I live a block and a half away and would rather drive 30 minutes to Guitar Center..... After Gratz music closed this is the only music shop in Valparaiso. You can get music lessons and a few instrument accessories here like strings, picks, etc... They have a very small selection of guitars and amplifiers, some sheet music books, and other doodads but their showroom is about the size of a large closet. They Host open mic nights which are a favorite for some local artists and music fans. However, I have always felt the staff was fairly condescending and curt. Your mileage may vary. They seem to cater to blues/folk musicians mostly so people who play other genres may be out of luck when looking for gear or advice. If you are looking for stage gear, lighting, recording gear, drums, effects pedals, an extensive selection of guitars, basses, microphones, straps, picks, beat machines, synthesizers, well.... pretty much anything relating to any genre of music beside folk/blues, this place does NOT have it. and if they happen to have it, it will be 50% more expensive than any other music store on the planet. Anyone who isn't friends with the owners or isnt a local blues/folk musician should definitely invest the 3 dollars in gas to go to guitar center a few towns over. The only time i ever go here is if i need strings for my acoustic guitar. The rest of my thousands of dollars of music equipment was bought elsewhere because Front porch didnt have it or it was so expensive it was worth driving an hour to get it somewhere else. read more

Front Porch Music is a great place for lessons in Valparaiso. Everyone there is super friendly. I took lessons there for many years. Beth is a great beginning guitar teacher. Lessons are competitively priced. Buy a guitar here instead of going to a big company like Guitar Center--support your small businesses! They have all sorts of great accessories. I cannot say enough great things about this place. Open stages here are fun to attend and kid friendly. They have great group classes for teens and adults. read more

Front Porch Music is just one of many quaint downtown Valparaiso businesses. They are extremely friendly and helpful there. Lessons are offered. They host open mike nights that have been a favorite among the locals and visitors alike. read more

I love the culture and atmosphere at FPM. They are helpful, kind, mellow, and intelligent. So I left my acoustic guitar with them so that they could install a pick-up. They had my guitar for three weeks! I expected a wait because their tech works part-time. Yet, every time I called (because they never called me), they said it was "on deck", the next thing to be done. After three weeks, I went to pick it up. It wasn't done, it wasn't started. I took it across town to a big chain store. They did it in 5 hours. I want to support locals, but I need my guitar back. I understand that everyone gets backed up, but playing the guitar is part of my livelihood. Part of their livelihood is fixing guitars, and keeping their word. If the front desk makes promises, but the workshop doesn't know it--well, that makes for broken promises--intended or not. Again, I really like these guys! For teaching, atmosphere, and knowledge they are second to none. Yet, for a timely repair you may want to check somewhere else. read more

Great music establishment. Chad and crew are great!! Highly recommend for music lessons!

Front Porch is fantastic. Everyone there is wonderful. The Garage Band program is phenomenal. They were very instrumental in my sons desire to become a professional musician. A special thanks to Buddy Pearson who is a terrific teacher! read more

Quaint, yes. But not a great music store. Very limited on strings, accessories, and electric guitars. Decent selection of acoustics, but not very competitive pricing. I want to support a local business too, but don't want to be taken advantage of either. They'll have to be at least a little more competitive to get me to buy a guitar from there. I can't say anything about the instructors because I haven't used them, but the people managing the store front have not been customer friendly or helpful in any way. I would describe them as "indifferent' to my presence as a customer. Based on lack of available products and missing customer service, I gave them 2 stars but am very hopeful it changes for the better in the future. I want Front Porch to be a desirable music store I look forward to going to, but as of today its not. read more

Colleen Rodriguez - 1 Star - uses Religious Freedom Restoration Act as an excuse to not provide a violinist referral to her student (her students paying her) for a paying musician gig to same sex weddings. Front Porch Music - 4 Stars I initially wrote a very negative review after my sister had a negative experience in trying to find a violinist for her wedding. She was put in contact with Colleen Rodriguez, who is an instructor at the school, and Colleen was to offer a referral to a student who could be paid for the ceremony by my sister. Colleen seemed helpful with the task that is until she realized it was a ceremony for two women. She then cited her moral objection to provide the referral, choosing to transfer her morality not just to my sister, her fiancee but to her paying student from a paying musician job. My sister who steers away from controversy & is often too respectful of other's opinion over her own rights (as many who are in her position are conditioned to conform) was hurt and upset but chose to just move on with a more respectful musician. I on the other hand was more than happy to be the mouth. Unbeknowst to me, my sister & her fiancee - Colleen was not the voice of "Front Porch Music." My sister's fiancee and I made a few posts to Front Porch FB page & our own. The owner, Chad Clifford, contacted my sister and expressed his apologies, offered guitar services & or offered to find a violinist referral. They aren't a booking agency.  I understand the delicate nature of an employer or a school where an instructor teaches not being able to trample all over the religious rights of someone who is employed thru them.  Not ironicly that Colleen Rodriguez who waves her Religious Freedom around quite freely yet trampled all over the freedom of her paying students to make their own moral and religious decisions freely. In this instance, we we not looking for any resignation of Ms. Rodriguez or for her to even go against her alleged morality (i call it hatred disguised as a pretty package). However she had absolutely no right to end the process at her "morality." I personally was only playing by the rule that if you want to express your anti gay sentiments as a moral issue, than I will freely inform others of it so they can choose to deny you patronage just as you denied service. Colleen Rodriguez of Front Porch Music your morality goes against my religion of an inclusive God, who does not deny people the expression of their love and commitment for one another. Straight people have trivialized the sanctity of marriage for years _ proof is in divorce rates & declining marriage numbers.  This country was founded on Separation of Church from State not Religious Freedom as people like Ms Rodriguez would like to believe. It is in that division that one is able to freely practice their faith. It does not give them the right to practice bigotry and segregation in the larger society of which her religion is just a fragment. If by her and other religious right winger definition, we would all be subject the religious whim of whomever was in power or subject to philosophies of no religious expression. I'll support Front Porch not Colleen Rodriguez. read more