Opus11 School of Music

🎶 What a special evening for our Opus11 community! 🎶

This past Saturday, a group of Opus11 students and families attended Cambrian Symphony’s performance of Cityscapes at the Hammer Theatre.

For many of our students, this was more than just a concert—it was an opportunity to experience the power, energy, and inspiration of live orchestral music up close. For some, it was their very first symphony concert!

One of the highlights of the evening was meeting pianist Vijay Venkatesh after the performance. Our students had the opportunity to speak with him, take photos, and celebrate an unforgettable evening of music.

We were also touched by the warmth and generosity of the Cambrian Symphony community. Several of our students and families wrote personal notes to conductor Scott Krijnen expressing what the experience meant to them. One parent shared that this was her 7-year-old son’s very first live orchestra concert—an experience he will remember for years to come.

At Opus11, we believe that music education extends beyond the lesson room. Hearing great performances, connecting with professional musicians, and sharing these experiences as a community helps inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers. ❤️

A heartfelt thank you to Cambrian Symphony, Scott Krijnen, Vijay Venkatesh, and all of the incredible musicians who made this evening possible.

We can’t wait for the next Opus11 Community Night! 💙🎹🎻





Orchestra BayAreaMusic MusicCommunity InspiringYoungMusicians

🎶 We’re Hiring at Opus11 🎶

As our inclusive music community continues to grow, we’re looking for a special music educator to join our team.

At Opus11, we believe music can change lives. Every day, we help children of all abilities—including many neurodivergent students—build confidence, connection, creativity, and joy through music.

We’re looking for someone who:

🎶 Has experience working with neurodivergent children, or is eager to learn

💛 Believes every child deserves the opportunity to succeed

🤝 Wants to be part of a warm, supportive team

🌱 Is excited to grow as an educator while making a meaningful difference

✨ What we offer:

💰 Competitive pay

🏥 Health insurance options

📈 401(k) options

🎓 Training and mentorship

🤗 A caring, collaborative community

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 [email protected]

Help us continue creating a place where every student can discover their potential through music. 💛

🎸 Ryan and the Guitar That Started It All 🎸

Some recital performances tell a much bigger story.

Ryan recently performed at our recital alongside his teacher, and not long afterward, his guitar earned a permanent place of honor at home—displayed proudly beside his recital certificate. 💛

That’s what music education is really about. Not just learning notes and chords, but creating moments that become part of a family’s story. Building confidence. Creating memories. Finding something worth being proud of.

Congratulations, Ryan! We loved seeing you share your music, and we love seeing how much this journey means to you and your family. 🎶✨

Three years ago, when we opened our Rose Garden Opus11 location, Adrijo was the very first student to enroll 💛

Since then, he has become such a special part of our community.

Adrijo studies both piano and voice with us, is part of our KidzRock band, attends camps, and has performed in numerous Opus11 recitals over the years. Last week, he performed at his school’s talent show — and one of his teachers, Miss Natia, rearranged an entire day of lessons just to be there and support him.

And honestly… that moment says everything about what music education is truly about.

Yes, we teach piano lessons. Voice lessons. Performance skills.
But over time, something much deeper happens.

Teachers become mentors.
Students become part of our lives.
And music becomes a space where children feel safe, confident, supported, and deeply seen.

Performance is about so much more than playing the right notes.
It’s about courage. Connection. Joy. Growth.
It’s about having people in your corner who genuinely care.

Watching students grow up with us — year after year, recital after recital — is one of the most meaningful parts of Opus11.

And moments like this remind me that the relationships built here may matter even more than the music itself 💛

Still thinking about what a wonderful experience this past weekend was at the Pacific Stars International Piano Competition San Francisco Regional Round. 🎹✨

It was especially meaningful to reconnect with friends and colleagues through music again — one of my favorite parts of events like these!

And I absolutely loved seeing Matti Raekallio and Antonio Pompa-Baldi as part of the advisory committee. What an inspiring group of artists supporting the next generation of musicians. 🎶

Thank you so much to the Pacific Stars team, Rixiang Ricky Huang for the invitation and warm hospitality. Grateful to have been part of such a beautiful weekend celebrating young artists and the musical community. 💛

🎶 There are so many things about performing that we don’t always get to teach in lessons…

How musicians communicate with each other.
How they rehearse together.
How they feel confident and connected on stage.

That’s exactly why I’m so excited about this 💛

On May 3 at 1:30pm, I’ll be hosting a special (free!) workshop at Opus11 with my best friend of 25+ years, Solmaaz Adeli—an incredible mezzo-soprano and founder of Voice Academy SOL.

Together, we’ll be sharing what we love most about performing, and giving students practical tools they can actually use right away.

✨ Especially great for piano, voice, and chamber musicians (ages 11+)

👉 link to register in first comment

I would truly love to see many of our students there 💫

— Julie
Opus11 School of Music 🎶





❤️

🍀 Not sure which instrument your child should start with?

Let them try several in one fun class! 🎶

Our Instrument Petting Zoo is a playful, hands-on experience where kids explore different instruments in a relaxed, low-pressure environment.

🎹 Piano
🥁 Drums
🎸 Ukulele
🎤 Singing

Through musical games and guided exploration, children get to touch, play, and experiment while discovering what sparks their interest.

✨ Perfect for curious beginners!

📅 March 14
⏰ 3:30–4:30 PM
👧 Ages 5–8
📍 Opus11 School of Music — San Jose

🍀 Special price: $26 (in honor of 2026!)

🎟 Only a few spots available

👉 Reserve your child’s spot now — link in bio!

Bring a friend and come discover your instrument! 🎶

✨ A recent highlight from January 16th ✨

Earlier this month, I had the joy of performing alongside my dearest friend — a truly talented singer, an incredible human, and an amazing collaborator — .adeli Sharing the stage together never gets old, and this performance felt especially meaningful.

Through the outreach program, we spent the day with nearly 200 students talking about music, creativity, and performance — and offering a little behind-the-scenes insight into what it really means to make music together.

Watching the kids’ eyes light up — that curiosity, excitement, and pure joy — is the clearest reminder of why we do what we do. When music connects like that, you know you’re doing something right.

Grateful for opportunities that allow artists to inspire the next generation through music. 🎶✨





SteinwaySociety InspiringYoungMusicians

🎶 Instrument Petting Zoo magic! 🎶

Watching kids explore instruments is one of our favorite things ever 💕
In our recent Instrument Petting Zoo class, students got to try:

🥁 Drums
🎹 Piano
🎤 Singing
🎸 Ukulele

Just a little bit of each — in a relaxed, playful, low-pressure environment — and something magical happens ✨
Kids naturally gravitate toward the instrument that feels theirs.
You can see the curiosity, the excitement, and those “this one!” moments unfold in real time 🥰

Our 60-minute class is designed to be just enough exposure to help families discover a child’s interests and natural inclinations — without overwhelm.

🎵 Next Instrument Petting Zoo:
📅 February 7
⏰ 3–4 PM
👧🧒 Ages 5–8
📍 Opus11 School of Music, Rose Garden
💛 Limited spots available

👉 Register (link in first comment)
💬 Comment below with your child’s age or the instrument you think they’ll fall in love with!

Because finding your instrument should feel joyful 💖🎶




TryAllTheInstruments MusicForKids FindYourInstrument Ages5to8 PlayfulLearning