But if there’s one thing I learned during that time, it’s that support, a great environment, and nurturing courses will really take you to places. Real talk – talent is not enough – and a good music school is just a starting point.

With this in mind, our team visited multiple music schools, chatted with parents and students, and assessed facilities and tech to find the city’s best. Our list here will reveal which places made the cut. 

1. Maestro Music School

We recently enrolled our child at Maestro Music School, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision. Since its establishment in 2019, the school has grown into a well-known institution, highly supported by parents for its comprehensive music education.

Maestro Music School offers a wide variety of courses, including piano, violin, cello, drums, guitar, and string ensemble, which cater to students with different interests.

The teachers at Maestro Music School are exceptional. They have years of experience, a deep passion for music, and a genuine dedication to their students. We have seen firsthand how their expertise and enthusiasm inspire our child to love music even more.

What makes the school stand out is its approach to personalized learning. The teachers tailor their methods according to each student’s personality and learning style, making the experience both enjoyable and effective.

Maestro Music School also organizes student concerts and competitions every year. These events provide a great opportunity for students to showcase their progress and increase their confidence and excitement about music.

Overall, our experience with Maestro Music School has been outstanding. The combination of skilled teachers, a diverse range of courses, and a supportive learning environment makes it an excellent choice for any aspiring musician.

Service was great

“Service was great and the teachers are really professional. Strongly Recommend!” — Tony He

Teachers are very patient and responsible

“The teachers are very patient and responsible. I appreciated the educational philosophy of the school. It is more important for children to develop interest, not just how to learn a musical instrument. I am happy that my children are motivated by good teachers.” — Shirley Song

2. NZ Modern School of Music Auckland

NZ Modern School of Music Auckland impressed us with its quality music education, which is fun and focuses on practical skills. That’s why we see it as a great place for any student with a solid foundation in musical theory.

The school also provides ample performance opportunities, including prestigious Auckland competitions. We like how this gives the students a chance to have friendly contests and earn achievements as they go. 

On top of that, the place boasts solid musical equipment, from a Casio Casiotone CT-S200 to a Casio Celviano Digital Piano AP 710BK for keyboards. Both options are beginner-friendly, making them a great fit for young and new learners. 

Another significant advantage is flexibility in scheduling, as teachers can accommodate busy family schedules with customisable lesson times. In addition to extra evening and weekend classes, teachers also allow students to learn at their own pace.

The only downside is that the school has a limited number of instructors across all regions. The school is currently working on expanding its reach, but potential students have to book classes early to secure their prospective instructors. 

Patient and professional teachers

“Amazing tutors suited to your child and area. Professional, patient and caring with students. Our child has been with them for over 5years and she has won many awards for her music due to amazing tutor Reiko. Thank you for all the time and care you give to Maesha. Highly recommend their services.”

Phee Fab | Google Reviews

Accommodating teacher

“My daughter love learning piano with Anret. I can see the progress on my daughter’s piano skill and most importantly, she doesn’t ‘hate’ piano any more, instead, she is willing to practice piano by herself without my reminder. Really appreciate all the effort Anret put on the lessons.”

Xin Zhang | Google Reviews

3. Auckland Music Academy

Auckland Music Academy made the cut for its top-of-the-line facilities and equipment. Some of its instruments include top-of-the-line Solid State Logic and UAD preamps, Neumann microphones, and an AMS Neve mixer.

Additionally, their studios have diffusing and absorbing materials on the walls, ensuring balanced room acoustics. This feature is beneficial not only for learning but also for the recording and music production services they offer. 

Similar to other schools, AMA also offers a wide variety of programs targeted towards various instruments. But what stood out to us is their free trial lessons, which enable students to explore courses before committing to one. 

While AMA excels in many areas, some parents have raised concerns about unexpected fees after enrolling. We suggest only selecting their pre-compiled courses so you’re not met with hidden costs. 

Kind and responsible service

“After selecting the East area，AMA is the most rewarding drumming (music) school institution. The reciption service is very kind and responsible. The drum teacher helped my child not only improve his drum skills, but also explore his music knowledge. That is Very lucky!!!”

