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For many 5th and 6th graders in the Kansas City metro, the start of the academic year is their first opportunity to participate in instrumental music. Though children as young as 3 or 4 can start to learn piano and violin, typically, wind instruments, percussion, and the larger string instruments are introduced to older kids, in the 10 to 12 year old range.
But a good quality musical instrument can be expensive, and many students start with a rented instrument, parents seeing if their child will “stick with it” before making a larger investment.
Sometimes though, there’s an instrument sitting in a closet or garage that needs a little TLC to get back in playing condition. A local shop can clean and inspect the instrument and make additional repairs to get the instrument in tip top shape.
Whether you are looking to rent, repair or purchase an instrument, Kansas City has a variety of local music shops ready to assist.
KC Strings
KC Strings is located in Merriam, Kansas. Family owned for over 30 years, they supply many of the rental string instruments for students in the area school districts. Misha and Anton Krutz started the business to repair and make (Anton is a luthier) string instruments in 1992.
It’s particularly important with beginning string players to have the right sized instrument. At KC Strings, they’ll evaluate each student to match them to the correct instrument.
But as a full service business, KC Strings also serves players of all skill levels. Along with instruments, repairs and restoration, they sell music, accessories and supplies, and offer lessons and community resources, connecting string players across the metro.
📍5842 Merriam Dr., Merriam, Kansas 66203
Meyer Music
Meyer Music is a local, family-owned chain of music stores. They rent and sell instruments, including pianos, band and orchestra instruments, music and accessories. Meyer Music has onsite studios for music lessons, too.
Meyer Music is involved with Band of Angels, a charitable organization that helps match deserving young musicians with donated instruments. Donated instruments which cannot be repaired are repurposed into works of art that are sold to raise money for the program. Instruments for donation can be dropped off at any Meyer Music location.
📍1512 SW Highway 40, Blue Springs, MO 64015
📍6312-14 NW Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO 64154
📍11890 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS 66221
Ernie Williamson Music
Drummer Ernie Williamson started Ernie Williamson Music in 1935. Family run in Joplin, MO for nearly 70 years, it was acquired by Springfield Music in 2003, and the company rebranded under the Ernie Williamson name, now a local chain with locations in Missouri and Kansas.
The company offers rentals, repairs, lessons, school instruments and accessories, as well as drums, guitars, keyboards, and sound equipment. For the budding band student, they sell both beginner and intermediate instruments.
📍 12244 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Shawnee, KS 66216
Heritage Music Repair
Though not a rental shop, Heritage Music Repair specializes in repairing and restoring band instruments and guitars.
They have an inventory of used instruments, from beginner to professional level. In some cases, a decent used instrument can be cheaper than renting for a year or two, which can be particularly appealing to the committed music student or the older musician who wants to get back into playing later in life.
📍 3119 Gillham Rd., Kansas City, MO 64109
Other local resources
BAC Music Kansas City is known for its high-end, hand–crafted professional brass instruments made here in Kansas City (particularly trombones) and played by top musicians locally and around the world, but they also have an instrument rental and rent-to-own program. 1219 Lydia Ave, Kansas City, MO 64106
Palen Music was started in Springfield, MO in 1963 by two brothers with a music education background and does instrument rentals and sales. The store also sells used and refurbished equipment, mostly electric guitars and amplifiers. There are stores in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Locally: 11625 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210.
Supersonic Music was founded in 1998 in Topeka and also has a location in Lawrence, KS. The store specializes in drums and percussion, basses, guitars and PA equipment. The company does rentals, repairs and lessons, too, and is the home of TreeHouse Custom Drums, made by owner Derek Sharp.
Though they don’t sell band and orchestra instruments, Big Dudes Music City has been a Kansas City staple for all things rock and roll, as well as sound equipment, since 1976. 3817 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64111.
More Locally-Owned Music Shops:
Austin Custom Brass: 7000 Universal Ave., Kansas City, MO 64120
Dan Lawrence String Instruments: Lee’s Summit, MO
KC Drum Shop: 8500 West 95th Street, Overland Park, KS, 66212
Shining Light Music: 616 SW 3rd St, Lee's Summit, MO 64063
The Tune Shop: 514 Delaware Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048
Wyatt Violin Shop: 2418 East R D Mize Rd., Independence, MO, 64057
The metro area is wide and diverse, with plenty of options, so if we’ve missed your favorite local place for instruments and music supplies, let us know. (mailto: classical@classicalkc.org)
