Other things we do at Meadowood...
Meadowood's proprietors believe that when people MAKE music they grow in special and important ways.
With music, children do better in school, adults make new friendships more easily and elders remain more mentally active. For these reasons, Meadowood does more than sell and service instruments and give lessons.
Meadowood creates opportunities for people to play music with and for each other.​
Meadowood has hosted open since 1998, at first in the Kutztown Park Bandshell, then on the back porch of Meadowood's original location (233 West Main Street, Kutztown). In 2005, when the store moved to Blandon, the open mic moved there. In 2018, Meadowood joined with Clay on Main to host year-long, indoor open mics at 313 Main Street, Oley: 1st Monday each month, April through June, and September through December, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Partnering with other local businesses, music non-profits, dinner theatres, restaurants & social clubs, Meadowood helps to make live music available & accessible by bringing artists like Robin Bullock, Ken Kolodner, Mark Corsgrove, Craig Bickhardt & others to the area. ​
Through two types of clinics at the store and at other local businesses' facilities, Meadowood gives musicians opportunities to learn from master players (technical clinics) and to see and play instruments that are not usually in stock (product clinics).
Meadowood hosts jams at the store: a Bluegrass jam with fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, & bass on Tues, 6-8 PM, and a beginners jam on Thurs, 6-8 PM. Meadowood hosts a youth jam (ages 8-14) at Clay on Main in Oley on the 3rd Wed of each month.
Meadowood Music promotes music festivals that abound in the area to the public and, whenever possible, actively supports and sponsors them. Three festivals that Meadowood directly sponsors include the Maidencreek Old Time Music Festival at Maiers' Grove, the Berks Fiddle Festival at Fleetwood Park (formerly the Lyons Fiddle Fest), and Berks County Scottish FIRE at Fleetwood Park.
Many students look forward to a recital as an opportunity to showcase their accomplishments. Meadowood's teachers organize occasional recitals for their students, providing a facility, emcee services and accompaniment. Meadowood's teachers also view the open mics (see above) as a recital opportunity for students and often come to play with students in the open mics.
People frequently ask us for referrals to musicians who can perform at weddings, parties, corporate events. Meadowood is fortunate to be in the midst of a community of very talented local musicians. We cannot possibly create links to every musician, ensemble and band, we do have links to some with which we have the most contact.
Mike & Paula founded Meadowood Music with the belief that sharing music makes life better, that virtuoso performance is breathtaking, but does not replace music that people make together or live music that people share in intimate settings. Mike & Paula perform acoustic music, singing and playing guitar mandolin, fiddle, bass and banjo pretty much anything that strikes their fancy.
Meadowood hosts open house events for familiar well-known product lines and to introduce new product lines. At these special promotional events, people get a chance to try things out and share them with other enthusiasts. Often the manufacturers have clinicians at the events. Almost always, the events include refreshments. Each event is a "petting zoo" for instruments & accessories.
We have the privilage of working with a lot of wonderful people to do a lot of really rewarding stuff. Sometimes a newspaper, web site, blog or magazine publishes an article about something in which we are involved. We present a few here.
Carefully kept, your instrument can be an heirloom that lasts for generations. Simple steps will help keep your instrument in prime playing condition for you and those who come after you.
We sometimes post special discount offers and coupons here on our site. Visit often to save $$$