The Music & Arts store stands like a temple to the fragile hopes of students and parents arming themselves for another year of rehearsals, scales, and the long march toward competence. Its aisles gleam with reeds, strings, and cases--objects that, in their mute silence, carry the weight of countless hours to come. I found what I needed: supplies and equipment, the small instruments of survival in the regimented symphony of school. The workers moved with efficiency, their knowledge sharp and their actions brisk, yet there was a certain absence in their demeanor, as though they operated behind a glass wall. Helpful, yes, but with a coolness that left no room for warmth--transaction without communion. In some ways, it felt fitting: music itself demands a distance, a discipline, before it can give back joy. Still, one longs for a flicker of shared enthusiasm, some recognition that buying a clarinet reed is also an investment in human persistence against the yawning void of silence. Efficiency will always get the job done; warmth, when it appears, makes it unforgettable. I wish you joy and ease in the school year ahead, and may your new supplies carry you toward moments of true resonance. read more

Booked a music lesson they never wrote it down. Spoke to manager Amanda no remorse or anything just because just asked what else as they already had someone else booked in our slot. The used instruments sales are in very rough shape so we didn't purchase there. Very frustrating start to this relationship with this store. Hopefully the instructor is great but if he has no more slots then pointless. read more

I only came here for violin rosin, so I can't speak to their rentals or lessons. As soon as I walked in the store, a staff member immediately asked how he could help. He admitted that he didn't play a string instrument, so he wasn't sure what kind of rosin I should get. He finally suggested getting the most popular variety, which was luckily only $3. I paid with a $20 bill and they were struggling to make change, and even discussed having to go back to a nearby dry cleaners for more change. It didn't seem very professional that customers should hear that. As a store with plenty of musical accessories for sale, you should be prepared for business by having enough cash on hand. Based on this experience, I'm not sure that I would come back for anything more complicated. read more

Excellent store with fast professional service and everything your kids need for school! It's tucked away in the trees and hills like many businesses in Columbia but well worth the trip. read more

I went in today and I was inquiring about my lay away and the employees were very accommodating in helping my locate and conduct my purchase in a very cordial manner. All went smoothly and I'm now the proud owner of an alto saxophone, they assisted in helping me find the lowest price possible and offered quality customer service. read more

We've been renting from these people for years and when we went in to rent again this year, they wanted to do a credit check. At first they said it was an in- house credit check, to see if we rented and didn't return an instrument. Then they did a full credit score check and said it wasn't good enough and said we needed to put down $480 deposit. This was done in front of a full store. For that kind of money, we could have bought an instrument. I left and went to Mike's Music in Elliott City. Fantastic staff. Fantastic service. Fantastic instruments. Every instrument that we've ever rented from Music and Art looked battle tattered. Even if I do have to travel a little further, Mikes is a better business. I called back, later and spoke with a nice lady and I told her what had happened and that their business lost a customer, with 5 kids. After listening to all I said, she said that the decision was made at headquarters. She said by that standard, she wouldn't be able to rent an instrument from them either, even though she works for them. She asked if I wanted to speak with her manager, but I declined. I had already found a better place to take my money. read more

I would put zero stars if I could. I have been going to this store for 5 plus years. I recently had to rent an instrument while my daughters was getting repaired. The rental process was just awful, as well as the communication from staff to customer. When the instrument finally arrived, I go to pick it up and pay for the rental.....I was then told that my credit would have to be checked, (big surprise to me) but it had to be done. I was approved for the rental but was told that I would have to pay a security deposit of $830....absolutely not. Long story short, I have found a new music store and was able to rent the instrument in 10 minutes, no credit check needed. Music and Arts has lost a customer.......thank you for showing me who you really are. read more

When you rent an instrument, one of the key incentive is that what you pay in rent can be used to purchase an instrument when you are ready.When you go into it initially, they will not tell you the following: When you finally purchase the instrument, the price you are quoted is not the price that is advertised. In fact, it is the original price. In my case, the instrument was being sold for $1500, but the original price is $2000. Therefore, you pay $500 more. So, essentially, you end up paying just as much as someone would if they never rented anything from them. So, renting with Music and Arts, believing that your cost of the new purchase will be offset by the total rental is wrong. This is what they will lead you to believe but it is not the case.Be careful with Music and Arts. Reason of review: Poor customer service. read more

I had a great experience today a Music and Arts with the worker Patrice she was kind, helpful, and patient. A few months ago a had a bad experience there and I wrote them a bad review. Looking back at it now it might have been because of their computer system which seems to be outdated. Today my experience was very good and I am a happy costumer. read more

My sons trumpet was knocked around. Grant was able to show me the simple way to fix it. I also left my phone in the store. When I returned later that night, they had it locked in the register for me. read more

If I could give this store no stars I would. They are swindlers. They are looking to make as much money off of people as possible. I received a bill on a thursday and I paid it that Saturday and they wanted to charge me an additional fee for "being late". It was 2 days. According to their representative even though I have a bill it does not include all of their fees. So there was there are additional "fees" being billed to my card. So they refused to refund my money. The customer service representative told me that I was "welcome to return the instrument at any time." You better believe I will be. Their equipment is twice as much as other retailers. DO NOT RENT FROM THEM. There are other places out there with far better prices. read more

If there were one-fifth star, I'd give that. What a horrible environment for a budding musician. My son and I come in excited and full of questions. No one acknowledges us. I go to the front counter and wait for the lady on the phone to finish. She doesn't as much as put up a finger to let me know she sees me and will be with me when done. I still wait and turn to look at an item in front of the counter so as not to stare her down. She finishes her call darts from the counter to do other things despite the fact that I stood in front of her for 5 minutes waiting. My son came around after looking at some of the instruments and we waited some more while discussing metronomes. We finally decided to leave. She see us leaving, she starts talking to someone else, not a word. Wow! I would not spend a dime in this place were it the last music store available. And being that it's so inconveniently and obscurely located, luckily it isn't. read more