My Daughter & I popped into the store on a whim on February 21st, 2026. The store looks quite a bit…read moredifferent than when I last saw it 5 years ago. There was a varied selection of instruments, but we spent all of our time this time looking at the electric guitars. We were quickly greeted by their tech, Derrick, and another salesman that made frequent check-ins to see how things were going. Derrick did tell me that their selection of guitars had recently gone up quite a bit. We ended up making an unplanned guitar purchase and we left happy. I saw the old reviews, and I would suggest that people give The Music Shoppe another look because things change, sometimes for the better.

Top notch customer service and great selection at good prices…read more My daughter plays trumpet and has been taking lessons with Chris Moors at the Music Shoppe for a couple years now - it's really paid off and we've seen her develop her skills and perform with confidence in band and in jazz band! Every time we visit the shop for something or need help with her trumpet they have the parts and service that we need - a couple years ago I lost a small important part for the trumpet and when we went to the store to ask for help they went above and beyond and gave us the part we needed for free. We didn't even buy her trumpet there so this was awesome customer service. They carry a complete selection of musical instruments, sheet music, accessories, and offer music lessons for all ages of students. I highly recommend this store!

I called today to ask about get the action on my guitar lowered. Keep in mind that I am a beginner…read moreand know very little about this stuff. The person who answered the phone was far from helpful. He was condescending and rude and ultimately did not answer my questions. Instead, he cackled when I asked clarifying questions and responded with sarcastic answers. I will NOT be taking my business here and did not appreciate the customer service or lack thereof.

I love Corson Music! The staff is always friendly and helpful. I've bought two guitars from this…read morelocation and two from the location in Champaign, my experience has always been great! Their prices are very competetive- matching the big online music retailers. They have a very good variety of instruments and a pretty decent variety of accessories and amps. My only complaint is that they don't have much in the way of sheet music/song books. If you're looking to pick up a guitar or bass I strongly recommend checking out Corson!

I am an adult learner who decided to take ukele lessons. Bill Kirby has been my instructor and he…read morehas been amazing. The half hour lesson flies by! Bill is great at finding music I enjoy playing. I couldn't be happier with my choice to take lessons here at Champaign School of music!

My son has been taking guitar here for, gosh, at least two years. His progress has been great, and…read morejust as importantly, my son likes going to lessons very much. Bob, his teacher, is a mellow and talented guy, happy to follow my son's lead. Consequently, they started out learning different riffs and songs, and gradually Bob got my son to appreciate the importance of scales. So now I also hear him playing scales. It's a real joy to hear him playing his electric guitar even late into the night because it sounds so good.

I have been wanting to buy my first guitar after practicing on a borrowed for some time now. I have…read morebeen researching guitars online and thought I had figured out what I wanted, but after spending some time in the store I realized I was way off base! From the moment I walked in, Aaron was very helpful. I explained my situation and he listened patiently (like I am sure he does with every new player) before walking me over to the acoustic room. Aaron started pulling guitars off the wall and left me to play on my own (good for me as my only audience has ever been my dogs, even the wife won't stay in the room for more than 5min). Aaron would come back every once in awhile to check on me and pull some more down to try out (including what seemed to be the most expensive guitars in the acoustic room). Before going in I thought I needed to buy a Martin and spend at least $600 to get a guitar I would like, but all I can think about after being there is the $250 Yamaha that sounded great to my ears. Who knew spending some time in a store could save you money. Thanks for the help Aaron! Hope this review is fair trade for not buying anything. Though I wish I had bought that pic you let me use - that was definitely a new experience.

Just had a great visit here. Had to take my guitar in to deal with a small problem and was afraid…read morethey'd recommend a set up, which can be pretty expensive. Instead, the technician (Geoff) said he'd take a look at it and fix it free of charge. On top of that, he was friendly, knowledgeable, and just a nice guy.

