Somonauk gets a new, different beat

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by Frank Vaisvilas Jody Cook, of Lake Holiday, decided he would like his music shop closer to where he lives. “I wanted something closer to home,” Cook said.

That is why he recently opened A Different Drummer music store in Somonauk. He previously owned a shop in Ottawa, which he sold to former employees there.

Cook sees benefits in working closer to home.

“Be more a part of the community that I live in,” Cook said.

“And I like this building.”

The size of the building is not much bigger than what he had in Ottawa, but Cook sees that it is more functional for his business.

In the back of the shop are two music lesson rooms for instructors to teach how to play drums and guitars.

In the future, Cook would like to add piano lessons to the curriculum and possibly lessons for other instruments, as well.

Lessons might also be specific for the area. Recently, he had people inquire about banjos, so he is considering adding banjo lessons, or bluegrass.

“I just want to see what needs arise,” Cook said.

He also said he hopes to give kids in the area an opportunity to try something they have not been exposed to.

He mentioned how many people would like to take music lessons some time.

“At some point, almost everybody when they're about 30 years old says ‘I wish I would've taken guitar lessons or drum lessons',” Cook said.

Cook, himself, teaches guitar lessons.

He plays the instrument for a band in the Ottawa area called Say Uncle, specializing in '70s and '80s music variety.

He has been teaching for about 12 years and has been in the music retail business for about nine years.

“It was a hobby that I took a few steps further,” Cook said.

A Different Drummer offers a variety of drums and guitars from manufacturers, such as Washburn, Pearl and Dean. Band instruments, such as pianos, are not sold, but accessories are, such as sheet music.

“I can get any kind of sheet music there is in print,” Cook said.

Opening in January, he did not expect business to immediately boom as he gets situated.

“This is always the worst time of year,” Cook said.

He is not even officially advertising, yet, and using the “word-of-mouth” technique beginning with his former Ottawa base.

Instead, Cook is gearing up for the spring when he is planning an event.

With his promotional efforts, he expects to increase business.

“The point of making it successful is to make it a destination place,” Cook said.

He added his type of business does not have to be near major highways, such as convenient stores, and believes people will come from all over.

For more information on A Different Drummer, call (815) 498-9200.