Masaki School of Music

This school is fantastic, with many great teachers to learn a variety of instruments from. I have two kids, both learned piano here, and both studied/are studying cello with Nancy. One has since moved on to college (with a full tuition scholarship for cello) after learning from Nancy. The school has always been accommodating and will work with your schedule.I saw another review that disagreed with some school policies, but they were not providing an honest assessment of the situation. The school makes every policy very clear through forms and notices. If someone disagreed with a policy after it was made clear and continued to go to the school without following that policy, they did so knowingly and to create a confrontation. I believe owners can make whatever legally valid rules for their business and customers have the choice to use that business's services. Bottom line is that it's the best place to learn to play musical instruments in Hawaii.

MSM is an amazing music school. We started in the middle of the pandemic, but I only have great things to say about this school and how it is run. They always prioritize the safety of their students and staff and graceful about how they put out their policies. As we were all trying to figure out how to navigate through the "new norm", this school definitely did a great job pivoting and ensuring that music lesson qualities continued to be exceptional, and in the safest way possible.Aside from the whole pandemic thing, MSM treats you like family. The teachers and staff are all wonderful people, and we absolutely love the warm and welcoming atmosphere Nancy and team create.Private Teacher: My 6yo son has been taking piano lessons with Noe for almost 10 months now and I am just amazed at the speed at which he is advancing. Noe has been just absolutely wonderful from day 1; so patient and sweet but knows how to steer her students so they focus during lessons. I love that she puts emphasis on music theory so that my son can build on the fundamentals at an early age. Noe always takes the time to give me tips on how my son should go about practicing, and she is on-point with her communication with me - easy to get a hold of and super responsive! (this is such a huge thing for me)I am so glad I decided to send my son here, and wish I started him earlier.

Ms Choi has been our piano teacher for our two daughters for a few years now. My children love piano and look forward to class each week to show their progress. We are very happy we chose this school

Yes, we totally appreciate and love what Masaki School of Music has done for our daughter. She has been with Ms. Alice for the last 6 years and it's been wonderful. They have been careful and safety has been a priority during the pandemic and we really appreciate them protecting all their students and teachers. It's totally worth every penny and we also see the love of music it has brought out in our daughter and it has also helped her school work as well!!

My son and I are strongly recommend for Masaki School of Music if you are looking for piano and cello lessons for your children.My son started playing piano since 2015 when he was 6 years old from Ms. Seon Choi who taught him how to read music notes starting Every Good Boys Does Fine and Base note, Green Birds Don't Fly Alone.She was very patient and sweet in her weekly piano lesson sessions but once Ms. Choi signed up my son for Masaki School recitals, she was into precision, technicality, and dynamics for every music notes that she assigned for piano recital for my son. This was a very good foundation for my son's music adventure and a pleasant journey.At age 9, my son also started to learn to play cello with Ms. Nancy Masaki. Playing both Piano and cello are good learning and performing experiences but he fell in love with sound of the cello and started to pay more attention to cello and eventually he gave up Piano. He is enjoying playing cello very much.At his school, Punahou, my son played in the Punahou Orchestra since 5th grade and is now 7th grade and has been playing first seat cello since 5th grade, big mahalo to you Ms. Masaki.Nancy Masaki is also very patient, thorough, gentle, with a caring personality and her teaching style motivates more to learn and enjoy playing Cello for my son. As a parent, I don't know much about music competitions in the state and/or nation but Nancy will suggests to enter cello recitals & competition when my son is ready or if he can have enough time to practice for recital since he is also a very competitive Junior golf tournament player. Whenever Nancy helps him to be on cello recitals and competition, my son & I are so grateful for all those opportunities.I personally love the Masaki School of Music annual Christmas Recital which is usually on center Stage at the Ala Moana Shopping Center but sometimes at the UH Music Hall, or at the Masaki School.Whenever we have recitals whether it is a big or small one, I got to know another piano teacher, Brent, who helps out for light, camera, and live recording who is so sensitive & dedicated to the technology of recording that many students during COVID 19 pandemic got help from him and Nancy and their recorded videos were sent out to numerous auditions and outcomes were fabulous from piano to other string instruments. Thank you Brent.In conclusion, Masaki School of Music is a one stop music school where you can start from piano, guitar, or any other instruments and then, you can try other instruments or do both for a while until you made a good choice like how my son did and become a member of school orchestra.Another advantage for attending the Masaki School of Music is that you can get a piano accompanist in the house when you perform a recital for Cello, best piano teachers for your cello player. I don't have to hire or look for them.I don't know all the music teachers here at the Masaki School of Music, but I wanted to recognize those who I have experienced so far since 2015. I got to know some piano teachers who accompanied my son's live cello recitals and during recording sessions, they were Ms. Noe Baladad & Ms. Annie Kwok and recording and editing in house technician & piano teacher, Mr. Brent Nitta and assistant and helping hand from other cello teacher Ryan were so awesome and helpful for the Masaki School of Music and my son's cello learning and recital journey.Thank you all and I wanted to write this review awhile back after we had X-Mas recording recitals but due to the pandemic better late than never.Best wishes & Thank You.

