Capital Music Center

(152 reviews)

•$$$

I have taken multiple guitars for setups an am very happy with the work. Recommend Aaron Smiley to…read morework on your guitars.

Friendly and laid back people. You have to go out of your way to ask staff for help but when you do…read morethey are super helpful. I think they are really just trying to give people space to explore.

MusicMasters Piano Showroom

(64 reviews)

Brian Henselman shared great detail on my impending piano tuning and cleaning. Talking with him by…read morephone he provided so much information that I was not aware of and many considerations before I proceed with this project. Thank you and I highly recommend reaching out to him as he clearly is a master in his field!!

I contacted Brian Henselman again to tune Things Two's baby grand piano as it was recently moved as…read moreI purchased a new home. Its important to tune a piano after a move and on other occasions such as: 1- When a piano is not played, the strings will gradually stretch with the passage of time and the piano will fall out of tune. Pianos need regular tuning at least once a year to keep them up to pitch and playing the correct notes. 2- When fluctuations in temperature and humidity occur which cause the wooden parts of the piano to expand and contract, affecting string tension. 3- When a piano is not tuned regularly. Pianos get set in their ways as they age. A piano that hasn't been tuned in a long time will go out of tune again very quickly. Pianos are temperamental and should be tuned at least once per year. I like to think of a piano like a car in that, cars require regular tune ups, oil changes etc. Brian showed up on time, was efficient and gave some great tips on piano care. If you are seeking an honest and reliable piano tuner, Brian is the best bet! Total for tuning: 205.68 #supportlocal

Steinway Piano Gallery

(6 reviews)

I bought a Steinway grand piano from the Steinway Gallery in Austin. Matthew and his team were…read morevery helpful throughout the entire purchasing process. They made purchasing, delivery and set up of the piano very seamless. They also came out a few weeks later to adjust the piano action to match the room, which was super helpful. The piano has been amazing and a huge upgrade from the upright we have. Also, I've had Matthew take care of piano tunings as well and he arranges his tuner to come out and tune our pianos. On top of all that, we recently wanted to add a MIDI system where our kids could use their iPad piano apps (Piano Marvel and Simply Piano) with our pianos and Matthew was able to take care of the entire process - from order the parts all the way to installing the system. I was super impressed and thankful. The system works great and is a complete game-changer for our kids.

While this is not a review of the gallery, it is a review of the piano movers who recently moved my…read moreYamaha. I was actually looking for piano movers, and Steinway didn't surface. Since their gallery is fairly close to my home, I called them and asked if they moved pianos within a home. They do provide this service, and I hired them to move my piano. I found the movers to be very knowledgeable about my piano. In addition, they were very careful and professional. I'm so happy I chose them. If you need to have a piano moved, consider calling Steinway first.

Piano by Angelo

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Angelo is an amazing teacher and person. He is positive, engaging and extremely talented. Our 9…read moreyear old tried two teachers before two sets of friends recommended Angelo. He challenges our daughter but makes sure to keep things fun. He encourages her to explore songs she enjoys to help stay her motivated. We would recommend Angelo to anyone!

Both of my boys have taken lessons with Angelo, and it has been an amazing musical journey for…read morethem. Angelo's teaching style is unique in that he encourages his students to tackle advanced songs which accelerates their skills. He introduces the students to diverse music to sharpen their ear. He's also a working jazz musician in the Austin music scene which is inspiring!

Orpheus Academy Of Music

(36 reviews)

I appreciate that my student's teacher tailors her lessons to meet his individual needs, and that…read morethe front desk staff are so welcoming and professional in their interactions with me. We both look forward to his weekly voice lessons!

My oldest has been going to Orpheus for her piano and music lessons since 2012. In 2014, I got my…read moreyoungest to go as well. I especially like Orpheus philosophy that learning a music instrument needs to be backed by a strong theory. When I was growing up, my piano teacher taught me to play piano, but never taught me music theory. I feel I'm missing some music foundation. I think my kids will have a richer musical life knowing a decent amount of music theory. I like the fact that we spend approximately equal amount of time on theory (in a group) and on instrument lesson (individually). Another aspect I like about Orpheus is the opportunities to collaborate amongst students. Orpheus' annual Friendship Concert where multiple kids collaborate to perform a duet or triplet is just about my favorite event of the year.

