I had 4 vintage guitars from my long ago playing days and I wanted to secure a future for them as…read morethey were in decent shape had sentimental value. The staff at Empire Guitars was friendly and professional and provided me with an honest assessment of their condition and value. Thanks to everyone! Mark H.

I brought in my guitar, I've been playing for about a week or two so I obviously don't know much,…read morethey took a look at my guitar and helped me fix it and are just super informative and helpful I also bought some strings and a tuner while I was there and their employees are so amazing and super friendly and it was an amazing experience in general! They also have an amazing selection of guitars, pedals, etc. I definitely will be coming back next time I need something.

We love Johnny! He's an awesome piano teacher who adapts to kids' interest and really sparks their…read moreexcitement in learning all aspects of playing--not just reading music (though that too), but working on rhythm, learning to sing and play and the same time, and having lots of fun in the process! His teaching results in great progress on the piano while also building confidence and letting kids have fun while they learn.

From the owner: Hello! My name is John Mulhern and I am a piano teacher to kids and adults in the Providence, RI…read more I enjoy sharing my knowledge of music and being a positive influence on people's lives. One of my specialties is catering to a students musical interest's. I try to avoid being boring or too strict. Music should be fun and feel good to create! Each year there is an annual recital for all to perform. Style wise I teach, classical, blues, jazz, improvisation, broadway, reggae, funk, classic rock, songwriting, etc...Check out www.youtube.com/lessonswithmrjohn to see and hear what some students are playing.

What a wonderful experience we had at Avery Piano this week. We needed to get our piano repaired…read moreand the staff did a great job in fixing the piano at a very reasonable price. Molly and the staff were so accommodating and were such a pleasure to work with.....we HIGHLY RECOMMEND using AVERY PIANO for all your Piano needs!

My piano had settled (poorly) after the big move & was shockingly out of tune. Also, two sticky…read morekeys! It was time to schedule a piano tuning. I chatted on the phone with Elena to schedule a time for one of their tuners to come by my apartment. She was very helpful & pleasant, finding a time that worked for both of us. She followed up twice before the appointment - once to confirm, & another time to clarify on the parking situation after the big snow storm. Mike, the tuner, arrived exactly on time. He saw my spinet piano & let out a big sigh, informing me that this may be more difficult than we anticipated. We discussed my goals - I was hoping to return to standard tuning. He got to work on my stubborn, old piano, doing his very best to gentle tweak it back to normal. He did a wonderful job, considering the state of my piano. He honestly reported to me that he couldn't get to fine-tuning it yet, so he didn't charge me full price. I was so grateful for his effort & honesty. I will definitely be returning to Avery for all my piano needs, whether coordinating another tune with Mike or purchasing a new piano.

I highly recommend Providence Guitar Academy!!! Phil has the…read morerare talent of staying calm and patient while making the learning experience fun. It is obvious that he really enjoys teaching. Jake, 5 years old, looks forward lessons , practicing and showing off what he has learned. Finding the right music teacher is so important and we hit the jackpot with Phil.

Where do I start describing such a wonderful, amazing teacher! First of all, Phil is indeed an…read moreextremely gifted musician in his own right, and has a very deep knowledge of technique and music theory. You can tell that he has a true passion for music and his 10+ years of experience definitely show in much of his sage wisdom that comes across in the lessons. For a total beginner in guitar and music like myself, showing up to this talented fellow as a grown adult with my cheap acoustic and telling him that I just wanted to be able to strum along to Bob Marley or the Beatles could have been intimidating. Instead I felt that Phil was delighted to teach me and he calmly encouraged me at every step from then on. He first made a special effort to understand my background, the types of music I like, the parts of learning music that interest me, and the amount of time I could commit. Then he came up with an individualized, structured plan for me to reach my goals, which also changed as my whims and interests changed as months went on. I began taking one 30-minute lesson each week, which might not seem like much; yet Phil is such a professional that not a minute is wasted, and by the end of each lesson I had tons of exercises to practice and things to think about every day for the 6 days until my next lesson. I felt I made very fast progress under Phil, thanks to his incredible teaching technique. As time went on I was so happy with the lessons that I increased to two 30-minute lessons per week. My progress became even faster and more intense. Phil effortlessly helped me switch between learning chords and guitar technique and the somewhat separate subject matter of reading music and understanding music theory. He helped me play songs while also helping me understand the underlying patterns and connections that many songs are based off of. Had I not unfortunately moved away from Providence, I think Phil would have turned me not only into a good guitar player, but also a well-rounded musician! I would like to be very clear, his lessons are a steal at the price he offers them at. The teaching is first class and Phil is a great human being, and obtaining beautiful abilities like playing the guitar and understanding music might change your life like they did mine.

I think this was one of the most enjoyable evening events I have attended in a long time. My wife…read moreand I loved it so much that after spending a few hours here we grabbed some dinner and headed back to our hotel but then ended up coming back out for at least another hour or so. This is a totally free event where they light bonfires in the waterway and have live music, art installations and light shows. There were a lot of people but there was plenty of space so we didn't feel crowded. It starts around sunset and goes for hours. There are boats that travel along the waterway and tent to the fires, adding wood and making sure everything is safe and stays burning. They also offer gondola rides but you should book those in advance. It was very peaceful and romantic. It's completely outdoors so we brought our dog and many of the restaurants have outdoor seating where you can eat and enjoy the sights. There is also a street fair area adjacent to the waterway that offers food, art, jewelry,etc. We saw a glass blowing demonstration and music acts. That section was quite busy and we did feel a little crowded there. I had never really experienced anything like this before and I enjoyed it. I wish we had something like this where I am and if you're in the area and you see this event, you should definitely stop and check it out.