I have taken guitar lessons here for 2 years and just recently my children have taken music classes…read morehere as well. Also one of the instructors recently had an informal ukulele jam that I attended as well. The faculty here are great! Everyone is friendly and they absolutely LOVE music and the arts. It's cool watching the wide variety of instruments that students are carrying to and from their lessons- violins, violas, cellos, guitars (acoustic and electric), banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, and so on. They have summer camps for kids with some variety including a "rock band" camp that a co-worker's daughter attended. She was only going to go for the first week but enjoyed it so much she signed up for the second week too. I think it gave her the confidence to join a real band which she has since done and has performed with in public a few times now. My kids love their instructors and not only had a good time in class but my wife and I are impressed by how much music theory they picked up in class! Also they have a kid's string band The Bow-dacious String Band and I've caught them twice at public performances and for a children's band they're very impressive, if you get a chance to see them perform I recommend it and I recommend C4A if you're looking for music instruction! I wish their location was a little more convenient but really that's the only complaint I have and really that's a minor thing.

From the owner: Music lessons, group classes, ensembles for adults and kids, summer campsread more

Our son has taken lesson from Sam for three years and loves it! Sam is patient and exacting with…read morehis students. As a non-musician, I was unfamiliar with the process of learning an instrument. Sam expects parents to be active participants in practicing, to take notes at lessons, and help students learn responsibility. In group classes with other musicians, Sam enthusiastically encourages a broad range of abilities and levels. He also models how students should support and interact with each other by giving positive feedback and taking turns. Sam stresses listening to the instrument and to the teacher. As a parent, I am impressed with Sam's efficiency - he always has materials ready to go and starts and ends on time. Our son started cello at age 4 with a free trial lesson with Sam. I recommend that anyone interested in cello in the C-U area try Sam first!

My five year old has been taking cello lessons from Sam for a year. We are very pleased. My son is…read morelearning so much about music and self control and he is so proud of himself. Sam puts a lot of time and skill I to planning his cello program and his students like and respect him.

The Piano Shop is a business that sells pianos and moves them, so some of the above questions were…read morenot applicable. I have a baby grand I needed to have moved several feet away from a bow window that I needed to have replaced so the workmen needed the clearance to take the old window out and put the new one in without damaging the piano. Then after the window work is complete, the piano has to be moved back into place. The Piano Shop were prompt, efficient, and I am very happy with the care they took with my piano, and with the price for the two trips.

After recently moving my elderly mother to Champaign, where we live, we decided to take the piano…read moreshe was given as a child back in the 1940s. Since we needed to have it moved from her house to ours anyway, I sent an inquiry to The Piano Shop. Their website offers piano moving, repairs, and restoration. The piano has been taken care of throughout its lifetime but is out of tune; otherwise, it's fine for us and this seemed like the time to at least have it checked out for anything that could be done to tune it, etc. We have no grand expectations but want to keep it. When a woman from The Piano Shop responded to my inquiry, she began the call by saying, "I have nothing but bad news for you. Lester pianos were low quality pianos when they were made and this one is at the end of its life. You need to just walk away or find someone to take it to a dump." Yes, I kid you not, these were her opening words, my introduction to The Piano Shop. I told her I was not about to 'walk away' from a piano that's been in the family since the 40s (we are not concert pianists or Steinway owners, but maybe that's the clientele The Piano Shop prefers). She proceeded to tell me "We are only licensed to move pianos in Illinois." I told her we ARE in Illinois, right in Champaign. She actually tried to argue and, in an irritated tone one might use with a misbehaving 3-year-old, said, "No, the piano is in Indiana". She hadn't read the message properly, which clearly stated it had been moved to Champaign. After a short silence, she replied that she now saw that that was the case and said they would be able to move it for us for $175. I am totally willing to pay that, but it isn't going to be to The Piano Shop. After that insulting, smug interaction, I'd take the thing apart and haul it in my car before I'd hire them. If you are in the market for a snooty, condescending piano service, you're in luck. Perhaps The Piano Shop should consider updating their website to include the verbiage "We only accept work on expensive pianos that we deem worth it."