Strait Music Company

(100 reviews)

My daughter and I came in looking for a case for an acoustic guitar. We interacted with several of…read morethe staff and they were all helpful and great people, but they noticed that the acoustic we had was very large for my daughter and showed us some smaller options. We came in looking for a case, but Rodrigo recommended the South store that had a better selection of smaller acoustics and we bought one the next day. Good call, Rodrigo! She is having a much easier time playing now.

This was one of the most frustrating customer experiences I've had. My credit was not the issue,…read moreyet this company still acted like I was unworthy of basic service and tried to force a $600 deposit on top of monthly rental charges. I had already been a customer for a year, paid every bill on time, paid a deposit at the very beginning of my account with them although my credit was GOOD. Not fair, not poor, GOOD, and still got a nonsense explanation that made it clear they either don't value repeat customers or don't know how to apply their own policies consistently. I walked away and found another company (Blackerby) with far better service, better rates, a $125 deposit, and no credit check. The difference was night and day. This company's deposit policy feels arbitrary, their pricing is excessive, and their treatment of customers is flat-out poor. I would not recommend them to anyone. By the way I paid for an entire year of rental upfront with the other company and still paid less than the $600 deposit fee that Strait Music tried to play in my face with.

PianoWorks

4.8

(44 reviews)

What a worthless experience. This guy was unable to get our piano in tune and after the second…read moreappointment I discovered many flat keys. Ron's response was to belittle me and tell me he left if exactly where he intended. He sure seems to think a lot of himself but apparently doesn't stand by his work or care about his reputation. He was arrogant and defensive instead of making sure his work lived up to his claimed high standards. Save your money and go with someone with the huge unfounded ego.

Ron is AMAZING!! I contacted him through Yelp, and he responded in a very timely manner. I have an…read moreold piano that's never been tuned in the time that I've had it (2ish years). He got to me in the timeframe provided and was very friendly. My dog was walking around while he was working and became best friends with Ron. While working on the piano, he noticed that I had some stuck keys and rusted strings. He communicated with me potential ideas, and we both worked through solutions. At the end of the tuning, he played some amazing music and even polished my piano! It was rather lacking in both the pitch and shine before, and he turned it back into the beauty that it's supposed to be. Thank you so much, Ron, for your help! Can't wait to see you at the next tuning.

Wild About Music

4.3

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Cute store, friendly staff, lots of gadgets to choose from for that great souvenir, gift or…read morepersonal purchase. Centrally located on Congress Ave, can't miss it while on your way to some of the local landmarks happening around town. Need a guitar? They got you!

This is such a cute, eclectic store that has a TON of music-themed gifts for the music lovers in…read moreyour life! If you're looking for something unique for yourself or a friend who is big into music, this is the place to go. The prices are pretty reasonable and I ended up finding the perfect gift for one of my friends while checking out this store.

Austin Piano Tex

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I was looking at purchasing a very nice piano at an estate sale. Nick was referred to me by Strait…read moreMusic to inspect it. It was money well spent. He was professional, extremely knowlegeable and you could sense his interest in exploring the instrument. He also provided a value range for me to work with. I would recommend him without any reservations. We plan on using him for routine maintenance.

