Breakfast with Enzo

The brief selling points of Breakfast with Enzo are: children LOVE it, great music, a good variety of instruments including many weird wonderful things that your child won’t hear elsewhere, the price, the fact you can drop in and it is held on a number of different days in different locations.
My three year old and 14 month old both love Breakfast with Enzo. In fact, the 3 year old loves his music so much it’s almost all we get to listen to and he requested that he play at his birthday party (which was a great success). Enzo is a great musician, plays a variety of different instruments and styles of music and has plenty of ways for the children to get involved/​interact with him/​the music (eggs, bells, scarves, hand actions, dancing, calling their names out during songs, counting etc).
Yes, Enzo can occasionally be a little brusque with adults but the boundaries he asks people to observe are no different to those expected in Music Together Classes (ie the children shouldn’t touch the instruments except when invited to and under supervision and no chatting during songs). He is good at judging whether the children are outgoing, shy, sensitive and he respects their personalities. He was super sweet with my sensitive three year old when he got knocked over by dancing kids during a performance and again when we worked out he was terrified by a song about sharks.
For two children I currently pay $ 25, Music Together costs approximately $ 40 for two similarly aged children and Music for Aardvarks would cost $ 33. In addition, at those classes I would have to commit upfront for a term whereas Enzo is paid on a drop in basis.

Breakfast with Enzo is a mixed bag– while his music was great and my daughter (9 months old at the time of our visit) really loved the music and watching the other kids, Enzo’s attitude and heavy hand was very off putting to me. I leaned over and asked my other mommy friend for a Kleenex and then a wet wipe during the performance and was chastised by Enzo for «talking»… Also afterwards he asked if we had paid (which we had) and given a look like we were stealing or something. I think the fee is a little high and I will happily go to a different music class where I don’t feel like I walking on egg shells to appease the performer. Maybe I am just too sensitive but for a kids activity he just seemed to be pretty strict.

We lived in San Francisco for 4 years and started going to Enzo’s shows soon after my son was born. Both he and my daughter, who came a year later, loved Enzo and his music. I think the boundaries Enzo sets for kids and adults alike are great for establishing trust and respect. My kids loved Enzo, but also grew to know what behavior was not suitable during performances.
Most importantly, the music is original and authentic and varied. We still listen to our Enzo CDs months after we have left the country and even our 2-​year-​old knows Enzo’s music as soon as she hears it. Thanks Enzo!

The best music activity for kids in San Francisco. Our three year old and one year LOVE him. The music is great and not too childish. Enzo is a great creative. Our son was quite afraid in the first classes and with Enzo patience he got over it and is a big fan.
Lots of humor and fun for the adults as well. We love Enzo’ CD tool!

Breakfast with Enzo is fun!

Love, love, love it AND that you don’t have to commit to anything. As for the negative Nancys out there, I would get a wee bit testy here and there if I dealt with toddlers and their cray cray parents day in and out. He’s always great with the kids, concerned about their safety, and my daughter has so much fun! The music is excellent and enjoyable for the parents, too! Two hours of Enzo equals a two hour nap.

I have to agree that Enzo’s music is lovely but his attitude toward parents and children still just isn’t. We’ve seen him a few times and it really is just too stressful for me, how on edge he is. Try it for yourself but I’ve found that for $ 12, I’d rather buy a nice pastry and coffee, sit in a park, and let my kid be a kid. Perhaps music appreciation will come naturally later. One day I decided I’d rather not parent in this city if this is what it takes. Just not fun.

My son and I are very happy to have found Enzo’s music class! We were killing time in the Mission admiring a fire truck when a lady shared with us that there is a music show for children nearby. So we checked it out and have been back several times.
Enzo is super talented and both kids and adults enjoy his music sets. It is also very affordable ($ 6 per person). Music Together is like $ 20 for 30 Min and I personally think my son gets more out of Enzo’s music. Just my opinion!

Enzo is an extremely talented musician and performer. Both my children look forward to Enzo’s music sets every week. With the variety of instruments, songs and other materials, he keeps the kids engaged and the parents enjoying the variety. He may not pander or put on a super sweet demeanor – he’s the real deal, and we respect him all the more for it. Enzo is a gifted musician that has had a hugely positive impact on my children’s lives.

