New Braunfels Music Sings

New Braunfels Music Feels Inviting -
A Place For People To “Hang Out”

New Braunfels is a musical town: the home of the number one Americana Music station, three (soon to be four) high school bands, and a crop of new and upcoming artists in all genres of music. A town known for its music and rich tradition naturally should be home to a music store. This wasn’t always the case. In 1998, the only music store in New Braunfels closed its doors, leaving the town without support to a musically rich community. In 2001, this changed when Eric and Deborah Langenhahn opened the doors of New Braunfels Music.
Eric and Deborah moved to New Braunfels in 2000 to raise a family in a community instead of a big city. Eric, a former sales rep for a large music supply company, had once called on the previous music store. “After the store closed, I urged my other clients in San Antonio and Austin to open a satellite store in New Braunfels. I was always met with ‘It’s too far, the town is too small, there is not enough business’,” said Eric. In December of 2000, while driving home one night from San Antonio, Eric crossed the Guadalupe River Bridge. “I thought to myself as I saw the lights – this is a big town, and people here are driving to Austin or San Antonio to buy sticks, picks or strings? That’s absurd. I decided right then I would open a store,” he said. Eric went home and the process began.
Deborah, as new mom, wasn’t ready to go back to work full-time. “I was an x-ray technician, and now I am going to be president of this business? How am I going to learn about accounting and running a business?” Deborah says, with the memory of those moments still in her eyes and voice. On May 18, 2001 the store opened. The store was strategically placed in a high traffic area next to Hollywood Video and close to HEB, Target and other retailers – a perfect location for parents that would be dropping off children for lessons. The goals were simply to make a profit, to educate New Braunfels about music by offering lessons, to provide quality instruments and eventually to build their own store. In October 2004, their new store location opened at 1028 N. Business 35.
The new store was as strategically planned as the first. “We wanted to create an industrial warehouse vibe for the younger generation, but also to create a warm, inviting vibe like Starbucks, a place where people would want to hang out,” said Eric. Eric and Deborah worked with Eric’s brother Kurt, an interior designer in California, to accomplish this, and hired contractors Bill Buck and Son to make their dream become reality. Today that is just what has happened. The store is full of children, teens and adults waiting to take lessons. Others are looking at instruments, or hanging out and reading magazines in the waiting area. “This is an inviting place to be,” states Ann Heffelfinger, operations manger of New Braunfels Music. This vibe and the new store have led Deborah and Eric to also open New Braunfels School of Music.
Passionately Eric states, “Studies prove that an education in music will help students achieve excellence in academics, math, science, and reading.” Ann added, “Children build confidence and have higher standardized test scores.” Ann said this has been demonstrated in her two kids who both are in their school band. “Playing a musical instrument is a hobby that lasts a lifetime,” she said. The ‘new’ school of music isn’t so new; Deborah’s staff has been providing lessons from the beginning. However, today it is so successful that Eric and Deborah have named Matthew Dixon director of New Braunfels School of Music. “It is never too late to learn to play,” comments Eric. In fact, the school has students ranging in ages from 4 to 70. Ann Heffelfinger said, “At the student showcase this year, which was held at The Iron Horse restaurant, it was amazing to see their improvement and their talents develop.” It is common to find siblings waiting for their brother or sister to finish so they can begin their lesson, and it is also common to have parents taking lessons too. “Many times, students come in and they want to learn to play one song. The instructors at New Braunfels Music simply say ‘okay’, and teach music, while the student also gets to learn their favorite tune,” says Eric proudly, “We teach music theory and note reading.” Deborah interjects, her motherhood shining through, “We run background checks on every instructor because you never know these days.” All instructors are contracted, but as a requirement they must have a degree in music or fifteen plus years of experience in instruction and performing. Debra Gentry, mother of Nico, a piano and guitar student, says, “Everyone is nice at NBM, and Luke, Nico’s instructor, is phenomenal!” Today, the next phase of the New Braunfels School of Music is to provide music lessons to underprivileged children in the New Braunfels community, and is seeking other businesses to help underwrite this effort. While still in its infancy, this idea is just another example of the Langenhahns’ commitment and dedication to give back to their community.
Today, New Braunfels Music supports a staff of five, and the day to day operations are overseen by Ann Heffelfinger, and of course, Deborah. These women are committed to customer service and meeting the personal needs of every musician, artist or aspiring artist that comes into the store. “It is our philosophy that every customer that comes receives personal attention within the first thirty seconds they are in the store,” said Ann, “It is nice to come to work everyday with people you like.” Ann came to New Braunfels Music from a finance firm, and her experience and expertise has allowed the store to increase inventory and offer additional programs like instrument rentals. “We invested in an industry specific software package that has really allowed us to go to the next level,” shared Eric. In a normal ‘Mom & Pop’ music store of this size, customers would not find an operations manager. But Eric, having some industry insight, saw this need, and Ann has filled the role to perfection.
“We can’t always match or beat the ‘big box’ or internet stores in price, but we can build music relationships with every customer and student,” says Eric with dedication. New Braunfels Music believes in their community and personal relationships. New Braunfels Music is your hometown music store!

www.newbraunfelsmusic.com