The Centre Music Call That Changed It All
- Jill Stoodley
- Apr 21
- 8 min read
Updated: May 23
The phone call I made to Centre Music House nearly 10 years ago was life changing. I know, I know, it sounds dramatic but it couldn't be more true ...
Little did I know that one quick call to Max Larson would bring so much color and joy to our lives. It would tie generations of my family together in ways I never could have imagined, give me a new sense of courage and purpose, and set my daughter on a life-long path of music, performance, and lasting relationships with a community of artists. Not a small order.
A Little Background on the Call...
I was looking for a summer camp for our daughter (who was 9 at the time), and Centre Music's Rock Band Camp happened to come up in a web search. We knew Allie could sing but she hadn’t done any solo performances, she didn’t play an instrument, and she had no band experience. When I spoke with Max, he was so friendly and easygoing. He encouraged us to give it a try. And nearly a decade later, the rest is history.
Can't Wait to Check Out CMH? Here's All the Info You Need!
Centre Music House
18 Main St, Framingham, MA 01702
(508) 875-0909
https://www.instagram.com/centremusichouse/
A Shockingly Good Radio Head Rendition
Back in the early days as Allie was just learning to play guitar, we discovered that Centre Music hosts a monthly Open Mic Night for the public.
I distinctly remember the first time we attended (when it was hosted by B Sisters Cafe), sitting in a big, comfy round booth toward the back of the tiny cafe with Allie, my husband, and my parents. It was beautiful, powerful, alive with energy — a mix of adorable younger kids, artsy college-age performers, and an older crowd.
Max's acoustic rendition of Radio Head’s Creep (this was years before the song was overdone) gave me absolute chills and I could barely sit still in my seat. Overwhelmed and overcome at the energy and talent in the room, I was forever sold. How had I gone my whole life without this?
Allie was sold too, attending or performing in nearly every open mic for the past nine years.
See Centre Music Live This Month!
Open Mic Nights, Thursday, May 1st & June 5th, 7-9 pm at ATAC, Framingham, MA
Earth Day Festival, Saturday, May 3rd, music starts at 11:00 am, Framingham Centre Common
Here's the Unexpected Part... the Impact her Lessons Had on Me
When Allie was 10, she asked me and my dad to perform with her. The idea was shocking. However, there was no way I was going to turn her down. So I screwed up my courage and we began performing together. It was nerve-wracking and exhilarating. And 100% worth every minute.
What's Different About CMH? Her Teachers Were Perfectly Suited for Her
That first summer camp led Allie to years of rock band camps, guitar lessons, drum lessons, and a deep love for music. We were thrilled with how warm and welcoming the staff was right from the beginning. Allie has never been the type to enjoy structure, drills, the theory and math of it all. She had a natural knack for music, but if she hadn’t been allowed to learn in the unique, casual way she works best, it would have turned her off immediately — and permanently.
Over the years, her teachers (John, Rihards, Forrest) were so flexible, so perfectly chosen for her to grow and thrive. And while the idea of "practicing" daily would have been a chore, just playing guitar up in her room became part of her routine. It was in her blood. The guitar just became an extension of her body.
As she’s grown, Max and his crew have given Allie wonderful opportunities to perform in recitals and community events and festivals at Framingham City Hall, Earth Day, and Marathon Monday. He's also recommended her and other teens to industry colleagues for events like Natick's Rock Off Main. And as she began to outgrow the rock band camp, she transitioned to Rock Band Assistant/Session Musician. It's been wonderful to watch her grow under Max and camp director Russell’s guidance. And it means the absolute world to her. So much so that she'd even do it for free (which speaks volumes coming from a 17-year-old).
And That's Where My Life Began to Change....
For anyone who knows me, saying I've been a workaholic most of my life is a bit of an understatement. And at the time, I really spent every free minute either working or carving out time for my family. But until the open mic, I didn't really have anything that was mine ... specifically for me.
Our practice time became precious. Non-negotiable time I carved out just for me, my parents, and Allie. Open mic nights were (and still are) sacred. And once a month the work laptop was turned off promptly at 5:30 (which was otherwise unheard of).
As Allie grew and began performing more on her own, my dad and I pivoted to performing together, with me on vocals and him accompanying me on piano. My initial fear of solo vocals made me want to run for the hills. Think public flogging, tomato throwing, naked-in-public kind of nightmares. But I fought through those thoughts. Because the chance to perform with my dad was immeasurable.
For me, it truly was a reconnection to a part of me that had been sleeping for years. I know it's been the same for my dad. While he embraced a life-long dedication to voice and piano as the fine arts director of Woburn High for 46 years, he let his own solo performances slide in recent years during retirement. Similarly, I hadn't sung in public since high school (and certainly never solo).
