Max Vitullo is an excellent violin/string teacher. As an adult learner, I had specific goals for…read moremy lessons. Max was very effective at setting me on a course to meet my goals, providing correction and direction for each step. He is patient, observant, analytical, encouraging and provides exactly what is needed to help his students play their violins with joy and confidence. He makes it fun to learn! I strongly recommend Max as a violin teacher.

From the owner: Vitullo Music is dedicated to providing quality in-person and online violin and viola lessons to…read moreall ages and levels. In-person lessons are provided at a home studio in Raleigh, NC near Lake Wheeler. Online lessons may be at any location. Hours and lessons are scheduled by appointment. More than a decade of teaching experience from large to small ensembles and beginner to experienced players. Students have been successful audition finalists and earned competitive placements in All-County Orchestras. Vitullo Music strives to give students the ability to enjoy music, have fun with music, and share the meaning found in music with others.

I haven't been in every "guitar shop" in Raleigh. I would…read morevisit other shops but I don't have a reason for it. I met Harry Tueting the year he opened Harry's Guitars on Glenwood Avenue near downtown Raleigh. I bought strings and played new guitars I could not buy- no steady job. Still I had a clunker to bang on. I took lessons from Steve Howell in the early years. I met Terry Dineen when he began some years later. He was just a kid but he knew a lot more about guitars than I did. I'd played since I was 12, on cheap guitars, but I played. Thanks to the things I learned through visiting this business, I've developed into a modestly decent player. I've met musicians of every skill level in a place where I feel welcome. I've listened to people crank the amps and play for HOURS. No one ever objected. I know and understand the value of a good guitar. I've bought -and returned- guitars from Harry's. Nobody complained. I read the bad reviews given herein and I am STUNNED. Perhaps the reviewers are (1) upset because they did something out of ignorance and can't get over it or (2) have an ax to grind because they weren't regarded as royalty or (3) are simply mean spirited. I cannot in any way associate anyone I know, or have known, at Harry's Guitars with the ugliness I read in those "reviews". Not under Harry's watch. Not under Scott and Mike's watch. Not in the real world.

Easily the nicest guitar store in NC. Mike and his crew are all top notch. I recently purchased 2…read moreguitars (both were left handed and ordered directly from Martin) and I have seldom received such great customer service. My primary contact was Mike but everyone associated with the store is exemplary. The guitars are some of the nicest made but the staff at Harry's are top notch as well. A very pleasant buying experience. Thank you Mike!

Amazing!!! This was our first time here but it was the best indoor play place (not counting…read moremuseums) that I've been to in NC! I've definitely been to a few that I thought were overpriced for what you get. I highly recommend this place. It's super affordable ($10 per child to start and cheaper when you are paying for more than one kid, better value overall to get a monthly membership which I believe starts at $34 a month). It pays for itself if you just come here 3x a month or more. They've also got little snacks for sale up at the front desk and you can purchase socks for $1 (they've got music notes on them haha). We arrived early around 9:20am when the inflatable bounce houses were still getting filled but the doors were open and the person at the front desk said it was unexpectedly busy this morning! The place gets pretty busy but emptied out around 11:30 when I assume most people left to go get lunch/put kids down for nap time. Tons of cute little snack tables and chairs for the smaller kiddos and bigger ones for waiting parents/grandparents/caretakers etc. Lots of sanitizer on every counter. They also had Kleenex boxes out (they know their audience) and Clorox wipes at the front desk. There's 2 big bounce houses (a blue one and a red one). The red one is more for jumping and running around in circles and the blue one has a rainbow "floor" interior that is super fun to run across. There are also 2 karaoke rooms with an expansive music selection, colorful overhead lights, and microphones which you ask for from the front desk. They've got the giant piano on the floor like the one from the movie 'Big'. They've got music classes which I believe take place in the back near the restrooms. Love the giant guitar slide and it makes guitar sounds when you slide down. I went down the slide as well and it goes super quick!! I was definitely more scared going down than climbing up haha. Oh and they provide a shelf of croc sandals to wear if you need to rescue your frightened child (I made use of them). I could really go on forever about how amazing this place is. Absolutely exceeded expectations. Incredible experience and place and definitely will be returning!!

