02/26/2025
Bloomington's music scene is reckoning with the loss of our one remaining retail-centered music shop, Melody Music. They've been up against Sweetwater and Amazon, who, uh, don't have to pay rent at the mall in order to operate. A tale as old as the internet... No! A tale as old as Walmart!? Retail must be a hard road.
JSMS is very excited to be bringing a few of their music teachers into our ranks!! Keep an eye out to learn about their offerings in the coming days.
Jefferson St. Music Studio is restocking the Gear Stop; accessories such as Pro-Mark drum sticks, Real feel practice pads, Evans drum heads, D'Addario strings, etc. will be available in the coming days. With nowhere NEAR the selection previously available locally, ha!
Ardent Instruments continues to sell boutique used guitars and amps. They offer expert guitar setups, they work on amps, and they sell guitar accessories... and Dylan Maloney at Ardent continues to craft beautiful, custom, handmade acoustic guitars. Same building as Rainbow Bakery, 4th and Rogers.
I hear good things about the W**d Patch over in Nashville Indiana, they're another instrument retail shop just down the road.
I recall shopping for my first drumset when I was 12, back when Wilbur (who later started Melody) was working at Smith-Holden. He showed me a basic rock beat on some electronic drums, which I could beat on without bothering other customers. He kept an eye out for me over the years and I've always remembered that.
