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Episode 1: Ryan West Shares the Story Behind West Music
62 Plays4 months ago
We dive right into our first episode with West Music's president Ryan West as he shares how a chance encounter with a marching band transformed his grandfather Pearl's life - and eventually led to creating one of the nation's most trusted music education partners. In this episode, Ryan reveals how West Music's commitment to "Play now. Play for life." shapes everything from our Music Therapy programs to our partnerships with educators across the country. With candid stories about the company's evolution from a small repair shop to a comprehensive music education resource, Ryan discusses West Music's dedication to being more than just a supplier - but a true partner who understands educators' needs and challenges. Whether you're looking for classroom inspiration, program development guidance, or simply want to hear which instrument Ryan thinks is most underrated (spoiler: it might be in your elementary music room!), this episode is for you!
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Play Now, Play For Life'
00:00:07
Speaker
Hi, everyone. You are listening to Play Now, Play For Life, a podcast for music educators. I'm your host, Aaron Hansen, former music teacher of 29 years and now part of the West Music Team. And this is our very first podcast.
00:00:24
Speaker
So, every episode, we will sit down and chat with experts in music education to learn about their tricks of the trade.
Meet Ryan West, President of West Music
00:00:33
Speaker
And today, we are starting right at the top with Ryan West, who is our president at West Music. And we will be discussing the West Music Company and what we offer for music educators and music education. I was asked to just share a quick little bit about myself, but I i was a public school teacher, music teacher in band and general music for a lot of years. And that's my background. um I'm an ORF certified teacher.
00:01:01
Speaker
And that's kind of my my specialty area and that sort of thing. So I just want to welcome everybody. And I hope you get to learn a little bit about our company and about what we're about and what that means for you as an educator or whatever you do.
Aaron Hansen's Musical Background
00:01:19
Speaker
um So welcome, Ryan. Thanks, Aaron. Great to be here. Good to be part of the inaugural podcast. Here we go. You know, we thought to do the first one, why not start right at the top and have the president? but and There's no better way to start things. so you right there you go good So well, let's
Ryan West's Early Musical Journey
00:01:39
Speaker
start with this. Could you just tell us a little bit about just about yourself personally and kind of your own musical journey in life, you know, aside from the business yet, we'll get to that. But I mean, you're just your own personal part.
00:01:57
Speaker
Yeah, ah so I grew up around West Music. ah My grandfather, Pearl, started it in 1941. So when I showed up ah and growing up around it, it had already been around for for two generations. And I had a chance to kind of really see it grow and transform it and evolve quite a bit um during my childhood in the 80s, 90s, and then to today.
00:02:20
Speaker
I would say my musical story, you know, I grew up, I started playing piano and kindergarten. I started taking from a ah piano teacher, Nancy Cree, who's still teaching lessons. She actually teaches both my kids a piano today where but she calls a legacy family. We've been doing it with her for two generations now. And so Nancy really started my kind of instrumental music experience and I started kindergarten. I played all the way through high school. So piano is my instrument. That's the one that I Can kind of sit down and play joy and then as i grow up i had the opportunity to have some great music teachers myself a shout out to miss curry who was my elementary music teacher and she taught me orphan had like lunch time club and everything like that so i got to have that experience at lincoln elementary in iowa city.
Ryan's High School Musical Experiences
00:03:06
Speaker
and then grew up and got to participate in band, primarily in band. I played saxophone in band. It started in fifth grade into high school and also got to play in the show choir, in the backup band, and then sang in the choir and performed in the show choir at musicals and whatnot, all through high school. So that's kind of where I started my musical experience and my musical journey.
00:03:32
Speaker
and um And then i at 18, I graduated from high school and then took about 10 years to go out
Theater Studies and Return to Iowa
00:03:42
Speaker
on the East Coast. And I took it kind of a different career path. I had the opportunity to study theater. I got my Bachelor of Fine Arts at NYU to focusing on directing, theater directing.
00:03:54
Speaker
and then its spent a couple of years in New York and then went got my um master's in theater performance and acting and I came back to New York and then I moved back to Iowa in 2008 to come back and be part of West Music.
00:04:10
Speaker
Okay, I'm amazed by two things, because when I first met you, I never, well, I didn't know you, but i that the fact that you went into music theater was just, that really surprised me in a good way. I was like, wow, that's really cool.
00:04:25
Speaker
And well I have to give a little bit of a a qualifier there. I wasn't focusing on musical theater. I was just just theater, just like straight plays, lots of like downtown New York, like very experimental stuff. At the time, it was like my academic time where I was like, oh, musicals versus like regular theater. I didn't think a lot of musicals, but as times progressed, I appreciate that so much because they are true art forms in terms of putting all the pieces together. So big fan of musicals now today.
00:04:53
Speaker
Okay, so let me ask you this. so in In your theater time, did you do mainly plays or did you also do musicals?
Preference for Straight Plays Over Musicals
00:05:01
Speaker
mainly plays. Yeah. So okay mainly plays with music. So I didn't get to do a lot of belting or anything anything like that. I mean, i I enjoy it. And I would say today, we are very musical theater household. I've got a eight year old daughter, Eva, who absolutely adores musicals. And I enjoy listening to them with her as well. So a big fan. ah So we haven't gotten a chance to see Wicked yet just came out this past week. But
00:05:24
Speaker
ah It's on the list well okay so since you brought that up i have to ask you because that was one of my final question at the end of our time together but since it's been brought out so what is your opinion should people be singing in the theater along with the show oh during the show what's happening.
