.

851 Music Studio is a great place to start or continue your music lessons. I began violin lessons here with Aina Davis in 2008. I had no previous violin experience but already knew how to read music because I played the clarinet in school and took a couple years of piano lessons when i was younger. Aina was such a great teacher that I progressed fast. Aina is a very talented violinist with many years experience in the US and in Europe.

She expects a lot from her students and believes a lot in them. Unlike piano lessons i had when i was younger, Aina kept me motivated, making me want to learn more. Her lessons were 140/month, which is pretty decent for 30 min. lessons one day a week. She also has recitals at least twice a year.