Testimonials: Discover the Heart of Music Education at 88 Keys Music Academy
At 88 Keys Music Academy, we believe that music is more than just notes on a page—it’s a journey of growth, creativity, and connection. Our passionate teachers, welcoming environment, and strong sense of community make us more than a music school—we’re a second home for musicians of all ages and skill levels.
Don’t just take our word for it—our students and their families say it best. From personalized instruction and diverse teaching styles to seamless communication and a deep respect for individual needs, 88 Keys stands out for its commitment to excellence in music education. Whether it’s jazz piano, drums, or lessons in Mandarin, our faculty brings world-class training, real-world performance experience, and heartfelt mentorship to every lesson.
Read on to hear how 88 Keys has made a lasting impact on students and families alike—helping young musicians flourish, guiding adult learners with patience and care, and turning music education into a rewarding, inspiring adventure.
Richard C: October 29, 2019
My son, coming from a classical piano background, has been taking jazz piano lessons from Ark Sano for almost 3 yrs here. My son has learned a tremendous amount of jazz technique and theory within that time period. Ark has taught not only the jazz standards, but also the modern music my son enjoys. Ark truly just loves what he does and always has creative ideas for the arrangements. A true professional and musical talent. He is like a mentor to my son, and at the end of the year gives us a CD of all the songs my son has learned/recorded that year.
My younger son, also from a classical piano background, has been taking drum lessons for almost 2 years from Jose Garcia and Andy Robbins. They both provide excellent instruction and drum techniques. They are both professionals, and as such are very knowledgeable about song structure, and have many creative ideas for drum patterns, fills, etc that they have taught my son. My son has learned a tremendous amount of drum technique and theory from them and is able to apply that to his own arrangements.
The owner Annie runs an excellent organization, and is very accommodating to the students’ needs. She puts on the best school recitals I have seen. She is also very knowledgeable about music, so that helps in running the school. My boys have learned a lot from music and 88 Keys is a big part of that. I highly recommend this music school for kids, teens, adults; any musical instrument and genre.
Ceci L: December 7, 2018
Highly highly recommend 88 Keys Music Academy to anyone looking for music lessons! I had a really great experience here at 88 Keys.
The management is helpful and communicative. I’ve never had problems getting a hold of Annie or any other management staff when I had questions or needed to rearrange/reschedule a lesson. Annie sets her expectations clearly in the music studio’s policies. I think as long as you READ the policy then there should be no problems regarding rescheduling/makeup lessons etc. I’ve been to other music schools and the policy here is fairly standard.
The staff and faculty are friendly and personable. The teachers here go above and beyond to create a positive learning experience for their students. I remember one teacher spent EXTRA TIME outside of the lesson to help a student who was having trouble with the piano pedals. The teachers at 88 Keys try to be as accommodating as possible to each individual students’ needs and schedules. There’s a wide diversity of students from young children just starting out or adults picking up a new hobby.
Majority of the teachers there are graduate students or alums of USC Thornton School of Music (one of the most prestigious music schools on the West Coast). Another plus is that some of the teachers are bilingual (English/Chinese), so if you’re looking for music lessons in Chinese that’s an option as well.
Traimy C: January 11, 2018
I found 88 Keys on yelp. I’ve been satisfied thus far. My daughter started here sometime in March of 2017. We switched over from Pasadena Conservatory of Music due to the fact that she finished all the YM classes and all the piano teachers we had requested already had their full loads with students on waitlist as well. My daughter has been happy with the switch and she is doing so well in her lessons. I love that Annie, the director, is so responsive with any concerns I have. What I love most about 88 Keys is the option to have my daughter be taught by a fluent Chinese-speaking teacher so that she may have her lessons taught in Mandarin. My daughter is a 3rd grader in a Dual Mandarin Immersion School so to have her piano lessons being taught in Mandarin is a hugh plus for me to continue with 88 Keys. All the piano teachers my daughter has had have been great. There are so many Mandarin-speaking piano teachers here that we have no problem with any substitutes. She now has Ms. Emily and she’s fantastic! We love her. My daughter needs incentives and constant positive feedback and Ms. Emily has been so wonderful with her that I see such tremendous progress in my daughter’s piano playing.