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Health & Fitness

Blog: Coffey Music: A Legacy of Song

Coffey Music -- delivering music and entertainment to downtown Westminster for nearly 30 years.

Years ago, my husband wanted an electric guitar for Christmas.  After a few
excruciating days of hearing the sound of screeching cats, the family suggested
lessons.  We are all still thankful that he took our suggestion and called Coffey Music. Thanks to an amazing Coffey instructor, our basement was soon filled with the (amateur) sounds of the Beatles and U2. Life is good.

Coffey Music is an independently-owned music store that began in 1984.  It was created by Bob Coffey, who still owns and manages the store today. Ironically, Bob didn’t intend to own a music store. After graduating from Towson University with a degree in music education, he student taught in the Carroll County schools, and also volunteered with September’s Song, a local musical theater group.  At one performance, he met Claire Christy who owned a local music store.  During intermission, Claire turned to Bob and asked him if he would like to manage a music store. “Even with no retail experience, I said sure!” said Coffey.

The rest, as they say, is history.  After working for Christy for several years, Bob learned the retail music business and decided to open his own store downtown, in the Winchester Exchange. “My goal was to create an environment where both customers and employees enjoyed themselves.  To this day, when you walk into our store, our employees and customers are happy – trying instruments, looking for music, or just having fun,” Coffey explains. 

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In 1997, Coffey Music moved to 31 East Main Street to take over the space once inhabited by Mather’s Department Store.  It is now the largest music store in Carroll County, offering new and used instrument sales, rentals and service, music
lessons and even live entertainment. “We host a Bluegrass Jam on the first and
third Friday of each month,” says Coffey. “It’s very rewarding to see the faces
of young musicians who can see these great players up close and personal.”

Lessons are for children and adults (see above!) of all ages.  Nearly 600 students
take lessons from Bob’s cadre of 40 instructors, who are both patient and  talented.  There are 21 lesson rooms upstairs, offering a private, cozy area to learn anything from chopsticks to Chopin.  Coffey also hosts “Demo Days”,
which enables aspiring musicians to spend the day at the store trying out
different instruments to see what best “fits”.

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For the smallest music aficionados, Coffey offers Kindermusik, a class for tots up to 6 years old.  A great variety of child-based musical activities engage and inspire the little ones to appreciate and enjoy the world of music.

Coffey Music, celebrating nearly 30 years in business, is just one of many thriving, long-term businesses on Main Street. For more information about Coffey and its offerings, visit www.coffeymusic.com or follow them on Facebook.  We’ll see you around downtown!

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