Summerhays Music

What Summerhays Music does

Summerhays Music Center, legally Summerhays Development Inc., is a family-owned music retail business founded in 1936 by Hyrum Summerhays in Murray, Utah, and recognized as the oldest established family-owned music store in the state. The company sells band and orchestra instruments (brass, woodwinds, strings), harps, guitars, and percussion across student to professional grades, operating an authorized dealership for premium brands including Yamaha, Bach, Eastman, Conn-Selmer, S.E. Shires, Lyon & Healy, Salvi, Backun, Sankyo, Miyazawa, Haynes, Dusty Strings, and Rees. It runs two physical showrooms in Murray (headquarters) and Layton, Utah, plus a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront and a dedicated online rental portal (summerhaysonlinerentals.com).

Revenue is generated through four streams: one-time instrument sales spanning roughly $180 to $22,950, recurring rent-to-own instrument rentals with free shipping across Utah and six surrounding states, professional repair services performed in-house for brass, woodwinds, and orchestral strings, and an optional Maintenance & Theft Protection (MTP) subscription plan priced at $6.50–$18.00 per month with prepay discounts up to 30%. Customer acquisition is split across a direct-to-consumer retail/e-commerce channel and an enterprise field-sales channel in which Education Representatives travel to schools throughout Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada to support instrument procurement, repairs, and classroom instruction. Marketing spans a content blog, email, YouTube, social channels, and an event calendar of community workshops and masterclasses with professional musicians.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and undifferentiated: a Shopify storefront with standard payment integrations (Shop Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal), Synchrony consumer financing, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, proprietary software, or data assets. Recent external recognition includes NAMM Top 100 Dealer (2025), Best of SLC Gold (2026), and City Weekly Best of Utah (2023), supported by a 4.7-star Google rating across 729 reviews.

Name

Summerhays Music

Legal name

Summerhays Development Inc.

Website

https://summerhaysmusic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Summerhays Music Center is a 90-year-old, family-owned Utah music retailer selling and renting band, orchestra, harp, and guitar instruments across two showrooms and a Shopify e-commerce channel, serving student musicians, music educators, and professional performers throughout the Mountain West.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instrument Retail

NAICS

Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914), Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers (4591)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument Rentals & Leasing (Band/Orchestra Programs) (CRALAEAG), Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services (CRALAEAF), Sheet Music & Music Books Retail (CRALAEAB), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Musical instrument retail
• Band orchestra rentals
• Instrument repair services
• School music programs
• Harp showroom dealer

Headquarters

HQ city

Murray

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Instrument Sales: Retail sales of musical instruments including brass, woodwind, strings, guitars, and harps. Products range from beginner student instruments to professional-grade instruments with prices from approximately $180 for entry-level guitars to over $22,000 for concert pedal harps.
2. Instrument Rentals: Monthly rental program for band and orchestra instruments with rent-to-own structure. Rental payments apply toward purchase price. Includes optional Maintenance & Theft Protection Plan. Free shipping to Utah and surrounding states.
3. Repair Services: Comprehensive repair services for brass, woodwind, and orchestral string instruments performed by professional repair technicians. Services include chemical cleaning, dent removal, piston/rotor/slide repair, key adjustment, pad/cork replacement, crack repair, bow rehair, and soundpost adjustment.
4. Maintenance & Theft Protection (MTP) Plan: Optional monthly protection plan covering repairs and theft replacement for rental instruments. Monthly rates range from $6.50 to $18.00 based on instrument value. Annual and multi-year prepay options available with up to 30% savings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Summerhays Music Center is a family-owned brick-and-mortar music retailer that sells band and orchestra instruments (brass, woodwinds, strings), harps, guitars, and percussion from premium brands, complemented by a rent-to-own instrument rental program, professional repair services, school services through Education Representatives, and a Maintenance & Theft Protection (MTP) plan. The company operates two Utah retail locations (Murray and Layton), a Shopify e-commerce storefront, and a dedicated online rental portal serving school music programs and individual musicians across the Mountain West.

