General Info

A message from John Keal When I was growing up, I played the trombone. Some of my best memories are of my buddies in the band and the trouble we used to get into. Nothing serious, just good clean fun---trombone players are always up to something! Pranks notwithstanding, my years in the band gave me an appreciation of the importance of music in the lives of people of all ages, but especially in the lives of children. That s what prompted me to direct John Keal Music Company toward the school music business back in the 1960 s. Since then, we ve worked with the area s best educators to tailor our services to meet the needs of young musicians, their parents, and their teachers. Even today, one of the things I enjoy most about my job is teaching a new student how to hold the trumpet, or showing a parent what features to look for in a good violin. And it is especially gratifying to watch a student progress from a beginner instrument to a state of the art professional horn. I know that parents and teachers have an increasingly difficult job. My wife Pat and I have raised five children ourselves and the task has not gotten any easier. Activities like band and orchestra are important ingredients in a healthy childhood, and are often the beginning of a lifelong enjoyment of music. Some of our most loyal customers are now retired and playing in community bands all over the country ! Being in business since 1930, we have seen many changes take place. However, at John Keal Music Company, we know that nothing takes the place of knowledgeable, friendly service. When a new customer comes to our store, I often will take them on what I call " the tour." They have a chance to meet our staff and see our facility, from the showroom and the repair department, to the sales office where Pat has worked with me for over 20 years. Occasionally, we ll even venture down into the "graveyard; " the final resting place for our inventory that s past it s prime ( although old instruments never really die; sometimes they turn into lamps and weathervanes ! ). I hope you ll enjoy that same "tour" on the following pages. And if you ever find yourself in our neighborhood, stop in to say "hello."