Art Schools in California

Are you jonesin' to strum a guitar or beat a drum? Rockin' Robbie's is the place to get started. Formerly East Bay Music Co., Robin 'Robbie' Eig took over the 20 year-old establishment in 2010. The store specializes in exotic instruments such as hand-made percussions from around the world and offers rentals, repairs and lessons. Special performances are held at Cue Productions adjacent to the store, which can also be rented for performances, recording and other special events. There is a $10 minimum for credit card purchases in the store.

One of the last independently-owned music shops in the Bay Area, Music Works offers an extensive selection of ukeleles and sheet music, as well as guitars, strings, amps and accessories. Music Works is California's largest ukelele shop. The store also offers an extensive array of lessons and sound works, and will special order anything music-related that it doesn't carry in-store.

Montessori's teaching philosophy is that learning begins with the self and with understanding one's immediate environment in relation to the self. At the Montessori of Calabasas pre-school, learning is task-oriented, with open stations of self-correcting materials for various subjects in addition to traditional classroom instruction. The school places a priority on providing a nurturing environment where children feel safe to explore, and it starts admitting students from 6 weeks of age by placing them in an infant care program. For more information about Montessori of Calabasas, visit the school's website.

Santa Monica Music Center, located at 19^th Street, is one of the oldest surviving family-owned music businesses in the area. Offering a wide choice of music classes, it's a musical haven for kids with the performing bug. Private instrumental instruction, singing lessons and performing workshops are offered to young adults. All of the classes are taught in the studio by professional musicians. The store carries a large selection of sheet music, books, DVDs, instruments, keyboards, strings, amplifiers and accessories. There's a Rent-To-Own program allowing virtually all of the payments to go toward the purchase of the instrument. A reason for its long-term success is the warm, friendly atmosphere, combined with quality customer service and music teachers.

Kenny's Music Store is based in the picuresque ocean city of Dana Point. Voted #1 for Best Musical Instruments in the Best of OC HotList, Kenny's is a family-owned business with a full line of brand name guitars, accessories, band and orchestra instruments and much more. Music lessons are offered for guitar, piano, strings and woodwind instruments. Kenny's is also a full service music instrument repair shop dealing with everything from small repairs to complete restoration of old instruments. The store also provides instrument rentals and trade-ins. Definitely a musician's delight.