North County’s Premier Choice for
Music Lessons!


 

 

Most Recent Videos!

Why Choose Us?
16 Benefits of becoming a Leading Note student:

Check out what we do at Leading Note Studios now!

1. We offer music lessons on all instruments

Piano, Guitar, Drums, Voice, Bass, Mandolin, Ukulele, Trumpet, Sax, Flute, Cello, Violin and more!  We also teach theory and songwriting lessons.

2. Our services are top-notch.

We offer unlimited recitals, professional music photos, college application recording sessions, audition preparation and training, headshots, resume editing, full CD recordings, mixing and designing, and sometimes even music-related homework assistance. 

3. Leading Note Studios has the largest and most qualified teaching faculty in North San Diego County: 

We have 40+ music teachers with college training or professional performance experience.  Our music teachers are dedicated to learning about your musical goals and helping you achieve them. With several music teachers for every instrument, we are confident that we have the right teacher to meet your music lesson needs. Our credentialed teaching staff are personable, compassionate, and dedicated to our client's growth and learning styles. Our team will speak with you about your student's goals, musical interests, and learning styles to ensure a beautiful experience. All LNS teachers have passed thorough background checks. 

4. The broadest range of music lesson times available seven days a week!

From early in the morning to late at night, LNS can accommodate your busy schedule. NO set class times - YOU pick your best days and times:

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.           

Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.                            

Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sundays per appointment (Office closed)


5. Early morning and lunchtime lessons for homeschoolers, retirees, college students, and working professionals.

Since we are the largest school in North County San Diego, we can be a 'full service' music school. Since we are a full-service music studio this allows us to offer lessons as early as 8 a.m. and we see many students between the hours of 11 a.m.-2 p.m. If you are a home school parent, retiree, college student, or working professional who has a flexible schedule, take advantage of our early morning and lunchtime lesson spots.

We are part of almost every Charter School offered in San Diego County.

6. An excellent track record proven since 2009.

Visit our Testimonial Page to see what our clients are saying. Every year, aspiring music teachers start their studio; a year or two later, it’s closed. Leading Note Studios has been tested and affirmed, offering quality instruction in music in Encinitas, CA, year-round. Our primary mission is to teach music in a fun, safe, and educational environment to begin and enhance a student's love for music.  Over 5,000 families have trusted us since 2009.

7. We offer lesson plans and flex passes.

We specialize in 30, 45, 60-minute private, and semi-private music lessons for all ages including adults for whom we offer flex passes to help with your busy work schedule.

8. A Black Box Theatre!

In our San Marcos location, we have a new 60-seat theatre to host small events, and group classes like guitar, ukulele, voice, and musicals productions.

9. A delightful waiting lobby for our clients.

With over 2,700 square feet at either location, we have the most spacious and parent-friendly waiting areas. There is no waiting in a music retail store; our clients enjoy a spacious, professional parent's lounge with ample seating, a kids’ homework station with supplies, free Wi-Fi, and filtered water.  Each teaching room has a window through which parents may observe your child's lesson, or feel free to join the experience anytime you like.


10. Our office staff is available six days a week to serve you. 

Piano Lessons.jpeg

In Encinitas, our school offers full-time professional customer service for our students six days a week. Many music studio desks are staffed by the teacher/owner or more commonly an answering machine. We have several office staff who are available to aid our clients promptly and efficiently.

11.  We have TWO great locations.

Encinitas near Olivenhain and Rancho Santa Fe and diagonally across from San Marcos High School facing San Marcos Blvd. Due to the studios’ central locations, our schools are convenient to all areas of Encinitas, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, and many more neighbors.  Close to our school, you will find great shopping, dining, and grocery specialty stores like Trader Joe's and Sprouts, CVS, and Albertsons. Our locations are convenient, and we have many students from Rancho Santa Fe, San Dieguito Union, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, and  San Marcos school Districts.