Sing-Along Debate in Musical Performances
00:05:44
Speaker
I, as a performer, I'm like, that's a little much. I love it. I mean, I love the energy. I love the feedback on it. Oh, but if if it's the movie, absolutely. 100%. If it's the live show, I would say, i keep the volume in check so that way the performer knows that where they're at, where they're going. Yeah, I agree with you. I'm i'm with you 100%. We're all so kindred spirits because my instrument was clarinet.
00:06:09
Speaker
But then I picked up the saxophone, of course, to be in jail span. So we are kindred saxophone players. Interesting. I had to get your opinion on that. All right. yeah So let's move on.
History of West Music
00:06:20
Speaker
Let's talk about West Music. on Can you just tell us?
00:06:24
Speaker
it share kind of the history of the company through the years. I mean, you've seen so much of it being around it as a family business and so many people don't even know it's a family business. And yeah you know just to find out that information is very interesting for people to understand.
00:06:42
Speaker
Yeah, it's ah it is funny. I mean, having our last name be a cardinal direction. People are like, oh, it's like a company name. Let's do it. Sure, why not? um But no, it is a family business. My my grandfather, Pearl, as I mentioned before, ah he started it in 1941 in Iowa City. And Pearl's background in history, he he grew up in ah South Central Iowa.
00:07:06
Speaker
in a small town called Dean, Iowa. um it's sorry It's not really a town anymore. it's It's kind of just an intersection at this point in time. um But you know his experience, he was he was growing up during the Great Depression. ah He was ah one of several siblings. He wasn't necessarily going to have a place on the farm for him in the future. And so ah he was really kind of trying to find his way in the 30s and everything that was going on in America at that time.
00:07:33
Speaker
um he had As the story goes, he had dropped out of school at that point in time, um and he was invited to go to a football game ah with by a local doctor, and he had a chance to see the marching band play at the local football game. and He wanted to know how to be a part of that, and so he approached the the director and the director said, we have to go to school to be part of the marching band.
00:07:57
Speaker
And that began his journey ah with school music and music education. And from there, he had the opportunity to meet a gentleman ah by the name of Bill Gower, who was a director of bands and had a connection to University of Iowa at Iowa City. And ah Bill Gower invited and encouraged him to come to the University of Iowa to study ah music education.
00:08:20
Speaker
ah Which he did, and it brought him to Iowa City to be part of the University of Iowa, and another individual that really ah inspired him and connected him was a gentleman by the name of Hiney Voxman, who wrote the Rubank method books, those blue method books that many people know. ah He was from Centerville, Iowa. so Those two individuals, both Jaime Voxman and Bill Gower, really were the inspiration for Pearl to come to Iowa to start studying
Pearl West's Legacy and West Music's Growth
00:08:45
Speaker
music education. So music education has kind of been our our DNA and our lifeblood. And the start of West Music then became Pearl was really technically adept. ah He was ah good working on the farm and with his hands and mechanically minded. And so ah the way he paid for his education as he was going to school was ah learning how and practicing repairing of musical instruments. So ah he was a kind of ah a repair technician and a music educator. And that was kind of the genesis and the the birth of West Music is to be doing those things. And we we started in 1941.
00:09:24
Speaker
It was not a time where a lot of stores were opening or music stores were opening in fact most internet making at that point in time was pretty limited because most factories were. Dedicated to the war efforts at the time and when girl did go to enlist but he couldn't he couldn't ah go because he had flat feet.
00:09:42
Speaker
So um because he was going to be back at home, he had started this and was teaching and repairing and and and began ah the company from there. And that was ah the genesis of it all in the early 40s. And of course, now 83 years later, a lot has evolved and changed over the years.
00:10:00
Speaker
So um so yeah so we we're in in iowa we we started the original locations in in iowa city. um We're now headquartered in coreville which is right next to iowa city it's kind of a part of a metro area that includes iowa was city north liberty in coreville. But you know as the company continue to grow and evolve ah my my father got to be able to be a part of it steve.
00:10:21
Speaker
I'm sure always many listeners know him he's still around and he's still coming into the office but he's not traveling and enjoying life as he should um but the company ah grew involved my dad was a he was a marketing major he went to the university of iowa as well participate in the marching band the university of iowa bands there.
00:10:39
Speaker
and ah And so it started as he was kind of growing and looking at how the business would kind of grow and evolve over the years. um He was really instrumental in the kind of evolution and the growth to West music of what it is today. ah In the 70s, Pearl was also making his own instruments and he was making his own brand of flutes, Westwood flutes. um And he recognized that that was not going to be something that he was going to continue to to be able to do and scale in a large way.
00:11:09
Speaker
And so it was in the 70s that we got into flute distribution ah because ah Pearl was building his own flutes. And we we formed a partnership there with ah Miyazawa Flutes out of Japan, which we still have to this day. They're a second generation business and we continue to work together. um But we kind of in the 70s, we got into distribution and we have a ah flute business called Flute Authority that really focuses on flute distribution.
