LOUISVILLE, Ky. — You can usually find Jeff McNicol with a guitar in hand, but that's not all. McNicol can just about play any instrument, and that's what he aims to do for Mom’s Music customers.


What You Need To Know

  • Mom’s Music is a Louisville business working to make a difference

  • The shop is collecting new and used instruments to donate to tornado victims

  • Mom’s Music teaches over 400 students a week

  • Jeff McNicol serves as the owner/president of Mom’s Music

“One of the important things for us is we have a full service music store. Not just guitars or bass, but we take care of keyboard players, drummers, and all types of different instruments,” McNicol said.

After following in the footsteps of his father, McNicol started playing professionally for nearly 5 years. Although his days as a pro are over, he's still rocking. But instead of spending his time on the road, now he gets to show others how great music can be within the four walls of Mom’s Music.

Mom's Music customer trying out a guitar. (Spectrum News 1/Erin Wilson)

“Well it's something that means a whole lot to me to be able to do again, I played professionally for a long time, it's something that's been apart of my family heritage and we like to see new families getting started, we have parents coming in and taking lessons with their kids,” McNicol said.

Since 1979, Mom’s Music has been inspiring rising music stars, recently teaching more than 400 students a week at Mom’s Music and Rising Stars Music Academy. Now they’re continuing that mission through a drive organized by Woodsongs, a volunteer-run music organization.

The music shop will serve as a drop-off location for donated instruments that will go to those devastated by the storms in Western Kentucky.

“We have technicians here at the stores that can give a little love to these instruments before they go to these people who are so much in need,” McNicol said. “It's an honor to be a part of it because you normally think of just in terms of shelter, food, and clothing, and we're able to contribute too.”

Guitars showcased on Mom's Music shelves. (Spectrum News 1/Erin Wilson)

McNicol hopes to reunite musicians in the with their instrument of choice.

“Hopefully put some joy in their lives when they need it the most. Music is a thing that can take us to a different place mentally and that's really what we see,” McNicol said. “This change over for music for me and seeing all the new people getting involved is really exciting.”

A deadline for the donations hasn't been set yet, but Mom’s Music will continue to take new and used instruments at Mom's Music on Mellwood Avenue and Maxwell’s House of Music in Jeffersonville.