My son has been taking guitar lessons with Art at the Music School of Universal City for several months and the difference in his skill level and confidence in playing is obvious. Our schedule can be hectic at times and Art has always been willing to flex and reschedule our lesson, even on short notice, which is greatly appreciated. Highly recommend! You wont find a more experienced and skilled guitar teacher, especially for a budding rocker! :)

I began taking music lessons with Art Villarreal when I was 10 years old (in 1997! Where did the time go?). I had no idea that when I walked into his studio with my Fender acoustic guitar bought at a thrift store that I was meeting one of the greatest teachers I would ever know in my lifetime.I am a lifelong student of music because of Art. His pedagogical methods are extremely strong. His methodologies are a mixture of discipline and discovery, employing classical techniques suffused with creativity and vitality. He is a giant in his field, but I never felt small or insignificant when I learned with him. He is the kind of person that genuinely wants to see his students flourish and knows how to guide students towards their personal goals.Art is an exceptional teacher and he exemplifies the heart of music education. He is a dedicated musician on every level. He is a technician as well as an artist. He is an expert in every sense of the word. Graced with talent, he is also graced with a heart that is full of kindness and he genuinely loves teaching, which comes through in every lesson. Never once, in over a decade of taking classes with him, did I ever feel that he wasn’t 110% engaged and invested in my education as a student.When choosing a music teacher it is important not only to look for qualifications, but to know about things which aren’t easy to quantify on paper. Art’s talents as a teacher extend beyond the delivery of material. He is a mentor to each and every student that crosses his path. My favorite part of adolescence was Friday afternoon after school because I knew I had guitar lessons to look forward to. I was always excited to go to class— not just because I loved playing the guitar, but I loved seeing my favorite teacher. He taught me the importance of practice and self-discipline, how to remain humble and thirsty for knowledge, and how to be resilient in the face of struggle.I have never known anyone in my life that is more dedicated to his students— at every age, at every place in life, at every level of ability— than Art. His passion for music is genuine, as his passion for education.When you work with Art there is no ego, despite his qualifications and experience. When you study with him you have access to decades of his expertise not only in playing music but as a member of the music industry.As I grew up and became an adult I continued to work with Art. He is the rare example of someone who can teach both children and adults, and can adjust his methodologies effortlessly to match his student’s abilities, interests, and curiosities.I don’t recommend Art for those reasons alone— I want to bring up something more significant. Art has been a part of my life for a quarter of a century at this point. He taught me to love music and how to play it, a skill that lasts a lifetime— but he also taught me how to never stop growing, to never give up on myself, how to smile in the face of adversity, how to see the sun on my darkest day.He taught me skills that weren’t just applicable to music, but to my entire life. He is truly, truly, one of the greats. His lessons last a lifetime and are infused with value that extends beyond dollars and cents— Art changes lives for the better. He is the greatest educator I have ever known.

Art is a phenomenal instructor. He is patient and thorough and my kids have learned so much. There isnt anything he cant teach; he has an extensive catalogue of music and he has helped my children master acoustic and bass guitars. We highly recommend Art.

We have had several instructors for our son, but none have compared to the education he receives at The Music School of UC. Art comments so well with our teenager. Asks him what his interests are and makes the learning fun and meaningful. Highly recommend.

Very patient with my son who is special needs, very accommodating when needed

I have been coming here for guitar lessons for about 2 1/2 years. Honestly, I love the lessons so much that they are one of the highlights of my week. I get my lessons from Art, and, like I said, they are absolutely wonderful. Art allows you to play whatever music you like, and teaches songs in a way that is educational and fun. When learning to play a song that you pick out, you not only learn the song, but you also subtly learn music theory that you can apply to other songs, and it is certainly not boring. Seriously, if you need music lessons, then this is the place to come.

Art might be good but the piano teacher sits on his phone and says your playing the right note when your not

My 9 year old son has been taking lessons with Art for a couple of years. I am truly impressed with how much he has learned from him. I love Arts relaxed teaching style with my son. There is no pressure or stress, which has encouraged him to learn a lot and grow as a guitarist. The music they play together in the lessons, is very cool and it definitely keeps my son interested and excited about guitar!Art is also a very trustworthy person. I have three kiddos, so it is very nice to be able to drop my son off, and let him run in for his lesson, while I wait in the car. Art is accommodating to us, and I can say that in the 2 years we have taken guitar from him, he has NEVER canceled a lesson! My family absolutely loves him, we have recommended him to friends and I highly recommend him to you!

As an adult I was intimidated at the possibility of starting lessons. Now, after over a year of lessons Art has me playing actual music! And that was no easy task, his patience and knowledge is second to none! I have also yet to stump him on a song, his repertoire is amazing, blues, jazz, country, metal, etc. I cant say enough great things about him and my experiences in learning guitar!

Art is a great instructor.

Excellent instruction