Product overview

Summerhays Music Center operates as a comprehensive music retail store offering a diverse portfolio of musical instruments and services. The core offering consists of band and orchestra instruments (brass, woodwinds, and strings), supplemented by a specialized harp showroom and guitar department. The business operates on a multi-channel model combining physical retail with online rentals and sales. Key product brands include Yamaha, Bach Stradivarius, Eastman, Conn, S.E. Shires, and Backun. Supporting services include instrument rentals with rent-to-own options, comprehensive repair services, school programs with dedicated education representatives, and the Maintenance & Theft Protection Plan (MTP) for rental instruments. The company also hosts workshops and masterclasses featuring professional musicians. Founded in 1936, it is Utah's oldest family-owned music store with locations in Murray and Layton.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Band & Orchestra Instrument Sales Retail sales of brass (trumpets, trombones, French horns, euphoniums, tubas), woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, bass clarinets, saxophones, oboes/double reeds), and orchestral strings (violins, violas, cellos, string basses) for student, intermediate, and professional musicians, with prices ranging from entry-level student instruments to professional-grade instruments priced up to $5,620 for professional trombones.
• Instrument Rentals (Rent-to-Own) Monthly rental program for band and orchestra instruments with rent-to-own structure where payments apply toward purchase price. Online instrument rentals via summerhaysonlinerentals.com with free shipping to homes, schools, or workplaces in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Nevada. No long-term contracts or hidden fees.
• Harp Showroom Specialty harp retail showroom at the Murray location featuring lever and pedal harps from Lyon & Healy (Troubadour VI, Prelude 40), Salvi (Diana), Dusty Strings (Ravenna), and Rees Harps (Fullsicle). Includes rent-to-own options and in-store or phone inquiries. Prices range from $1,175 for lap harps to $22,950 for professional pedal harps.
• Band & Orchestra Repair Services Comprehensive repair services for brass, woodwind, and orchestral string instruments performed by professional repair technicians. Services include chemical cleaning, dent removal, piston/rotor/slide repair, key adjustment, pad/cork replacement, crack repair, bow rehair, and soundpost adjustment. Available to walk-in customers and through school-channel pickup/delivery.
• School Services Education Representative program supporting K-12 schools with instrument pickup/dropoff, repairs, clinics, recruiting assistance, school bids, and direct instrument delivery to classrooms. Education Representatives travel throughout Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada to assist with instrument demonstrations, school bids, and classroom support.
• Maintenance & Theft Protection (MTP) Plan Optional monthly protection plan covering repairs (bent bodies, stuck keys, dents, pad replacement, string replacement, bridge work, bow rehair) and theft replacement with deductible-based coverage. Monthly rates tiered by instrument value: $6.50 (under $1,199), $7.95 ($1,200-$2,199), $13.00 ($2,200-$2,599), $17.50 ($2,600-$3,295); cello-specific rates $9.95-$18.00. Annual prepay 10% savings, 2-year 20% savings, 3-year 30% savings.
• Workshops & Masterclasses Educational clinics and workshops hosted at the Murray location featuring professional musicians covering topics such as viola techniques, double bass mastery, mariachi music, cello performance, horn recording, and flute improvisation. Includes events like Fiddle Fair, Mariachi May, Double Reed Showcase, Harp workshops, and Trombone Rendezvous.
• Sheet Music & Accessories Method books, classical solos, and modern sheet music for all instruments and skill levels, plus accessories including tuners, stands, and instrument care products. Books offered with volume discounts (30%-90% off by quantity) during promotional events.
• Guitar Sales Retail sales of acoustic, classical, electric, and 3/4-size guitars from Yamaha and Art & Lutherie for beginners and intermediate players, with prices starting around $180 for entry-level guitars.
• Private Teacher Directory Online directory connecting students with private music instructors in their area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rent-to-own payments apply toward purchase price - once paid off, instrument belongs to the customer
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• YamahaflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Yamaha dealer offering full range of Yamaha instruments including trumpets, trombones, French horns, saxophones, clarinets, guitars, and cellos. Also designated as Yamaha Shokunin Select Dealer for premium intermediate, professional, and custom brass and woodwinds.
• BachcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Bach dealer specializing in Stradivarius professional trumpets and trombones, including exclusive models like the 18037R reverse tuning trumpet and 42AF Infinity Valve trombone.
• Eastman Music CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Eastman dealer for brass instruments (trumpets, trombones, French horns, euphoniums, tubas) and string instruments (violins, violas, cellos, basses). Extensive inventory across product categories.
• Conn-SelmercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Conn dealer offering 88H symphony trombones, 8D French horns, Connstellation double horns, and Fox Renard bassoons.
• S.E. ShiresflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized S.E. Shires dealer featuring artist model instruments including Michael Davis+ trombone, custom Z trombones, and professional tenor trombones. Hosted trombone Rendezvous events.
• Lyon & HealycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Lyon & Healy dealer for lever and pedal harps including Troubadour VI professional pedal harp and Prelude 40 lever harp.
• Sankyo FlutescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Sankyo dealer for professional and student flutes.
• Miyazawa FlutescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Miyazawa dealer for professional and student flutes.
• D'AddariocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized D'Addario dealer for strings, reeds, and accessories.
• BackuncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Backun dealer for clarinets and bass clarinets including Q Series professional clarinets, Protégé student clarinets, Beta clarinets, and Alpha Low C bass clarinets.
• CodabowminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Codabow dealer for carbon fiber bows for string instruments.
• CannonballminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Cannonball dealer for saxophones and other woodwind instruments.
• Dusty StringscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Dusty Strings dealer for lever harps including Ravenna series.
• Rees HarpscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Rees Harps dealer for lap harps including Fullsicle model.
• Salvi HarpscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Salvi Harps dealer for pedal harps including Diana professional model.
• Haynes FlutescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Haynes dealer for Amadeus line of flutes, piccolos, and alto flutes.
• Art & LutherieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Art & Lutherie dealer for acoustic guitars.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering the Summerhays Music online store. Shopify enables product listings, shopping cart, checkout, and payment processing.
• Synchrony FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancing partner offering 0% financing options for instrument purchases through Synchrony Bank.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Reverb: Online marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments — an emerging digital channel competing for the same instrument buyers and pressuring authorized-dealer economics.