Five fiery stars! Nick Litterski really took care of our piano, and he really took care of us. He's…read morethe guy you want for your tuning and piano maintenance! I inherited a baby grand piano that had been in my grandmother's house since at least the early 1960s but probably quite a bit earlier, mostly unplayed. A refinish from decades ago job wiped out any trace of the manufacturer on the front, so it's a mystery who made it or how old it is. I also had no paper trail on how much care it had received over the years, meaning it could have been anything from an easy job to a huge challenge to tune it and get it into really good playable shape. Nick was amazing. He showed up on time, and immediately put me at ease. From a quick glance at the piano he could already give me clues as to what kind of shape it was in (turns out, not too bad all things considered), and as he got to work he took the utmost care in not just doing a simple tuning and cleaning of the piano, but also trying to get a feel for it as an instrument and where we could take it beyond this. He was very careful to get a sense of how my family and I use the piano and where my interests and skill levels were at, to get a sense of how much work we need to think about doing in the coming years to make it work for us without going overboard. I really appreciated his thoughtfulness on this, and on not trying to oversell us or just make it a quick in and out job. His care with the piano itself was superb, and over the course of 3 hours he transformed it from something that sounded like the piano from the cantina scene in The Three Amigos to something that fills our living room with beautiful harmonies. Throughout the process he kept communicating on everything he was doing, explaining in simple terms what he was finding and what he thought was needed, which gave me a new appreciation as well for the complexities of pianos. Nick is also just an easy going, fun guy. As he opened up the piano we kept finding little clues inscribed here and there as to its age and history, and he got as excited about solving the mystery of its origins as I did! Plus Nick is himself a fabulous piano player --- as he tested the tuning I was in awe of his jazz playing --- and before he left he even gave me a few pointers on how to get myself back into piano playing after 25 years of having barely played at all, but also new ways to think about approaching the piano to break the cycle of strict sight reading years of classical piano lessons left me with. In sum, I highly recommend Nick Litterski! He will work with you and your piano to help you get exactly what you need!

Guitar Center

2.8

(133 reviews)

I chose this Guitar Center to purchase my first Taylor! Great selection and was able to find the…read moreguitar I wanted in stock. Staff always friendly and helpful when I have visited so unsure why others have mentioned they could not get help. Makan was the member who helped me and had even gave a follow up call a month later to check in on how I was enjoying the new Taylor! They will be moving to new location nearby soon so glad I was able to find what I want while in the Austin area for work!

This is a review for the brand new location which has amazingly helpful staff. They had a fun…read moregrand opening for the new spot tonight.

South Austin Music

4.3

(131 reviews)

Amazing place. If you're in Austin, go here--spend some time, spend some money, and enjoy checking…read moreout the incredible pieces they have on hand. We stopped in while visiting family and had a group of four adults along with my 12‑year‑old daughter. The staff was exceptional: friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely accommodating. Their inventory is impressive, with options across a wide range of price points, so there's truly something for everyone. They've built something special here. Highly recommended.

Neat small guitar shop with a nice dog that roams the place…read more The stock is mostly classic and vintage guitars and amps. No Vs in sight though.

Strait Music Company

(100 reviews)

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Steve M.

11 years ago

I have been sending my children to Capital Music Center for piano lessons for eight years now. This represents a considerable investment in both time and money. Every moment and every penny has been worth it. Not only do I have two fine piano players, but the music theory taught at Capital Music has enabled one to become a drum major at her high school while the other is a hot shot award-winning pianist for her school jazz band. Additionally, both have applied their music theory training to other instruments, one accomplishing first chair flute/piccolo status, the other first chair clarinet. I attribute their accomplishments to the superior training they received at Capital Music. I have nothing but praise for their staff. Their knowledge, skill and expertise is equally matched with their patience, empathy, and understanding of young students. And this was very important to me as I have experienced other music instructors who, while they might be skilled, were nonetheless emotionally immature and played intimidating head games with kids. You will not find this negativity at Capital Music. Catherine, Todd and Karla (the three who have instructed our children) have inspired my kids to not only learn music, but to enjoy it. This is very important, because if your kids aren't enjoying the process they are not willing to stick around. You can find evidence of the good works of Capital Music's instructors at the winter and spring recitals. From the beginners to the older, accomplished students their recitals are performed in a nurturing atmosphere of patience and fun. And some really amazing performances are the result. I strongly recommend this school to any parent who desires their children to learn music. read more

Rebekah S.

