A-Major Local Music Stores Part II

Better late than never? Besides writing a column for this here tremendous website, I am a drummer, a dad, a housekeeper, a mechanic, a repair man, a carpenter, a problem solver, a source for rides from the police station, a friend, a tutor, a mentor, and a host of other titles. Not unlike many Americans today I am always looking for a way to accomplish all of my duties in the quickest way possible. Can I shave a few minutes here, a few there, and hopefully be able to fit one more errand into my schedule? That being said, I am hoping I can curb a burden or two for my friends, all of you! Here is the second part of my local music store review series. This one is on A-Major music in Gurnee. I took my first drum lessons at A-Major and remember them like they were yesterday. Joe Varjula was my instructor. Once again, small world come full circle; I took lessons from Sean at Music Source who was also a student of Joes’, and my son attends Salem Middle School in Wisconsin where Joe is the drum instructor. This is another relationship I have established through playing music that has become an important one. I have gone into A-Major for a few different items on different occasions and have always been greeted with a smile from the helpful staff. I have ordered specialty items like hard to find instructional books and sheet music and purchased drumheads and sticks. This is a very professional establishment. Now, to the time saving part of our lives: What can I find at A-Major? What do they have to offer someone like me, or like you? Here goes…(these questions were answered by the manager from A-Major)

1. What services are available? (Instrument repair, lessons, rentals, etc.)

We are a full line music store. We repair band and string instruments, drums, guitars, and amps. Our in-house band repairman has a bachelor’s degree in band repair and our string repairman works on the Milwaukee Symphony’s violins/violas/cellos (among others). We rent most band (WOODWINDS AND BRASS?) and string instruments (the major ones)(WHAT?) as well as guitars/basses with practice amps. We have lessons for most of the instruments we sell.

2. What products do you carry? (Guitars, drums, band instruments etc..)

We carry guitars, basses, amps, small P.A.s, drums, string instruments (violins/violas/cellos), and most band instruments as well as the accessories that go with each instrument. We also carry a wide variety of sheet music for all instruments and voice.

3. What brand names are your most popular, and how many manufacturers do you
retail?

For guitars/basses, we deal with Ibanez with the amps/P.A.s being by Crate. The drums we carry are Tama. We have been a dealer of these products for over 20 years. For strings, we carry Knilling instruments. Band instruments include LeBlanc (manufactured in Kenosha, WI), Besson, Buffet, and Keilwerth.



4. How many years have you been in business?

The current owners celebrated their 20th anniversary this past summer.

5. What type of lessons are available, and how long have your teachers taught there?

We have lessons for piano, guitar/bass, drums, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet/trombone, and violin/viola. All of our teachers carry at least a bachelor’s degree in music, with some even having a master’s degree in their chosen instrument. Some of our teachers have been with us for over 15 years.

6. What specials do you have on a regular basis for local musicians (if any)?

We run 30% off the list price of all guitars and amps. We also run 30% off drumheads if you buy 2 or more, as well as 30% off all boxes of reeds. We also have a special of buy 2 get a 3rd set free on our already discounted guitar strings. Cases for all instruments are sold at 20-30% off the list price. For music teachers, we offer discounts on sheet music.

7. What are your hours and days of operation?

A-major Music, Inc. ~ 3701-B Grand Avenue ~ Gurnee, IL 60031 ~ 847-623-8565
Monday 10-8, Tuesday 10-8, Wednesday 10-5 (but closed on Wednesdays in the summer), Thursday 10-8, Friday 10-6, Saturday 9:30-4, Closed on Sundays

8. What do you offer that patrons would have a hard time finding at another store?

We carry the most sheet music of anyone in the area. We also special order music twice a week (at no extra charge) and have the ability to download sheet music directly and legally from Hal Leonard, which is one of the biggest music publishers in the business.

There you have it. You have hopefully found one more source to purchase what you need. I hope this article will be of a benefit to you. Thanks again for traveling down this road with me. I will talk to you soon!