Artwork by Lucy Michell
music for everyone
celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2024!
lessons
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, Cadenza’s experienced teachers can bring your playing to the next level. Offering individual lessons in 20+ instruments, as well as voice and songwriting, we’re here to help you on your musical journey.
THE RIGHT INSTRUMENT. We offer lessons in piano, brass, woodwinds, bowed strings, guitar, bass, ukulele, percussion, and voice.
THE RIGHT TEACHER. Over 30 teachers offer their expertise here at Cadenza, bringing with them years of experience in the music industry and advanced music degrees. Many play professionally around the Twin Cities and beyond.
GET STARTED TODAY. Visit us in-store, call, or click below. Your musical journey awaits!
leasing
Lease your instrument through our time-tested program.
Free maintenance.
Bring your instrument in for cleaning, adjustment and replacement of worn parts at no charge.
Free instrument exchange.
Kids grow fast. Exchange your instrument for the next size up at no charge.
Accidents happen. We can cover that.
Instruments are occasionally dropped or damaged. We offer insurance that provides complete coverage up to the purchase price of the instrument.
repair
Our professional repair technicians have been keeping the sounds of St Paul sweet since 1974.
We approach repair of both student and professional musicians’ instruments with the same standard of care, because the goal is the same: the instrument should never hinder the musician’s performance!
We offer maintenance, cleaning and repair for:
Woodwinds
Brass
Orchestral strings
Guitars and other fretted instruments
retail
The quality of your instrument is essential to your success as a musician, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional. We stand behind the quality of every product we sell.
Stop into our shop and check out the inventory of instruments, accessories, sheet music and more.
What are folks saying about the Cadenza Music shop?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This store is a gem!!! As a piano teacher, it's nice to have such a reliably well stocked store available when I'm picking up materials on my way to work. The staff are super friendly and helpful, too.” - Mitch, Cadenza customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A surprisingly well stocked local music store. Highly recommended! Stop here before leaving the neighborhood.” - Dean, Cadenza customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Seriously, the staff are so kind and helpful!!!! You can tell they love their job and music!!” - J, Cadenza customer
cadenza kids
Cadenza Kids brings you a series of family music classes for babies, toddlers, and preschool-age children accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
In these classes we introduce the concepts of music through age-appropriate activities such as singing old and new songs, rocking, bouncing, movement, echoing, developing a sense of beat, body awareness, musical games, rhythmic verses, and exploring simple instruments.
Our research-based curriculum nurtures creativity and confidence, encourages language and literacy skills, supports social-emotional and cognitive development, and builds the foundation for music skills.
The more we weave music and musical play into the lives of our children, here and at home, the more likely they will have a natural and joyful relationship with music throughout the rest of their lives.
events
In Studio 20 we have realized a long-held dream of providing an intimate, accessible, all-ages event space for both entertainment and educational opportunities. Along with recitals, group classes, clinics, workshops, and artist Q&A’s, we host touring musicians and regularly feature local acts. Check out our event calendar for all that’s happening in Studio 20.
our story
Cadenza Music has been in the same neighborhood of Saint Paul since it was founded in 1974 by former owner, Eugene Monnig. Formerly “Harry Blon’s Music Center,” Monnig purchased the music store and continued the business of providing musical instruments for purchase and lease, instrument repair, sheet music, accessories and music lessons to the Twin Cities community.
Since then Cadenza Music has quadrupled its square footage, adding a larger repair shop, more private and group lesson studios, a recital space, and an expanded inventory of products. Cadenza carries band instruments from Yamaha, orchestral instruments from Amati Fine Instruments, Alvarez guitars, Yamaha digital pianos and Amahi ukuleles, and a large variety of sheet music and musical accessories.
In January of 2019, former co-owners Eugene Monnig and Nancy Vernon sold Cadenza Music to long time employee, Dan Lehn. Lehn intends to maintain the same level of service and quality for Cadenza’s customers and to expand the amount of community involvement with music by adding early childhood music programs, additional group classes and utilizing recital space for performances and concerts.