My daughter and I have been twice to breakfast with Enzo. We really enjoy it. There’s such a wonderful variety of instruments, he moves around and interacts with the kids, and at various times in the performance provides shakers, bells and scarves for the kids to join in with.
The negative reviews are «true» in the sense that:
— he tries to help out with pointers on how your child might better experience the music
— he respects children and their ability to choose for themselves — he’ll happily shake hands and high five with volunteers, but discourages parents from holding them up for it. Fine by me.
— yes he doesn’t want children to touch the instruments. Some of them are dangerous for little ones, or expensive, or both. Some of them he even made himself. So I’m fine with the no touching. He was quite polite about it the first time we visited and my daughter touched his accordion (sorry about that Enzo! Maybe put up a sign for us?).
So yes, if any of that bothers you, don’t go. But good luck finding a musical performance with that much variety and fun for kids, for such a great price, anywhere else.

Enzo is entertaining with some good music. I feel he has no patience with young children. God forbid your child goes anywhere near his equipment and whatever you do not talk in his music class he will chastise you like a naughty toddler. I for one will not be going back to Enzo and will happily spend $ 10 on a more pleasent music class.

Our family can’t get enough of Enzo. Last night myy two year old asked if Enzo could come over for dinner. I wake up my 12 month old early from his nap so he doesn’t miss Enzo’s set. And we listen to Enzo’s CD’s at home, in the car, day and night.
Enzo is extraordinarily talented and easy for parents to enjoy. His songs are clever, and his set full of variety. SO many instruments, many of which I had never before seen/​heard. He engages the kids. We can’t get enough!

I have taken my 2 young children to Enzo’s show more than 50 times over the past few years. And we all LOVE him! He is an incredibly talented musician, he is interactive, he plays unique instruments, he takes audience requests and he loves what he does. His show is very reasonably priced and you can stay for two hours.
I am surprised by some negative remarks on Unilocal.Enzo has to set rules, not all parents are as respectful as they should be and he has a right to ask them to be quiet so others can hear the music. Also, he does have to ask the kids to stay away from the equipment, it’s called electricity and it can hurt your kid. Besides, all music teachers set rules, we’ve been to Blue Bears and Music Together and they set rules too.
My children ask to go back all the time and it’s something we look forward to. He plays all over the Bay Area, do check him out!

Yay Enzo! I’ve taken my 3 year-​old daughter to a few dozen performances at both Sports Basement and Bernal Community Center, since she was about 18 months old, and we have never been disappointed.
Enzo is a gifted musician, arranger and composer. He plays some original music and many unique renditions of traditional and classic songs especially appropriate for kids. The result is music that kids love and parents can listen to repeatedly without being driven to want to pierce their own eardrums. More importantly, the arrangements are generally more interesting and often subtle than 99% of «kids’ music» out there. I’d expect that this cultivates a more sophisticated interest and understanding of music than listening only to The Wiggles and their ilk.
His performances are always fun, too. He has a friendly and understated demeanor to which kids seem to respond quite well. He definitely performs for the children, but often relays quick stories or dry one liners that are clearly intended for the adults in attendance.
The performances are usually laid back, with a tolerance for wandering and babbling toddlers. This makes for one of few realistic performance options if one’s kid is really small or in a particularly unfocused phase. Enzo does have expectations that the adults keep some control over their children and themselves during the performances, and will often remind the audience of this fact. He will sometimes address certain actions (texting during show, for example), but I’ve never seen him single out a particular person. Similarly, I’ve seen him very gently block a child from grabbing one of his instruments while singing and playing, but never unkindly or with a reprimand. He has reasonably asked that a oblivious parent ensure their toddler not grab and possibly break his expensive instruments and/​or injure him/​herself.
The fact that he does this at all seems to have thrown off some reviewers, but it’s important to realize that his requests regard safety and providing as enjoyable and enriching experience for kids as possible. When he asks parents to participate in the music or to refrain from texting, it’s about modeling engagement for the kids rather than his own performer vanity. He’s trying to make it a better experience for your kids and my kid, and isn’t so concerned that he might appear «grouchy» while doing so. I have a lot of respect for that.