00:11:33
Speaker
And then on the music education side in the 80s, early 80s, my father, Steve, had the opportunity to ah witness firsthand general music teachers and particularly ORF elementary teachers and be seeing what ORF was like in the classroom.
00:11:52
Speaker
And that really inspired him. And that was the birth of the West Music Catalog ah in the early 80s, really getting the opportunity to understand firsthand the passion, the conviction and the commitment that ah elementary teachers and general music teachers had ah for their kids, for the programs, and of course, the foundations that really become the backbone for for music education throughout everyone's entire life.
00:12:18
Speaker
And so that really inspired him to to start ah the West Music music Ed catalog. it was I think we've got pictures of the old ones. They were ah very small. They would be able to fit in a pocket. And so you could kind of see everything that was in the catalog. ah It's a lot different than the 200 plus pages we we published today.
00:12:36
Speaker
um But it was it started really just serving Iowa and the surrounding states and then as the years progressed We we reached out a little bit more and and there's many stories I think one of the favorite stories is the early days of going to TM EA and everybody loading up in a van and driving down to Texas to participate in TM EA and it was ah ah It's it's one of those things that to these kind of the lore or the mythology of West is kind of where it all started. So so the education catalog started in the 80s and its it continued to grow and evolve. um In the 90s, we started another catalog dedicated to percussion. yeah We still have a ah website for it, a percussion source.
00:13:13
Speaker
and And then in the ah mid 2010s, we started another wholesale company that does distribution for music education products ah called Westco Educational Products.
West Music's Educational Focus
00:13:24
Speaker
And so under the West Music Umbrella, we have all these different parts, but at the the DNA of it all is music education and really trying to find the best ways to really Let's understand and serve educators and musicians and these kind of smaller communities not trying to do all all the various things but really to be focused and dedicated to music education and I think oh hopefully we've done a good job of listening to the customers and serving their needs along the way so we could be where we are today.
00:13:52
Speaker
um and For my dad, i should probably I need to mention a couple other people. like My dad was ah really fortunate. I was really fortunate ah that we had some other great team members really be a part of the way and really grow this from a family business ah to a really professional business. We always kind of say we're family owned and professionally managed and run, um which is probably one of the reasons why you see West Music as like a company rather than maybe as a people. We're trying to get better at it. We're trying to make sure our people are always front and center because that's ultimately, I think, what our brand promises is the people that ah care so much and listen to the customers and support them.
00:14:30
Speaker
um But Robin Walenta was one of my my dad's partners, and she also is someone that I know many people have had the chance to interact with. And and she really continued the the tradition, though not part of the family, was really part of the tradition of our our commitment to serving customers. And she led the company as as president and CEO ah from 2008 till 2023, when I had the opportunity to take on ah the opportunity to to serve.
00:14:56
Speaker
Can you talk just for a second about the the locations, the physical locations that you have with the company at the
Physical Locations and Services of West Music
00:15:05
Speaker
now? Yeah, yeah so um so we started in Iowa City um and we have the retail locations that we do have are based in Eastern Iowa, our headquarters here in Coralville, serving the Iowa City area, about a half hour north, we're up in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Marion area.
00:15:23
Speaker
um We go about 45 minutes north of there up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the University of Iowa is another great shout out to a music education program there. And then if we go about 45 minutes from Cedar Rapids to the ah Northeast, we have a service center in Dubuque, Iowa.
00:15:41
Speaker
and then um a location in Davenport, Iowa, the Quad Cities area. So we have five locations in Iowa ah yeah that you can come in, stop in. we we we We are full line stores, meaning we have everything from you know guitars to drums to banded orchestra, of pianos, we we as well as service centers that have lessons in repair. ah And ah we also then serve surrounding areas and communities with our school services representatives.
00:16:07
Speaker
We sometimes refer to as road reps, which are out calling on schools and stopping into elementary classrooms. They used to call on Aaron. He was teaching up in Cedar Falls, but also ah elementary schools, junior highs, and high schools, and really trying to bring the music store to the variety of communities that we service.
Joining the Family Business: A Trip to China
00:16:22
Speaker
Okay. Well, you kind of talked about this, but just just to put a point on this one more time, but what what exactly brought you into the company as the current president. yeah You said just not that long ago, just a year or two. It was 16 years ago I came back. um okay so Like I said, I graduated from high school in 98 and spent about 10 years out on the East Coast exploring and and learning about theater and teaching and um what what kind of started my my transition back and coming to the business. um i was It was 2007.
00:17:01
Speaker
living and working in New York, um between gigs, teaching at and NYU and and auditioning and whatnot. And I talked to my dad, I was talking to my dad and he had ah said, I said, well, what are you up to? And he said, well, I'm heading to China, I'm going to go to the Music China Show. I said, oh, that sounds really interesting. What's what's it going to be like, et cetera. And he said, well, would you you want to come and check it out? And at the time I was in between gigs and I said, sure. And he said, well, can you do that? I said, well,
00:17:27
Speaker
kind of not totally unemployed, I'm teaching a little bit, I could find some flexibility in my schedule. So I i booked a plane ticket and a visa and I had the opportunity to travel ah with him to ah to visit Music China, or a large trade show in in ah in Shanghai.
