Opera Muzica

Business Overview

Welcome to Oprea Muzica! Owned by the Oprea family and their kin for centuries, this little music shop in Romania has operated mostly in the same way for years, selling instruments and offering music lessons to local children and adults alike. Though the selection might seem small at first glance, the shop owners have always gone out of their way to offer special orders or assistance in finding a particular brand of instrument, and payment plans are available for those who cannot afford their dream violin, cello, or other musical implement. Lessons are offered on all weekdays and occasionally on Saturday, though most attending only visit for a lesson once a week, and some attend lessons even more infrequently.

Location 

A relatively unassuming shop located in the magical district of Sighisoara, Romania, Oprea Muzica looks much the same in modern times as it always had: a dusty, rose colored awning hangs over a window display that changes with the seasons so that customers passing by can see the latest models of instruments available for sale. The faded, peeling sign that hangs above the door is still written in the old Cyrillic letters, but gold paint on the window announces the shop’s name brightly in the modern alphabet, along with the store hours. Those who visit the shop after even years or decades away will always be pleased to find that it looks exactly as they remember, no matter how much time has passed.

Once inside, the store is relatively small but manages to be warm and inviting, with a wall dedicated entirely to string instruments and an area not far from it is home to a tea set and two comfy armchairs for meetings with customers and parents of students. Near the window display is a large shelf of sheet music, and behind the front counter with its antique cash register are a number of other instruments and supplies along the walls. In the back a narrow hallway can be seen leading to a series of back rooms.

Instruments
On the right side of the hall are doors that lead to a storage room that houses mostly old, worn instruments that students can use for lessons or to try out before they decide to commit to making a purchase. Next to it lies the restroom and just beyond is a set of stairs that will take employees to the attic, where overstock instruments are kept. Anything that is currently being paid off a little at a time is usually kept behind the front desk, but occasionally larger purchases may be kept in the attic until they are paid off, or when there is not enough space up front.

On the left side of the hall one can find the shop owner’s small office and two practice rooms for lessons that are held every day the shop is open, between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Saturdays. Students are also invited to come practice on their own time, though they must pay a fee to do so. At the end of the hall a second set of stairs leads down to the basement, where a number of pianos, organs, and other large instruments can be browsed.

Recitals for students are held twice a year, once around Christmas time and once in the Spring. Students practice their pieces individually during lessons, and then the church where the recitals are held allows them to practice as a group in the week leading up to the recitals. Most pieces are played together as an orchestra, though there are a few solo performances during each recital for both current and former students who may have shown exemplary skill at their craft.

Job Ideas: Sales Clerk, Instructor, Instrument Repair Specialist

Oprea Muzica is a member created business, established by fizzing-whizbee. All players are welcome to create characters who work for Oprea Muzica or threads that take place in this location, but please feel free to send a private message to Tundratown if you would like to know more about this business.