Yuri Chen | Google Reviews

Patient and professional teachers

“Great school for children to explore and learn about musical instruments. My son and my daughter are learning about drums and piano. The teachers are nice, patient，and professional. My children have improved the skills a lot. Thank you very much.”

Elon Huang | Google Reviews

4. Chiron Music Academy

One of the things we love about Chiron Music Academy is the experience and credentials of its instructors. 

Each of them has more than 7 years of experience and has won multiple music competitions. This experience is reflected in the education too, with students noting how hands-on they are with each lesson. 

Performance opportunities at the school are also comprehensive and, according to current students, very enjoyable. The regular recitals and concerts provide invaluable stage experience as they progress in each stage.

Apart from their regular courses, we particularly liked that they also offer weekend lessons, short-term programs, and extra lessons during the holidays. These options offer the flexibility that some schools don’t offer, making them ideal for busy adults too.

Despite these strengths, some parents did express concerns about responsiveness, noting delays in communication with class schedules. However, the issue only seems to arise during enrolment periods and the rest of the season is pretty much a breeze. 

Great school 

“This is a great school for your talents to come true there is also the same school in remuera called rma remuera music academy”

Crystal Xu | Google Review

The best

“Teachers are the best there!”

Arno Jullien | Google Reviews

5. Music Education Centre

The Music Education Centre stands out for its one-on-one teaching style, which enables it to dive deeply into each student’s individual music styles and needs. We see this approach as effective as the school primarily teaches kids and teens.

Their specialist lessons also help prepare students for internationally recognised music exams, including the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College.

With 40 years of experience, it’s not difficult to trust this school when it comes to expertise. And with 95 teachers, onsite lessons at 40 schools, and online learning courses as well, they pretty much tick all the boxes we’re looking for. 

What we didn’t like, though, is that their rates can be slightly expensive. Thankfully, they’re not too hefty (unless students are enrolled in comprehensive programs), and the education was a great value for money. 

Excellent and amazing teacher

“We have two young children learning different instruments with two excellent teachers and they are all amazing. We appreciate their hard work and dedication to our children . They always encourage my kids to learn music in a fun way. And the teachers are always so easy to communicate, happy to listen to the parents. By now, I’m 100% trust them.”

Kelly Gong | Google Reviews

Fun and interactive lessons

“My 5 year old started piano lessons and has really come a long way in her musical understanding. The lessons are fun and interactive, not just stuck in front of the piano the whole time. They tackle music theory in fun and easy to understand ways. The teacher is fun and kind. So glad we chose this place to learn.”

Rhiannon Morris | Google Reviews

6. Eliette’s Music Academy Grafton Campus

Eliette’s Music Academy offers many interesting courses and music events for students. Apart from the usual programs, they implement open mic night and end-of-year concerts where students can pretty much show their music skills. 

But what really won us over is the school’s inclusive nature. For instance, they have a Green Room course which was created for students who are suffering from anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. 

Besides this, they also have the Happy Harmonies Program, which is centred around students undergoing medical treatments and retired elderly who want to enjoy their retirement years through music.

They also have theatre courses, which we think is a nice mix for art-focused skills development. 

On the downside, it may be difficult to book a lesson in EMA. Thankfully, this doesn’t compromise the quality of their teaching as long as you book a course as soon as they open their enrollment season.

Committed and inspiring teachers

“We’ve started at EMA this year and it’s been a great experience. James loves his lessons with Edward.

I really enjoyed sitting in at the end last week. Edward is such a committed and inspiring teacher. James is lucky to learn from such a multi talented musician. He is being taught to play different styles and to improvise which is so beneficial to his musicianship. He is being extended and challenged.

Couldn’t be happier! I would recommend EMA to anyone looking for a music school.”

Melanie Lethborg | Google Reviews

Knowledgeable and passionate staff

“we love Eliette’s! They have always been wonderful with our kids, making music fun and interesting. All the staff are knowledgeable and passionate, creating a great learning environment.”

Simon Ravenscroft | Google Reviews