Established in 1970, Martin Meidl opened our first school music store, The Music Mart, in Lamberton, Minnesota (MN). In 1991, Martin and his son, Joseph (Joe), opened a second location in Mankato, MN, which Joe has overseen since that time. The Music Mart, Inc. expanded its business further through the acquisition and/or mergers with Eastman Music out of Faribault, MN, in 2016; Welhaven Music out of Rochester, MN, in 2018; and most recently with Hardt’s Music & Audio out of Winona, MN, in February 2024.

The Music Mart, Inc. works with elementary, secondary and post-secondary school band, orchestra and choir directors, along with many other music teachers across southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Our knowledgeable sales representatives visit these schools on a weekly basis during the academic year where instruments are delivered and/or picked up for repair, cleaning, and exchanges. Instrument accessories can also be delivered directly to the students and directors at their respective schools.

Our employees have over 100 years of combined experience, some holding degrees in Music, Music Education, Music Business/Management, Music Performance and Band or Music Instrument Repair. In support of our students and schools, our store locations in Mankato, Faribault, Rochester, and Winona, have excellent repair facilities with experienced Repair Technicians on staff. We repair woodwind, brass, percussion, orchestral and fretted instruments; whereas, complete striping and lacquering of instruments is outsourced.

The Music Mart, Inc., offers beginner instrument leasing and step up sales on band and orchestra instruments. We also offer guitars and amplifiers, keyboards and digital pianos, drums and percussion instruments, a wide variety of instrument accessories and a broad selection of print music. We are a franchise dealer for most major brands including, but not limited to:

• Band Instruments - Yamaha, Jupiter/Mapex, Eastman, Buffet, Getzen, Conn-Selmer, Gemeinhardt, Chateau

• String Instruments - Eastman, Amati, Yamaha, Roth, Scott Cao

• Guitars & Amplifiers - Yamaha, Ibanez, Alvarez, Dean, H. Jimenez, Peavy, Hosa

• Keyboards & Digital Pianos - Yamaha

• Drums & Percussion Instruments - Yamaha, Pearl, Mapex, PDP, LP Latin Percussion, Toca Percussion, & Drum Workshop

In addition to supporting school band and orchestra programs, our customers also include churches, piano teachers, parents/guardians and students from all walks of life. For them, we stock major piano series, contest music, fun books and sheet music from many publishers.

Over the years, The Music Mart, Inc. has sponsored and/or actively participated in the following events, scholarships and award programs:

• Kiwanis Thunder of Drums

• Piano Teacher Workshop – Coordinated and held in Mankato, MN

• Merry Tuba Christmas - Tuba and Euphonium players from anywhere and of any age are invited to participate in the Tuba events. Your name can be added to our mailing list just by dropping us a line.

• The Lamberton Jazz Festival – Founded by Martin Meidl over 40 years ago

• Kids Making Music – A program that provided instruments for students who may not have been able to afford them.

The Music Mart, Inc. holds preferred memberships with the following organizations:

• National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM)

• National Association of School Music Dealers (NASMD)

• Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA)