Opus 1 Music Studio

I’m really picky about my music schools. I’m a former piano teacher with 20+ years of teaching experience, conservatory training, and a master’s in music education. When it came time to look for the right place for my daughter, it was an extensive search. Opus 1 opened up near where I live, so I checked out the faculty bios and was impressed by the quality and training of the instructors.
We were specifically looking for theory lessons using the Certificate of Merit system, and I was thrilled to discover that Opus 1 offered classes — it’s not available anywhere else that I could find. My daughter loved it, and after her first trial lesson, she definitely wanted to keep coming back (and she’s really not a big fan of theory in general, so this was HUGE!) The teacher was engaging, applied live music examples to the theory concepts she was teaching, and paced the class well so the students didn’t get bored or confused.
I also got a chance to meet Doris, the founder and owner. Not only does she have excellent credentials, she was authentic, genuine, and kind, and you could tell that her first priority is to ensure students receive a high-​quality instructional experience at Opus 1.
On the administration side, I was happy about their prompt follow-​up to my inquiry about registration. They answered all my questions and provided the right information. In my lifetime, I’ve probably contacted dozens and dozens of schools and teachers, and the number one issue is the stunning lack of follow-​through. Opus 1 has that down in spades — they understand what it’s like to be a busy parent, and they facilitate the whole process to make things easy and efficient. The registration process was streamlined, and their studio policies were clear and transparent.
I was also impressed by the facilities — clean, professional, pleasant waiting areas — well-​maintained Yamahas in excellent condition in the teaching rooms. There’s even administrative staff in the evenings, so you can still ask questions and get information when you need to; it’s rare to get that level of service, which I truly appreciate!!!

My 9 years old daughter and I have been taking piano and violin lessons at Opus 1 for over a year now and we couldn’t be more pleased! We study Piano with teacher Doris, Violin with Richard and Theory with Celeste. Opus 1 facilities are great, the staff is friendly and the music lessons are fantastic. My daughter not only passed ABRSM theory Grade 5 with Merit, and CM exam piano level 7, but also won the American Protégé Competition and will be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York this November. I would highly recommend Opus 1 Music Studio to aspiring musicians of any age and level!

My 7-​year old daughter is taking voice lessons at Opus 1. As an accomplished pianist and a piano instructor of over 15 years, I am very particular and cautious in my selection of music school and teachers for my children. I am happy with Opus 1 for several reasons:
1) The quality music learning that my daughter receives–
The teachers at Opus 1 are highly qualified with Bachelors, Masters or/​and Doctoral degrees, and many years of experience. My daughter’s teacher provides encouraging feedback and know how to best motivate my daughter, catering to her personality and needs. I also appreciate that my daughter’s teacher communicates with my daughter in a respectful and mature manner, setting a good behavioral example for my child. Honestly, parents who understand the importance of quality learning are more than willing to pay for skilled instructors.
2) The professionalism with the studio policies, tuition and communication–
All the information about studio policies, fees and online registration are easily accessible on their website, which is not common for many other music studios. Most music schools I’ve researched do not reveal their tuition rates. As for communication, it is helpful that we receive email reminders on weekly lessons and on make-​up lessons.
3) The flexibility with trial and make-​up lessons–
i) It is a rare advantage to have the option to schedule full trial lessons with different teachers to get a sense of a good match before committing to a permanent instructor. The opportunity to see how our children interact with the teacher for a full session is vital in providing a clear idea of whether they work well together. One could not possibly draw conclusions on the depth of a teacher’s abilities from only a few minutes of observing the teacher’s teaching style, unless you yourself are a high caliber, experienced musician or instructor. Even so, every student requires different approach thus a subjective and limited perspective from a short observation does not project an accurate evaluation of how our children would respond to the teacher’s instruction. Besides, from a music instructor’s point of view, it is only fair that Opus 1 protects their current students and teachers from distraction by unfamiliar people sitting in their lessons. As a parent, I wouldn’t want a stranger watching my daughter during her lesson, affecting her concentration on learning.
ii) Another advantage I value very much is the make-​up lesson with 24-​hour notice policy. I feel this option offers a fair treatment to both the student/​families as well as the teachers — families don’t have to worry about losing the cost of missed lessons while teachers could plan ahead when given advance notice of absences. Being a musician and an instructor, I cannot emphasize enough how much musicians and instructors appreciate the respect from students and families for our time and service. This privilege should not be taken for granted. In addition, the possibility of having lessons with a substitute teacher when necessary gives students the chance to experience different methods and styles of singing/​playing and teaching, which is much encouraged and a common practice in higher-​education!
4) Performance opportunities–
My daughter recently performed at the studio’s spring recital and had the most wonderful experience. It was fulfilling to see my daughter’s progress from her achievement through earnest practice. I also appreciate the high quality medal presented to every student as a reward for their participation and hard work. My daughter couldn’t stop smiling about her ‘first medal’ and it helped reinforced her understanding of accomplishment as a result of her diligence. The recital was well-​organized with many thoughtful details such as the venue, a well-​tuned piano, teachers’ presence to support their students, staff support with getting the students in place, preparation of stage equipment for each student, monitoring the door to minimize disruption, welcoming introductions, time management of recital sessions (1.5 hours each session) for students and families’ convenience — all contributed to a positive experience for students and their families. We certainly look forward to the summer recital in June!
5) Exam opportunities–
My daughter is beginning her preparation for her first ABRSM (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) examination. It is an esteemed and internationally-​known exam delivering reliable assessments of students’ progress and performance that enhances students’ music education and development. My daughter is enthusiastic about dedicating her best effort towards the preparation of her exam.
With all the reasons above, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND OPUS 1!

I took beginner piano lessons with Marc at Opus 1 (first in Mountain View, most recently at this nice new Palo Alto location) for the last ten months.
I was a complete beginner, adult student.
I really enjoy this academy: Doris and the staff & instructors are all really nice & friendly, and my teacher Marc really loved music and was thinking about how to best meet my needs. For example on several occasions he brought pieces of music that he thought I would enjoy.
Also: the new Palo Alto facility is very nice, great location, fun buildout, nice equipment & studio rooms.
Highly recommend for parents and adult students alike!

Great new addition to their mountain view location. Friendly and professional staff and teachers. My first pick place to send kids after school, where they will actually enjoy spending their time… instead of stressing them out at SAT-​prep classes.

Great new music school in Palo Alto!!!
Piano, Guitar, Violin, Voice, Saxophone. Professional teachers in a Fun environment!