A Moment with Matt

2011-12-02T03:33:00.001-08:00

I have a new blog up and running for Sandhills Music Center.. check it out... thanks!!
http://sandhillsmuisccenter.blogspot.com/

Music Heals

2011-04-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

So, I've been having a battle w/cancer lately. Hoping to find out soon that the battle is over and we won.. but in the meantime.. I find a place of escape in music. Either playing or listening. Music has a way of overtaking time, bringing peace or allowing expression.

So, you don't have to have cancer to realize this. Music is a gift from God.. I believe that is why it works so well.

Enjoy that gift today!!

The All New SMC

2010-10-13T19:12:00.001-07:00

Well.. it's been about 2 months in our new location in Bordeaux shopping center and I must say we are excited to be there. It has been great. We have met new customers, created a new opportunity for music in the area and have been able to bring in some more lines.

We also have some great new teachers, have done and are going to do more clinics and more!!!

If you haven't stopped by, come on in for a visit, we promise, you'll love it!!!

Thanks everyone!!

SMC is REBORN!

2010-08-03T06:06:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about our new location and eager to serve you with some great and fresh new ideas for music and music education!!!

Come by and visit the new store at 1822 Owen Drive inside the Bordeaux Shopping Center!!

So one more can play!!
Matt

Summer Time

2010-06-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year.. things get busy and things can get slow.. it's a wild ride!!

We want to encourage all of our music students to continue practicing throughout the summer. The longer you put off practicing, the harder it will be to get back in the groove when you get back in school!!!

Now is a great time to look at purchasing as well. Several of my vendors are offering some fantastic incentives to purchase your B&O instruments as well as others.

Stop by the store for a visit and let's talk!!
God bless!

Reinvent The Wheel

2010-06-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

Wheels come in all kinds of styles and sizes. They come in all kinds of colors and finishes. They are made with several different types of metals. Wheels can be cool, can be plain.. but the one thing that will never change is that wheels are round.

No matter how much we may want to change a wheel and as much as you try to force a new square wheel or triangular wheel, they just won't work right unless they are.. well.... round.

Sometimes in life we just have to take things as they are and realize that at the foundation of a situation, idea or event, it just is what it is.

There is a scripture in the bible, Philippians 3:13-14 that says:
By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward, to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

Many times in life it is so tempting that if things don't work the way we want them to, we try to make it work. For some things that might be okay. But if you beat a square peg hard enough into a round hole, it's not going to be a square peg much longer.

Instead of reinventing the wheel why not find ways to make the wheel work? If we spend less time on reinventing something that doesn't need reinventing, we have much more time to see new ways you can use it best in your application.

Keep your eye on the prize. Keep moving forward and don't turn back.. and for goodness sake.. take that square wheel off and put the round one back on!! :-)

Reclaim The Name

2010-06-04T11:23:00.001-07:00

There are many names out there these days that don't mean what they used to. I'm sure several just popped into your head.

Without naming a few myself, how about giving you a new idea. Reclaim the name.

Most words that might have changed were innocent words years ago and have now become abusive words, labels and even words that trigger negative vibes.

I said I wouldn't name one, but I can't resist.. how about... CHURCH?

It's not what it used to be and not what it could be. But you could make a difference and you could change the meaning (to what it should be).

Experience Sandwich

2010-05-19T04:17:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, it's real fun.. went out with some friends last night to hear my buddy play with his new guitar and new speakers, we laughed, sang, and had a blast!!

The desire to play music, I would dare say, is in all of us. Some are just better than others. :-)

One way to take it to the next level is to take some lessons. Here's the tough part.. lessons are not always fun.

I really don't know many lessons that at the time we experience them are. However, the end result is that the price paid for the discipline of the lesson is the awesome reward of the experience.

So.. starts fun... have a little tough times.. ends fun... kind of an experience sandwich!

New Guitars!!

2010-03-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

I am SUPER STOKED to post that our new line of guitars will be coming in soon! Sometime mid May our personal line of guitars will be coming to Sandhills Music. These guitars will be QC'd and personally set up by me and are part of our new line of guitars with name to be released soon (awaiting trademark).
We will offer 2 versions, an economy line from between $250-$350 each and custom built to your spec starting at $1500.

Keep your eye out and stop on by the shop... we still have many other great items in and coming in all the time!!

Economy

2010-02-08T13:35:00.001-08:00

Well, it's that time of year.. everyone is planning on doing their taxes or maybe your one of the fortunate ones and you've already got it done!!

Here's the good news... 2009 is OVER, GONE, IN THE PAST, FINITO!!!!

2010 looks to be a very promising year. Here's some more news for you... Music is FUN!! It's a relatively inexpensive hobby that will provide years of joy!

At Sandhills, instead of holding back, we're moving forward! We have some great products for every budget in the store.

If you've been thinking about lessons... think no more!! Come on in and sign up.

We look forward to seeing you all and have some great items that you can spend part of that hard earned tax money on that will last a lifetime!!

