By: Nicolas Kole
It’s about 1:40 p.m. in Leroux Studios, a loud doorbell breaks the silence. It’s a box of guitar strings being delivered — and a common refrain for Bryan Buss, owner of Leroux studios.
Buss, who has taught music in Calgary since 2009, expanded his studio into a music shop which will open at the end of June 2024.
This marks the return of landmark shop of Calgary’s music scene.
In 1988, Steve Wright opened Vintage Music on 16th Avenue, across the street from the current Leroux studios. It sold vintage music gear and attracted the attention of young Canadian band.
“When Nickelback were kids they used shop at that store,” said Buss, adding that they purchased their first guitar from him.
In the early 90s, Steve Wright’s store moved to the unit below Leroux’s studio. When the top unit became available, Wright taught music lessons and ran the music shop up until he retired in 2018. “Vintage Music were stalwart of this community for long time,” said Isaac Szeto a guitar instructor at Leroux.
And ever since the shop’s closure, there’s just been a presence missing.
“I missed having that music store,” said Buss.
In the 2000s, Christopher Leroux, a local music teacher, rented a few rooms from Steve to teach. In 2010, he hired Bryan, who took over the business in 2012. But when the store closed in 2018, it truly felt like a major change.
The pandemic years were tough for Leroux. Early on, he thought his business would fold.
“We lost overnight, I think we lost 80 per cent (of students),” said Buss.
Leroux quickly changed to online teaching.
“I stayed awake for three days straight and decided to call every parent,” Buss said.
This worked, and the school was able to retain about 50 per cent of its students. Since the lifting of the restrictions, his business has been on a steady incline. This is all due to the loyal students and music community that supported it.
“We’re so thankful and blessed for the community here, it really is a musical and artistic community for sure,” said Buss.
Today, the shop is filled with used guitars, new guitar strings and accessories. Including brands like Blackstar, Snark and Ernieball.
Leroux stands out because it combines the practicality of having store and a school in one place.
If you’re interested in taking guitar lessons, Leroux also offer string changes and adjustments at a lower cost, then other chain music stores.
Another reason as to why it stands out amongst other shops due to the fact it carries, vintage instruments.
“There aren’t lot of places in the city you can buy used guitars,” said Isaac Szeto, a longtime guitar instructor at Leroux Studios.
And in a way that’s an homage to Wright’s store that carried vintage instruments.
“There used to be stuff in here you couldn’t find in any store,” said Buss.
This has been a big help to long-time instructors, who know that parts of instruments need to be replaced. It also helps parents who have questions about the gear they can directly ask instructors.
“It’s such an important part of learning music is also learning about gear,” said Buss.
This new expansion has also brought new roles, even to those who aren’t music instructors.
“Before I had lots of downtime now I have far more roles during the day, it’s definitely more entertaining,” said Rebecca Brown, long- time receptionist who is now doing double duty with the store and studio.
But it’s also about community. For some, it’s almost a home. For Isaac Szeto who worked multiple jobs over the years, this place always felt special.
“It’s a very human space, and there’s a lot of care you don’t see in other workplaces,” said Szeto.
Another thing that instructors can tell you at Leroux is how important their students are and the real connection they feel when teaching. When the pandemic struck it was difficult to maintain the same level of connectivity.
“There’s just an energy in the room when you’re with someone,” said Szeto
But even with the challenge of not having in person classes instructors were just as eager to keep the connection with their students.
“Being able to keep holding that contact, was just beautiful,” said Szeto.
