When Len Quinlan began giving piano and organ lessons at the Conservatory of Music while a student at Indiana State University, he could not have foreseen his family-owned Conservatory of Music still thriving today. Becoming the general manager and then the owner came later.

“My Uncle Len poured his heart and soul into the business for 33 years,” Jim Quinlan, Len’s nephew and Conservatory president, said. “He was planning to retire in 2009, but passed away in 2007.”

“I returned to the Conservatory in 2001 with the intent to make it a family business instead of a one-man enterprise. He trained my sister Chris Pell, her husband Nick Pell, also officers of the corporation, and me very well. Our legacy is very important to us.”

The Conservatory has been in Riverside Plaza for 33 years, but it is moving this fall to 470 W. Honey Creek Drive, the former location of American Thunder Custom Motorcycles.

“It is time for a change,” Jim said. “Thirty years ago we filled the showroom with pianos and organs; today the merchandise is smaller and we don’t need all the space. The newer building is more conducive to our business now.”

What has changed in the past 10 years? Chris answered, “The production of sheet music by NoteStation has been replaced by the Internet. We use publishers’ Web sites, download the titles our customers want while they wait. We pay the publisher, the customer pays us. Therefore, we don’t have to carry so many titles in stock.”

Jim added, “Ten years ago a garage band would pay hundreds of dollars for studio time to make a recording. Now they can buy software, record it themselves and have a more professional product in the end. It is our role to provide some of the computer-recording and -sampling equipment. The electronic side of our business moves as fast as the computer business.”

A full line of merchandise and instrument full service, including repair and instruction is helpful during a recession. Jim commented, “When one facet is suffering, another is thriving. For example, when sales bottom out, repair business is up — similar to the auto industry.”

Chris added, “When the national finance companies abandoned retail finance and no longer handled music stores, it hurt our industry. Fortunately local banks are still lending.”

Jim was happy to report they still have about 400 students. What has changed are the number of instructors; more are teaching full-time. The rental business is still growing; band rentals to school children remain strong, and church business has branched out to video-projection systems.

Recreational music-making is gaining ground every day — based on the love of music, not monetary gain. The all-volunteer Terre Haute Community Band and the senior organ students are favorites of the Quinlans.

The senior organ program began in 2004. Chris explained, “A student starts out with a ‘quick start’ small organ provided to try as a hobby for 10 weeks. Then, it can be purchased or the student can come into the store and use an organ when not in use.”

LIFE on the Wabash is the local chapter of the national LIFE (Lowrey Is Fun and Easy) organization. Members take organ classes and share their talent in programs at nursing homes and community events.

EXPLORE – EXPRESS – AMPLIFY are the words used in the Conservatory’s promotional materials. The EXPLORE and EXPRESS define themselves, but the AMPLIFY is so much more than sound. Conservatory students find that music amplifies their lives and futures.

As Jim said, “Music is its own reward.”

Other articles by Dorothy Jerse

• TABCO - March 1st, 2010
• All in the Family - January 1st, 2010