00:17:44
Speaker
and also had the opportunity to travel and visit with him ah to some factories and some of the manufacturing partners that we've been developing relationships with to try to find and source the best product possible products ah with the best possible partners over time.
Ryan West's Leadership Journey
00:18:00
Speaker
And it was really in that that visit and that travel that ah I came away really, I think, surprised ah by how much the company that I had kind of grown up around had grown and transformed and and just how much of an impact it it had had had. And and seeing it we go from somebody who's who sourcing and developing products, really trying to find something that's really great and and seeing just how how fascinating it was. And so my dad and I started a conversation at that point in time. And I said, oh, you know, this could be something I'd be interested in. I was in my mid 20s and
00:18:33
Speaker
I was thinking you know to myself, you know when i'm when I'm old, like in my 30s, maybe this would be something that I'd be interested to come back and do. And it was later that year, actually, around the holidays, I was home ah from New York. And ah Steve and Robin had invited me to come back and and and join the organization.
00:18:53
Speaker
And so I took a little time to think through it, but I think ultimately the opportunity to carry on the legacy of what Pearl and my father and Robin had created and to be part of a community that to really see how we can drive and and impact and support a community.
00:19:10
Speaker
was really inspiring to me and it was something that i felt like could be something that i could i could really commit to and i was really excited to go to so i move back in two thousand and eight that summer um it was the the summer of there's a large flood in iowa at that time if you remember that erin so i was leaving new york and if you if you lived in new york or you go to the east coast you're like you're from iowa people are like Where is that? like I don't even know where that is. like i' map Somewhere between the East Coast and the West Coast. and ah um So I said, well, it's like place on the news right now. That's literally where I'm moving back to, um which probably left people more confused than anything. But um I came back literally like the week after that. And I had the chance. I started working in the the web team with e-commerce and the marketing team. And then over the course of the the following 16 years, really had the chance to
00:19:59
Speaker
to experience and work in a lot of different departments and a lot of different parts of the business so i could really understand everything we do aht until i i stepped into the role that i'm in today. I didn't know all that that's really interesting well i mean that really gave you a an outlook on all the departments that you know you got to be involved in to then get to where you are now.
00:20:20
Speaker
Yeah, it's ah it's a pretty diverse company. and I think a lot of people don't know all the different parts, and sometimes when you're inside of it, you you you kind of understand how the jigsaw puzzle works. But ah it was it was really great to be able to have the chance and have the time ah to not only work alongside my dad, but really learn from Robin. She was really my mentor and coach and guide along the way.
00:20:41
Speaker
family businesses, family and business together, and that has its own wonderful blessings, as well as challenges to go with it. So ah I was really fortunate to be able to have not only my father, but also to have a really great
Diverse Operations of West Music
00:20:54
Speaker
mentor. Well, and kind of pivoting from that just a little bit, but um can you talk a little bit more about the scope of the company? Because I think a lot of people, we've talked about this before,
00:21:08
Speaker
they don't know everything that West Music does. you know They said, oh, that's the store I go to to buy reeds for my daughter's clarinet or whatever. And then they have no idea that we ship across the country. We have other partners in in the business yeah that we do a lot with. Yeah, no, I mean, it is it is a pretty diverse company with lots of different parts of it. And I think Probably some of it, some of it's been intentional and some of it's been accidental ah in how it's all kind of come about. I think one of the things that we've really tried to do is stay as as close to the customer as we can. And because of that, we we try to really embed and get to know these different musical communities, whether it's you know general music and orf teachers and Kodai and everything that kind of goes into that elementary box. um And then there's a geographic musical community of the ah schools and and students and families and individuals that we service in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois through our retail stores. And then there's the percussion source, which is concert and marching percussion. And then there's the flute authority, which is flutists and flute specialty. And then music instructed, which of our our new is one of our newest ventures, focusing on professional development and and music education music education ecosystem building. And so we have all these different niches. It's all kind of under this larger umbrella really dedicated to to music education, music participation. ah I failed to mention Music Therapy, another group that we started in the 90s. There's so many different parts. It's really multifaceted.
00:22:41
Speaker
And so i would say the intentional pieces that we want to stay close to our customers and have the customers really know us as who we are. The accidental part is interesting because i jokingly said you know when we started the music education catalog in the in the early eighties.
00:22:56
Speaker
It would've been so great to call it something that wasn't west music because now today we have customers that are in texas or california they're like oh west music that's the place where i go get my recorders from regular office from and we have customers in iowa that are like oh that's where i got my band it's right from.
00:23:13
Speaker
And when they go to WestMusic dot.com, we have this wonderful challenge to try to say, like, how do we tell all the different parts of the story so that our customers can really see themselves and what we do and make sure they're they're in the right spot for the service that they're seeking? And so part of the storytelling of this podcast, I think, is is helping us try to share our story and tell our story and how people get to know a little bit more about ourselves and all the different things we are so that way they can find the right person to help and serve them.
