Interwoven Threads

This many years down the road, I think what surprises me the most are the long term relationships that have come from that first day I put the shingle out. It isn't just the continuity of individuals--sure, we have wonderful long term relationships with area teachers (Piano teacher Cathy Gilchrist was one of our very first regular customers, and we still see each other regularly). But the number of lives that have been blended in with the store still astonishes me...
Rich Pokrywka was an early trumpet student of ours. We saw him through grade school and high school. He went off to BW to major in music and then to Georgia for his masters. Married and starting a family, he returned to the area and taught at the store. He left again to pursue his doctorate at OSU, and came back again to teach. He's been associated with the store in some way for over half of his life.
The Ryan family deserves special mention: their oldest son Dan took lessons with Cheryl before the store ever opened. Add the other ten Ryan siblings, most of whom took lessons at the store...and we've had a family member in the lesson program almost continuously for 25 years! Mark is still taking with Cheryl at this writing, and Carrie just left for college.
The Hamms have contributed two of their kids to the Skyline workforce. Darren started in guitar at age 9, and began working for the store at 16. Deanna was a couple of years behind him. Darren was on staff and fully involved in the planning of some of our long term signature events: Hawaiian Shirt Day, Mardi Gras, and Christmas Eve would probably not have flown without his enthusiasm--or at least willingness to humor me and go along for the ride. It's one thing to plan an event. But staff members (first) and customers have to buy in to it. Darren was a willing partner in crime on events, even when attendance was low. There will be blog entries for all our signature events...some war stories will undoubtedly emerge. Darren and Deanna's parents, Don and Dianne, are still Front Porch regulars, and Dianne has been Queen of the Boo-fay at Mardi Gras since year one. Having the support of an entire family-for many years--is gratifying beyond anything.
There are so many more--families that have supported the store, students who have returned to enroll their children, kids who worked for me and now have careers and families, and who still keep in touch. Faculty members, spread all over the world, who still remember teaching at Skyline Music with appreciation and fondness.
Touching lives this way, weaving a tapestry from so many threads...it's not what you think about when you ring up a sale or sign up a student. But it's probably the most accurate measure of the success of what we've done. Profit is nourishment to keep the business running. But food is not who we are, and profit is not the story of our business. We help people make music. That's what I've always said, and it is the definition I'm proudest of, always.