FAME Yamaha Music Center

My son started FAME when he was 5 years old. Ms. Gloria has a fun, unique way of teaching students in a group environment. She made it fun and inspiring — image that, learning music and having fun! Ms. Gloria has such an easy way to explain things to the group. She encourages student creativity by letting them improvise and create their own little pieces. She teaches more than just piano — singing, rhythm, and theory as they get older. Plus she talks about other artists pieces, both classical and modern (The Beatles, for example) and the patterns in their pieces. Gloria has made a lasting impression on my son so much that his major is Bachelor of Music (BM) at Sacramento State University. Even the music professor at Sacramento stated that my son has such a deep feeling for the music that you can see and feel when watching him play the piano. I truly believe that Ms. Gloria had a big part in that! I highly recommend her and her staff! Her center also offers are and guitar classes.

Both of my children go to Fame Yamaha Music Center. It is really a school of music and I can’t say enough how happy we are. My 5 year old just started and he is so excited to go to class. My 8 years old son started when he was 5 and he is still enjoying learning to play piano at the school.
Both Ms. Gloria and Ms. Barbara have a gift to teach children and a natural gift to teach piano and music. The Yamaha course is wonderful because it has beautiful and fun music for the children and develops as they grow in age and in their skills of learning and playing.
They learn, not only playing the piano but also rhythm, sing notes, and skills on how to sing.
Ms. Gloria is an amazing teacher and we are so lucky to have found a music school that is professional and child friendly, supporting the children to blossom and to develop a love for music.
The Center also has guitar classes and art (painting too)
Claudia F.

I have to disagree with the previous review of The Yamaha Music Center. My five year old has been attending the Beginners class for the past 6 months and we are very pleased with it. I don’t know if his child’s teacher was the same as my daughter’s but I have a feeling she is. Miss Gloria, as the students call her, is fabulous, in my opinion. It is obvious that she herself is very talented musically and she runs a very engaging, fun, and active class. It is true that she runs the class at a fast pace, but, as a teacher myself, I know that with this age group, one must keep them moving. She does a great combination of seated piano work and a more active ‘get-​up-​on-​your-​feet’ time, where the students put movements to lyrics of song or do Solfege. She is, in fact, very strict about discipline and behavior, but I appreciate this greatly because it maximizes the students’ learning and minimizes wasted time, eliminating the chance that kids will just be goofing around and, therefore, increasing the value of the class. She is in no way stern, though, as she is effusive with praise and encourages the students at every turn. At every lesson, students are rewarded with either two or three stickers (a universally loved reward, it seems, for any age) depending on how well they followed the day’s lesson. The bottom line is that the students enjoy the class, they are engaged, and they learn something. They also respect their teacher greatly and they follow her guidance intently. She encourages the students to practice (essential to musical training and a good discipline to establish) at home so that they can be even more prepared once they get to class.
Just a side note because I need to rant. Since when do teachers have to be liked? I’m in no way suggesting that Miss Gloria is unlikeable in any way, but, to me, why should it matter if she is? Teachers need to be respected, especially when they are teachers like Miss Gloria who have a lot of great knowledge to impart. Education is not about liking the teacher. Teaching shouldn’t be a popularity contest where teachers are judged by how entertaining they are. How spoiled and lazy our society has become when we expect this from our teachers. Education should be about gaining knowledge, discipline, and skills that last a lifetime. Accomplishing something like learning the piano will bring with it a reward much deeper than merely liking a teacher for a short period of time in your life. Forget about whether you like the teacher. Respect should grow from whether the teacher has something to teach and can do so, not whether or not she/​he is likeable.

I saw this posting and felt compelled to counter. My son has been a student at this Yamaha center for almost 4 years, and my daughter for over 1 year (ages 8 & 5). It is a fabulous learning environment — my children are have developed their ears and piano skills and are able to ‘hear’ the music as well as play… they play ensembles, sing solfege, and are generally jamming on the piano. Gloria is engaging, professional and fun for the kids. They are very clear about not having siblings in the class (for good reasons — if you do for one you must do for all — how would that work for the children who are there to learn??) If your 2^nd child is too young to be in the lobby (which you view right thru all the glass windows) then it is not the place for you. Many parents also do not want to participate in their children’s class — preferring to drop off with a piano teacher — but I have found it to be a gem for both my children and me! I am completely in tune with what is expected and how to help them at home when they practice… doesn’t matter if you are are a master pianist and think you can teach your kid — it is a huge bonus if if you are in tune with how THEY are learning and can engage WITH them. I love this place!!! And, I am in touch and know MANY families who feel the same way — with 2 – 3 children goingthru the program…