See you soon!

Matt
http://www.sandhillsmusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/sandhillsmusic
http://www.facebook.com/sandhillsmusic

The Lonely Blogger

2010-01-28T05:21:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am, sitting at my desk, eating a day old cherry strudel from the clearance section of Walmart and a cup of caramel truffle coffee.. mmm.. mmm... good. My day begins as it always does, wake up.. bathroom...shave.. shower.. get dressed and get the kids up and ready. Now I await my accountant to tackle my store taxes! Can't wait and evidentally, President Obama really cares about me and the needs of my business, so I'm sure today will all be great news!!!

Well... off I go to get the store computer ready for a workout and I type again to no one as... The Lonely Blogger!!

CHRISTmas

2009-11-21T06:23:00.000-08:00

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!! Not ashamed to say it and never gonna forget it. This is an exciting time of year. My family celebrates the birth of Christ at the Christmas season and enjoys spending time with our friends and family.

We at Sandhills wish you the best during this season and hope that in the hustle and bustle of it all, we can all remember and be thankful.

God bless and see you soon!!!

We have an awesome Christmas Street Festival December 4/5 downtown Hope Mills. Come check it out!!! http://hopemillschristmasfestival.webs.com

New Guitar

2009-10-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Had a young girl come in today.. saved up her birthday money and bought her first guitar. Mom and dad helped out a little with the tax.. but she was ready!!!

What a joy to be able to be there for someone's first instrument. I can remember (barely) decades ago when I first started and the joy I had in beginning.

If your child is showing some interest in music.. sew a seed. It is not just a purchase, but an investment.

There are stores everywhere (sure hope you stop by SMC!!) and lessons in every town.. stop by and dream a little. It is our joy to turn a dream into a reality!!!

God bless!!

Christmas is Coming

2009-10-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well.. as usual, folks always talk about the economy.. even though I am a retailer, I am also a consumer. I have to shop just like everyone else. Part of what I try to do here at Sandhills is price the way I would shop. At the end of the day I have to eat as well, however, I don't have to overcharge. I get hit up by advertisers all the time wanting me to spend thousands of dollars to reach you for Christmas. I hope that we do, but as I spend less on them, I save you more.

Let's spread the word about local shops and places where we can go that continue to pump up our communities.

We really are here for you as much as you are for us!!!

See you out there!!

Time to practice??!!

2009-09-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

I often hear from folks.. "man, I would love to have your job!". Wow... if you only knew!! It is a blast to own a music store, that is for sure!! But the reality is.. even though I'm surrounded by what I love all day long.. I rarely get a moment to just sit and enjoy it!!

One thing we do at Sandhills is offer music lessons. Now, just coming for 30 minutes a week is good, but not enough.

"Matt, how many lessons do I need to take before I can play?" is a question I hear a lot too. I've been playing for over 30 years myself and I still need lessons.

With any passion, life can interupt. Discipline is what is in store for anyone who wants to play well. I encourage everyone who is taking lessons to practice and stretch yourself to go beyond what you already know.

The end result will amaze you.... and hopefully someone else too!!

Band & Orchestra Rental Season

2009-08-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year and I get phone calls every week that start off like.... "yes... do you all sell instruments..." Of course, if they are calling a music retailer.. first clue is they have no idea what a music retailer is or offers.. second is they have a 5th or 6th grader getting ready to start in the orchestra.

I love these calls. I love the opportunity it provides for both parties to enjoy the passion of music and be the store that can help a child in their first lesson or instrument!!

Here's the other thing... YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY!!! What?.. Am I really going to stop someone from buying something at my store?.. Well the answer is a huge NO!! Buy all you want!! :-) However, when starting off in a school music program, it is always a good idea to rent first, because many students will try other instruments over the next couple of years and renting can be like putting $$$$ in a savings account that will go toward that final purchase down the road.

So, mom's and dad's. Come on by the store or a store near you if you are not in our area and talk to the folks there and ask them about their rental program. You'll be glad you did!!!

Oh yeah.. the buy part.. you'll be getting books, stands, accessories and of course... repairs!! :-)

Nashville Music City??

2009-07-18T04:58:00.000-07:00

I have been in Nashville (loving it I might add) for the past couple of days for a convention for the music industry with NAMM, an organization for the music industry.

I haven't really had the chance to do a lot of site seeing due to the convention, but, there has never been any doubt that when you come here to Nashville, you come to hear music, learn it's history and embrace a culture.

Nashville is also known as Music City... my question is, is it the only city with music?

Every city we live in is rich in music and arts, it just seems sometimes people forget.. get too busy or have lost their passion.

As a music store owner.. I live in music city everyday!! I have many students who live there too.

The reality is that feeling you get coming up the interstate when you see the sign "Welcome to Nashville" is the same feeling we can have in our own towns.

Music is great alone, but incredible when shared. I would encourage everyone to embrace your moment, share your passion.... you know that song you sang in the shower today!! :-)