His name is synonymous with music in Bermuda - now it will act as a beacon to attract musicians and would-be musicians to a new kind of music store and instrument workshop in Pembroke.

Wendell (Shine) Hayward is this week working late into the night to get things in place for tomorrow's opening of Shine's Music Store on St. John's Road in Pembroke West.

The founder of the National Youth Jazz Ensemble and an award-winning well-known international saxophonist in his own right, who has played with the likes of Frankie Avalon, Melba Moore and The Drifters, Mr. Hayward has been considering the possibility of opening his own style of music store for a number of years.

What he has created is a shop together with a satellite workshop and teaching and practice venue nearby.

The newly painted gold-coloured store in St. John's Road is very close to its roundabout junction with Woodlands Road and almost directly opposite St. John's pocket park.

The new store will sell, rent and repair instruments with a particular emphasis on woodwind and brass, and also be a supplier of musical instrument accessaries and a place where local artists can promote their CDs.

The instrument workshop is sited nearby at the old Berkeley School, where meticulous work to fix and maintain the delicate workings of everything from tubas and trombones to trumpets, flutes and saxophones, will be carried out.

That space will also include a small recording studio and a practice and teaching area for musical lessons.

Explaining the concept, Mr. Hayward said: "It is going to embrace my life. The big thing is being able to provide a service for young aspiring professionals through sales, rentals and repairs of instruments.

"It is much needed and we are happy to fill that void. There is nowhere in Bermuda where you can hire instruments and there is no 'known' place where you can take an instrument to be repaired."

There are musical instrument technicians on the Island who can repair and maintain instruments, but you have to know where you can find them.

Now there will be a single location. Mr. Hayward has a number of technicians lined up and is a member of National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians, giving him access to a further 1300 qualified technicians.

He would like to see some young Bermudians trained in the skill of musical instrument repair, possibly through assistance from the National Training Board.

An interesting facility being installed at the work shop is a 'tub' - literally a bath where larger wind instruments can be completely submerged in a cleaning solution.

"When an instrument needs to be cleaned with a chemical solution we dip and soak it in a sink to take off any contamination. But a sink is not big enough for the likes of a tuba or trombone. With the building of a bathtub we can have those instruments fully submerged and cleaned," explained Mr. Hayward.

Private music lessons for woodwind and brass instruments will be offered and there will be a piano lab with nine digital pianos, each with 'weighted' keys that replicate the feel and response of a genuine piano. Up to eight pupils will have their own piano keyboard and be linked via microphone and headset to the teacher who will be able to switch to one-on-one tuition through the headsets without disturbing other students.

The area will also be available for pianists to use for practice away from the restrictions of their home.

A small recording studio can be used for making jingles, voice-overs and other small productions.

Helping local artists is another goal of Mr. Hayward and his new enterprise.

"There will be a heavy emphasis on local recording artists who are not getting attention or airplay. We will sell local artists' CDs if they can supply quality, finished product that is well packaged. We want to help local artists get their music heard and give assistance for them to have their work copywrited internationally."

An open house with music from artists including Joy Barnum, Kelvin Simons, and Wayne Furbert is planned for 2 p.m. this Saturday at St. John's Park and the adjacent side road. Deputy Premier Paula Cox and Deputy Opposition leader Pat Gordon-Pamplin are expected to attend.

Mr. Hayward, who is also an arts/education officer with the Education Ministry, is optimistic for the future of local music in Bermuda. He said: "Music is changing, but I feel musicians are going to find creative ways to fit in with the changes and be successful. Hopefully we will have musicians back playing in the hotels again, but there are lots of other venues around that are doing well."

He added that he was grateful for the assistance of a team of friends and helpers who have been working almost around the clock to get everything ready for the grand opening.

Shine's Music Store is at 97 St. John's Road.