Motter’s Music marks 10 years

By Justin Wier

jwier@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Denny Biviano, general manager of Motter’s Music in Canfield, refers to the store as a retirement home for band directors.

The store’s current staff includes former band directors from Hubbard High School, Niles McKinley High School and Austintown Fitch High School, among others.

“I’ve surrounded myself with all these ladies and gentlemen that were friends of mine from the music school and band-directing days,” Biviano said. “As everyone kind of hit retirement age, I’ve asked them to come out. ... That’s been a great asset.”

Motter’s Music is celebrating 10 years in the Mahoning Valley. The location started in Boardman in late 2006 and moved up the road to Canfield in 2009.

The company is headquartered in Lyndhurst. Biviano used to work for band-instrument companies and said Motter’s was one of his best dealers.

When he decided he wanted to get off the road, he pitched the idea of opening a store in the Mahoning Valley. He previously managed Biviano Music in Niles from 1975 to 1995. He also had served as a band director for the parochial schools under the Diocese of Youngstown for 18 years.

Biviano’s own music career began in the parochial school system. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Niles. In third grade, he objected to playing a flutophone in class and he was sent to the band teacher.

“My musical career got started because of not wanting to play that flutophone,” Biviano said.

He played accordion through seventh grade, when he switched over to drums.

He started teaching and then helping repair instruments at Bernard Music in Niles beginning in high school. A few years later, he would buy the store and rename it Biviano Music.

Motter’s Music has become something of a family affair as well.

Biviano’s twin sons, Michael and Phillip, are working at the store as they pursue doctoral degrees in physical therapy at Youngstown State University. Previously, they played in a band called The Bivs in California.

Motter’s Music thrives on collaboration with local school band programs. Biviano developed a test that’s given to all fourth-graders at several area schools. They’re tested on six instruments after being given basic lessons to determine which instrument on which they’re most likely to excel.

“A single band director couldn’t possibly do that by themselves one at a time on all six instruments,” Biviano said. “Everybody has asked us to come back for the last six or seven years, so we know it’s highly successful.”

Motter’s also services instruments for high-school bands. Biviano said the store’s road crew visits 106 schools on a regular basis including Boardman, Poland, Austintown and Canfield. When they opened the Mahoning Valley location, they didn’t have any accounts.

The store has 18 private teaching studios and more than 800 students who come in every week for lessons. Biviano credited the store’s success to Tim Cleal and Dave Colella, whom he considers his lieutenants, and to the strength of the local music community, which comes back to its school bands.

“There’s really no bad bands left anymore,” Biviano said. “They all have high-quality people, and it’s great to have that level in our area.”