The Old Town School Music Store, Chicago, IL
Explore the Old Town School Music Store: A Chicago Institution Sharing the Magic of Hokema Kalimbas
At We Play Well Together, we’re always honored to collaborate with music stores that bring heart, history, and craftsmanship to their communities. One such standout is the Old Town School Music Store in Chicago — a cornerstone of the city’s musical life since 1957.
As part of the renowned Old Town School of Folk Music, this store has grown from a humble student resource to one of the NAMM Top 100 music stores in the world. Known for its carefully curated selection and deep local roots, it’s a place where musicians, educators, and sound explorers alike discover instruments that truly inspire — including our beloved Hokema Kalimbas.
We caught up with the team to learn more about their story, their customers, and what makes the kalimba such a beautiful addition to this iconic space.
1. Can you tell us a little about your store? (When did you open, and what inspired you to start it?)
The Old Town School Music Store is actually one of the oldest continuously operating music stores in the Chicago area, opened as part of the Old Town School of Folk Music in 1957. While our shop initially opened to support rentals and instrument purchases for Old Town School students, we're now one of the NAMM Top 100 music stores in the world, and a top seller on Reverb, making both our city and the whole country a more musical and inspired place every day.
2. What makes your store unique compared to larger retailers?
We're physically a fairly intimate store space, so we do need to curate our instruments to the good, better, and best at each price point. This selectiveness has earned Old Town School Music Store a genuine reputation both in Chicago and nationally as a place to find the best hand-selected acoustic instrument, whether your budget is $500, or $5,000.
Because we're staffed by Chicago musicians, we also genuinely work to carry instruments by regional and local luthiers, like Robinson guitars in Evanston IL, Claseman guitars out of Minnesota, and Michigan-based Northfield instruments. Recently, we're also huge fans of Pisgah banjos, sustainably built by hand in Asheville, North Carolina.
3. Why did you decide to carry We Play Well Together instruments, specifically Hokema Kalimbas, in your store?
Hokema kalimbas first caught our attention because they're just designed so beautifully and simply. They're fun to hold, and their tone is balanced and full. Being able to plug-in to an amplifier effects, or even play with a friend, is just icing on the cake!
4. What has been the customer reaction to our instruments? Any favorite stories or experiences?
Hokema kalimbas definitely play a role in our shop as "step-up" instruments for folks who might be upgrading from an entry-level instrument, or are looking for a beautifully designed kalimba they can have in their living space or studio. We've definitely sold a few to Chicago-based musicians or recording engineers who use the Electro model as a "wild card" instrument in the control room to add flavor and depth to recordings.
5. Do you or your customers have a favorite Hokema Kalimba? If so, what do you love about it?
I'd say the Electro is an easy shop favorite, and customers love to hear it run through effects or amplifiers.
6. Who are your typical customers?
We have a really varied customer base, including parents of young students, local and touring musicians, older beginners, and other music professionals like sound healers and therapists.
7. What advice would you give to someone new to sound healing or intuitive sound exploration?
I'd say equip yourself with enough basic knowledge that you're able to make creative decisions, rather than just stumbling into something that sounds good—so that you can really explore directions that inspire you. Kalimba is such a visual instrument that folks can really get a sense of pattern, rhythm, and melody quickly, and start making art!
Where to find The Old Town Music Store:
We're located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood at 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL. 60625
You can also find us on social media at
Instagram: https://instagram.com/oldtownschoolmusicstore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldTownSchoolMusicStore
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/oldtownschoolmusicstore
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The products are already available and the videos going to be released Autumn 2025
The tones of this chime are beautiful. I have it hanging where I can walk by and play it often.
The items arrived in a timely fashion. Thanks for a smooth transaction!
the craftsmanship, (and craftswomanship) is incredible, and her sound. so resonant and otherworldly. I'm so happy with my new Monolina in G. I can't wait to play her for my community. Thank you Gabriele for your outstanding customer service.
This has such a lovely sound! I can’t wait to start learning how to play!