We knew we were going to be in the area around the time of WaterFire so we made sure to find a…read moreplace to stay and spend the night here. We had never been to anything like this or even really heard that much about it so we were interested to see what it was. WaterFire started about 30 years ago as an art installation that was meant to bring more people to the area and it definitely works. They light the braziers along the rivers, pipe beautiful music through the air and have volunteers on boats going from spot to spot, tending the flames and refilling the wood. There are tons of people there. Just walking and enjoying being outside and being together. The vibe is so relaxed and so peaceful but yet busy and exciting at the same time. It's kind of hard to describe unless you see it for yourself. We headed out around dusk when there was still light in the sky and it was a little chilly but I soon forgot about that. Words can't really express how you're just sort of drawn into the piece and beauty of this whole thing. I feel like this review can't even do it justice. We walked around for over an hour but our dog did start to get cold even though we had her in her jacket, so we headed back to where we were staying for a little while. Once it was dark and we were all warmed up, we headed out again because it was just so enjoyable to be there that we really wanted to come back. The second time we wandered through the street fair area and looked at some of the tables and street vendors. I got a really cool ring that was made out of a an old ornate spoon. There were also food vendors but everything was pretty busy so we ended up getting food on the way back to our hotel. There were families and groups of friends and couples, all just soaking in the magic and ambiance and ultimately we drifted back towards the water again because that is where the real magic is. We sat for a long time watching people float by in gondolas and watching the volunteers slowly push the boats through the canals, adding wood to the flames causing them to rise up. Everyone was friendly and in a good mood and strangers were chatting with each other. There was a real sense of community and peace. This was honestly one of the most romantic evenings I've had with my husband in a long time as well. We nuzzled noses and shared a few kisses to the music and the flame. If you are anywhere near Providence during WaterFire, don't even think about it just go. It's totally free! You don't need tickets or even to plan really. You can just enjoy the fire light and the music and being together in a beautiful place. It's absolutely unforgettable.

Best shop in the area for Local/Area Statewide for local blown glass as well as great gifts for the…read moreladies (jewelry & novelty gifts). Small business owner in need of support with extensive stock! Great stop for all your needs!

From the owner: We've combined our appreciation of music and functional glass art to create a comfortably funky…read morespace where customers can find the latest and most highly-sought products. We will strive to continually expand our selections to suit the needs of our diverse customer base and will always do our best to have the lowest prices in town.

Axelrod's is Closed, has been for a few year now. And really, not without reason…read more My stepfather's business always got sheet music and books from axelrod's, but eventually the owner (Jackie, I believe) became unreliable and over priced, he really had no choice but to order online to ensure he had legal copies of music for students in a timely manner. THe final straw he had with axelrods is that I was looking for an instrument, the owner took us into a freezing cold back room filled with violins and other string instruments....now to me having been a band geek, you are not supposed to subject instruments to overly hot or cold conditions as they can crack or warp. To boot she was asking three times was Robert's music quoted me for a few year old instrument for one made during the reagan administration.

Axelrod Lives On in Johnston…read more This Rhode Island cornerstone used to be across the street from Avery Piano and what a great pair they made. The old location was in an ancient building with 900 year old creaky wood floors and lots of charm. Inside were racks and racks full of music for every instrument and every genre. Probably every kid in the state that was in High school band knows Axelrod. The new store located out in the sticks is bigger, has less charm, but still has the biggest collection of sheet music I've ever seen. Less instruments before, but they're doing everything they can to survive in an internet shopping world, where kids play soccer instead of the saxamaphone. Well hear this sports fans- Charlie Parker, Hendrix, and Jelly Roll Morton had a LOT more fun than Pele, Babe Ruth, or Heisman. They can special order many things, if not everything.

Beyond my expectation. Brought in a used 2000 Hot Rod…read moreDeluxe I just purchased, for a few things that bothered me about the amps performance. Greg worked his magic. He took care of every issue I was concerned about, and then some. The amp sounds amazing. This is now one of the best sounding amps I have had, and I have had many, including two other Hot Rod Deluxe amps. I have used Cranky's in the past, many years ago ( did some work on a Silverface Twin), and decided I'd go back. Smart decision! The Hot Rod was ready when promised I would highly recommend Cranky's. Greg is honest and listened to my concerns.

Just had an amp serviced by Greg at Cranky's, he did a fantastic job as usual and reasonable price…read more Very happy with Cranky's, can recommend.

mark and bill helped me get my money back with an accordion i bought that ended up being junk. they…read morewere honest about its worth and mark even took me to the citizens up the street to make a claim :)

This place is great! I've rented and purchased items from this store and every experience and…read moreinteraction I have had here has been truly wonderful. I highly recommend this store to anyone looking to purchase or rent musical instruments!

A mom and pop type place where you can still get a deal…read more They offer guitars, bass, banjos, things I don't know the names of. I was able to walk in and purchase a starter guitar set up and go home happy and ready to learn This store is small enough to care about customer service still! I forgot to mention that they offer lessons. While I was there the owner was instructing a guitar player while an employee taught piano in the back room.

Great prices and a very fine place for music lessons on all instruments. Repairs on all instruments…read moreincluding guitars, woodwind and brass instruments.