I took my almost two year old here, with my younger babe in tow, for the first time today and they…read moreabsolutely loved it. The play area is open and spaced out with a nice variety of musical things to play with. Before coming, I really was curious if there'd be enough to keep the little one interested. Big or little, the kids will be interested! By musical things, think less handheld instruments and more installments for lack of a better word, such as the interactive world map where touching the musical note plays music of that geographic location. The percussion pots and pans and bells room was a big hit. My toddler wasn't ready for the big guitar slide, with climbing handholds and bars, but was able to enjoy everything else, including the small slide. I found it easy to carry my infant around and plop him on the floor from time to time with little worry. Some bigger kids run around but there are many side areas that are safer for the wee babes. There's music playing in the background and of course sounds coming from the many installments, and children shrieking. But overall, I didn't find the sound to be too loud or nauseating like it can be in some restaurants and such. There's plenty of space to enjoy snacks outside of the play area and clean bathrooms. The staff I checked in with were quite friendly. Oh and I really thought the price per child to be reasonable compared to most other indoor museums and play places. We will definitely be back!

Top-notch luthier John Montgomery and his staff are professional and helpful. Great selection of…read morestringed instruments and accessories on hand. The store has many interesting musical artifacts, books and sheet music. I recently purchased a bench made violin from JM after a long grueling process of trial and error trying to find the perfect instrument. John made a recommendation and it turned out to be the perfect fit for me. Great quality does not come cheaply but it was worth every penny and was superior in sound and performance to others in the same price range. I was able to find outstanding service, quality and value. I'd like to recognize Freda for always being friendly and responsive. Thanks Y'all!

John Montgomery is an excellent Luthier and we are very fortunate to have someone as knowledgeable…read moreas Mr. Montgomery as a resource here in North Carolina. However, because Mr. Montgomery has such a superb reputation, he has a tendency to charge much much more than Luthiers for comparable work in other markets. Our family has had several violins worked on by top notch luthiers in major markets such as Chicago, LA, and New York. The costs for repair done by Mr. Montgomery is nearly twice what you would expect to pay if you went to a comparable luthier in another location. I suppose it would be a case of supply and demand. We have attempted to sell 2 violins on consignment through Mr. Montgomery. Not only did he inform us that we would need to sink 1500 into a $7500 violin in order to make it "marketable", after having the violin in the shop for over 5 years now, there has been no sale. So at this point, we have to pay 1500 to get the violin back or continue to let it continue to age with absolutely no communication or status updates from Mr. Montgomery. If you need to purchase an instrument, you will be able to find excellent "high-end" instruments and accessories. However, if you are looking for repairs and/or to sell your instrument, you would be better off either selling at auction or taking it to a luthier in a different market who will not take advantage of the seller in terms of repairs and sales commission.

Enjoyed trying several flutes on display, and the staff members were very helpful! I purchased a…read morenew flute on sale there and can't wait for it to come in!

Excellent staff, always going above and beyond for customers, and very experienced musicians.read more

Even if you believe you are getting top quality service from a local guitar shop / person. I…read moreimplore ya, give Marty a call... I suspect no job is too great. My son recently snapped his first ever epiphone at the neck clean in half. Never had I seen such destruction and much sobbing took place. Just out of curiosity I gave Marty a call, sent him a few pictures of the guitar and asked - what can ya do. We were asking him to resurrect a fairly new instrument, a service request we've never tried before. He said give him 3 weeks. In an almost surreal experience - Marty was able to completely repair the snapped neck, matched colors, parts needed to replace the damaged ones and a coating job that would rival what any manufacturer puts out. I will also say that his charge was LOW. Far far lower than I expected for such a mess of a job. He loved it. My son loved it. We are 100% recommending everyone we know - even for a simple setup - call Marty and enjoy not having to worry if your intonation is right cause you're not a luthier.

From the owner: At LabRat Guitar Workshop I treat every guitar as if it were my own. You want your guitar playing…read moreand sounding it's best. I offer a wide variety of services including a 13 point setup, pickup swaps and other electrical work, nut replacements, fret dressings, fret end filing, neck realignments, and more. I offer my services at competitive prices with fast turn around times and I am always available to answer question and give you the help that you need