15 years ago

I received great service when I walked into the store to learn more about Roland pianos. The owner spent 1 1/2 hours talking with me and demonstrated the features of Rolands and pianos in general. I haven't played the piano in several years and am starting up again, while teaching my young daughter. During the last few months, I have looked at many options for pianos, several brands of acoustic and digital. By far, Roland is the best! The highest quality sound and superb accompaniment options can only be found in a Roland. I was most impressed with Giuseppi the delivery person. His careful attention in handling the piano was most appreciated! I have had incidences when installation personnel did not have care in handling the purchased items. Giuseppi definately appreciates the value of these pianos. Furthermore, I greatly appreciated the attention to the piano bench. Since I bought a used Roland and bench, I accepted the tear in the upholstery and wearing on the hinges. However after delivery, I noticed that the hedges were new and the upholstery was in better condition. The store personnel swapped a better bench of same style and size. I greatly appreciated this extra customer care and personal touch. I will definitely recommend Captial Music Center to those I talk to! read more

James D.

13 years ago

I've been very remiss in not writing up some comments on Capital Music Center. I had bought a digital piano from another store at the beginning of 2010 and after 18 mos. was unhappy with one feature in particular, the narrowness & slickness of the black keys. I made more visits to Capital while shopping around for a replacement than any sane person would do (even bringing a micrometer to measure key-width), but Ron Edelman and his staff were unfailingly patient, helpful with advice, highly knowledgeable, and as low-pressure as you can get. I managed to sell the unwanted instrument on Craigslist (at a significant loss -- the amount was predicted very accurately by one of Ron's team), purchased a new Roland HP-305, and have been extremely happy with everything about it -- except for the excruciatingly slow return of my former (rather limited) capacities. I highly recommend the store -- and also the idea of digital pianos, which I used to consider inadequate; but unless you're at concert pianist level, the sound and the action are very persuasive, at a tenth of the cost (and cubic volume), and you can practice without driving anyone else to distraction. read more

Daniel L.

15 years ago

I started taking drum lessons 2 months ago and they are going very well! Each week I'm learning something new and it's very exciting as I progress. I go in for my lesson and am able to go home and run through the examples with ease. Pat Petrillos's Reading Book is very descriptive and easy to understand and follow. Kris is a great teacher. He breaks down the lesson to make sure I'm understanding everything before moving on. Whenever I'm stuck on something I'm able to email him or stop by the Center and he is always available to help me out. He is always encouraging and knows how to point out my strengths when I'm struggling. I would not be at the level I'm at right now without the Roland Music Tutor. It really is a great tool for learning. When I'm having trouble with a specific measure I can separate it, slow it down, and loop it until I'm comfortable moving on. I have also been putting my own music files into the Music Tutor and take out the vocals so I can play along to the drum track. It's so cool! I'm very glad I started lessons with Kris and Capital Music. It's been a lot of fun! read more

Mariateresa S.

11 years ago

We have been taking our kids to Capital Music to take piano lessons for 12 years and we have always been very happy with the quality of all the teachers (Ms. Catherine is the most amazing!), the flexibility around logistics and the friendliness of everybody in the store. We bought a Roland digital piano from Capital Music, after debating if getting a real one or a digital one, and I am so glad that with their help we decided to go with Roland because the extra features makes it more fun to play. At Capital Music they also provide drums lessons, which is convenient if you want your kids to experiment with music: my daughter decided to play the drums at her last concert, instead of piano, since they needed a drummer in the "band", and she had a lot of fun! The best thing is that the teachers will adjust the program to meet parents wishes, but also trying to keep it entertaining for the kids. I would highly recommend Capital Music to anybody looking for a piano or for piano lessons. read more

Matt L.

17 years ago

I was very satisfied with the sales and service at Capital Music Center. You will not find staff more knowledgeable about their digital piano products in Austin. They listened patiently to our requirements and went to great lengths to demonstrate every feature on every product. They have a very good selection of Roland digital pianos to demonstrate in the store. I returned to the store on several occasions to make sure I was selecting the best digital piano. They were consistently helpful, let me demo the instruments as long as I wanted, and never pressured me to buy. Even after I purchased an HPi7S from them, they continued to go beyond expectation to make absolutely certain I was satisfied with my purchase. It was fun working with a team that was so enthusiastic about pianos and music and so anxious to satisfy their customers. Definitely visit Capital Music Center before you buy a digital piano in Austin. read more

Marian M.