He started singing duets with me last year, and now after eight years of the open mics (and 30 years since he sang at my sister’s wedding and mine), he's begun singing solo again this year. I couldn’t be more proud.
The monthly Open Mic gave us a space, a purpose, something to work toward. And if I hadn’t made that call nine years ago, we’d never have known what we were missing. It opened a channel of creativity, a connection to the local music scene. Made me feel alive, awake. While that sounds silly and exaggerated even as I write this, it truly did bring a part of me back that had been missing for years. And I believe it was a pivotal part of my decision to start my own creative business this year — and this blog.
See for Yourself at the Open Mic!
For those who've never attended, the Open Mic is such a safe, welcoming space. No pretense, no judgement, no pressure (though I still shake uncontrollably from the nerves). And definitely no tomato throwing or flogging. I continue to be amazed how supportive everyone is, especially the teens and younger crowd. Nothing means more than my daughter and her friends cheering for us.
Even if you're not into performing, if you're local to Metrowest, MA, be sure to come if only to hear Max open with a smooth Sam Cooke or Beatles song, or perform classics with his mother, Barbara, also a Centre Music institution since the store's beginning. Occasionally, Corbit (co-owner and Max's dad) pops in with a performance from his local barbershop quartet. From seasoned local bands like the Circuit Breakers to talented teen and college-age groups, to pianists, violinists, drummers, guitarists, vocalists, rap artists, and even an incredible death metal guitarist, there is something for everyone.
Over the years, Centre Music’s Open Mic, now hosted by Amazing Things Art Center (ATAC) in downtown Framingham the first Thursday night of every month September through June, has created an intergenerational community of artists and music lovers. While some months are quieter and more intimate, other nights the line is out the door and the place is on fire. There is nothing more exciting than watching someone who oozes talent perform for the very first time.
I truly believe my family's trajectory wouldn’t have happened without Max and his family. They are honestly the kindest, most genuine people we know, and they've become like family.
Max even drove 45 minutes to Allie's first professional gig in Quincy (one that was unrelated to Centre Music) a few summers ago. We bought Allie her own amp and mic stand a few days before (from Centre Music, of course!) and despite testing it out, when we got to the gig it wasn’t working. Max had told us we could call him any time — and despite our best efforts not to bother him on a weekend outside of store hours, in a panic 10 minutes before she was supposed to perform, we took him up on the offer and called, only to find out he was already on his way to the gig as a surprise! Over the phone he was able to diagnose that the guitar needed a battery replacement we didn’t even know existed. Day saved. Crisis averted. Thank you, Max.
Over the years, we’ve watched as Max has taken the reins and run with them, bringing the store into modern day media, while preserving the culture and history of the older days. His father, Corbit, bought the business back in 1973, leaving a lucrative tech career to focus on a career in music he loved. The store has seen its share of tough times and challenges, and thankfully flourished during the pandemic as they pivoted to online classes, online open mics, and recitals.
The Larson family and their staff are community leaders, a Metrowest institution for more than 50 years. The sales associates and admins (Thann, Jacinta, Alex, and SaRah) are the nicest, friendliest you can imagine — often parents and customers go to the store just to chill, chat, and eat delicious gingerbread cookies Barbara makes for the holidays. I’ve had friends whose kids haven’t taken lessons in years who still receive a hand-written birthday card every year. If you buy a drum kit, they come to your house to install it. It's the details, the little touches, the hilarious commercials Max, Corbit, and their staff made during the pandemic, their whacky sense of humor, and warmth that set them apart from any other store.
The Centre Music House logo slogan is Music. Love. Family. and they couldn’t be more on the nose. Their love for each other and music is palpable. Inspiring.
See for Yourself!
I couldn’t recommend Centre Music House enough. Whether you want to try lessons, order a rare instrument, purchase a cool gift for a musician, or check out the Open Mic and local festivals, be sure to add Centre Music to your list of must-dos. Or just drop in to say hi and listen to some cool tunes. (If you've never been, be sure to tell them I sent you!)
Centre Music House
18 Main St.
Framingham, MA 01702
(508) 875-0909
We're Not the Only Ones Who Love Centre Music!
Check out these awesome stories & videos to see them in action ...
Catch Them Live This Month!
Open Mic Nights, Thursday, May 1st & June 5th, 7-9 pm at ATAC, Framingham, MA
Earth Day Festival, Saturday, May 3rd, music starts at 11:00 am, Framingham Centre Common
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Jill Hodgson Stoodley
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