“Joanna Mack is a phenomenal sitar teacher that I found to be extremely encouraging and motivating as an instructor. She’s not only a great teacher, but also an amazing player. Her lessons don’t end at technique and repetition, she covers a good deal of the history and culture surrounding this amazing instrument. She went out of her way to help me choose a sitar when I first started playing which incredibly helpful. Although my schedule and location doesn’t leave me much room to continue lessons, I really value the time I had learning sitar with Joanna. I would absolutely recommend taking her lessons to anyone.”

-Brad Moore
Petaluma, CA

“Joanna combines her great passion for Indian Classical sitar with an encouraging teaching style to create a uniquely fun musical experience.”

-Rani Urbas

“I’ve been studying under Joanna for the last year and a half and I’ve had a great time. She has the technical skills and deep knowledge of the music that you would expect from a good teacher but she’s also very approachable and was willing to adapt her teaching style to fit my needs. She’s patient with me on my bad days or when I clearly haven’t practiced enough (which is most of the time) but at the same time she’s constantly pushing me to improve my playing and won’t take no for an answer when I think a passage is too difficult. I would highly recommend her to anyone interested in learning Indian classical music.”

-Sam Charles

“Joanna is an awesome musician, a fearless traveler, and a methodical and effective teacher. She is very helpful in translating the sometimes elusive concepts of Hindustani music to non-initiates. As a student of the Maihar gharana, she is an excellent guide to additional study at the Ali Akbar College of Music or as an independent teacher. She is friendly, creative, and patient.”

-Andrew Snyder
UC Berkeley
PhD student in ethnomusicology
andrewsnyder.net/music

“I am so happy to have found Joanna in the summer of 2010 when I first felt the desire to learn sitar. I had no prior musical experience or background, and Joanna has single-handedly & very patiently introduced me to the beautiful sounds, rhythms & techniques of this fascinating instrument. Joanna has always provided me with the most optimal level of challenge during learning, while ensuring that the joy of sitar music stays strong in my mind at all times. I’ve been introduced to many ragas (bilaval, kirwani, hansadhwani, bhairavi, shivranjani), beat progressions/ taals (teen taal, ektaal, rupak), various string manipulation techniques & have also learned to sing in tune. Sitar has really enriched my life, providing new appreciation and understanding of classical music, and given me a wonderful new learning challenge in life that constantly engages my attention, memory & sensory integration skills. I look forward to continue learning so much more from Joanna in the future.”

-Jyoti
Neuroscientist
Brain Plasticity Inc. | GazzaleyLab UCSF
gazzaleylab.ucsf.edu/Jyoti.html

“Joanna Mack is a wonderful teacher. I have been taking lessons for more than a year. She’s patient and kind; she also pushes me to do better and learn more! Joanna provides the right environment in which to learn. Her enthusiasm and reverence for Indian Classical music and the sitar is readily apparent. She demonstrates her skills as a musician and teacher handily. Studying this beautiful music has greatly enhanced my life and my musical perspective. It is a priceless experience. ”

-Ruth Parry

“Joanna Mack is an excellent teacher. Her technical and musical mastery of the sitar along with great teaching skills make for very productive lessons. She is extremely patient and enthusiastic about whatever she is teaching. The lessons always feel fresh and are tailored to exactly what is needed by the student. I will never forget the day that I started to study my first Raag, Yaman Kalyan, with Joanna — it was a thrilling moment that I will always remember! She is highly recommended!”

-Jason Stein

“A year learning in India was a good introduction to the playing the sitar, but my brief time under Joanna’s instruction has made me believe that I can make it a lifelong practice. She understands how to teach those who weren’t immersed in Indian Classical Music, and can relate to the humor of navigating/stumbling through this complex art form. Moreover, she clearly believes in her students and their ability to meet her challenges. There have been sessions in which I didn’t think I would be able to play a certain line or piece, only to surprise myself by following her encouragement and advice. I am thoroughly satisfied with my progress since taking lessons with her. Her teachings do not inspire hobbyist musicianship, but recognition of the student’s own role in carrying on a vast and vibrant tradition– one that she urges be kept alive.”

-Adam Brooks
Oakland, CA

“I have had the joy and pleasure of studying the sitar with Joanna Mack. Though trained in western music, I was pretty much a novice when it came to Indian classical music. Bhajans were sung in our meditation group, and I really wanted to learn more about this musical system. I found Joanna online and began lessons. I really appreciated her teaching style. Aside from being very knowledgeable and accomplished, Joanna is warm, friendly and nurturing. She provides an emotionally safe and comfortable atmosphere in which to grow and is helpful in every way. Many don’t give much thought to this; but when one is learning something from a completely different culture, everything, and I mean everything, is different. For anyone interested in learning the sitar, I couldn’t recommend anyone more than Joanna.

-Charlene Marchi
Piano Instruction
Martinez, CA
Email: martinezmuse@yahoo.com

“Meeting with Joanna is one of the greatest gifts I ever had in my stay in San Francisco. What I have been learning from her is not only about Sitar but also Indian Classic Music and philosophy of living Art. I still remember the first class when I had a lesson with Joanna and how she was intuitive and able to quickly understand my unique and subtle understanding of the subtle sounds that make music. The experience of learning Indian Classic music with Joanna has been very conductive to my focus in my masters program in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Expressive Art Therapy. This living art of playing the Sitar and attuning to the source of music is my heart song. Joanna creates a wonderful sense of community around her Sitar lessons and I feel so supported, welcomed and encouraged by all her students as well.”

-Maki Mitsuya MA, MFTI
www.earthcirclescenter.com/therapists.html#Mitsuya

“I studied sitar with Joanna for one year when I lived in the Bay Area. I was in my late twenties and had no prior experience playing any musical instrument. Joanna put me at ease when I first met her and explained that music could be learnt at any age if one practised diligently. I had a wonderful time learning with Joanna. She is an excellent teacher and she makes sure that students maintain a pace they feel comfortable with.”

-Chinmay

“I have had an overwhelming positive experience with Joanna as a teacher. She is very skilled, knowledgeable, and very warm and supportive. I enthusiastically recommend anyone interested in learning both the theory and practical elements of the sitar work with Joanna.”

-Joshua Kagan

“I have been studying Sitar for almost ten years. In that time I have studied with many teachers, both in India and in the U.S. But of them all Joanna Mack is the best!!! She has taught me the fundamentals of Sitar technique and theory. She has also taught me about Rag and Improvisation. Her lessons have included valuable information about Sitar maintenance as well. She is an extremely accommodating teacher – often traveling very far to give lessons. What I think is the best thing about studying Sitar with Joanna is how open she is. She is open to answering any question I can think of and she is open to approaching any Sitar related topics or issues. She has a wealth of information and experience to draw from. Of all the Sitar teachers I have worked with Joanna Mack is honestly the best. I would recommend her to students at any level. Thank You so much Joanna!!”

-Matt Walker