A trusted advisor for aspiring musicians
Family-owned Royalton Music Center stocks the highest-quality instruments and places focus on customer service
Royalton Music Center has everything the budding or seasoned musician would ever need – instruments, accessories, sheet music, lessons, a repair shop – all under one roof. Photo courtesy of RMC
NORTH ROYALTON – Regardless of how old your child is, back-to-school can be a stressful time.
For anyone who has a child about to join band or orchestra, the realization that the supplies list extends far beyond the usual paper, pencils and pens often leads to more questions: “Where do I get an instrument? How does this all even work?”
This is something Royalton Music Center has been helping families with for more than 50 years, and as third-generation owner Lauren Haas Amanfoh fondly recalls, the back-to-school rush is her favorite time of year.
“I love it!” Amanfoh said. “Every person that comes in to rent an instrument is taking the first steps of a lifelong musical journey. That kind of responsibility is not something we take lightly – and it’s our privilege to help these new music makers succeed.”
While one might think the prospect of long lines and endless phone calls would be a source of trepidation for parents, it couldn’t be further from the truth. The process has been streamlined to be both swift for parents and awe-inspiring for children.
For starters, Royalton Music Center is the only store in Ohio to be named a NAMM Top 100 music store seven years running – a distinction held by only 18 stores in the country. Amanfoh’s store is open evenings and weekends, and the year-round operation is there to service you with not just the initial rental, but whatever you need in the future as well. The family-owned business has deep roots as longtime Strongsville and North Royalton residents, and is there to assist students and parents long-past their start in September.
With an enthusiastic staff, most of whom are educators themselves, Royalton Music Center spends one-on-one time with every student, showing them how to play their first notes as well as how to clean and take care of their new instrument. It’s the kind of experience that simply can’t be replicated via online or mail-order renting, and for a wide-eyed future band student, it can make all the difference.
“It’s so much more than just renting an instrument and paperwork; it’s about recreating the experience that I would want for my own child, the experience that my mom and grandfather gave to musicians who are the parents now,” Amanfoh said. “Rather than simply handing a 9- or 10-year-old their instrument and saying, ‘Here you go, good luck,’ we take that extra time and go that extra mile. Inspiring enthusiasm from day one is key to ensuring that they stick with it, and whatever we can do to aid your child in discovering the joy of music we are happy to do.”
Since her grandfather, Richard Eleck, first opened its doors back in 1964, Royalton Music Center has remained a fixture in the community known for its honest approach and expertise. A retired band director himself, Eleck placed an emphasis on education with everything he did. After his passing in 1989, Eleck’s daughter (Amanfoh’s mother) Sheri Haas took over the business and doubled down on the ideals that her parents had built their business upon, stocking only the highest-quality instruments and placing the focus on customer service.
While the last decade and the internet has brought much change to retail and how customers shop, Royalton Music Center remains the odd-man out – and that’s precisely how Amanfoh likes it.
“We have a website where you can rent online as well, but I like to think that nothing rivals the experience of coming into the store; from our helpful staff to our beautiful store with streamlined processes, it begs to be experienced.”
Another advantage of shopping at the music store is the spectrum of complimentary services the store offers. As anyone that still has an old trumpet or flute tucked away in the closet probably already knows, discerning the playability of an instrument can often be difficult to judge on looks alone. Members of Amanfoh’s in-house repair staff are constantly looking ‘under the hood’ of yesteryear’s instruments, a service they do not charge for.
“Sometimes families have an instrument that only needs minor work to get back up and running. Our on-site repair techs can give an honest assessment and have a turn-around time that is unrivaled. When a parent is able to pass down a piece of their own past to their child, it can be a really rewarding thing to witness.”
Aside from competitively-priced student rentals, Royalton Music Center features an award winning lesson program, with more than 43 teachers educating more than 750 students each week.
“Education is the core of Royalton Music Center,” Amanfoh said. “My grandfather was an educator, and most of my family are still music educators. We genuinely want you to succeed and play music for a lifetime in one form or another.”
Throughout the year, the store’s customers can enjoy special programs including recitals, a summer jazz band, a string ensemble and exclusive master classes and clinics with Cleveland Orchestra members and other famous musicians. They offer Kindermusik music and movement classes for youngsters aged 0-6, as well as music therapy for special needs individuals. In addition, Royalton Music serves as an education partner of The Cleveland Orchestra, and partner with outreach programs like The City Mission and El Sistema Rainey to make music accessible to all.
These Cleveland Orchestra “instrument petting zoos,” which are tables set up in the lobby before concerts at Severance Hall, are staffed by experts from Royalton Music. Many children first fall in love with musical instruments at these events, where they can hold and attempt to play all the different instruments.
Once you outgrow your first instrument, Royalton Music Center also carries the largest collection of step-up and professional instruments in the midwest, and offers private appointments at the store to help musicians find the perfect customized instrument for their needs and budget. This is where Royalton Music really shines. The staff listens to what the children feel they need, and advise them so they can make a great decision. If band or orchestra isn’t the right musical fit, the store stocks a soaring wall with guitars, basses, ukuleles, keyboards and more to keep the music playing in your home too.