Ms. Nancy is the best teacher!!!! My oldest child received almost a full scholarship for her instrument after learning from Nancy! She's truly a great teacher, but also more than that. She and the other teachers take an interest in your child. Nancy attended my child's winning competition concerts off of Oahu and she (and other teachers) will help prepare your child for whatever goals you ask them to help with. They also will help set up recordings for competitions, college apps, and even to share with out-of-state relatives!She is more than just a teacher, she really helps the kids, even keeping in contact beyond high school. The studio provides a wonderful, valuable, and fulfilling music learning experience. It is full of instructors that have a passion for spreading the joy of music!

The Masaki School of Music offers the best music education for all age groups. With a roster of accomplished and caring teachers paired with their convenient location and facilities, it is no wonder they have been around since 1953. The school not only teaches lessons, but also provides performance opportunities for their students. It is a very supportive environment.What really speaks to the school is their active involvement in the community because they always promote other arts and culture organizations, musical instrument resources, and live concerts that are happening. All of my positive comments is due to the amazing management under the owner, Ms. Nancy Masaki. She is super friendly and very organized. Everyone loves her at the school! The school is approaching 70 years in the community and I have no doubt the school will last an additional 70+ years. Thank you to Nancy and the Masaki School of Music for being so amazing and meaningful!

We have been a part of the Masaki School of music since 2010. All three of my daughters have taken lessons from this music school: violin, cello, and viola. All of their teachers have been extremely supportive. The music community at this studio has such a strong bond which makes it extra enjoyable for both the students and their families. Nancy Masaki, owner of the Masaki School of Music, has devoted her whole life towards music and her students. Her passion for the Masaki School of music is beyond incredible. She is not only a great music teacher, but also the most selfless and wise person I've ever met; she is like a motherly figure to all of her students, always there for them no matter what. I'm very grateful that my daughter gets to learn the cello from her. In my whole life, even as a music teacher myself, I have not met someone as passionate as her. I have introduced many families to the Masaki school of music and they all thank me after having such amazing experiences at the studio. Highly recommend enrolling at this school!

My granddaughter has been taking cello lesson with Nancy Masaki for the past two years. I could never hope to find a more professional and caring music school or teacher anywhere else.Masaki Music School deserves all past and future accolades.

My children have been taking lessons with Masaki school of Music for over a year now. While I love their current instructor, unfortunately the experience you have at this school is going to depend greatly on which instructor you are assigned. Please do not sign up your students with Bret; he is super unfriendly and rude on every interaction our family has had with him while in the waiting room and I feel terrible for and child or parent who has to deal with him consistently. We choose to wait outside to avoid him if possible. In my opinion someone teaching young children should at least be somewhat nice to them, and we have met a few that are much more appropriately kind.I have also learned that Nancy Masaki, who has taken over this business, has a much less vested interest and the teachers have to deal with every issue themselves (such as billings and payments), which is an added burden on them and really defeats the purpose of teaching at a studio vs independently. So keep this in mind; teachers operate very independently and even organize their own recitals.... (this was not info from our own teacher but was told to me directly from another teacher). Unfortunately I also need to add that Nancy is forcing everyone at the studio to continue wearing masks, even though it is April 2022 and the Hawaii mandates have been dropped. Bret has taken it upon himself to police this policy, even with students that are not his own.I would give our instructor 5 stars, however I had to take off based on being at this studio - one for having to interact with Bret, one for Nancy's policies, and one for continuing the outdated and unscientific practice of mask-enforcing.