Friendly, helpful staff. Been going here since I started violin back in grade school. They have a…read moresmaller selection than other stores, but you get a more personalized experience going to a smaller store. They are very helpful in finding what you need, even if you're not quite sure what that is. :)

I stopped by as I had not noticed the store before. (I do not get to Hopkins much either) I made…read morethe mistake of asking if it was new and the person at the counter replied," Not really, been here since 1955." The body language said it all. I was not welcome and should leave because he was not going to look up. I asked if they did guitar lessons and again the guy hesitates and does not look up . He says "No not really." But they do over 375 a week on a good week of lessons I was informed. That was nice to know as I was looking for a market that needed a friendly music environment and this sure seems like one! Maybe it was a bad day but the 375 students were not there only me so I feel this rating is appropriate especially seeing it looks common in other rating.

I live in a far-away city, but I visited Givens Violins on two different occasions (35 years…read moreapart!) while searching for a new instrument. Even though my instrument budget changed by factor of four between my first and second visit, I was treated with exceptional care and respect both times. (Do call ahead when visiting top-tier shops like this.) They have a fantastic inventory, from newly made to historically significant instruments and everything is perfectly set up. Claire Givens is not only a nationally recognized string instrument expert; she is also a thoroughly lovely person. Whether you are a professional player or a devoted amateur, make a special effort to visit this shop!

As fate would have it, I found myself 1200 miles away from my Wisconsin home in the deep South,…read moreplaying fiddle/violin shows on the Atlantic beach nearly every day. I needed bows rehaired and I needed a new bow to replace my "baby" while it sent away to get rehaired. NOTHING. There was nobody in the area that could help me out. I recalled visiting Claire Givens Violins about 4 decades ago. I've been playing for 52 years. It was a long shot (literally 1500 miles away) but I reached out to Claire Givens Violins and not only did they hook me up with some OVER THE MOON new bows, they rehaired my "baby" and did a remarkable job. Every single facet of Claire Givens Violins BLEW ME AWAY from their professionalism, knowledge, feel, vibe, service, honesty, and above all, LOVE for violins and the violinist (ME)! I give Claire Givens Violins TEN STARS on a 1-5 rating. Chris Cary

I took lessons from Dan for about 2 years. He has always been my favorite guitar instructor…read more He is very well versed in all kinds of music, a very talented guitarist in his own right, and he has a way of relating the guitar to the kinds of music you love. I started off as a novice guitarist and saw huge improvements in both my creativity and ability to play more difficult pieces of music.

I have taken guitar, but mainly bass lessons from Dan on and off for close to 15 years. His…read moreapproach to teaching has always been unique compared to the other instructors I've utilized in the past. If your looking for guitar lessons, you've come to the right place. If you are just starting or looking for a refresher he can teach you theory in a easy to understand manor and give you fun exercises to practice until your next meeting. Each week building off of what you learned, giving you more tricks up your sleeve to be able to improvise and effectively create your own music. The theory portion is where you'll usually get stuck in with the majority of instructors. But, with Dan, there is more to be had. After that foundation is learned is when it starts to get really fun. Dan not only has a vast library of digital music tabs which a student can learn how to play along to their favorite songs by artists; he also has equipment and software that a student, with Dan's help, can create and learn how to form songs out of nothing. Gaining additional valuable knowledge that goes hand in hand with playing guitar. I've had instructors in the past who were hard to talk to, awkward or made me feel uncomfortable when trying to learn. I never felt that way taking lessons from Dan. He is extremely easygoing, personable, patient, talented and well versed on all kinds of music, new or old. You will feel comfortable from the start, as Dan will figure out what your interests are and tailor your lessons to cater them. He is not the kind of instructor that will try to force feed you a genre you are not into. I can honestly say he has shaped the way I view music. Not only can i figure out songs by ear most of the time, I am able to pick apart each instrument while listening to songs and have a better appreciation to the effort musicians put into their work. He introduced me to bands as a kid I had never heard of, which all these years later are now my favorites and to this day still enjoy jamming out to. Simply put, look no further, if you are serious about trying guitar lessons, Dan is the man!

I had more guitars than I could expect to keep fed and cared for so I visited Chad and he took some…read moreof them off my hands for what I thought were reasonable values. If I didn't STILL have too many guitars I'd definitely buy from Chad @ Encore Music.

Rude and unwelcoming they were yelling way too much and we couldn't hear anything so we had to…read moreleave the store

My son has studied under Carolyn Reisinger for over 10 years. He has progressed to the point that…read morehe can play challenging classical and jazz pieces. More important, my son has an appreciation for music that will last a lifetime. Carolyn makes learning engaging and fun!

I just wandered in here as it is connected to Wonderment, and when I was looking for toys to…read moretorture my brother and sister in law, the bladder got a bit full. I wandered back and used the bathroom and thought it odd that there are all these rooms with instruments and photo's of people playing them. I mean, this is wonderment, right? Wrongo Bucko! I found this out when walking back from the co op and saw the real entrance (which is behind wonderment.) Good to know. I can tell you this: The bathroom is clean, and I left the seat up.

I started at SOR-EP in 2019 as a vocalist and keys player, and left in late 2025 as a vocalist,…read morekeys player, guitarist, bassist, and developing drummer. I started at the Rock 201 level, (level 3 out of 6) and ended in Houseband, a performance based group who played at Summerfest in Milwaukee, the Mall of America, and the Xcel Energy Center at a Wild game. I've loved all of my instructors and their various teaching styles. They offer every aspect of a rock band, including all the instruments mentioned above. Kids are also able to pick from a variety of artists and genres to cover as a band, and make new friends and learn the importance of teamwork. I had the privilege of learning here, and went from fumbling through vocals on "Eye of the Tiger", to absolutely mastering every instrument on "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and teaching a group of younger students how to play it as a band. I've not only improved musically, but also as a person. I've learned the importance of teamwork, respect, hard work, and consistency. I've become a better public speaker and more of an extrovert, but also gained more self awareness, and I firmly believe that my emotional development is easily owed to this program. If your child (or you!) stick with this program, it will definitely be worth your while! Even though the school is aimed at students, adults are also able to receive lessons and there is an adult band! Any level of music education and experience is welcome here, and will be greeted with open arms.

At age 7, we brought my son to Alec for drum lessons. Even though he could barely touch the ground…read morewith his feet, within a month, Alec had him playing Seven Nation Army and LOVING it! Now he's in a kid-centered Rock band (Rock 101), playing the Beatles and much more! School of Rock is the place to go for music lessons, confidence-boosting and a positive community!

Popped into this piercing studio on a whim. They offer beautiful, high-quality jewelry, and…read morepiercings are done by nurses. They offer needle piercing and device piercing. I chose needle piercing and got a beautiful piece on my lobe. They provided clear aftercare instructions and products. I will likely go back.

I stopped here to check out what all they offer piercing wise. There were only 2 people working,…read moreone piercing and one with a customer. We waited a bit but ended up leaving before ever being greeted/acknowledged. From looking around looks like they just do basic ear piercings. They had really cute jewelry and offer flat backs, which is nice for any part of the ear. I like the concept. Not sure if maybe they only take appts since it's only 1-2 piercers.