In The News

Moeller Music a mainstay for instruments, classes

September 24, 2012  |  Moeller Music

By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN JOURNAL —

Larry Fullenkamp’s experience in the music business for nearly 40 years has included retail, education and philanthropic work.

The owner of Moeller Music — which has two locations at 3425 Pendleton Circle in Middletown and 7850 Cox Road in West Chester Twp. — went to work for his former band instructor James Moeller, who left teaching to open the business in 1964.

Because of his education and experience, Moeller was interested in the band instrument rental business, so he grew that portion along with the music retail business, according to Fullenkamp.

“My family was very musical, but he (Moeller) started me in the band in the Fort Recovery School District,” said Fullenkamp, who followed in Moeller’s footsteps as both a teacher and band instructor in the former Mendon School District.

After a few years as a teacher and band instructor, Fullenkamp went to work for Moeller in 1974 and eventually purchased the business from him in 1981.

“I just called him one night and asked if he would sell the store to me,” Fullenkamp said. “We worked it out and were incorporated in 1981.”

Moeller Music was located inside Towne Mall next to Sears until 1997, when it moved to the other end of the mall parking lot. Fullenkamp said he opened the store in West Chester Twp. in 1992 due to the volume of requests from band directors saying there was a need in that area.

Moeller Music provides quality service in the selling and renting of musical instruments to families and school band directors, according to Fullenkamp’s wife, Jamie.

“We’re an education center, too,” she said, adding that the store also provides lessons with private instructors. “We really enjoy seeing the students grow and learn a lot.”

Larry Fullenkamp said he starts some mornings calling on schools at 7 a.m. and doesn’t get home until 9 or 10 p.m.

“It’s fun and I still very much enjoy it,” he said. “It’s a lot of hours, but there have been far more great times than trying times.”

Moeller Music also has a scholarship, which the Fullenkamps established five years ago. It is now administered through the Warren County Arts Center for students in the Ohio Music Education Association’s District 13, which encompasses most of Butler, Clinton, Preble and Warren counties.

“It’s just another great vehicle to reward kids for focusing on music,” Larry Fullenkamp said.