Marich Music Blog!

March March March!  It’s coming it’s coming it’s coming!  And so is Guitar SWAP II!  We can’t wait here at Marich. It’s going to be awesome awesome awesome.  Yes, so awesome that it warrants me typing everything three times times times.

Really though, last year’s SWAP was a huge success and we are excited for round two.  So please stop by Marich for your contract!

The deal is this: your guitar sells in the swap (and as many of you know–a lot of them do!)  and you either get CASH or the full value in store credit.  Yours truly sold her guitar last year and now loves her om body solid top flower encased Takamine.  Thank You, Guitar SWAP.

More details to come!

I am back from a little camping trip and I’d love to take a second (or 3 hours of my work day) to espouse the value of MOV- Music on Vacation.  We may forget our wallets and passports now and then, but we ALWAYS take an instrument or two.  As I was sitting in the fire–um–by the fire, trying for the 234235928375.2 time to eek out the chords to a familiar tune that I can’t remember the name of, or the words to, I realized that I was, in a word, relaxed.  And, in the words of someone very famous, It Was Good.

Does anyone out there vacate? I’m not talking about the foggy first hours of the morning where you’re physically at the office and mentally in Barbados (never been there…is it nice??).
But I AM talking about a short jaunt to Grandma’s house, a visit to the in-laws, a week at the beach, or six month sabbatical to study cricket mating calls in Monaco (never been there either…do they have crickets? And do crickets even have mating calls?).

The point of this ramble is that whatever getaway you can muster this summer, try taking some music along for the ride.  Now I’m not suggesting you leave four-year-old Jimmy home alone and put your new Takamine acoustic electric in his seat (we have great prices on them by the way…my new one sounded GREAT on vacation).  But I AM suggesting that you toss your guitar in the backseat for a camping trip, sit by the fire and pick out a few tunes, take your fiddle  to the beach or your nose flute to the in-laws (mine happen to LOVE them).

It’s a great way to bond as a family, romance your partner, entertain the grand kids, keep your memory sharp and your fingernails short, and add a little more excitement and pleasure to these last few weeks of summer.  I promise, no one will throw your instrument in the fire…if they do, come see me and I’ll hook you up with a new one.  That ice cream cone won’t last long, but the memories of music making will stay with you.  Sniffle sniffle sniffle. Tear tear tear.  Cliche cliche cliche.  True true true.

Side Note: I heard through the grapevine that SOMEONE out there is actually READING this! Please step forward! Friend us on Facebook, stop in the store and tell us how great we are. It’ll make us feel great, and the better we feel, the better your chances of getting great deals on merchandise!

We have been shouting that to each other all week long.  It’s okay though because we are fostering young rockers this week at the one and only Marich Music Rock Band Camp.

It’s sunshine outside and Sunshine of Your Love inside.   Look for the pics on our website next week and possibly some audio-(if for some reason you haven’t been able to hear it already in your home…I think it spans about a three mile radius).

Who needs public broadcasting!  Just buy a drum set!

Other news:

The One and Only Danny P is home for a little while.  If you have sax questions NOW is the time to ask them.   You can ask us next month but we’ll still be calling Dan anyway.  This way you’ll get the first hand experience.

What? You didn’t see my post from day 2? HHHmmm….

Last day here at Summer NAMM and Dick and Marilyn are off SHOPPING. Marilyn is playing cruise director and running from booth, order form in hand, shouting “We NEED this in our shop!”

We’ve got some cool new gift buys coming for that picker who “has everything”– Solid wood pick holders that actually look nice. Just think–you can keep your washing machine pick free, AND accent your furniture! Functional nick knacks are THE BEST.

That’s just one of the many cool things we have coming. We’re going from the simple to the new-age-ultra-cool-watch out Tomorrowland-laser beams for music makers.
Are you confused yet? That’s okay. Come in and see for yourself.

Some of the new stuff we’ll have right away, and some will take a little while. That’s okay because anyone of us would be glad to bend your ear for as long as you’d like to listen. (I promise it won’t be nearly as painful as a banjo lesson).

Dick is still a celebrity around here and Marilyn still giggles (Katie plays it cool, of course.  She’s used to celebrity status)  every time someone speaks about his 15 minutes of fame on the panel.

Oh, you know we love it.

See you all soon.

Kate

NAMM Day 1:

Dick wowed them (or at least made them laugh) as a panelist this morning at the NAMM U breakfast session.  He shared his his passion and excitement for the business with his age old (68 to be exact) humor and vignettes from the “early days.”  He did all but share how he proposed to Marilyn and chose the name of the store…Did I pique your interest?  Ask him!

I have a 20 minute time limit on this computer so I must keep this post short… there is an angry tuba player vying for computer time.  Never mess with an angry tubist! (tubuist? tubbiest? tuba  player? tuba dealer?) 