12. Certificates, buttons, trophies, and award wristbands to Celebrate achievement.

We are one of the only music schools in North County that allows our students to earn unique color wristband bracelets (kids and teens love them!), trophies, AND certificates for passing musical tests. Do other schools offer awards and certificates? A few. But none of them inspire their students with smiling faces by giving them a cool "Musical Ladder" wristband that they can show off to their friends. The Musical Ladder is our unique method of music education that you can only get here. More importantly, when our students have a test, they practice more, their parents are proud, their teachers are satisfied, and everybody wins. You can only get the Musical Ladder here.


13.  A music school with an in-house recording studio.

LNS has an industry-recognized Recording Studio and offers engineering lessons with Pro Tools, Sibelius, Logic &  GarageBand. We also offer full recording and mixing sessions for large rock bands, vocal choirs, voice-overs, and college audition recordings with video.  AVID Certification Certified Location.

14. The most technologically advanced and fully stocked music lesson rooms in San Diego!

Our rooms have everything you need for music lessons, including amps, stereos, full drum kits with pads, keyboards, pianos, and more. All you need to bring is your instrument. We have spent thousands of dollars on our studio, offering soundproofing, observation windows, and security cameras.

Technology is also a big part of lessons at Leading Note Studios.  Currently, we are connecting every room with the recording studio so engineer students can record your student during a lesson! Free Recordings! Feel free to "Bring Your Device" to your lesson in addition to your instrument! No other school in San Diego offers this technology.

One of the things that has set up apart is our focus on providing fresh, new, and engaging lessons.  There are so many great teaching apps out there now that we felt we had to update our teaching rooms with iPads. By doing so, our students have never run the risk of being bored during their lessons.  It's a challenge to engage children or adults, but by integrating technology such as teaching apps from the iTunes store, GarageBand, ProTools, you name it, we're providing a cutting-edge lesson experience in the San Diego area.



15. FREE Picture Days are offered several times a year at recitals.

We are the only music school in Encinitas that offers a free picture day for their students. Every Summer and Winter we host a free picture day during recitals.  These photographs are a service that our student's parents love as they all want quality photos of their children. Adults are welcome too! Students can bring their instruments to the photo shoot and wear whatever they like.

16. We have Instrument Rentals Available.

We are able to offer instrument rentals for all instruments. You may order online and have it delivered directly to your home or come pick it up at our locations. You do not have to be a Leading Note Studios student to enjoy this convenience - but we would love it if you were part of our musical family!


If you are ready to start, you have nothing to lose as we only want students who truly want to be here and we will not commit you to a long-term contract.

It's easy to take the next step:

Lessons are first come, first serve
so contact us today to arrange your first lesson!

Proud supporter of Paddle for Troops Organization

 

National Music School of the Year 2021

 

Leading Note Studios has won more awards than any other music school in North County San Diego.

Students come from all over the Greater San Diego Area to learn at our two locations in Encinitas and San Marcos.

Best of Encinitas Place for Music Lessons

Best Place for
Music Lessons & Summer Camps

Global Business Award 2023


2023
Winner Best Music School and Recording Studio, San Diego County

2022
Winner Best in Business

Winner of 2020 Best of Encinitas Award for Continuing Musical Education

Winner of 2020 Best of Encinitas Award for Continuing Musical Education


 


ENCINITAS
760-753-7002 (call or text)
info@LeadingNoteStudios.com
2146 Encinitas Blvd, 105,  Encinitas, CA  92024
(Just North of Encinitas and Manchester Intersection)

SAN MARCOS
760-815-0307 (call or text)
info-sm@leadingnotestudios.com
760 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos, CA . 92078
(diagonally across from San Marcos High School in the CVS center)


Offering quality online and in studio guitar, voice, ukulele, mandolin, electric bass, trumpet, trombone, cello, harmonica, saxophone, violin, flute, clarinet, drum and piano lessons and more!  
Instrument Rentals Available too!

Serving students of all ages in Leucadia, Fairbanks Ranch, La Costa, La Costa Valley, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, San Elijo Hills, San Marcos, Escondido, Vista, Bressi Ranch, Olivenhain, Rancho Santa Fe and Carmel Valley and more.

Zoom and Facetime lessons available call for more information!  


Online lessons available call or text for more information!


 
 

Check out our Studio Gallery to view both of our locations in Encinitas and San Marcos!