Johnson: Yesterday's Music still strikes a chord
By Kathy Johnson

Have you ever picked up a book you have never heard of because of the title?

The other day I passed by a store with the name Yesterday's Music. Just like that book title, I had to find out what the store name meant. Thinking back to my own more youthful days of the Beatles and Elvis, I expected to hear those tunes in the store.

Cathy Szydlik, one of the owners of the store, explained to me when she and her husband, Paul, first opened, they searched for vintage basses and guitars for their customers. EBay and the Internet came into use and many customers used it as a source to find these instruments. The need for a store to track down the vintage instruments lessened.

She says the name now means, "Still doing business the old-fashioned way. We try hard to satisfy our customers."

When you walk in the door, there are instruments everywhere. Hanging from the ceiling, on the walls, in rows down the aisles. Everything arranged in a neat fashion and easily spotted by one who knows what they are looking for.

Dr. Seuss would have said, "Drums, drums, everywhere! Even hanging in the air."

Paul Szydlik played drums and bass guitars. He has played with several bands, the most recent being Flying Colors.

The Szydliks opened the store about 2 ? years ago and have already expanded. They came from Massachusetts wanting to settle in a place that had four seasons.

In addition to these instruments, the store also rents to band students. Paul is considering the possibility of renting pianos. He and Mike Caruso, an instructor at the shop, are excited about the possibility of starting a music camp this summer. According to Caruso, it would be a blues and rock 'n' roll camp. The camp would have a finale performance using a public address system and a stage.

Caurso teaches guitar and bass. Doug Francis, another instructor, teaches drum. When students reach a certain skill level, they have jam sessions in the jam room. This gives them experience playing as a group.

"At first they are a little nervous, but then they discover it is a lot of fun," Caurso said. "Parents sometimes linger outside the door to listen.

"Several research projects have shown that learning to play an instrument helps you to think in a musical way and this even helps in learning other subjects," Caurso adds.

Paul Szydlik says in the spring when it is warmer, they have a drum circle. "Everyone is invited. There is no charge," he says. "The group sits outside in the parking lot and plays hand drums."

While I was in the shop, several future music students came in with their parents to sign up for classes. You could see the excitement in their eyes and hear it in their voices as they asked about the lessons. Maybe a student having got his start at Yesterday's Music will be playing tomorrow's music on stage. After all, several musicians got their start here in High Point including jazz great John Coltrane and more recently Fantasia.

Paul Szydlik collects Beatle paraphernalia and displays it in the shop.

He has a collection of stuffed figures featured in the Beatles' songs. His most recent acquisition is Sgt. Pepper.

Cathy Szydlik says, "The easiest way to find the shop is to look behind the Raceway Gas Station on North Main. Most people will come in and say, 'We didn't know you were back here.' " The address is 106 Westover Drive.

The Szydliks have an enthusiasm for their music that is contagious. If you visit them, be prepared to catch it.

For more information, call Yesterday's Music at 880-4287.

If you have news of High Point events or people, contact me at mjohnson2@triad.rr.com.