00:23:40
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's
Support for Music Educators
00:23:41
Speaker
great. and And kind of coming out of that, my next question, and you kind of already touched on this a little bit, but ah specifically, how do you feel the West Music Company reaches out to support music educators and music education just in general. I mean, I just found out something when I was at our state conference a couple weeks ago, I didn't know that we provided all the percussion equipment for the Allstate Ensembles. I mean, that was news to me and i'm I was a music educator for a lot of years, had no idea. I would say there's not probably one answer to that question, Eric. It's a good one. I mean, I think
00:24:21
Speaker
We always have been really focused, I think, on being able to serve and service our communities. I probably said that more than once already. um And so finding ways that we can really be partners. We talk about, um we've got we've kind of our our mission, we talk about our ABCs, um which is A stands for Advocating for Education. And when we talk about that internally, that means advocating and being part of music advocacy efforts, whether it's on a state, local, national level, regional level,
00:24:50
Speaker
um but also advocating for the education of our employees, like having everybody really be focused on kind of a growth and and learning mindset while they're working here. The B in our ABC is build meaningful relationships. And I think that connects back to it because it is about or it's a relationship business. We sometimes say, well, we're in the music business. We're really in the relationship business. And we find that if we are really dedicated ah to the individuals that we serve and service that choose to do business with us, whether that's through things like supporting and supporting and creating the backline for Allstate or working with our vendor partners to say, OK, you've got a great product. How do we get this to the right person? um Ultimately, well, it may not always necessarily generate the next sale or transaction for us as a retail company. We believe that it's a lifelong relationship and we do that for both our customers, our our community partners, as well as as our supplier partners within the music products industry.
00:25:44
Speaker
And then the the C is cultivate community. And so I touched on the different musical communities we serve, but I think that's the the other piece. And that has to do with ah reinvesting in communities. I know we're doing like a ah ah ah food drive right now, um doing everything we possibly can with philanthropy, working with ah organizations, nonprofits, et cetera, ways, creative ways that we can help everyone's budget dollars go further. um There's so much need all over the the country and around the world that unfortunately we can't participate in everything, but we we really try to find creative solutions on ways that we can make the things that we have access to ah go a little bit further, um working with schools, working with nonprofits that are dedicated to getting more access to music education. I mentioned music therapy, trying to find ways to assist and support scholarship efforts for lessons, ah for therapy needs, et cetera. And so we try to do our best to be able to continue to give back and to reinvest in the communities that have invested in us too. Well, and I can just say in my personal experience as a teacher, there are at least two times in my career that West Music came through for me in time. The flood was one, yeah two of the first boxes I received at my school were from West Music because they knew I lost my entire classroom.
00:26:59
Speaker
oh and had nothing and said, this is some stuff to get you going. So that was one. And then at my last job, I was in need of bard instruments terribly and, and West music knowing me, cause we have those relationships knew what that meant to me and my teaching and said, okay, we're going to help you. And not that that you just gave them away. That was not the case, but they're too expensive, but, but it was such a, I mean, it was just, yeah, you build those relationships and then people know, um, that we can count on your company.
00:27:36
Speaker
Which is I mean, and this is where I think that the people part is so important and because it really is the individuals. I mean, I think Aaron for you and and in teaching in Cedar Falls. I mean, I know that you and Jeff Taylor was just such a ah close friend, but also such a ah meaningful relationship there. And I think we try to do that. I mean, there's just so many wonderful stories goes on and on. And I think.
00:27:58
Speaker
getting the chance to be in the field, whether it's at state conference or convention or being at summer workshops or clinics or school services representatives stopping into the school. um We really want to try to be there to be not just as a vendor or a retailer, but asa as a friend and as someone that can be a a supporter and and a partner along the way. And I think that really comes through with the company. I mean, I really do because And I know with Jeff up here, he was he was not just our road rep person yeah per se. He was a friend to all these educators. I mean, the relationship building was there yeah and everybody had something to say about the relationship, which speaks so well of the company.
00:28:48
Speaker
is that that relationship was there.
Community Engagement and Projects
00:28:50
Speaker
I do have to ask I'm pivoting again because now I'm just curious but okay so the herky the hawk that's painted outside of the west music store in Coralville how did that come about speaking of community?
00:29:04
Speaker
Well, ah that came about. we are We try to stay connected to our communities and trying to find ways to take opportunities to to be there. And so the city of Coralville and Think Iowa City, they had done ah these herky statues over the years. And so this last time, this is the third time they're doing it. And they approached us to see if we'd want to do a musically themed herky. And for those listeners that are not from the Iowa City area,
00:29:31
Speaker
a very brief background. Herky the Hawk is the mascot of the University of Iowa. Iowa has no professional sports teams in the state. We are very passionate about college sports and particularly the University of Iowa sports. Shout out to those folks at Iowa State and Ames too. I'm an Iowa City Corribale, so i'm I'm a Hawkeye fan.
00:29:52
Speaker
um but um and the panthers of course up at UNI don't want to offend anybody here on the podcast but um but but for for the herky statue it was really one of our community partners said hey we're doing this a again which you want to participate and it just seemed like such a perfect place because it's it's intensely part of home it's it's wonderful to have something that's here as a father of two kids who freak out every time they see a herky statue i was like well we have to have them because Some of our our our nearest and dearest customers and and fans are kids and to have something that that kids light up on. And of course, the the the marketing team here, Rachel and Sade, ended up coming up with a really cool design if you can see it online or or or go out. There's lots of musical instruments in it. It's very kind of an abstract art design and it's it's cool to have it outside at that local connection too. Well, it's very cool. Now, does it get to stay there?
