Northtown Music

06/13/2026

A Message from NorthtownMusic

As we head into the summer season, everyone at NorthtownMusic is grateful for another exciting and successful year serving the Western New York music community.

Supporting Future Musicians

Recently, we were proud to award a NorthtownMusic Scholarship to a talented Cleveland Hill student who will be attending Fredonia this fall to study Piano Performance and Music Education. Supporting the next generation of musicians and educators remains one of our greatest joys.

We are also entering the second year of our NorthtownMusic Scholarship at Fredonia, which is available to qualifying Western New York music students pursuing their education at the School of Music.

Serving Schools and Students

Our staff continues to grow, and we are busy renting and servicing hundreds of instruments for school districts throughout Western New York. We take great pride in offering high-quality instrument rentals while maintaining what we call our “Music at a Fair Price” philosophy.

In addition, we continue to provide free music folders to schools in need, helping support music programs at no cost to the district.

Expert Instrument Repairs

Our repair department remains one of the busiest in the area, with most repairs completed in just one day. We are honored to provide repair services for numerous school districts, as well as individual musicians who trust us with their instruments.

Thank You for Your Support

We are truly grateful for the support of our customers, teachers, students, parents, and school music programs. As we enter our 11th year at NorthtownMusic, we look forward to continuing our mission of providing quality instruments, expert repairs, outstanding service, and opportunities for young musicians throughout Western New York.

Thank you for being part of our musical family.

06/09/2026

Congratulations to Phil Aguglia on his retirement!

Phil began his journey as a student in the Buffalo Public Schools before attending Ithaca College, and ultimately built a remarkable career at Kenmore East High School.

One of Phil’s early mentors was Floyd Fried at Hutch Tech. I had the opportunity to teach alongside Floyd, which is how I first came to know Phil as a student. It has been rewarding to watch him grow into an outstanding music educator who has positively influenced countless young musicians throughout his career.

Phil was never focused on competition. Instead, he concentrated on creating meaningful musical experiences and helping students reach their potential. His ensembles consistently reflected his dedication, musicianship, and commitment to excellence.

One of his most innovative accomplishments was developing a Music as Art program that welcomed students who might not have found a place in a traditional band setting. Whether they played guitar, percussion, or another instrument, Phil created opportunities for them to learn, perform, and be part of a musical community.

Congratulations, Phil, on an exceptional career. Your students, colleagues, and community have all benefited from your passion and dedication. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you all the best in retirement.

A wonderful career and a lasting legacy in music education

05/27/2026

Memories of Sonny Rollins

That welcoming spirit always brings back memories of the great Sonny Rollins.

Sonny Rollins has always been a guiding inspiration for saxophone players everywhere. One of my favorite memories was getting to hear him perform at University at Buffalo in the early 1980s.

Another memory goes back to the days of the Tralfamadore Cafe. I bought 20 tickets for one of his Saturday night performances and planned to bring all of my friends to the show. Then, at the last minute, I was called to play a gig that same evening.

I brought the tickets back to the box office, and they told me both performances were completely sold out. They immediately refunded all 20 tickets. I missed hearing Sonny that night, but the memory has stayed with me ever since.

Sometimes the missed concerts become part of the music too. 🎷✨

05/26/2026

05/23/2026

David Sullivan stopped by NorthtownMusic today. He’s the lead player in the Springville Jazz Ensemble. I also went to school with his two brothers. Together they were known as “the triplets,” and they were all fantastic musicians. His oldest brother went on to lead one of the biggest continental bands around. I always enjoy when David stops by the store. He has such a wonderful personality, and it’s always great catching up with him. 🎶

05/23/2026

Will Holton at NorthtownMusic

05/19/2026

Northtown Music visitor of the day: Mr. Miles Meiler!

Miles stopped by today, and it was great seeing him again. He was a fantastic guitar player back in the Hutch Tech days. I also have great memories of his parents traveling with us on trips. We always had such a good time together.

One of the best parts of teaching over the years is seeing former students all grown up and coming back to visit. Miles also happened to be my 500th visitor today from all the students I’ve taught over the years. Pretty special moment! 🎸🎶

05/09/2026

Happy Birthday to NorthtownMusic’s favorite customer… our Customer of the Day… the one and only Stephen! 🎶

If we could only have one customer, it would be Stephen. Loyal, supportive, and always bringing great energy through the doors. We appreciate you and hope your birthday hits all the right notes today!

05/05/2026

Think of this place as a musical clubhouse tucked right on Harlem Road where instruments don’t just sit on shelves… they wait to be played. 🎺🎸

Here’s the vibe and what you’ll find:

🎼 What it is
A locally owned music shop in Cheektowaga serving the Buffalo area, built around real teaching experience and community. It’s not a big-box store… it’s more like a living rehearsal room with a front door.

🎷 What you can do there

* Try out new & used instruments before buying
* Take music lessons (kids and adults)
* Rent instruments for school programs
* Get repairs done quickly (often overnight for rentals)
* Browse sheet music, accessories, and mouthpieces

🎺 Extra flavor

* They’ve got a big band connected to the shop that performs locally
* Regular jam sessions and community events pop up
* Run by longtime educator Ben Boyar, who’s worked with serious jazz talent and local students alike

📍 Where / hours

* 3648 Harlem Rd, Cheektowaga, NY
* Typically open afternoons on weekdays, mornings on Saturday

05/04/2026

Teddy Rivera stopped by NorthtownMusic today with his son, Jeliel.

It’s incredible how much sticks with students from their BAVPA/Buffalo Academy for Visual Performing Arts school days. Teddy was part of those award-winning jazz ensembles from the Berklee Jazz Festival era and even made that Disney World trip with us. Seeing him again felt like flipping to a favorite chapter in teaching.