Direct peers

• Paige's Music: Indiana-based specialty music retailer with a strong school music program focus, instrument rentals, and repair services — closely mirrors Summerhays' education-channel-led approach.
• Schmitt Music: Long-standing family-owned Upper Midwest music retailer with comparable band/orchestra instrument rentals, repair services, and dedicated school music support — directly comparable to Summerhays in operating model and customer mix.
• Washington Music Center: Mid-Atlantic family-owned music retailer specializing in band/orchestra instruments, rentals, and school services — closely comparable multi-generational specialty retailer.
• Ted Brown Music: Pacific Northwest specialty music retailer with deep school music relationships, instrument rentals, and repair services — comparable mid-size specialty retailer serving education customers.
• Dietze Music: Nebraska/regional specialty music retailer carrying premium band/orchestra brands and serving school music programs — comparable in scope, premium-brand positioning, and education channel emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Sweetwater: Largest U.S. online music retailer offering broad catalog, fast shipping, and in-house financing — competes with Summerhays on premium brand assortment and online reach.
• Music & Arts: Largest U.S. school-music-focused retailer with national footprint, instrument rentals, and dedicated education reps — competes in the same education channel with greater scale.
• Guitar Center: Largest U.S. brick-and-mortar music retail chain with broad assortment across instruments and pro audio — competes on price and selection against Summerhays' premium band/orchestra focus.
• Sam Ash: Established U.S. music retail chain carrying band/orchestra instruments and accessories with national footprint — broad incumbent competitor to Summerhays' specialty positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@summerhaysmusicutah
• Facebookfacebook.com/summerhaysmusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/summerhaysmusiccenter
• TikToktiktok.com/@summerhaysmusiccenter
• Xx.com/summerhaysmusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/summerhays-music-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Summerhays Music