Charlotte County's Shops Never Sounded so Good

Independent music stores are about more than purchasing a rare album not to be found anywhere else on the planet. There are also independent music stores that butter their bread by selling musical instruments, sheet music, accessories and music lessons. These independent music stores are a fundamental need for the local schools, providing the inventory for parents to furnish their children with school band instruments so that they can learn to read, write and play music. Instead of delving into which tiny spaces offer the most unique and rare music finds, this article will delve into the independent music stores that have stood as a cornerstone of the Charlotte County community, allowing its people to be both inspired and empowered to have a voice through the melody and rhythm that is individually theirs.

In Port Charlotte, along US-41, is The Music Stand. The Music Stand has been a part of the Charlotte County community for twenty years. The owner lives and socializes in Port Charlotte. Guitars, school band instruments, orchestra string instruments for both the student and the professional, and percussion are all available for purchase. The Music Stand is an affiliated dealer for a company that provides parents of school band students a rental service of band instruments. This allows parents to contract, pay, return and seek maintenance on band instruments with great ease, creating a very relaxed and effortless process to an otherwise taxing and expensive ordeal. More parents of all economic stature are more accepting of their children participating in band and, as a result, more children get to discover the joy of playing music. Each salesperson at The Music Stand is professional and attentive to every customer. They see the customer from the first question through the check-out process. Prices are competitive and if an item is not in stock, The Music Stand will order it to arrive promptly so that you are not left waiting. The Music Stand is open 9 am through 7pm on Mondays and Wednesdays; 9 am through 6 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; and 12 pm through 4 pm on Sundays. The Music Stand is located at 2636 Tamiami Trail, just one block North of Tarpon Springs Blvd. off of US 41 on the Northbound or eastern side.

In North Port, along US-41, is North Port Music. Formerly known as Gard Music, North Port Music has a smaller space than The Music Stand but is packed from floor to ceiling with the best inventory any musician could desire. Guitars, school band instruments and percussion is sold here, as well as mouth harps and other unique instruments not often seen in music stores but commonly used in drum circles, bluegrass sessions and other music social occasions. Customer service is not surpassed at North Port Music. When shopping for my oldest son's student percussion kit, North Port Music quoted me for a specific kit. When that kit failed to return from rental in time to sell to me, North Port Music provided a student percussion kit that was almost twice the value and price of the original kit for the same quoted price. Accessories are high quality items only and are priced competitively. A customer can be confident in having loyalty to North Port Music for musical instruments and accessories. North Port Music is located at 14525 Tamiami Trail #4 in North Port, just off US-41 next to the Stuff-a-Belly restaurant on the Northbound or eastern side. North Port Music is open from 9 am until 7 pm on weekdays and keeps similar hours on the weekend. Readers in the Charlotte County area are urged to call North Port Music at 941-429-2444 for more information about inventory, pricing and hours.

The Charlotte County area is a small piece of paradise along the Gulf of Mexico with ample Old Florida charm for its residents and visitors. Music plays a great role in the lifestyle and atmosphere. Thank to The Music Stand and North Port Music life-long musicians and young band students experience the convenience of having such joy at their fingertips. All readers are encouraged to visit these businesses, which have invested so much into the Charlotte County community, and join in on the joy of music.