Friday September 19, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC [Posted at 3:05 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
RETAIL FEATURE
The new Tom Lee Music store in Langford is having a grand opening on Saturday September 20.
They have relocated from their long-time store (2007 to 2025) at one end of the Millstream Village Shopping Centre to the other end with higher visibility in the mall (opening in August 2025).
There will be $50 in-store coupons for the first 50 customers on September 20, and door-crasher specials. Doors open at 10 am. So don’t be surprised to see line-ups to the front door!
Pianos galore!
A highlight of the bright new store is the display of more than 40 pianos.
- The acoustic pianos are both grand and upright — brands include Yamaha and Steinway.
- There are even some hybrid pianos — a combination of acoustic and digital.
- Digital pianos are carried in four brands: Yamaha, Roland, Korg and Casio.
- Pianos for stage performance are distinctive.
Wide selection:
When it comes to pianos, Tom Lee Music is the largest dealer in Canada. “We offer everything,” says Phillips, noting that Tom Lee Music was founded in the piano industry.
For new music students to experienced musicians, there is something fundamental about pianos. You’ve got 88 keys and all the possibilities in the world to create your sound.
In store, people can try them out and compare and get professional guidance from staff. Many of the customers are music teachers including from the Conservatory of Music.
Experienced staff:
All the staff at Tom Lee Music are experienced musicians.
The piano specialist at the Langford (Victoria region) store is Simon Phillips. He enjoys seeing families grow in their music, from beginner to more experienced after a few years and upgrading their instrument.
Pianos are fundamental:
“There are life benefits to making music,” says Phillips, who has been in the piano retail business for 36 years.
“It’s a holistically healthy pursuit for anyone at any age.” He notes that musical training is a life skill that benefits one’s whole life and quality of life.
“The piano is still very much an anchor of the music industry,” says Phillips.
“And most music teachers would agree that having a foundation on piano would benefit a music student going forward,” he says.
Wide price range:
The price range is wide. A starter digital piano comes in under $1,000. Uprights in-store are in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. The most expensive piano on site is a grand piano worth $250,000.
Used pianos are in the $2,000 to $3,000 range — some are in-store and others can be brought in from storage.
In the community:
Tom Lee Music takes pride in providing quality pianos for use at concerts, theatres and special events. They supply pianos as needed for the Royal McPherson Playhouse, the Sooke Fine Arts Show, and the Dave Dunnet Threatre at Oak Bay High School.
Smaller store:
Located at Unit B-111 in the Millstream Village (2041 Millstream Road), the new store front-area retail space is about the same as the old store.
But without teaching rooms and studios (and less storage space), the overall leased footprint is about one-quarter the size of the previous one.
Lots of online shopping happens nowadays, but there’s nothing like seeing and trying out instruments in person.
The experience of being in a store filled with guitars, drums, band instruments, DJ equipment and pianos is very upbeat for anyone with music performance experience or dreams.
For sale in-store are musical instruments including guitars, ukuleles, drums, pianos, keyboards, band and strings, digital DJ and home recording equipment, and printed sheet music.
Items that aren’t on display can be ordered in.
Open daily:
Store hours at the new Tom Lee Music store in Langford are 10 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday, and 11 am to 5 pm on Sundays.
===== RELATED:
- Grand opening Sept 20 at new Tom Lee Music store in Langford (September 18, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: LANGFORD | BUSINESS & ECONOMY | RETAIL