9 years ago

We could not be happier with our experience at Capital Music. Our 9 year old daughter has been taking piano there for several months now. She is enrolled in group classes and they have been a wonderful creative outlet for her. Her teacher, Catherine Davis, makes the lessons so much fun. And even though they are in a group setting, she has done a wonderful job of tuning in to each child's individual level and needs, all the while teaching them to work together and lift each other up as they all learn and grow musically. The recitals are always exciting and well-organized. I highly recommend Catherine for piano lessons and Capital Music in general. We also purchased our piano from them and the staff was very patient and knowledgeable in helping us select the right one for our family and in our desired price range. They are an asset to our Central Austin neighborhood! read more

Mollie P.

17 years ago

I am just wild about Capital Music!!! My son has been playing by ear in a local band for 4 years. This Christmas I decided to buy a piano for our home so that he might learn to read music. Ron and Britt came to my rescue and suggested a Roland piano that my son could record his music, learn to read music on the computer screen that they "threw in" and a player piano to boot. Now my son is reading and playing like the wind on our Roland. And thanks to the in home tutorial, I am playing piano for the first time too!!! No lessons, just letting the piano teach me! And, to top that off, we have the "best little piano bar" in the neighborhood! We love it, I love it...it was the best thing I ever did for my family and an investment that will last a lifetime! Thanks Ron and Britt, you brought music to our lives! Mollie Puckett read more

Gil J.

15 years ago

After I decided to take action on my longtime desire to learn to play the piano I started looking for a music teacher. I called several and most of them were slow to respond and did not show much enthusiasm. One day while my wife, Audrey, and I were in Austin we noticed the Capital Music Center sign on Burnet road and stopped in. We were very impressed with the professionalism shown by Britt and I decided to take lessons there even though it is almost 90 miles round trip from out home near Marble Falls. Todd has been my teacher for several months and he is very dependable, polite, professional, and always dependable. It has been a great learning experience. I purchased my Roland MT90U Music Tutor and it has helped me greatly. ~Gil J. read more

Natalie H.

117

11 years ago

Bought the Roland V-Drums (TD-15) from Capital Music Center and took a couple of lessons to get acquainted with electronic drums (I'm a guitar/bass player mostly). They have a good rent-to-own program, and worked with me and my budget so I was able to pay out the kit without accumulating large interest fees. I also picked up a small Roland amp/monitor. Capitol Music Center caters to nascent musicians, so it's a great place to start drum or piano lessons. As a kid I would've loved coming to a place like this for music lessons. I also like that they sell quality used gear. read more

Nancy C.

10 years ago

Capital Music has always been a great supporter of all types of musicians in the Austin area! They have offered great discounts and are always willing to work with clients in finding the best instrument for each situation. As a retired public school music teacher and a present private piano teacher, I have had more than 25 years of business with Capital Music. I cannot recommend them highly enough for any interested student, parent, teacher or just a music lover looking for some guidance in purchasing an instrument (mainly pianos) or music. read more

Henry J.

11 years ago

The quality of the instruments and dedication of the staff (In particular Britt) sets this place far apart from any other "music store". The man who helped me, Britt, didn't try to sell me on any particular item, he just walked me through each instrument (in this case E-drum sets) and told me about each. It took me going in there 4 times until I decided what I wanted and this was no issue to Britt or the staff; he simply wanted me to be happy with my instrument. And I am. read more

Rob A.

10 years ago

My daughter Caroline was a Capital Music piano student from third grade through high school graduation. Their program is quite good and it has been a pleasure watching her advance musically each of those years. Todd Becker in particular has been a great teacher, but I am confident the others are just as good. I am happy to support a local business like Capital Music -- their unique business model really connects them to the community. read more

Jo Z.

10 years ago

I've a retired woman taking up piano late it life. Have been taking hour- long piano lessons from Todd for over two years--and enjoying them so much. My interests jump around so much--pop, blues, rock, classical, ethnic, or "fake-book" style. Whatever piece I throw at him, in whatever style, Todd can immediately increase my understanding of the piece and show me interesting ways to play it. read more

Winnie D.