A few years ago I became casually interested in the Kalimba because of its simplicity of design and playability. Without experience or a good point of reference I needed to taste a lot of flavors to sort out the choices. For a while, my discards kept the local Goodwill store supplied with inventory.
The feeding frenzy stopped when I discovered Hokema. Build and material quality is professional grade. The tines are not stiff, so you can play at any intensity without stressing a thumb nails. Resonance from the solid wood base and the resulting sustain are simply stunning. Even the high notes sing, unlike the flat 'tapping an aluminum pan' sound from my discards.
I first purchased the B-17, and later the smaller B-17 Mini. Comments above apply to both. There is no problem holding, playing, or carrying around either instrument. The Mini's smaller footprint might be more comfortable for small hands. I just like the smaller package. Because the B-17's wood block is wider, it has more space between the tines. Both instruments appear to use the same tine assembly materials, but the Mini has a shorter cross bar. The Mini's tine spacing is grouped, but they can be adjusted to make the spacing more uniform like the B-17. In that mode, even with the smaller block the tine spacing is noticeably wider than some other Kalimbas I've tried. My thumbs are average width for a 5'8" person and my nails are normally rounded (not pointed), and I have no trouble playing individual notes.
Tablature is available around the net for 17-key Kalimbas (RiffSpot has a nice ebook), so you can play tunes without reading music on both the B-17 and B-17 Mini.
Hokema kalimbas are as nice sounding as any I have ever heard. WPWT provides fast shipping and quick responses to inquires.
Enjoyable to use and very good quality for more percussive techniques.
These chimes are exquisite, and We Play Well Together is a great company to purchase from.
Highly recommended!
I have a Monolina for my Sound Healing practice, but wanted a monilini for myself. I am so happy with my purchase. It is perfect!
I bought a Sansula deluxe at We play well together. The service was exceptionnal and I received it within 4 days. The Sansula's sound is simply magic. So rich and vibrant. It creates an ambiance of it's own.
Really happy and satisfied about this purchase.
I just took the week-long monochord training with Joule and fell in love with my Monolina. Joule is a fun, engaging and knowledgeable teacher who brings deep reverence to her instruments and the art of playing them. We got to experiment with and experience all the different ways of expressing through our monochords and came away with a proven, complete and beautiful 45-minute session we can now offer. I highly recommend this class.
Quick delivery, wonderful company and lovely instrument!
It is always a pleasure to speak to Gabriella and her customer service is top notch
this set is legit sounds like little angels 😇
I am new to the Monolina world but have been around stringed instruments all my life. I'm so excited about its possibilities as a solo instrument for use in Reiki, as well as in an ensemble setting. It helps me to meditate as well.
R
Used Monolina XL Low C We have a full set of crystal bowls, and the low C monochord adds a wonderful depth to their sounding. I also find myself humming/singing over the low C drone in a quite natural way. Very happy with my new instrument.
I've wanted to purchase a Sansula ever since I first heard one, two years ago. I finally purchased one and upon receiving it was disappointed in it's sound. Customer service was extremely helpful and promptly replaced it. Couldn't have been a better experience. I highly recommend the instrument and the company is top notch.
Works well. Delighted to have the ability to tune my Sansula myself.
We Play well together has been a resource for instruments for, at least, 5 years. The quality of the instruments, customer service, kindness and expertise of the staff has been a huge bonus and blessing in our interactions. I am grateful for their service, friendliness and flexibility. thank you so very much VLamura
These mallets are super fun to use and I love the sounds they create. I purchased a pair of each set of mallets and I love them all so much, I'm planning on keeping the pair I thought I would send back originally.
I have a set and love these so much. They are well made, and the sound is solid and carries well in small and large spaces. Highly recommend!
Wonderful instrument. It’s easy to travel with and well crafted. Customer service is wonderful as well. Very responsive. I am always impressed with the attention to customer service and care of the instruments. This instruments complement my crystal singing bowls and monalina nicely.
My G Monolina is perfect! Beautiful to play in a group, as well as on the body.
Absolutely in love, but should have ordered the bag! Ordering it now as it is was too fragile to travel with without the bag.