Came in for some feedback/guidance on brand new acoustic guitar that was buzzing. Daniel was…read morethorough in his assessment and recommended that I send the guitar back to Sweetwater for a replacement and/or a Plek service, which I'm now doing. He advised to push back on Sweetwater to discount the Plek, which I did, and they're waving the costly fee entirely. I also brought by an old guitar that a different Luthier told me needed a neck reset (for $650). After assessing, Daniel noted that a neck reset wasn't necessary and a tune-up would correct some of the minor issues, which I'll get done in the coming months. I'm fairly inexperienced with guitars and honest, knowledgeable guidance from an experienced Luthier like Daniel is greatly appreciated. I'm confident that he'll do a great job when I bring my guitar back soon.

Amazing luthier and musical tech! I was severely let down by others but this place is by far the…read morebest place to get your instrument set up. He is extremely knowledgeable and skilled. I will never trust anyone else again. He has a nice little shop where you can order gear, customize equipment and get great advice from someone with great hands, eyes and ears! Truly an exceptional find in the area. Worth driving to and avoiding the chain stores for a personal touch! Surprisingly competitive priced with the chain stores too! This place is awesome!

M was brave to take me on as a student, because I studied piano for a couple years in high school…read moreand developed lots of bad habits! She was so patient and kind to me. In particular, I was never very good with rhythm, and I told M this. She was very creative on the fly, and she developed a lesson especially tailored to me. She picked a few pieces of music, reviewed the time signatures, and then helped me practice my counting while I bumbled through the notes. At one point I couldn't get the notes right, so she played the notes while I counted until I was ready to try again. She also wrote out some rhythm exercises on the spot for me to practice -- very impressive! If I had any criticism, it was that M was determined to make sure I had a good lesson, and so it left me wanting to please her as a student. She wouldn't accept my own pessimism! Maybe that's not such a criticism after all...

Marianne is a wonderful piano teacher! She meets you where you are at in terms of music theory and…read morepiano skills and helps you create manageable goals for practicing and improving.

Ryan was highly recommended to me by the local Guitar Center, which was between guitar techs…read more He answered my questions and even told me what I'd done wrong in my amateur soldering job. He fixed it quickly. I, too, highly recommend him.

Friendly efficient staff, decent violin I needed to rent at a reasonable rate for a couple of…read moremonths.

Middle C Music is a convenient place for most musical needs, with a focus on students. A wide range…read moreof sheet music is available. There are studios for lessons and a helpful staff. Lots of instruments and some setups where you can explore different instruments and effects.

This story starts off in guitar center. Went in to purchase a $1K+ drum kit. They had it in stock…read more They would NOT take it off the shelf for me to play. I told them I didn't actually need to play the assembled kit but absolutely needed to hear WTF it sounds like so was only asking to take it off the shelf for me to strike each drum a few times. They refused and told me to go to YouTube to hear it! While it was right TF in front of me. Went to Chuck's, found a similar set but it was $300 more expensive than I wanted to spend. The guy at the drum counter assembled it in the middle of the store drum area and even brought out additional cymbals that they had to get from storage for me to try. Purchased it on the spot. All these terrible reviews on here but... It's either here or Guitar Center so pick your poison. Zero other options in the area. And they have the best guitar tech in Maryland. Have taken 4-5 guitars to him over the years and received perfect service. One bizarre thing- there is no need for 3 security guards. Does this place get jumped all the time? Might as well just hire a cop.

I bought an item with Free Shipping. It did not work out and I returned the item, brand new, never…read moreused. I paid to send it back. I looked at my band statement and saw over $35 was deducted from the total. I was told that shipping was deducted from my refund. I really do not understand this. The company advertises free shipping...but if you have to return the item, then all of a sudden the shipping is not free? I paid $156 for the item and was penalized another $19 because I returned it. Maybe I am being unreasonable but I think this is not right. Either shipping is free or it isn't. Don't say one thing and then do another.

Potter Violins is the best string shop in the country!! They are very knowledgeable on their fleet…read moreof fine instruments and provide excellent service.

This is purely for customer service since I'm still looking for my unicorn viola bow. I want to…read moregive a shout out to Yan who helped me test several bows. He was super friendly, knowledgeable, and most importantly patient as he took the time to help me try out bows in several price ranges. I now have a better sense of what I'm looking for as my search continues. I'll definitely be checking in with them periodically to see if and when they get new inventory. Thank you, Yan!

Ellen Paul did an excellent re-hair of my name-brand violin bow. She was recommended to me by a…read moreprofessional cellist in the DC area. On the phone, Ellen was careful to explain her Covid-19 protocol. When we met the next day outside her home shop, she examined my bow for any repairs needed to the stick, frog, pad, winding and tip and gave me her fee in advance. Her fees are fair and in-line with other bow-repair professionals in the metropolitan area. The completed job, ready the next morning, was beautiful. The new hair was thick and even. The stick had been polished and the tension screw oiled. Already primed with a dusting of rosin, my bow only needed a few good strokes of cake rosin to pull a beautiful sound from my violin. I will definitely return and will recommend Ellen Paul to my violinist friends.

Wow. My husband played saxophone growing up, but while he's been away at college (and in non-music…read morefriendly apartment buildings) his mother let someone else borrow his saxophone. When the student decided he was no longer interested in saxophone he returned it, but it was no longer in playable condition. We set out to find some place that could repair the instrument, which after recommendations from friends lead us to the House of Musical Traditions. The staff was super helpful. They took good care of the instrument and looked over the issues. They told us that it would have to be shipped out for repairs, but that it should be back in about a week or two. They quoted us a repair price - and it actually came back under that quote. The instrument works as good as new! Plus my husband was able to pick up some extra reeds, wax and music to play. I checked out the other area of the shop and was telling my husband that I use to play the tin whistle (an Irish instrument) and was very good - I even played it at graduation in high school. I'm currently in school, otherwise I would have walked out with another one and a bunch of music. I will be back when I graduate in 4 years for sure for my own instrument, but in the meantime lots of visits for reeds and music for him.

Great service from across the country. They were very helpful with my purchase of an autoharp and…read moreshipping it out to California. They answered all my questions and were very friendly. I just wish I could be there in person to browse what else they have in stock!

Amazing vocal coach. I started as an absolute beginner and I am amazed at what my voice has becomeread more

Lindsey has worked with my now 28 year old son for the last 11 years and all I can say is that she…read moreis a miracle worker!!! While he was quite musical in a number of areas, he would often sing some of the notes of a song "a little sharp and curiously 'nasal'." With asperations of auditioning for musical theater productions, these were serious issues to be rectified. It is beyond my comprehension how Lindsey was able to train Ari's ear to sing completely "on pitch" and alleviate the less than musically attractive nasal tone. Eleven years later, my son has his own band and is highly regarded by his bandmates for the wonderful quality of his voice, as lead singer. And what about the nasal tone? I am no longer aware of it, in spite of his spring allergies!!! Lindsey is an incredibly perceptive and "person-centered" voice teacher. She takes the time to get to know her students and is sensitive to whether they're having a good or a bad day, as their current mood affects their singing. As an awarded, professional opera singer, Lindsey has all the tools, experience and compassion to help a voice student of any age, to meet his, her or their musical goals!