We’re checking out some cool products and I’ll be back–once I figure out how to remove my head from the bell of this thing.

Stay tuned.

Hi All,

It’s been a crazy busy June and I know you’ve all been staring at your computer screens in semi paralysis waiting in vain for your local music store to post something witty, insightful, and absolutely brilliant on the Marich Music blog.  Well, you can wipe up that drool and wash that crusty coffee cup, because I’m back to give you an ear full (eye full?).

Where to begin!

Countdown to summer NAMM…5 days!  Yes, you can follow good ol’ Dick ‘n Marilyn (and lovely young Kathleen) down to Nashville TN for the National Association of Music Merchant trade show this coming weekend.   I’ll be super blog girl while we’re down there and give updates daily (if all goes according to plan).

Music Camp was an amazing success. Keep checking the site for pictures-they should up this week. Your child MAY be the next star of the Marich Music Website.   For those of you who missed the camper concert last Friday: shame shame. It really was THAT good.

WARNING: MAJOR CLASS PLUG AHEAD

We still have a couple of openings for Music Camp 2, Rock Band, Girls Rock, and the Saxophone Class.  They are filling up quickly, so be sure to fill out your registration soon.  Sure, outside activities are great in the summer, but why not burn a few less calories and build a few more braincells this year!  And really, it HAS rained every 3 minutes since April–no point in sticking the big toe in the swimming pool if you’re going to get struck by lightening anyway.

Sign up for summer music camps–you have a much less chance of getting hit by lightening in our beautiful education center.

To answer the question on everyone’s mind lately…YES.  Marich is really THAT old.  This July marks the start of our 35th year in business.  Anyone out there remember our first days?  I hope so because I certainly don’t. You didn’t think I was THAT old did you??

We will be having special events all year long to celebrate this momentous occiaion.  Stay tuned for updates.

Okay–all of you fanatics of my blurbs (Yes, Dan, that means you, and probably only you), I’m back!

This weekend is the GAS conference here in the Crystal City. It stands for Glass Arts Society (yeah, it threw me too).

We’re having wine tasting here in the store with awesome entertainment–Marilyn and Kate. Okay the awesomeness is debatable but the entertainment is definite. You’ll sing, you’ll clap, you’ll laugh, and I’ll cry. It’ll be quite the spectacle.

I despise begging. That said, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sign up for summer camps and classes. We love entertaining your children just as much as you love dropping them off for a few hours and heading to the mall, the spa, the lake, or the bar (hey, we don’t judge).

We now got  ‘nough folksy stuff to keep even the folksyiest of folks folking around!  Banjer pickers are crawlin’ outta  them ther hills and  slinkin’ into ther local music store to purchase a new banjer because ther “old lady (or old man) done throwed it out agin.”

So Dick’s bin buyin’ up them stringed instruments to keep them pickers pickin’ and to keep ther wives (or husbands) a gripin”  an’ everyone else a hummin’ an’ a grinin’ an’ a singin’ an’ a ringin’.

We went an’ got ourselves some  mandolins and banjers and new gitters  an’  a fiddle an’ a dulcimer an’ a bunch of employees who’d be gettin’ on real good to sell ‘em to ya.

Thanks so much to all of uke who have been responding to the blog.  You guitar thanks and appreciation!

We’ve been trumpeting our classes and we hope you will take the time tuba long to one of them!

We note that many of you fiddle around with instruments already but we know these classes will be much better than staying home in the sax.

We’ll have our trap set for you!

Banjo you’ll have a good time!

If you haven’t been reading, shame on you.   If you have, you’ll know this is to the tune of Froggie Went a Courtin’…

Marilyn went a shopping

and she chose to buy
uh huh uh huh

Marilyn went a shopping
and she chose to buy
uh huh uh huh
Marilyn went a shopping
and she chose to buy
some musical gifts for a lucky guy (Dick. With his money.  In his store.)
uh huh, uh huh, uh huh

She walked into the music store
uh huh, uh huh
she walked into the music store
uh huh, uh huh
she walked into the music store
then forgot what she’d come in there for (old age?)
uh huh, uh huh, uh huh

So she signed up for guitar class
uh huh, uh huh
so she signed up for guitar class
uh huh, uh huh
so she signed up for guitar class
said, “come on everyone get off your brass”  (tubas?)
uh huh, uh huh, uh huh

Guitar class runs from five to six
uh huh, uh huh
guitar class runs from five to six
un huh, uh huh
guitar class runs from five to six
it’ll be a great time  so “don’t you miss!”
uh huh, uh huh, uh huh

Come in now and sign up for beginner guitar class!

Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00 PM!

It’s only $80 for eight weeks (we like simple math)!

(and exclamation points!)

By the end of it, you too, could play Marilyn Went a Shopping!

uh huh uh huh uh huh!!!