Tempo Music Center

My kids enjoy visiting Tempo Music Center. They play musical instruments so they like to go in and check out what is on display. Usually we are just window shopping, but we have picked up some good records here. On our last visit most of the records were $ 3 each and we stocked up on some cool (quirky) Christmas albums.
The salespeople are so-​so. I guess they must be very knowledgeable about music, not so much customer service. While I was checking out there was another customer at the register doing something and the whole purchase had to be done by reaching around him. Awkward.

Tempo has always been extremely helpful. Owner Mike Hall sets the best example for the rest of the folks at the shop. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were all family — the kind that gets along :) If they don’t have something in stock, they don’t hesitate to order it or locate it. They participate in every downtown promotion and help the other businesses in the area in whatever way they can. I always have a great experience in the music store.

I bought some reeds here. While there, I noticed that baritone sax reeds are $ 10 each. When I asked about this, the guy working the counter seemed to be disgruntled about it, saying that it was Vandoren’s fault. Ooookay… Sure.
The selection there is pretty big, but it seems that they cast a wide net with their stock instead of carrying anything too specialized. They only carry Vandoren and Rico reed products, which is kind of barebones-​ish of them. Much of the store is devoted to guitars and drums – rock band stuff. They have plenty of concert band music stuff besides accessories. They resell used band instruments. They have a large collection of electronic and percussion instruments. They have a sheet music section. I saw a couple orchestra stringed instruments there too. I think they even have a section devoted to stage amplification and rudimentary lighting.
I can’t speak towards their markups in other areas, but in reeds it was a little bit more than I was expecting, especially for their bari sax reeds. I suppose they need to charge that much to compete with the internet. But they will order something for you; however, you might as well do that yourself on your own computer.