Musician’s Tour of Woodbridge: Where To Go, Buy, Learn

Back in the dark ages, I came to the hasty conclusion that I wanted to do nothing else but play music. I toiled to earn enough money to buy the first instrument for the rest of my life.

After sifting through the classifieds, I found a local sailor who was trying to get rid of his Jackson JS30 electric guitar. The maple neck with the reversed headstock fit like silver lining onto the rosewood fret board and arctic body.

Here in Woodbridge, it may not be the easiest to find the gear you're looking for. The classifieds don't always work. Most of us find ourselves online or going to Guitar Center in Fairfax, as if we're not isolated enough already. It can be tricky to find the right musical appliances for you.

But for a local tune up, there is a pair of options.

Music & Arts Center off Potomac Mills Road offers numerous instruments, accessories and services. Dale City Music off Dale Boulevard is of a similar breed, but has much more of a local feel. While these outlets may not have the biggest selection, they are a perfect resource for instrument maintenance.

Both are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Music & Arts Center is open till 6 p.m. on Saturdays and till 5 p.m. on Sundays, which provides an edge on Dale City Music, which is closed on Sundays.

Music & Arts Center is actually a division of Guitar Center. It was first founded in Bethesda, Maryland in 1952, and has since expanded outside the Washington, DC Metro area to nearly 100 retail stores in 20 states.

Dale City Music has been providing its services since 1977, supplying band and orchestra rentals, repairs and sales. Family owned, they claim to have the lowest monthly rental rates in Virginia. They also offer free on-site repairs during the rental period.

Dale City Music offers private, one-on-one lessons for guitar, bass, piano and drums at a rate of $20 every half hour. Music & Arts has additional classical diversities to their lessons, including flute, clarinet, saxophone and cello. Due to a much more specialized instructor roster, their rates are more personalized.

Both stores' staff offer a lot of talent and more importantly, expert advice.

Music & Arts and Dale City Music are both great local secondary options. Just because the bigger resources are closer to the big city doesn't discredit our town's musicians. Witty and exuberant British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham once said, "Brass bands are all very well in their place – outdoors and several miles away."

With all the musical assets here in Woodbridge, we should try to keep it that way.