Play a Tune for Me

Story by Chris Chase
Photography by Devon Sinclaire

Research has shown that music has a strong impact on a child's ability to learn as well as a positive influence on the longevity of an adult's brain function. We are fortunate to have many options for music education in Southern Maryland. What follows is a brief description of some of the music store options in the region. For more information stop by them for a visit. You'll definitely feel welcome!

St. Mary's County

Harry Darby, co-owner with his wife, Kay, of Musically Yours in California, Maryland, suggests that beginners should start out practicing just five minutes a day. This will give them a sense of accomplishment without totally overwhelming them. The importance is practicing everyday for at least a little bit. When asked what a "good" age is to start a child in music education, Harry explained that a child needs to have the ability to focus and pay attention for 30 minutes, then he or she is ready to begin an instrument. Musically Yours has typically about 300 students per week coming into the six studios for lessons.

They focus on entry level musicians and education. They offer all band instruments for rent or purchase, electric pianos, drums, guitars, printed music, and PA systems (small ones up to church-sized systems). Instructors are available to teach piano, guitar, wind instruments, and orchestral strings.

Allegro Music Service in Hollywood, Maryland, specializes in its full service band repair service that provides regular pickup and delivery to schools and other music stores in five neighboring counties. Repairs are also available for guitars, strings, and electronics. Allegro Music Service is a full-line music store offering new and used instruments for sale and rent along with accessories. Lessons are available on most instruments and quality customer service is a trademark of the store.

Strings Music Center, also in California specializes in the electric guitar, but also offers band rentals, private lessons, sheet music (both instructional and contemporary), music accessories and can special order anything they do not currently carry.

Nambo's Guitar Emporium, recently relocated to the Wildewood Shopping Center, specializes in all fretted instruments. They have 3/4-sized guitars up to full-sized guitars and offer lessons beginning with children six years of age to adult. They carry selections of acoustic/ electric guitars, resonator guitars, dobros, electric, bass, acoustic and classical guitars. Owner, Nancy Baysinger, and her staff offer lessons in orchestral strings, guitar, and piano.

Charles County

Hot Licks Guitar Shop has recently expanded and now offers 9,000 square feet of retail space in the previous Frank's Nursery building on Old Washington Road in Waldorf. Hot Licks is a full-line music store offering everything but pianos. This year they will be celebrating their 20th year in operation. Hot Licks also carries PA systems and DJ gear. A "wall of guitars" is featured in the store as well as an acoustic room for acoustic guitars, banjos, and mandolins. They have a full drum department and Latin percussion instruments.

Paul McDermott, owner of Hot Licks, emphasized that music makes you smarter. That is why their seven studios were recently expanded to 13 studios where all band instruments are taught (instruments can be rented with the option to buy with no obligation). Over 700 students per week are educated now during all 12 months of the year. In Phase II of the planned remodeling for Hot Licks, 15 more studios will be added. Just being completed now is a performance stage in back of the store for recitals and artist demonstrations.

O'Neil's Music, in Waldorf on Festival Way, has been open since 1968. Third generation Melody O'Neil is running the shop while Billy O'Neil, his name synonymous with "NAPBIRT Certified Repair Technician," continues as the expert in the fixing of band instruments. O'Neil's is famous for their huge selection of music for all instruments as well as their extensive piano music. They are expanding more earnestly into the keyboard market. The most recent addition is a Korg electronic keyboard with 88 keys. As with other shops, O'Neil's rents band instruments to students from the surrounding areas.

Bullock's Piano Salon East is the area's only source of new and used pianos. The owner, J.R. "Byx" Bullock, proudly carries two American made pianos, Charles Walter and Baldwin. Byx began his business 37 years ago and at first had a shop in Charles and St. Mary's counties. He decided to concentrate on one store in the more centralized location of along Rt. 301 in White Plains. Byx has a degree in music and is also a professional musician. He is fully invested in his own band rental program to local children and rents about 400 instruments each year. Byx also sells pianos by consignment and continually searches for ways to put a potential customer together with the best piano at the most affordable price.

Turtle Hill Banjo Company-Hughesville is home to the largest banjo shop in the country according to owner David Schenkman. Turtle Hill specializes in banjos with the emphasis on professional instruments, although he does stock some mandolins, fiddles, and even a guitar or two. He often has people coming in from all over the country to visit his shop David buys, sells, and repairs banjos and teaches lessons.

Calvert County

Sacchetti Music Store offers school band instrument rentals, sales, and repairs and private lessons seven days a week. Manager Julia Avers says they do their best to fulfill the needs of all their customers. Sacchetti's sell a multitude of instruments including guitars and drums plus their accessories

Garrett Music Academy (GMA) in Owings is proud of the cozy, comfortable atmosphere of the store teaching close to 300 students in most instruments plus voice. They rent most band instruments as well as sell guitars and drums. Summer camps are offered each year. Its "Making the Band Camp" premiered this year for students to be assessed by their music skills, then grouped to work with instructors who in two weeks will make them into a real band with a concert performance for friends and family. There is also a "Musical Composition Camp" and a "Metal Guitar Camp."

After hearing all of these opportunities in Southern Maryland to gain additional musical education, it is definitely advantageous to visit your local shop and see what is available. You might just fall in love with a newfound passion of your own!