Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Cook.
Carol, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The Music Room opened for business on September 26, 1994, at 49 West Slade Street in Palatine, Illinois. Our location on Slade Street was a storefront in a brick building consisting of about 2500 usable square footage. We opened with four lesson studios, four teachers and a handful of books and accessories. In 1997, we added a fifth studio and moved our offices to an apartment located directly above the storefront. In 1999 we expanded even further by acquiring the adjacent building at 47 west Slade. This additional building allowed us to expand with three more studios, increased office space and a large group class space on the lower level.
By 2002, we had outgrown both these buildings and began our quest for a suitable space that would continue to expand our retail offerings and grow our existing student base. We set our sights on the building at 26 North Brockway Street, just half of a block west of our prior location. After three years of planning, forecasting and negotiating, we were able to make this move a reality. On June 1, 2005, we moved into 26 North Brockway Street, which remains our home today. This 10,000 square foot corner building is a cultural anchor in downtown Palatine.
The Music Room is full-service music retail and education center, specializing in the sale of published sheet music, guitars, amplifiers, band and orchestra instruments, and a full line of musical accessories. We also have an extensive in-house repair center that repairs all band and orchestra instruments as well as guitars. Through the sale of these items and services and by serving our current roster of over 400 private students each week, The Music Room has become a hub of music products, resources, activities and instruction for customers in our community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The Music Room began in 1994 with myself and my close friend and business partner, John Giovannoni. John’s role primarily focused on product inventory and repairs, while my role was to develop and maintain the store’s lesson program. We were an unbeatable team.
In December of 2011, John was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He died in January of 2013. That was a very dark period for all of us at The Music Room. I had to learn how to execute John’s responsibilities in addition to my own, while also grieving his loss.
Fortunately, I was surrounded by a multitude of helpful staff members, advisors and customers who helped make this process bearable.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Part of The Music Room’s mission statement includes “Changing lives through music”. We do this by addressing the musical needs (including education) of music makers of all ages and levels of experience. We have been recognized by NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) as a Top 100 Dealer in the nation for the past four years.
We sell guitars, amps, accessories, sheet music, band and orchestra instruments. We have an instrument rental program for young students entering band or orchestra in their schools. We also have two exclusive repair shops: one for fretted instruments and one for band an orchestra instruments.
We are most proud of our music education program. The Music Room insists on securing the highest quality, musically educated professional teaching staff to foster each student’s progress. Customers can expect the following from their teachers:
✓ Thorough knowledge and experience
✓ Professional and courteous conduct and appearance
✓ Lessons that begin and end on time
✓ Strong communication skills
It is the goal of The Music Room to create a valuable music lesson experience for each student by developing their musical skills through a progressive and enjoyable approach. This goal is achieved by using the following methods:
✓ Writing weekly assignments that clearly guide the student through home practice during the week.
✓ Developing clear and concise goals, customized for each student. Goals are emailed to students every six months.
✓ Consistently introducing new and progressive skills including but not limited to: technique, tone quality, music theory, sight-reading, musicianship and music literacy.
Interacting with students during the lesson experience through the use of demonstration, accompaniment and duets.
✓ Incorporating of a wide variety of materials including published sheet music materials and instrumental accessories.
✓ Scheduling regular performance opportunities through recitals, mini concerts or in-store performances.
✓ Communicating and conveying progress regularly with students and parents.
We know that our lesson program has resulted in changed lives of so many of our students. Over 100 students who began with us as small children (since we began counting) have gone on to either study music in college or have carved careers for themselves in the music industry in one form or another. Some are artists, some are teachers, and some are in the recording industry.
What were you like growing up?
As an only child, I adored being alone. While I had a lot of friends, “social butterfly” did not describe me. I was involved in music from a very young age. At five, my mom enrolled me in piano lessons. From that day forward, I knew that music would always be a part of my life. I loved to practice the piano and spent a lot of my time immersed in music.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Music Room
26 N Brockway Street
Palatine, IL 60067 - Website: www.the-music-room.net
- Phone: 847-934-5440
- Email: ccook@the-music-room.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmrpalatine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmrpalatine
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TMRPalatine
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-music-room-palatine
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
