Went to check out their guitar gear. I like to support local music shops and hadn't been to this…read moreone before today. Most of their guitar stock is focused on entry level models rather than high trim models. On the plus side they had a good selection of nice Orange amps and carried a line of affordable pedals, by outlaw effects, that I've never seen elsewhere. The two young store employees were nice and friendly. On the negative side, I was really turned off by the store owner and didnt want to do business with him as a result. He approached me while I was checking out a Jaguar guitar and I asked him a few questions about how the controls on the guitar worked (because they were really different) and what the B stock label meant and how that could affect resale down the road if I decided to sell it. His conversational tone and somewhat combative statements were really off putting. The guitar was a pretty good deal but I really didn't want to do business with a guy like him. Shopping for guitars should be a fun experience, but this was just an upsetting one. This visit made me appreciate Guitar Center a lot more because they treat customers (including kids) so well there and don't make you feel bad asking questions about guitars or taking your time checking out gear.

I was in a pinch and needed a new strap for my bass guitar. I found Duet With Music on Yelp and I…read morewas surprised they were still open as all the other music stores in Frederick were closed. I drove over and found a strap and was able to make it to my gig in time. The strap was definitely quality and will last me for sometime.

Excellent lesson program and great retail selection. PRS, Yamaha, Fender, Martin, and much more!read more

Much higher quality and atmosphere compared to guitar center. The choices available at the store no…read morematter what musical category, its quality.

I rented an instrument. The store closed. I had no idea how to return the instrument. No one…read morecontacted me - so I assumed the rental was over. 2 years later I get a call from music and arts that they have been happily collecting my money - despite no way to return the instrument. When I asked to speak with a supervisor I was told my call was not worthy of being brought up to a supervisor. NEVER rent from these thieves.

What an irritating company! I was looking for a violin teacher in my area, and they have a form you…read morecan fill out to be contacted later. A day later, I started getting their newsletter. I didn't sign up for that! I tried to unsubscribe, only I couldn't: the unsubscribe link takes you to a page that says you need to email their customer service department and ask to be unsubscribed. What year is this, 2003? I emailed, waited, and a week and several newsletters later, I was still getting them. Frustrated, I registered a full account with their web site using the same email. And guess what? The contact section of the profile doesn't let you unsubscribe from getting email either! You need to call in! I called, waited on hold for five minutes, then gave up. I've blocked their emails instead. This company clearly could care less about their customers or their brand, because I now will go out of my way to never purchase anything from them again. An absolutely ridiculous lack of care for customer information.

I ordered a small set of music parts for $38.49 from Music & Arts. The parts didn't fit the…read moreinstrument as advertised, so I tried to return them. They were never used and sat in the original packaging. I contacted them six times: two emails, two messages through their website, a call to their national customer service line, and a follow-up call to a "sister" store they told me to go to. I got no return instructions, no help, and completely contradictory information. Their national support told me to drive an hour away to return the product in person. That store then told me they don't accept online returns at all. At that point, I gave up trying to do the right thing. I then disputed the charge through my credit card company, which ruled in my favor. Music & Arts did not contest the chargeback -- they let it go through. But instead of letting it end there, they took the completely unacceptable step of sending the exact same charge to collections. To be clear: this wasn't a missed payment or a returned item gone wrong. This was a small dispute that they refused to resolve, and then escalated in a way that feels retaliatory and punitive. Based on what I've learned, merchants who accept a chargeback are not supposed to send that same charge to collections. This company ignored me, blocked the normal resolution path, and then tried to harm me financially. I've never experienced anything like this from a retail company. Over $38, they went silent, contradicted themselves, and sent me to collections instead of responding to a single email. I will never do business with Music & Arts again. I strongly recommend avoiding this company entirely.

