local music

I love this article: Music shops in mid-Ohio cater to local musicians. Why? Because it captures what I love about the communal aspect of music.

With dusty, out-of-print music filling the shelves and the quiet-absolute quiet-most days, Pontones Music & More in Grove City might be mistaken for a library on some days.

As more instruments, sheet music and even lessons are sold online or through chain stores, independent music shops are struggling as never before.

But it's different on Wednesday nights.

The industry gloom makes the Pontones Music Jam all the more welcome to the fiddlers, guitar pickers and crooners who gather at the shop on Broadway each week.

"That's when you get music coming from out of a music store," said co-owner Maria Pontones.

The washtub bass and ukulele player, flutist and more than a dozen guitarists arrive well before the official 6:30 p.m. start.

Pontones is master of ceremonies during the three hours, as almost 20 singers lead songs that are heavy on bluegrass and country. Merle Haggard and Hank Williams Sr. are favorites.

Most of the players follow along by ear, unable to read music, said Jim Ross, who plays guitar and sings. "It's relaxing, although you go home all wired up.

"I feel kind of loyal to them," he said of the Pontones store, "because they care enough about doing something I like."

It also has some really interesting points about the state of independent music stores:

When a music shop dies, part of the community goes with it, Becker said.

"It affects the local guitar player, the local music teacher, the school music programs and the old lady who plays piano on Sundays."

For all the challenges that independent music shops face, hope for a resurgence remains in the renewed interest in music, buoyed by TV's American Idol and the video game Guitar Hero.

"Music's prevalence in our society right now has never been higher," said Scott Robertson, spokesman for the National Association of Music Merchants, which represents more than 4,500 music shops.

"Music is critical to life. It's what it means to be human," he said. "Retailers are working harder than they ever have to earn their customers' business."

When there is no local music shop, you lose that connection to other musicians.

The best part of this story is the idea of an informal musical gathering. Some of the best times I've ever had playing music were when friends just got together and played. It's one thing to put on a concert where there are performers and audience. It's very different when everyone is a part of the event.