Every day at the Porch Music Store something happens to lift me up. There is magic about this place that is beyond anything I can explain. It's the people. Being there, among them, lifts me. They inspire me to be better. They inspire and motivate me to want to do more and do better, no matter how I may feel when I first walk in the door.
Now with over 100 students, parents, grandparents and friends walking through our doors every week there are many magical things happening. We see the best of the best in our community.
They tell me stories. Stories about struggles they face and how music is lifting them. Parents tell me about how music lessons with our amazing instructors are helping their children grow in other ways. Our instructors are often willing to work with younger students than many others allow. One parent expressed her gratitude this week as she described how her daughter is blossoming from her voice lesson experience. Her speech is improving. She talks a little slower now and others are noticing that as well as her increased confidence. Mom is hoping to get her to stop singing her homework answers though.
We love taking time with customers to understand their goal in purchasing - especially a first instrument. Today I enjoyed time with a young man who was looking for the right one to help him de-stress from his job. He spent a long time with us and walked out with the prettiest ukulele we had and already playing two chords.
Many of our students come a little early for lessons just to see what new things might be in the store. We often have instruments that aren't common. They are respectful and I look forward to letting them try them out. Some come early to dust or tune instruments for us because they see that as important and want to help. I love that they care and feel invested!
We have a wonderful group of collaborators in the store. Our instructors are loving, caring, kind, and talented. The depth and width of their knowledge is a huge part of our success. Deanna and Ashleigh set a tone and gently guided us from the beginning. Those that have followed - Zach, Elizabeth, Mike, Preston, Trish and Vicki - have built on that foundation. Holly and I see our job as helping to let their lights shine. And we are lucky to have that light shine near us.
And then, there are more.... John has been a huge supporter and has his musical corner in the studios - he is our "back to the future" musical "Doc". I can call on Kathy and Laurie for their backup and advice. Clark is our thinking person for process. Ron is another thinker for making processes better and solving problems.
More than one person has told me that they were uncertain that we could make it when we first opened our doors. We were too. But those same people are still coming in and they are collaborating.
Now in our forth year, roots are growing. Perhaps they share my weird philosophy - "Be scared but do it anyway." And when you get a lot of differently thinking people all working in the same direction, amazing things happen.
It's just a little music store but there's nothing small about all the people who walk in the door. What is special about a place is always the people who fill it!