00:30:46
Speaker
As far as I know, I think we'll stay there as long as we can. I was just walking by today and I thought since it's December, we should put a Santa hat on it, but I'm sure we can take it or something like that. But yeah, it'll be there for as long as it holds up, I think.
00:30:58
Speaker
Okay, very cool. um Okay, you kind of already touched on this already, but are there other things that you would say that make West Music stand out as a company?
Strengths of West Music
00:31:10
Speaker
I mentioned you this before, but I think our people are are really do stand out. And we wouldn't be who we are without the incredible ah team ah that is part of the entire West Music team. and i I hope everyone's had a chance to to cross paths with with many different people along the way. um and And we're really fortunate on that. So I think whether you're interacting with somebody on the phone or if you're at conference, I think the people are something that's really special, ah particularly on the music education side of things.
00:31:44
Speaker
We have a lot of former educators like yourself, Aaron, people that really have classroom experience that really do understand and can really appreciate what challenges people are trying to face and the solutions are trying to solve for. I think we see that as well in the stores. A lot of the staff that are there serving are oftentimes music ah performance majors that or education majors that have decided to go in. And so when people are coming in and really looking for that next step or their first step of their musical journey, my hope is that everyone they encounter is welcoming and inviting and making everything feel really accessible.
00:32:19
Speaker
I think accessibility is really important. I know many music stores can feel, it can be a little daunting, right? You're going in and if you're like, I i just want to kind of get started, but I don't know where to start. And you can walk in and go, oh, I'm not, maybe not cool enough for this store because it's like a really cool boutique or I don't know what I'm asking for.
00:32:39
Speaker
and I think what we try to do is make it really friendly. I think that family part of it is is is embedded in that to say, you know we want you to feel comfortable, we want you to feel at home, wherever you are in your journey, whether you're starting, whether you're at the beginning of it, the middle of it, or if you're continuing to progress like a professional and and you know the Flute Authority is serving customers that are really at the top of their level playing at at orchestra like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, LA Philharmonic and those types of things. So even there that you have a home and you have ah people that really understand your needs really ah can get in touch with you and most importantly are listening. ah So we could really make sure we're we're doing that as best as possible. The other piece which is maybe related I think is service and I've mentioned the word service again and again.
00:33:25
Speaker
But I think we really do pride ourselves in making sure that we're we're doing our utmost to provide people with excellent service and serving them along the way. So that way people do feel really well cared for. I know there are times and I i get to hear the the good and the bad of it all. And so there are times when people don't have maybe the best experience when they're working with one of our associates, et cetera. But I think we always try to make good on it, make better on it. And if if there is something there, hopefully we can at least be a good listener to understand and and how we can do better.
00:33:53
Speaker
Well, I think that's a really good point. And, you know, the other thing that I found so interesting coming on board at this company was I think you think coming in that just everybody in the company is a musician.
West Music's Lifelong Engagement Tagline
00:34:06
Speaker
Yeah. And that isn't necessarily the case. Their their specialty might be IT, their specialty might be marketing or finance because they're they're working in that area you know but then a lot of us are going out and doing ah whether you play in a band or you are involved in theater or or some kind of music so it's just a very interesting group but yet everybody has the same goal and the same
00:34:34
Speaker
passion for the music education. Well, I think i mean the the name of the podcast, right? It's like play now, play for life. So that was a tagline that was come up. We came up with, I don't know, it was like six years ago, seven years ago, probably the code and there's probably eight years ago. And I'm i'm just thinking about six years ago.
00:34:49
Speaker
um But like that that idea, that genesis of it, and those kind of two parts of the tagline, you know, we we were really eager to kind of do some things so ah to to refresh and kind of connect. And there's so many things that I love about it. The first one is that the word plays in there. And I think it's that act that it's very active, but also playful, like that we hopefully everyone, this is going to be a fun experience while you're working here as well as while you're coming in and making music.
00:35:16
Speaker
um And then the play now per part is like it's urgent like it's something that you can do today. It's not something that you should put off to a later time and then play for life. I think it goes back to that accessibility piece where we really do aim to ah make music making accessible to people as as early as you know in music therapy, we're working in prenatal settings. We've got early childhood classes that our team has created here called Sing and Play and Learn Today that starts at like three months old. ah And then we go into like all the elementary education stuff. We go into you know beginning band and the rental side of things, that chapter of life. And then we go into things like you know hobbyists, but then we have music therapy, like bringing music and music accessibility to specialized populations that that need additional supports and helps. And we've got 13 therapists on staff that are out there doing it. And and then they they go all the way to end of life. you know They're participating in hospice care and having music making be a part of that process for families and for individuals as they're on their journey. So ah I love that tagline and the reason why I brought it up, I guess, as you were saying, the the kind of asking the question of like things we think about, I think it's just representative of a lot of things that we try to do.
00:36:27
Speaker
Well, and you actually just read my mind because that was the next question is about the slogan of play now play. um No, it's great. And well, I have another question after that. But what it made me think of was one of my professors who played the trombone.
Impact Stories of West Music
00:36:44
Speaker
He's no longer with us now, but I think he was probably 80 or 82 at the time. I don't recall. And he actually came to my elementary school and played for the kids. And of course, they were blown away that a man that old could still be playing. And he said, no, this is something you can take with you your whole life, whether you sing, whether you play an instrument, whatever you do, you know, and here's the proof right here. And they were just amazed. They thought it was great.
