Music shop expands to share the joy

“An organ is much easier to play than a piano; an organ does the work for you,” says keyboard adviser and new manager Mandy Gardner of Fletcher Music Centers in Continental Shopping Plaza.

A piano keyboard has 88 keys; an organ keyboard varies from 26 to more than 50. Rather than pressing down on heavy ivory or wood piano keys, Gardner said organ keys are lightweight and easier to use.

“Our focus is for people to enjoy playing... everyone needs music.”

Fletcher Music recently moved to a much bigger store with plenty of room for instruments, music and lessons.

Their mission statement: “We enrich our customers’ lives through involvement in recreational music making. The stores are places to learn, have fun with music clinics, concerts and social events.”

A major plus in learning to play the organ is that a person doesn’t have to know how to read music. Everything is digital, Gardner said, and according to the level or “generation” of organ — beginner, intermediate or elite — there are all kinds and colors of buttons to push to get the music a player wants to hear and play.

For any organist who wants to move up, the keys are the same on different generations of organs.

Whether one’s favorite music is easy listening, Broadway, rock, big band or gospel, pushing a few buttons can get a new learner quickly on the musical road.

“You can push the ‘pipe organ’ button and you’ll get the sound of a church organ,” Gardner said.

Fletcher features Lowrey organs and has 20 models in the store. The “Encore” is the newest with a range of features for those who have mastered other models and would like to trade up or for anyone just starting to play but wants all the musical bells and whistles.

“Everything we do here is fun ... I get to be someone’s granddaughter or friend. I listen to their stories,” Gardner said.

Although Fletcher Music is closed Sundays, once a month they have “Super Sunday” where organ students get together. The next one is Oct. 25 at 3 p.m.

Fletcher Music is involved in a number of community events and will be participating in the Country Fair White Elephant parade Oct. 24 with an organ on a trailer.

A healthy hobby

In addition to having fun while learning to play and the camaraderie it affords, the health benefits are an interesting extra.

In 1995, Fletcher Music Centers, which opened its first music store more than 100 years ago, participated in a landmark research study “to scientifically explore what customers have said all along... learning to play the organ positively affects their health and well being.”

The study, “Music Making and Wellness,” was conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, aging experts, doctors and others. It explored how music participation affected retirees and their health.

The study found that older people involved in organ classes experienced decreased levels of anxiety, depression and feelings of loneliness while helping people to relax and feel better.

Fletcher Music Centers has become the world’s largest retailer of organs with 30 locations in three states including six in Arizona.

More than becoming successful by solely selling organs, the company has focused on people in addition to product. They share the wonderful gift of music making with customers while helping them enjoy a hobby that can make them happier and healthier.

Fletcher Music Centers is just north of CVS in Continental Shopping Plaza and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 399-2648.

Ellen Sussman is a freelancer writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.