Beware, I rented a flute for my granddaughter Sept 2023. I have paid all payments thru Feb 2026. I…read morenever received the contract. I started checking when I realized that the payments were going a long time. I contacted customer service and realized that they were charging for a more expensive instrument. They changed the cost of the instrument however. I still owed a large balance so they said. So I called to ask what interest rate were they charging told no interest rate. They said I still owed about 400.00. I told them that that could not be right. Then it was changed to that I owed 104.86. I called again and ask for a call wanted a copy of contract and to know how they got to their total. You can not talk to billing. I spoke to Daniel on 2-18 at that time he read a text or email from billing which made no sense. He said it was resolved. So I told him I wanted a call from them and I wanted the text he was reading. He said he would send ,but I never received however, I did receive a email stating on 2-19 it was resolved and still balance of 82.39. I was told that I have to talk to customer service. It is hard trying to talk 3 way. Cheryl stork contract 1567048

This is the place to go in the DMV if you're looking for a new Yamaha piano…read more We were first-time piano buyers looking for a new U1. From what I read online, most piano dealers will quote an MSRP or "SMP (suggested maximum price)" with the expectation that you will haggle down the price. We went to our local Yamaha dealer [not Downtown Piano Works] and met with a sales associate recommended by our piano teacher. His first offer was already less than MSRP: I'm terrible at haggling, but I figured I'd try anyway and ask for a better price. A day later, he came back with another $500 off the price. I was feeling pretty good about myself and was getting ready to go to the store before his "offer expired." On a whim, minutes before I left, I thought I'd try the next closest Yamaha dealer, which happened to be Downtown Piano Works. I typed a chat message into their website, expecting a canned AI answer. Instead, Dan, the owner, responded right away. He told me to call him on his cell phone, and without hearing the other store's "lowest" price, he quoted a price that was $1500 less. There was no haggling, no wondering if I was getting a worse deal than everyone else on the internet. We drove with the kids an hour to Frederick just to make sure this wasn't too good to be true, and it wasn't. Dan and Theresa opened their store on a Saturday night, three hours after I'd first messaged their website. By the time we left, we were the owners of a new Yamaha U1. If you're in the market for a new Yamaha acoustic piano, within driving distance of Frederick, and want to avoid the usual stress of new piano shopping, I'd definitely try clicking chat on their website.

I put a deposit down on a Clavinova 775…read more Well, first off world class customer service. Dan and Teresa were very nice and warm. Competitive pricing. Anyway, I had to cancel the order a few days later. Refunded me immediately. Honest and trustworthy owners! Thanks and sorry it didn't work out. Great music store!

I love Kramer's piano. I've been taking piano lessons for a little over a year and a half. Sarah…read moreLeamy is very patient and helpful. She has taught me a lot. I still have a ways to go but I'm way better then I was when I first walked into the lesson room. I recommend Kramers piano to anyone who wants to learn an instrument.

Got a used electric yamaha at a good price and EXCELLENT customer service to find the right paino…read morefor our beginner's needs. Highly recommended.

Have to support these small music shops. Victor Litz has a lot to offer from types of instruments,…read moreelectronics, lessons, used gear, you name it. I was especially impressed with their selection of ukuleles. Never have I seen so many in MD in one place! Definitely more than what Guitar center offers. They have an acoustic room in the back to try their acoustic/classical guitars. I had the chance to buy one of their used guitars at an amazing price. I appreciate the staff working with me on the price and even holding the instrument for a day when they could have easily sold it to next customer. Shows that they care about customer satisfaction more than just making a sale. I was able to spend a good amount of time trying out the instrument and they also helped tweak the intonation before I decided to take it home with me. The only few downsides I could see was some of the staff were not particularly knowledgeable about certain guitar models that they were selling, but much better than say Guitar Center. The humidification in the acoustic room basically only controlled by a residential type humidifier, so not very precise. Compared to other small guitar shops in the DMV, I don't think I would feel comfortable getting my guitar worked on here just based on the level of expertise I surmounted from the conversations I had. But a good place to buy gear nonetheless if you know what you are looking for. Parking is just a little challenging since it is in the middle of old town Gaithersburg. But in the past I have come on the weekends and there is some parking across the street at the museum.

Amazing store and staff - it's been around forever - nice guy Charlie always helps me w/ my vinyl…read morerecord selections

Thanks! Brought my dusty old Spanish student guitar in for new strings, and to be generally…read morechecked out. Recommendations were right on point. Easy communication. Lucky to have a speciality shop right here in Fairfax!

Great selection of classical and flamenco guitars, some electric guitars too,the owner is…read moreknowledgeable and fair with his prices, highly recommended this place!