The Music Room

I’ve shopped here over several decades usually just buying sheet music or browsing what’s new. I don’t hold the same opinion of this store today that I used to have when it was smaller around the corner, or even five years ago.
I stopped in looking for maybe a used sax rental, with a possible buy. Got some good info from a helpful student salesperson who thought they had a used sax maybe in the $ 6 – 700 range. I thanked him, and took the sax model number down and some info. Then a little later
an older guy with bad breath sought me out to let me know they didn’t have any used saxes under $ 1000 because of course they only sell really good reconditioned ones, but they might have one around $ 1500 – 1600. I didn’t say much of anything, just nodded. But was thinking, «I Gotta Get out of Here». It reminded me of the creepy car salesman manager in the shiny suit that would come out of the back room with a handful of rings and tell you they couldn’t do the deal you had just proposed to their salesman, he couldn’t approve it. Not that you had MADE that deal etc. Complete last millennium throwback.
So I would just say BEWARE.
It’s a very nice new, multilevel, well-​displayed store.
I’ve had very helpful and creepy experiences here in the last year.
Do your homework. Check Sam Ash in BG and The Guitar Center in AH, and the Instrument Exchange in Batavia has a lot of used instruments.
You can pay WAY too much for a new instrument, particularly for a student when all you really need to do is spend a couple hundred on a starter instrument just to get them going. Find a local shop or at least a local repairmen you can trust and pick up a solid used instrument and put $ 100 into it.
Good Luck.

The Music Room has a good selection of instruments. Not a crazy big Guitar Center selection, but better than your average independent shop.
While I was there I talked to a few staff members, all of whom where polite and super helpful.
I tried out a few guitars while I was there, and each of them was in great shape and set up very well. This is quite the opposite of some other stores I’ve been to where they let the guitars get used and abused and then hung back up on the wall. In fact, when I went to the Music Room I was wearing a hoodie with a zipper, and they asked me to take it off before I played any of their guitars so the zipper wouldn’t scratch it. I realized I shouldn’t have worn a hoodie to test out guitars, but I also saw this as a sign that they really do care about their instruments, and is probably part of the reason they are in such good shape.
One of the guitars I tried out there was a BC Rich Zoltan. I’m not normally a BC Rich fan, but this guitar had one of the best setups I’ve ever played. Super low action, no string buzz, effortless playing.
I know they give lessons there but I don’t have any experience with that.
According to their website, they also have jam sessions where students can play together with other students. There are a few different levels available. That’s pretty awesome and not something I have seen before.
Summary:
— good selection
— all instruments in great shape and set up well
— friendly, knowledgeable staff
— lessons available
— jam session lessons available

We have been going to the Music Room for years now and it just keeps getting better and better every year. The guitar teacher of my daughter is Mike McKeeney and he is great! The service and people that help us constantly are wonderful. Jeff, on Saturdays, is more than fantastic and very personable, hardworking, polite and goes above and beyond every Saturday we see him. He greats us all the time, and feels like he is a part of our family. He gives us solutions and answers any questions we have for him. Thank you to Jeff for everything, Mike for being a great teacher and to The Music Room for helping make Palatine a great town to be in.

If your looking for personal service in a relaxed no pressure setting, The Music Room in Palatine lives up to that standard and then some. I’ve been particularly impressed with their music lesson programs, great for kids in grade school who want to pick up an instrument. Aspiring «Eddie Van Halens» can find lots of entry level options and help from their staff. I’m a big fan of supporting local brick and mortar businesses (even if it means paying a little more) because of the personal service offered. If you hobbiest, and feel intimidated by the big «warehouse» stores and want a bit more than a «cold» internet/​ebay sales experience, The Music Room is well worth your time.

When The Music Room was across the street on Slade and had a little bitty store, it was homey, cute, and comforting. It’s since moved across the street into a bigger location which is great for them! I was disappointed the first time I went in because I loved the little store, but generally a bigger store = bigger revenue so I had to be happy for them.
My voice teacher is no longer there, but when I took voice lessons it was a really wonderful experience. The classes were in little studio rooms so you could hear the person next to you, and that kind of freaked me out for a bit until I got used to it. But, you’re in a music store, so if people hear you singing or playing you should probably get over it since you’re not in a music studio with soundproof walls. I’m not sure how the rooms are now, but I know they’re on the 2^nd floor and they look like the same setup.
They are reasonable on pricing for classes, and when I looked into violin lessons (which I still have unfortunately yet to take from any music place… it’s on the bucket list!) they were great about renting instruments and explaining the lesson policies and pricing.
They have a large selection of books for all types of instruments, and while I haven’t ever purchased an instrument from them, I’ve noticed their large stock of instruments.
The staff is friendly and helpful, and they are knowledgeable about what they’re selling. It’s always nice to get a little insight into the music tastes of the person you’re talking to and see what direction of music books they can point you in.
I love to make it a point to visit when I’m in town. Keep it up Music Room!

Good store run by very nice and honest people, which is, unfortunately, a rarity in retail music equipment these days.
Case in point — They’ve gone out of their way to help me with some malfunctioning equipment when they stood nothing to gain financially one way or the other. If they’re willing to do that for someone who walks in off the street with a broken item they don’t even carry, think about how they treat paying customers. That’s the kind of quality local business I want to spend my money at. Give The Music Room a shot.