MacPhail Center For Music

I took lessons at MacPhail growing up and my kids started in early childhood at MacPhail and have been in the Suzuki program for years. One of my kids is starting in the Prelude Program soon. I am impressed with MacPhail from end to end. When we’ve had problems, we’ve had fast resolution.
I wish the Suzuki program was a little more organized with it’s schedule and events, but the teaching and programming is top notch. Beautiful performing spaces and great opportunities.
MacPhail can be a great fit from the casual beginner to the advanced and focused teen. Been satisified for a LONG time. It is pricey but MacPhail is great with financial aid and scholarship opportunities

I was a student at MacPhail Center For the Arts for three years (2003 – 2005) where I took lessons from percussion instructor, Bob Adney. Once a week my parents would drive me to their old location on Lasalle Ave in Minneapolis for my lesson. I loved the atmosphere of the old building and the fact that you could hear music throughout the building — which I enjoyed.
At the time, it felt like one more thing my parents made me do but years later I am extremely thankful that I had the opportunity to learn at such a great establishment and from a wonderful instructor. I feel very lucky to have been able to learn so much from Bob — ranging from marimba, snare, drum set, and timpani. With each instrument I felt that every lessons was one of great quality — learning technique, theory, etc. It is not just a come in, sit down, speed through, and leave type of lesson. Bob held me accountable for practicing and would always go in-​depth on what I was learning.
He is a wonderful and talented instructor. When you are younger it is easy to feel as if you’re being «bossed around» but with Bob it was a genuine desire to share, teach, and help the student learn and improve. He is very knowledgeable, positive, dependable, patient, and has such a strong passion for playing AND teaching. My mother (also with Bob Adney) and younger brother (children’s group class) took lessons here as well. I highly recommend MacPhail for anyone who is serious — anyone, any age. If you are looking for private lessons in percussion– Bob Adney is the man.

Our 4 year old loves his Musical Trolley class. The teacher is great and very patient with kids.
It is a class that kids learn about and try instruments, sing songs, clap beats, learn music terms and concepts and do some hands on projects like art projects. They cover 1 to 2 instruments per class session and I think by the end of the Musical Trolley courses the cover everything played in a orchestra. I can now tell my son to talk with piano voice and he knows to talk soft.
It also gives us 90 minutes to check out nearby places downtown for a quick bite to eat while he is in class.

MacPhail-​I love you!
Thanks for giving me my start in music!!! I have very fond memories of this Music school:)

MacPhail is a top notch music establishment serving the greater twin cities community whose families commute each week to take lessons from the Center’s esteemed teachers. Although the rates are more expensive than many private non-​associated teachers, you can be assured that the teacher is professional and well developed in her instrument’s field. Teachers vary to the extreme on teaching style and personality.
Group classes and music enrichment (i.e. composing, etc) are also available beside private lessons.