00:37:14
Speaker
Well, one of my own stories. So, ah Pearl, my grandfather, we we got into music therapy in the 90s, again, through a partnership with the University of Iowa. They have ah a fantastic music therapy program there. And one of the reasons we got involved and got connected there is, you know, as Pearl ah got older, he suffered from dementia, he lost some of his speech facility, ah but he continued to play his tenor saxophone.
00:37:38
Speaker
And so he would still have music therapy sessions and he could still play his tenor sax and it was just something that really brought him joy and it allowed him to continue to express and find his voice. So I think it's it's awesome that you shared that story, reminded me of that story of Pearl. Let me ask this question since we're talking about that. Are there some things um West Music offers specifically like in the store? I know Coralville, you do some things, don't you? Like some live, whether it's lessons or Are you talking about just in terms of experiential music making in the store? Yeah. or Yeah. Yeah. So in terms of ah lessons, yeah, we do have ah lessons in four of the five locations. So there's individual private lessons available in Coralville and Cedar Rapids, Marion, ah Cedar Falls and Davenport. I mentioned also the music therapy side of things. We do have therapists that are doing therapy sessions on site, but also out of communities working with ah
00:38:31
Speaker
ah group homes elder care facilities and what not getting out there ah then we do have some some groups that are doing things activities in the stores ah we've got monday night live in the silver swing band these are both ah kind of retirement groups that are ah they come and they do their group rehearsals here in the corridor. store. ah And then the therapists also do sound breach choirs. they're They're kind of group ah choirs. They were just doing performances for their their holiday concerts this past ah week, um ah bringing together individuals that are ah receiving music therapy services to make music together there. So we try to do as much as we can with experiential music making. I think that's that part of the fun and part of the experience.
00:39:15
Speaker
OK, so kind of expanding on that a little bit, are there any any types of exciting events or promotions that are coming up in the near future for West?
Future Promotions and Customer Support
00:39:27
Speaker
I would say in general, Aaron, um we're always trying to find a ah ah balance of opportunities to create integrate promotions, um whether it's opportunities to find stuff at a good price or a discount. ah It is always kind of looking at what's going on in the marketplace at what what else we can do. um We do recognize that, particularly at the education size, and I think everybody on the consumer side, particularly these days, I mean,
00:39:52
Speaker
Budgets are limited. Discretionary money is always a little bit of a challenge. And I think, well, we, and I believe that music is really vital for life. I know sometimes it's hard to find where are the the extra dollars to maybe buy an instrument, et cetera. So I would say generally, I hope this is not a non-answer, but you know we're always trying to find something that's unique, special, different. ah We include things like when we can, when we've got something that maybe is is sitting on the shelves a little longer. We do flash sale Fridays that we try to make available for folks.
00:40:22
Speaker
um When we can get great opportunities with vendor partners, we try to make those available as but much as possible, ah free shipping when we can. And and then of course, just to like like I said, figuring out, we're going with individuals to see what else we can do to help make their individual dollars go further. We find the best possible product. for it Well, and I know just working with the marketing team that, you know, one of our goals throughout the years, we're looking at the school year, you know, what are, what are their needs at this particular time of the year for teachers? Cause we just know where they're at in their journey through the year and try to support that. Yeah, exactly.
00:41:01
Speaker
Okay. i yeah on thes said If you see us at a conference or a convention, you can usually find some sort of special discount and deal there because we usually ship a bunch of stuff there and we don't usually want to ship it back. So that's an invitation to anybody who ever is going to a summer workshop or a state conference or clinic. ah Know that your but your dollars can go a little bit further if you're there and you don't have to pay shipping because we've already paid to ship it all the way there. So you can know that. You can bank on that for sure.
00:41:28
Speaker
That's very true, and although I will give you props because Ryan does know how to wrap a palette very well, as I witnessed. thank you um Okay, so one last question before we get to our special surprise. but one Is there anything as far as now being the president of the company that you are looking at going forward for the future of the company? Maybe, I don't know, changes or goals or anything of that nature?
00:41:59
Speaker
I think that you know we've just gone through, and not just, it's been probably the last four years. So it's an interesting moment as we completed COVID and all of the incredible opportunities that were extended out to um schools in terms of support through ESSER funds and some of these other things.
00:42:18
Speaker
um As we look forward, I think that there's a lot of unknowns in terms of where the future takes us. But um I think that our legacy as well as kind of our future really focus us on continuing to figure out the best ways possible to support music education and being a music education company. So I think that can take a lot of different forms. um I think there's just a lot of uncertainty as to where things go. But I think the things that I'm certain about is that we want to continue to try to reach more and support more ah teachers along the way.
00:42:46
Speaker
I think in the future we're seeing a lot of transition in music educators and finding who are those future educators and so we want to find the best ways to support them. um There's a lot of alternative pathways to teaching right now and so what are the ways that we can support them and support the students experience by ah giving them the tools they need as well as the expertise that we hopefully have ah developed over the years to make that possible.