My son, Jake, and I went to Enzo pretty much every Friday for 18 months until he started preschool. I even hired Enzo to play at my son’s 3^rd birthday party (which was phenomenal and extremely reasonable by the way).
Let’s get the obvious out of the way — Enzo’s music is great. He’s an extremely talented musician. Most of his stuff is original (or adapted) and thoroughly enjoyable. My son, almost 3 years later, still sings about sawing logs and two little bunnies. Enzo left an indelible mark in the best way possible.
Now onto some of the comments reviewers have made about his personality. If you’re looking for an over-​the-​top, in-​your-​face, saccharin sweet kind of performer, Enzo’s not your guy. He’s chill and he’s authentic. What I love most is that he lets the music do the talking. For my son, that couldn’t have been more perfect. We went to three other music classes where the teacher was trying so hard that my son nearly made skid marks looking for the exit.
Perhaps he’s misunderstood by the reviewers who make these comments. He doesn’t do what he does, week after week, for the adults. He does it passionately for the kids. He’s aware that music lives in each child and it’s not up to us (meaning parents, caregiver, or even Enzo) to help them find it. They don’t need us to teach them the words, be overly enthusiastic (unless of course we truly are), clap their hands for them, or bounce them up and down. Enzo just plays his wonderful songs and they find their own rhythm, on their own terms.

I recently took my 13 month old daughter to Enzo’s at the sports Basement. We entered a jam packed room and our hopes were high… and then Enzo brought out his hand held and started reading his scripted speech from it LOL! During his rather patronizing speech he proceeded to tell us how me must not have our children clap etc; that it should come naturally blah blah blah Please Mr. Enzo stick to your music and let the parents do the parenting! Throughout the session he continued to call out on moms who’s kids were just being kids and were merely inquisitive and walking around by themselves exploring or maybe touching his instruments in a harmless, inquisitive way. I dont know, his whole approach was really off; almost like he was putting up with the kids and just couldn’t wait till the session was over.
He did play some very good music. Unfortunately, he killed the whole experience with to his patronizing approach. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I have been to way more fun music sessions elsewhere.

I have been to see Enzo several times with my now five-​month old. It is indeed great to be able to drop in to this music show. There is not actually any food or breakfast, but Enzo is quite a good musician and has some very good songs in his line-​up. The show seems a little hit-​or-​miss. I’ve been to some excellent shows — and also to some that were really kind of lackluster.
The biggest negative is that Enzo can sometimes be a bit of a grump. I was rather turned off about a month ago when I went to class and Enzo spent most of the time chastising some moms for talking too much. I am all for respecting the performer. He seemed to come down on these ladies kind of unusually hard though. He also got particularly ticked off at a child who wanted to touch one of his instruments.
I went back last week and was having a nice time. At the end of the show, Enzo invited the kids up to give him a high five. A bunch of little ones walked up to him for their high five. I thought this was really sweet and fun. As I was sitting near the front, I stood up so that my little daughter could get a little high five too. Enzo refused the high five and told me, «Volunteers Only.» Didn’t I feel like an idiot! I get that he doesn’t want every mom bringing their baby up. I was right there in front of him though and didn’t think it would be that big a deal — especially as it was the end of the show and most people had already left.

Parents and children will LOVE ENZO. Original music and very talented musician who plays the banjo, guitar, accordion, enzotar, jaw harp, saw and more!
THe best music in the city and the best deal in the city so PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO PAY HIM, as he says politely in a creative song, this show is not federally funded. He is worth every cent and more! I always pay more than the suggested donation as we need to keep treasures like Enzo going if we want to be able to enjoy him. We love breakfast with Enzo at sports basement so much that my son plays his hand made enzotar at home and emulates Enzo playing daily. Can’t wait to hire him for my sons third bithday party! Thanks Enzo, we love your original smart woodie Guthrie esc music. See you Friday!

When my kids were small, we went to Enzo almost every week. It was a great way to see friends in the neighborhood, and they were delighted to run up and shake his hand at the beginning and end of the show. We have a lot of favorite songs from these days that we STILL sing. It’s sort of like a kid rave some mornings.
The best thing about Enzo is that he’s not your typical kid-​performer. He doesn’t manufacture fakey energy or kiss up to the kids by being ersatz-​goofy. This could possibly come across as lethargy to people who are used to Barney-​style energy at kids’ performances. Basically, he is an amazing musician and, by the way, he performs for kids; this means that the adults can marvel at his technique and range while the kids are enjoying the music.

Enzo’s performance is so engaging for the kids and the parents. His show is something all parents should their little one’s to see.
He also has shows at the Crissy Field Sports Basement on Friday’s and Mill Valley on Sunday’s.