The Best Local Music Stores In Queens, NY

There are many options for buying a musical instrument at a local music store in New York City, but there are relatively few choices in Queens compared to the other boroughs. And they aren’t easy to find. Most of the music shops in Queens don’t have any social media presence, have outdated websites, and have never set up a web store for online sales.  Perhaps they just prefer to business the old way – in person.

Yet these stores have stood the test of time and continue to faithfully provide quality products and service to their neighborhoods. They are valued by their customers, some have served the community for nearly 100 years. We want to help you connect with them by creating a list of these local music stores in Queens.

Most of these music stores are in eastern Queens.  Only one is located in western Queens, which is instead mostly served by large chain stores. We’d like for the students at our music school and our readers to know about these local music shops.

If you prefer the large retail chains, learn more about the big box music stores in Queens.

Caldwell Connection is a small music store that operates in Whitestone, Queens. It’s one of the last independent full-line music stores in the borough. The shop’s owner, Dave, is widely respected by his customers for being fair, easy to work with, and knowledgeable. But don’t expect to find much about this shop on the internet, they don’t even have a webstore! The best way to buy instruments and gear at this old-school shop is to pick the phone and call or just show up during opening hours, just like we used to do when it was 1989.

In addition to a full complement of guitars, strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass, you can also take your instruments to Caldwell for repair.

14-20 150th St., Whitestone, NY 11357
Phone: (718) 746-9267

Astoria Music Store is the oldest music store in Queens, founded in 1922. The store was founded by Greek immigrant musicians, then was run by their grandson starting in the 1960s.  It was finally bought by another Greek musician in 1982. In addition to selling the usual musical instruments like guitar, violin, and drums, the store also carries traditional Greek instruments.

The shop’s proprietor, George, has developed a well deserved reputation for being helpful, knowledgeable, and never pressures clients to buy, instead suggesting that they take a long time with each instrument they are trying before making a decision.

The store is located in Astoria, Queens.

34-17 28th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
Phone: (718) 204-0400

Flushing Violin Shop specializes in string instruments like the violin, viola, and cello. They sell, rent, and repair high quality and student model instruments. While they do not sell basses, they will do repair work on them.

You can also find accessories like bows, strings, chin rests, shoulder rests, and sheet music at this Flushing, Queens based music store.

135-15 37th Ave, Ste 3F, Flushing, NY 11354
Phone: 718-353-6815

Tutti Music Corp is located in Flushing, Queens. They specialize in string instruments, but also have a decent selection of guitars, woodwinds, and brass instruments.  Like most other music stores in Queens, they also rent and repair musical instruments, and carry all of the usual accessories.

This shop is family owned and operated.

36-07 162nd St, Flushing, NY 11358
Phone: (718) 939-2525

Song of Songs Inc is located in Auburndale, Queens. For over 30 years they have specialized in new and used upright pianos, carrying mainly Yamaha brand pianos and digital pianos. They also have a small selection of strings, woodwinds, and brass instruments which they sell to both individuals and NYC public schools.

Like most of the music shops is eastern Queens, they rent and repair musical instruments, and sell sheet music and accessories.

171-74 46th Ave Flushing, NY 11358
Phone: (718) 445-4726