Karen Hedges, bottom left, with several employees that the Hedges consider extended family.
ROOTED IN FAMILY That family philosophy traces back to the store’s earliest days. After returning home from the Navy and spending months riding his motorcycle across the country, George was approached by his father, a longtime musician, with the idea of opening Shiloh Music Center. “My dad said, ‘Do you want to start a music store?’” George recalled. “I said, ‘sure,’ having no idea what to expect, but I wasn’t doing anything. I didn’t have a job.” Together, the pair opened the store in 1974, squeezing a retail showroom, guitar- building shop and two lesson studios into a 1,000-square-foot space. George’s father became the store’s first instructor, laying the foundation for what would become the business’s defining feature.
Instead, it’s about building community. It’s about a store where, as George puts it, ev- eryone — students, parents, teachers and even the competition down the road — ends up feeling like extended family members. “The magic of our program is, when students come in for lessons, most of them have big grins on their faces because they’re happy to be here, and the teachers make them happy,” George said. “They’re close to their teachers, and they’re excited about learning. It’s infectious. Most of the kids will run up to their teacher and give them a big hug.” According to the Hedges, this “family feeling” starts with hiring the right teach- ers — and employees — to foster that fam- ily vibe. “We’ve built up an incredible team
over the years,” Karen said. “Once our teachers and employees sign on here, they become part of the Shiloh family and part of the Hedges family. Almost everybody calls me ‘mom.’ And we tell them, ‘You’re part of the family. If you need anything, let us know.’ It’s not just a job. They’re our Shiloh music family, and we treat them that way.” George and Karen’s son Paul, who runs day-to-day operations at the store, detailed just how true that sentiment can be. “We’ve received calls where an employ- ee’s car broke down, and we’ve helped them out, and we’ve even helped some move,” Paul explained. “Whatever they need, I’m there. It doesn’t matter to me. [As a result,] I’ve had a lot of employees say, ‘Hey, we feel like [part] of family.’”
THE HEDGES’ STUDIO PLAYBOOK |
After 50 years of teaching music lessons, NAMM’s winners for “Best Music Lesson Program” share their tips for running a successful music school.
“Think about the student first — that’s ultimately what we’re trying to do. We’re not thinking about ourselves. We’re thinking about what it would take for that student to learn and be happy with music. If you don’t do that, you’re more likely to fail.” — George Hedges
“Make it fun. One of the things grandpa always said was, ‘Keep one customer smiling walking in and one smiling walking out at the same time.’ As long as that’s happening, everything’s good.” — Paul Hedges
“Keeping the students happy keeps them coming back and referring their friends. I just started a new student last week whose friend referred her, and the family had only been taking lessons for a month. Referrals only come from good customer service, and the relationships you build with the student and the parents.” — Karen Hedges
34 I MUSIC INC. I SEPTEMBER 2026
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