9 years ago

My son took piano lessons for years and needed a change from his classical training. We found a great teacher at capital music who encouraged my son to pursue different kinds of music and explore some electronic possibilities. They had an informal show which gave students a chance to perform. We ended up purchasing a piano also. The staff was always helpful in every way. read more

Geneva N.

11 years ago

This is a wondeful place to have your child take classes. We have been here about six years now. Everyone is so nice. Todd Becker is an excellent piano teacher. He is the nicest, sweetest person we have ever met. We are so lucky to have him as our son's piano teacher. He always goes out of his way to help every time we asked him for anything extra. Great place!! read more

Buffy C.

9 years ago

I love this store and all the people that work there. Everyone is friendly, knowledgeable and the top of their field. I have had several Roland pianos over the years and usually upgrade when the latest/greatest comes out. As a piano teacher I send new students looking for an instrument to Capital first. I'm so glad they are part of Austin! read more

Mark B.

11 years ago

This store is one of Austin's Gems. My kid took piano lessons at CMC for 12 years. The group lessons are perfectly suited to toddlers and a real innovation. Later on he graduated to private lessons which we were also very happy with. Ms. Catherine and Mr. Zach are great supportive teachers. read more

Kumar M.

11 years ago

Super nice people who know their business. Throw any question about instruments and they can give you an authentic answer. I visited the center so many times because I liked the piano inventory and chatting with them. I was hoping to buy a piano from them but I moved. read more

Kurt L.

9 years ago

We bought our family piano here years ago and have loved it. The CMC people helped us choose the best piano for our budget. They are very freindly and not pushy. We go back to get all of our music from they too. We love this place! read more

Capital Music Center - musicalinstrumentsandteachers - Updated August 2026

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(34 reviews)

This is hands-down the place to go if you need anything drum-related. These gentlemen spent more…read morethan an hour repairing or replacing my ten-year old's drum set. They patiently and with kindness spent time with my son explaining what they needed to do, and why. They did not try to upsell me. The price is right, and the service spectacular. This is a true Austin treasure. We will be back.

Maybe it was just a bad day. I was visiting family in Austin…read morethis past week, and mid-day on a Wednesday a group of us stopped into Tommy's. There were four adults and my 12‑year‑old daughter, all musicians--I'm the only drummer. We had just come from South Austin Music, which had been a great experience. Unfortunately, this visit was the complete opposite. When we first walked in, we were greeted by a friendly staff member who told us to let him know if we had any questions or needed help. I asked whether there was any used gear, and he mentioned a few used pedals and a used kit upstairs. He then stepped away--presumably to eat lunch (a food delivery person came into the store at the same time we did)--and the other staff member was left behind the counter. I took a quick look around the upstairs area, which had an impressive cymbal selection, a handful of snare drums, and a couple of nice Gretsch Renown kits. I paused to look more closely at a raw copper snare that really caught my eye and made a brief comment to the person behind the counter. His response was a single word. I tried to engage a bit more, but he clearly wasn't interested in conversation. At that point, I was ready to leave. I was genuinely in the market for a used ride or a snare and had money to spend. I assumed that being in Austin there would be plenty of options, but that wasn't really the case. That's fair--used gear takes effort to manage, and many shops focus primarily on new inventory. As we were preparing to go, my wife asked if I wanted a t‑shirt. I took a look and agreed it was a cool design. She went to the counter and the staff member helped her with the purchase, but again, there was no engagement. I made one more attempt to start a conversation, but there was no response--no smile, no eye contact, no expression at all. Maybe we were annoying him. Maybe we interrupted his lunch. I honestly don't know. What I do know is that it was a disappointing experience. South Austin Music had such a great atmosphere--fun, welcoming, and warm. My local music shop in Maryland (not a chain), where my daughter takes guitar lessons, has that same vibe. This drum shop, by comparison, felt cold and purely transactional. I left feeling bummed out and awkward enough that I apologized to my family for the experience.

South Austin Music

4.3

(131 reviews)