Local Instrument Repair Shop Offers Music Lessons, Repairs and More

What began as a quiet and quaint music store is responsible for many of the colorful music notes dancing across the rolling hills of Lynchburg. In September of 2009, Hill City Music opened as a small repair shop on Lynchburg Highway, also known as 460 West.

Owner Matt Yates, a University of North Carolina Greensboro graduate with a degree in music education, had a simple dream to open his own instrument repair shop. When Yates was in college, he found a love for instrument repair at the local music store where he worked. In addition to paying his way through college, Yates decided that working with instruments was a profession he might want to pursue in the future. After college, Yates took a band directing job, but he knew there was more to be done. 

“It was my desire to bring some high-quality repair, especially to the Lynchburg market,” Yates said.

Yates opened what he thought would simply be an instrument repair shop but soon grew into something completely unexpected, for which Yates gives God the credit. The business grew organically, and customers continued to come in and request the next thing. 

From performing repairs to supplying instrument accessories and full instruments, the business grew right before his eyes. Yates knew that this was the start of something new. 

A few years after opening, a company by the name of “Music and Arts” noticed the popularity that Yates’ business was attracting and decided to partner with him through an affiliate program. The company began to supply Yates with different instruments, allowing him to start offering music lessons to the community. Hill City Music also became an official instrument dealer— a business move which substantially widened the customer base. 

The shop’s rapid growth prompted the decision to expand, creating new space for lessons, instrument sales and more. Starting out with only a few teachers, the lessons grew to an unforeseen number of students learning piano, guitar, ukulele, voice, flute, clarinet, saxophone, percussion, cello and more. Now, Yates has approximately 11 music teachers working at Hill City Music, with the potential for further growth.

Even with the variety of services his business now provides, Yates will always remember the roots of Hill City Music— repairs — an essential part of the business that he knows will last. 

You can visit Hill City Music at 20436 Lynchburg Highway, Suite J, for lessons, repairs and all your music questions. Hill City Music can also be found online on Facebook, Hill City Music Repair and Instagram, @hill_city_music

Farmerie is a feature writer.

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