00:43:10
Speaker
And then I think that um for for the individual side of things on our region, you know, we've been committed to servicing this area and I want to continue to find the best possible ways to service it. ah One of my personal goals, you know, we're celebrating 83 years in business.
Vision for West Music's Future
00:43:24
Speaker
I would look forward to the possibility of of taking this to 100 years. And I think in the next 17 years, I guess, to make to do that ah will be about really staying true to our roots, but also finding new ways to inspire support and and ah engage the next generation. Okay. Now, if you're listening to this podcast, Ryan had no idea this was going to happen. So we're ending with a quick lightning round of some favorites. Oh, and these are your personal favorites. So there are no wrong answers. Okay. Well, we'll see. So favorite song.
00:44:02
Speaker
Favorite song. Oh gosh. Favorite song. I feel like that changes every single day. Well, you can count more than one. Okay. Let me get my phone out to look at my phone. I don't know where it is. Okay. I'm just going to look at what's on my Spotify list right now. What am I listening to lately?
00:44:21
Speaker
um My Like Songs list, I've got September, Earth, Wind, and Fire. um I've got The Underdog from Spoon. I've got Intergalactic from the Beastie Boys. I've got Nobody Knows Me At All, Iowa Band, The Weepies.
Ryan West's Eclectic Music Taste
00:44:37
Speaker
um I've got ah Hot to Go, Chapplerone. And I've got ah Big Sur, Jack Johnson. So a pretty eclectic list there. That is an eclectic list. I like that list. That's a good was Okay. um Favorite composer or artist could be either one. Favorite composer or artist. I've always loved LCD sound system. I know it's electronic music. I don't know how to make electronic music, but I think everything that he does and they do in the layering of music and everything like that, I just find it so great. Okay. Favorite musical.
00:45:19
Speaker
Favorite musical. Wicked is so fresh right now, but um that's too easy. Hold on one a second. wendyy I know. i had like my book Natasha Pierre in The Great Comet of 1812. Oh, that's a good choice. Oh, or Hadestown. Two of my favorites right there.
00:45:49
Speaker
Okay. And I haven't seen that one yet. It's coming up here in the spring. So I, I'm going to get tickets for that. I should probably say Hades. I don't know. There's so many. Okay. Yeah. I know. We'll throw this in there. Go check out. Well, now I changed number four, cause it was going to be favorite instrument. But then my dear friend, Sophie McAlachek, former West music employee changed it and said, what you really should ask is favorite underrated instrument.
00:46:15
Speaker
favorite underrated instrument. I mean the kazoo is one of my favorite underrated instruments because everybody, I know some people don't know how to play a kazoo, but I think the kazoo is one of my favorite underrated instruments. The other one that I I think this audience probably does like, but so many people, it gets a bad rap as the recorder. And I always love the recorder. I love the number of recorders that were able to get the classrooms because it's the first insert that that most kids own that is their instrument. I just think that's so cool to be a part of.
00:46:49
Speaker
Yes. I had a principal who hated the recorder. So if he ever walked down the hallway and we were playing it in the class, he would just turn around and bolt. I was going to say the alto clarinet, but Oh, we'll see. There you go. Okay. And your final one, a favorite musical memory.
Fond Musical Memories
00:47:11
Speaker
Favorite musical memory. Okay. This is nostalgic, ah but ah we used to, back in the day, and I think there's a picture of it up ah in in the Cordovaal store. um We used to do West Family Band for the holidays, and we'd all get on all the instruments. And ah Papa Pearl would play the tenor sax. I would play the alto sax. My brother played trumpet. My sister played flute. My dad played bass clarinet and Eleanor and Nana.
00:47:38
Speaker
like piano So that's one of my great musical memories. The other one that is a great musical memory for for me and some of my friends, um when I was taking piano as a kid, um my piano teacher Nancy Cree, who I mentioned earlier, she would do these electronic recitals and we'd all learn how to like do sequencing and do like multiple people and different keyboards and she'd let us play on the Clavinova DX7 and all these other kind of cool synthesizers. And ah my friends Matt Noble, Matt Morris, Matt Arklow, Peter Rossman and I, we did a version of We Built the City in like 1987 on keyboards and it's one of our fondest memories. And I still love that song, so I should have put that as one of my favorite songs.
00:48:21
Speaker
so Oh my gosh, that's a fantastic memory. I got to play keyboard before I learned keyboard. We did a Mannheim Steamroller synthesizer group. I had not learned piano yet. Okay. So my lovely band director that knew I so wanted to play in this group somehow just gave me this little bass part that was one note. ah down That's all I had to do on time before this is before I started taking piano lessons.
00:48:48
Speaker
And he just knew I was dying to play. And he was like, I can't not have him do anything. He's got something. That's great. Oh, this has been a great talk. I could talk to you all day long. We'll do it again soon. Thank you, Ryan, for sharing so much about this company, because I think this company offers so much in so many ways. And certain I think people are going to love watching and hearing this podcast and just learning more about West Music and you and everything that we do. And thank you for listening. This has been the Play Now Play For Life podcast with Aaron Hansen. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving a rating and a review.
00:49:39
Speaker
You can always find us at WestMusic dot.com, and you can find the podcast at WestMusic dot.com slash Play Now, Play For Life. You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X. And you can find those links in the description. Play Now, Play For Life is a podcast by West Music.