Thinking about getting that guitar out of the closet or trying to revive those childhood piano lessons? Maybe you just moved to town and want to get your gear together for when you join a band? Why not visit one of the Milwaukee area's great music shops and feed your passion for music. Here is a quick guide to some of the city's best. Add your favorite by using the talkback feature at the bottom of the story.

Baldoni Accordions
N87 W16432 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls, (262) 250-9990
Formerly the musical anchor of Brady Street, Baldoni had the services of the late Jerome Brisch (aka Presley Haskell) and was, consequently, a mecca for guitarists requiring repairs. A few years ago the shop relocated and now has returned its focus to the glorious accordion.

Beihoff Music
11737 W. North Ave., (414) 607-3900
Beihoff sells guitars and keyboards, but it's less a place for an aspiring Jimi Hendrix than for kids in the school orchestra and budding classicists. All kinds of strings, woodwinds, brass and other instruments are rented, repaired and sold and there's a wide range of sheet music on hand.

Bjorklund Violin Shop
(414) 774-8930
Again, unless you're in an ELO cover band, Bjorklund is mostly for classical (and Irish and bluegrass) musicians, with a range of violins, violas, cellos, bows, cases and accessories. Instruments are bought, sold and repaired by owner Terry Bjorklund.

Cascio Interstate
138th & National, New Berlin, (262) 789-7600
Port Washington & Mequon Rds., Mequon, (262) 241-3360
108 W. Capitol Dr., Hartland, (262) 369-9290
www.casciointerstate.com
Cascio has long been the music superstore of the Milwaukee area. Although it's no longer the biggest (there are chain stores for that), it's still among the best and worth the trek to New Berlin or Mequon for good prices on a wide range of guitars, basses, drums, amps, band and orchestra sales and rentals, sheet music, accessories and more. The New Berlin location even has a recording studio now, run by Chris Adler, who enginners much of the recorded work of Daryl Stuermer.

Classical Strings
311 N. Plankinton Ave., (414) 271-7190
This downtown boutique also specializes in violins, violas, cellos, bows, cases and accessories.

Faust Drum Center
2204 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 744-1112
For one of the most memorable shopping experiences in Milwaukee, visit this long-lived Bay View shop. Marvel at the autographed Gene Krupa pic and hear the story of his visits to the shop. There's also a wide range of drum gear on tap and a selection of other instruments, too.

Bob Kames Keyboards
4415 W. Forest Home Ave., (414) 321-8633
Another historic shop, Kames has been the king of Milwaukee keyboard for decades and his shop is where many Milwaukeeans got their first piano, living room organ, synthesizer or digital piano.

Kraft Music
3575 N. 124th St, Brookfield, (262) 781-9700
www.kraftmusic.com
Formerly located in downtown Milwaukee and on Brady St., Kraft is one of the better places in town to find electronic keyboards, synths, sequencers and the like. They've now branched out into other instruments, as well.

Melk Music
8625 W. Adler Ave., (414) 771-0900
From I-94, you can see the little storefront where Melk specializes in the sale, rental, repair and teaching of woodwind and brass instruments.

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