As the Canby community looks ahead to the end of summer, another milestone looms for the newest team member at Canby Music: Instructor and retail clerk Chloe Boehler will mark her first anniversary with the store in September 2024.
A lifelong Canby-area resident, student and musician, Chloe has quickly become a key part of the Canby Music family. Chloe’s musical journey began unexpectedly during a childhood family trip to Hawaii.
“My dad bought a $20 ukulele, and he was kind of messing around with it and trying to play it,” Chloe says, then adds with a chuckle. “And I just had to take over. I ended up teaching myself and then got a guitar. That’s how it all started.”
She joined the Canby School District band program in the seventh grade at Baker Prairie Middle School, adding a new discipline to her repertoire with the clarinet. She was just starting her band journey at Canby High School when the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted in-person learning.
“Trying to playing in band over Zoom is not the same,” she recalls. “It was tough, but I think it made us stronger as a group.”
That thought seems to be born out in the fact that Chloe and her bandmates made their first trips to the state championships over the past two years (her junior and senior campaigns) finishing second and third, respectively.
Now, Chloe channels that resilience into her work at Canby Music. Fluent in English and Spanish, she’s become known not only for her musical talents but also for her dedication to teaching and customer service.
“Teaching was a surprise for me, but it’s become one of my favorite parts of the job,” Chloe shares. “The connections we make through music are incredible.”
Brian Haines, owner of Canby Music, describes Chloe as a valuable asset to the store.
“Chloe stood out from the beginning. She came in with a strong background in music and quickly adapted to our needs,” Haines notes. “She’s not only great with teaching and retail but has also started to dive into repairs, showing her versatility and eagerness to learn.”
As Chloe looks ahead, she plans to attend Clackamas Community College to explore her options in music education or performance. “I’m excited to see where my journey takes me,” she says. “For now, working here helps me keep my skills sharp and my love for music alive.”
For Canby Music, which has long enjoyed a close relationship with the band and orchestra programs at Canby and surrounding school districts, back-to-school season is its busiest time of year.
The store’s rent-to-own program, which allows families to pay monthly rental fees that also count toward the purchase price of the instrument, is especially popular for many local band students (Chloe herself took advantage and now sings the program’s praises).
A newer initiative for students who are looking to get more serious with their musical pursuits allows customers to use up to one year of rental payments as credit toward the purchase of an upgrade: either a step-up or professional-level instrument.
“We’re always trying to make music more accessible for people, whether they’re looking to pursue it as a career or a lifelong hobby,” Haines explains. “Every musician has these steps along their musical journey, and we’re here to help navigate those steps.”
Canby Music offers a wide variety of instruments for rent and sale, along with experienced, caring instructors. The store also offers a full array of repair and maintenance services. Canby Music is located at 590 NW 1st Ave. For more information, visit canbymusic.com or call 503-263-2263.