by Denie Riggs
Founding Director Perfect Praise Music
Hate is such an strong word. We shouldn’t hate. But, it fits here: I hate change.
Not only do I hate change; I hate moving.
Approximately six weeks ago, upon arriving at AB Stephens Music to begin my afternoon teaching schedule, I saw our real estate agent—who is both a family friend and the parent of one of our students—seated in the lobby reviewing real estate listings while her son took his guitar lesson. After greeting her, I asked about the real estate market and told her adamantly how I disliked moving and hoped not to do it ever again. We had a light conversation, and I moved on to set up for class.
After finishing his guitar lesson, Michael pulled me aside to whisper, “The AB Stephens Building has been sold; we must move.”
“What? When?” I demanded.
“They don’t know, but soon, I think,” Michael replied.
That news sent me into a tearful, spiraled tailspin. It had already been an exhausting year, personally, as we just moved out of our condo in September to be closer to our Athens and Huntsville schools, to shorten the commute and to simplify our lives. For months, we were downsizing, closing storage units, and moved everything—more boxes were packed in my car headed to the AB Stephens storage room as we spoke.
I was both shocked and mad, as I eyed the pack-in classrooms, the waiting area, and a baby-grand piano. Everything had to be moved, again.
But this was more than just change … this was the end of an era.
We had been affiliated with Mr. Steve Koslow, the owner of AB Stephens Music since the 1980’s. John Miller, ABS leading piano manager, and I were both in Lake Wales Florida, during my college days in early 1970’s. Michael and I have had lifetime friendships with these two men and other staff at ABS.
- I had managed the piano department of the Decatur’s AB Stephens music store in Decatur Mall the early 1990’s, a position that I loved and where I began teaching groups of beginner adults.
- AB Stephens and Mr. Koslow supported my new school, the Muscle Shoals Music Academy in 1996, by providing the Yamaha Clavinovas for my piano lab.
- Mr. Koslow later invited us to start our Early Childhood Music (ECM) classes at Huntsville’s ABS in 2001, launching what was to become our largest ECM school. We eventually sold our Muscle Shoals School, and home and moved to Huntsville, which was set into action by this school.
Now this amazing era was coming to an end because the building was sold. Mr. Koslow had sold the building a few years ago to a realtor. The timing of this sale was out of his control.
The sale threw us into a time of soul searching about our business’s future. “Where to from here?” Should we close the school in the largest Alabama city and focus solely on Athens, our online presence and Academic program for Private Christian Schools? Or is it time to simplify by downsizing?
We have a wonderful school in Huntsville with many precious students. After lots of back and forth, and prayer, I realized that I wasn’t emotionally prepared to shut it down. I decided that when I’m ready to downsize, I prefer it to be intentional rather than triggered by a building sale.
We prayed for God’s guidance and His peace in this decision. I wrestled with it day and night for a week, as we began to search out options to move our school to another location in Huntsville.
I enjoy listening to mysteries on Audible, which usually passes the time during my morning commute. The Bluetooth speaker automatically turns on my book, when I start the car each day. One morning still heavily burdened by the decisions we faced, my car stereo unexpectedly started blasting Chris Tomlin’s lyrics: “Where you go, I’ll go. Where you move, I’ll move. I will follow.”
Where HE moves, we’ll move. We will follow. We will move with HIS peace, HIS grace, and in HIS strength.
I finally had HIS peace to move forward.
The Lord provided a beautiful little music classroom in Huntsville West, at 3001 9th Ave, Huntsville. I call it “My Happy Place.” It’s light and airy, with glass walls, glass doors and marble floors. It’s well-lit … is a happy place. We will teach the students God provides in this “Happy Place” for the next period of time; and start a new era!
Although, the location is only about 3 minutes’ drive from ABS, the move will affect our precious students’, as we must adjust our larger class schedules to fit into the main teaching room. We pray for a smooth transition for our families, the ultimate reason that we are staying in Huntsville.
I don’t know where we will be in the future, but HE knows. Where HE leads, we will follow.
Walking each day with Him, keeps us in Our Happy Place.
Note: AB Stephens Music Piano Store will remain in business, and will move into Billiards and Barstools, on South Memorial Parkway, at the end of May. Our Partnership continues, as AB Stephens is providing a Yamaha Clavinova for our ECM classroom in Our Happy Place. When needing to purchase a piano or digital piano, set an appointment with John Miller, as he will continue to give our Perfect Praise Music students a discount. The 52-year Sheet Music Department and Teaching Programs are being discontinued effective end May 2026.
