About Playground Music Center, Inc.

Since 1961 Playground Music Center has been an area leader in sales, service and training for all types of musical instruments and accessories. Our knowledgeable staff is made up of industry professionals and musicians. We provide quality products and services inclusing lessons, repairs, rentals and more. In addition to our 2 storefronts and dedicated school sales representatives, we operate 3 eBay Stores, have several social networking sites (MySpace, FaceBook, Merchant Circle, Google Groups and a Blog) and have a presence on Amazon.com

Mr. James Leonard
Playground Music Founder
Our Founder, Mr. James Leonard

Founder James Leonard still teaches music and watches over the company's progress today

A brief History... After WWII, James "Jim" Leonard settled in the Fort Walton Beach, Fl area. He was one of the first band directors in Northwest Florida. As the first band director for Choctawhatchee High School in 1954 (now a 5A school with 4 State Championship titles for the

Stylemarchers school band) his efforts in music education led to a nationwide adoptance of school music as an accredited field of study not just a hobby or Extracurricular activity. Mr. Leonard is also a 50+ year member of the Kiwanis Club of America serving in various leadership positions with the organization over the years. In 1961, Mr. Leonard and wife Maura started selling band supplies out of necessity - there simply were no easy ways to acquire musical instruments and accessories at that time in Florida. His love for music and music education helped the company thrive through various economic and social transitions. Although the company has operated many stores in Northwest Florida, the original store headquarters and 10,000 Sq Ft showroom, education venter and warehouse is located within several hundred feet of the original store location.

The Name Playground Music Center comes from the fact that the store is located in the "Musical Center" of the "Playground Area", the original name of today's Emerald Coast reagion of Central Northwest Florida. The history of the area dates back to Native American Indian mounds built around 1100AD. See Wikipedia

Playground Music currently run by company president Anthony "Tony" Leonard, one of Jim's sons who has worked with the company since 1972. In fact all of Mr. Leonard's children and many grandchildren (almost all of whom are musicians by the way) are actively involved in the day-to-day operation of Playground Music Center, Inc.

James Leonard and the Stylemarchers

How about a tour of our main showroom, Rock School performances and more?

MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to be the best in product knowledge with friendly customer service before and after the sale. By creating an exciting place to work, shop, and share knowledge, we are dedicated to advancing with the changing times. Our purpose is to serve and assist music education by providing the tools and imparting the knowledge to enjoy the daily experience of making music.