“Whether you are beginning your musical journey or giving your old instrument an encore, we look forward to serving you,” Amanfoh said.
Royalton Music Center is located at 10167 Royalton Road in North Royalton. For more information, call 440-237-9400.
For anyone who has a child about to join band or orchestra, the realization that the supplies list extends far beyond the usual paper, pencils and pens often leads to more questions: “Where do I get an instrument? How does this all even work?”
This is something Royalton Music Center has been helping families with for more than 50 years, and as third-generation owner Lauren Haas Amanfoh fondly recalls, the back-to-school rush is her favorite time of year.
“I love it!” Amanfoh said. “Every person that comes in to rent an instrument is taking the first steps of a lifelong musical journey. That kind of responsibility is not something we take lightly – and it’s our privilege to help these new music makers succeed.”
While one might think the prospect of long lines and endless phone calls would be a source of trepidation for parents, it couldn’t be further from the truth. The process has been streamlined to be both swift for parents and awe-inspiring for children.
For starters, Royalton Music Center is the only store in Ohio to be named a NAMM Top 100 music store seven years running – a distinction held by only 18 stores in the country. Amanfoh’s store is open evenings and weekends, and the year-round operation is there to service you with not just the initial rental, but whatever you need in the future as well. The family-owned business has deep roots as longtime Strongsville and North Royalton residents, and is there to assist students and parents long-past their start in September.
With an enthusiastic staff, most of whom are educators themselves, Royalton Music Center spends one-on-one time with every student, showing them how to play their first notes as well as how to clean and take care of their new instrument. It’s the kind of experience that simply can’t be replicated via online or mail-order renting, and for a wide-eyed future band student, it can make all the difference.
“It’s so much more than just renting an instrument and paperwork; it’s about recreating the experience that I would want for my own child, the experience that my mom and grandfather gave to musicians who are the parents now,” Amanfoh said. “Rather than simply handing a 9- or 10-year-old their instrument and saying, ‘Here you go, good luck,’ we take that extra time and go that extra mile. Inspiring enthusiasm from day one is key to ensuring that they stick with it, and whatever we can do to aid your child in discovering the joy of music we are happy to do.”
Since her grandfather, Richard Eleck, first opened its doors back in 1964, Royalton Music Center has remained a fixture in the community known for its honest approach and expertise. A retired band director himself, Eleck placed an emphasis on education with everything he did. After his passing in 1989, Eleck’s daughter (Amanfoh’s mother) Sheri Haas took over the business and doubled down on the ideals that her parents had built their business upon, stocking only the highest-quality instruments and placing the focus on customer service.
While the last decade and the internet has brought much change to retail and how customers shop, Royalton Music Center remains the odd-man out – and that’s precisely how Amanfoh likes it.
“We have a website where you can rent online as well, but I like to think that nothing rivals the experience of coming into the store; from our helpful staff to our beautiful store with streamlined processes, it begs to be experienced.”
Another advantage of shopping at the music store is the spectrum of complimentary services the store offers. As anyone that still has an old trumpet or flute tucked away in the closet probably already knows, discerning the playability of an instrument can often be difficult to judge on looks alone. Members of Amanfoh’s in-house repair staff are constantly looking ‘under the hood’ of yesteryear’s instruments, a service they do not charge for.
“Sometimes families have an instrument that only needs minor work to get back up and running. Our on-site repair techs can give an honest assessment and have a turn-around time that is unrivaled. When a parent is able to pass down a piece of their own past to their child, it can be a really rewarding thing to witness.”
Aside from competitively-priced student rentals, Royalton Music Center features an award winning lesson program, with more than 43 teachers educating more than 750 students each week.
“Education is the core of Royalton Music Center,” Amanfoh said. “My grandfather was an educator, and most of my family are still music educators. We genuinely want you to succeed and play music for a lifetime in one form or another.”
Throughout the year, the store’s customers can enjoy special programs including recitals, a summer jazz band, a string ensemble and exclusive master classes and clinics with Cleveland Orchestra members and other famous musicians. They offer Kindermusik music and movement classes for youngsters aged 0-6, as well as music therapy for special needs individuals. In addition, Royalton Music serves as an education partner of The Cleveland Orchestra, and partner with outreach programs like The City Mission and El Sistema Rainey to make music accessible to all.
These Cleveland Orchestra “instrument petting zoos,” which are tables set up in the lobby before concerts at Severance Hall, are staffed by experts from Royalton Music. Many children first fall in love with musical instruments at these events, where they can hold and attempt to play all the different instruments.
Once you outgrow your first instrument, Royalton Music Center also carries the largest collection of step-up and professional instruments in the midwest, and offers private appointments at the store to help musicians find the perfect customized instrument for their needs and budget. This is where Royalton Music really shines. The staff listens to what the children feel they need, and advise them so they can make a great decision. If band or orchestra isn’t the right musical fit, the store stocks a soaring wall with guitars, basses, ukuleles, keyboards and more to keep the music playing in your home too.
“Whether you are beginning your musical journey or giving your old instrument an encore, we look forward to serving you,” Amanfoh said.
Royalton Music Center is located at 10167 Royalton Road in North Royalton. For more information, call 440-237-9400.