M I SPY
JERSEY JAUNT, PART TWO:
More Musical Instrument Stores Welcome back to the Garden State, MI Spy fans! You might remember I visited New Jersey back in December. Well, the Chief took a look at my mission report and decided it was only the tip of the iceberg, and that I should return. Generally speaking, if someone is known as “The Chief,” it’s probably a good idea to listen to their orders. So I agreed. I was in a good mood as I got ready for another Jersey journey. I had just splurged on a new MI Spy Mobile … although my MI Spy paycheck didn’t contribute much to the purchase. (Even double agents need side gigs these days; some of us have even had to become triple or quadruple agents just to make ends meet.) So as I got behind the wheel and inhaled that new car smell, I got excited for the day. What could be more fun than taking a lengthy drive around New Jersey? Along the way, I got two trays of sushi for lunch, found a decent cup of coffee, and — oh yeah — checked out a few more musical instrument stores. Some brick-and-mortar shops are still only doing curbside delivery, but I found four New Jersey-based stores that are inviting shoppers to come inside (while wearing a mask and observing proper social distancing) to check out their wares and make purchases. Three of the stores had quite generous parking for the new MI Spy Mobile’s classy chassis, and the other had ample curbside public parking right in front of the entrance. I was able to drive right up and find a spot quickly, as if the stores were waiting for me and me only. (Or so I thought at first. Things are getting somewhat better for music stores, and I was not the only shopper at each location.) One thing is for sure: The outlook for music retail is
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looking a lot brighter than it did at the start of the pandemic. It seems like the world has gotten back in touch with its love of making music while we were all in lockdown, and that’s one thing to feel optimistic about. Many more people are entertaining themselves at home with musical instruments. Kids (and adults) have been taking music lessons online, but some are returning to in-person lessons (with protections in place that would have been unthinkable in the past). More than in recent memor y, people who have extra time on their hands are learning (or relearning) musical instruments. And good news for MI retailers: All this means that more people are purchasing new and used instruments, as well as accessories and sheet music. Of course, musical instrument stores know that they are competing with online vendors, free sheet music that’s only a Google search away and many other modern issues, but more
music-makers means more business for ever yone. I decided that my mission report this month should focus on band-and-orchestra instruments, as they sadly have seen a sales a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. But I will not stop there. As you will see, your MI Spy, like only the most polished jazz musicians, has a knack for improvisation. As always, I reserve the right to steer off course and report on anything that catches my fancy.
Hunterdon Music 11 State Route 12 Flemington, NJ 08822 908.782.0620
This cozy store may not be large, but it carries an impressive inventory, especially with young students in mind. It’s well organized and jampacked with all kinds of musical instruments. And it had a small but lovely selection of windup metronomes! Ahh, the joys of a non-electric metronome, a lowtech beauty and a useful tool for
any musician. (Fear not: the store also sells electronic models.) When I stopped by, there were two women working here, and both were cheerful, down to earth and knew their stuff. The older of the two spoke to me about the allure of the windup metronomes: “People really like the motion of them, and kids do too! They’re so different from all the electronic gadgets kids are used to these days.” I also asked her about the store’s selection of plastic trombones (including a red one that was hung on the wall, high above the cash register), and she explained that “They are actually smaller than regular trombones, and are in E flat, not B flat. We have them in red, black, white and other colors. People get them to match their school colors.” I hadn’t thought about that; a colored instrument is certainly a kidfriendly way to show some school spirit. She also mentioned that a few months into the pandemic, “So many people bought guitars — at our store and others — that FEBRUARY 2021
