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By Stephanie Dean
For the Enterprise

Local music store proprietor, Kip Snow, has thrown body and soul into music.
In doing so, he’s provided a foundation for many aspiring and budding musicians. But not just that – an addition to note is his big heart for people.
You won’t talk long with Kip before hearing grateful acknowledgment for his blessings and pleasures of doing what he loves – while crediting God for it all.
We’ve all heard words that what’s meant for us, will come to us, and there’s truth to that. But Kip understands these words on another level as music and song can be elusive.
“If you don’t chase it, it will come to you.”
And it certainly appears that much of what Kip has desired from life has found its way to him, but not without a few bumps along the way.
Going back as far as he can remember, music has always been a part of Kip’s life. He can’t recall when he started as his only memories are of playing music. And from an early age – play, the boy did.
His father was a bluegrass lover who attended fiddlers’ conventions long before his son was born.
And then later, Kip hit the scene – born into music.
Even though Kip’s been blessed in many ways, his heart wasn’t one that would never break. Like most folks, the man’s had his share of trials. He was just a little over a year old when his parents separated – only 13 months old when his mother left the family. Kip was raised by his father and had no recollection of what his mother looked like.
Even though Kip was a small child, his daddy still carried the youngster along when attending the fiddler’s conventions.
“He’s told me stories of changing my diapers in the bathrooms while there.”
As Kip grew older and entered the fifth grade, he began playing in his first working band, The Grey Fox Express. Along with being the only child in an otherwise all-adult band, the youngster was entering and winning music competitions.
And then life took another turn.
Kip had no sooner celebrated his 18th birthday in November when his daddy died the following January.
“That was probably the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life.”
Following his father’s passing, the young adult had no choice but to live life on his own. Without any parental guidance, Kip was a child one day but then forced to be an adult, the next.
“I didn’t get in any trouble, so it turned out ok.”
Sometimes, what might appear as one of life’s adversities has a way of turning around – and there’s a blessing to be found.
It was 26 years ago in the month of February when Kip opened Counterpoint Studio – at that time, a teaching studio. He gives credit to his former guitar teacher in Statesville, John Marler, who back in the 1990s, had given him the idea of teaching. With no plans of owning a music store, Kip’s interest was mainly in teaching folks to play music.
“I never had any plans on being a store – I just wanted to teach people. Music stores didn’t really care if people learned to play, as they just wanted to sell – it was a business.”
Kip observed students who came into the studio with inferior instruments – often spending too much or buying an instrument they didn’t need. His vision of owning a store and selling instruments came about after seeing many children who wanted to learn to play music. He wanted to see children have good, affordable instruments and an opportunity to succeed.
“You’ll never see a Gibson or Martin guitar in the store. I wanted to provide the best guitar for a struggling mother whose child wanted to learn – but at the same time, I also wanted an instrument that would hold its value along the way.”
As far as what musical instruments Kip feels are easiest to learn – he suggested a few important considerations.
“None of them are easy or everyone would be doing it. It’s a matter of where your heart is. Don’t try to learn any other instrument – don’t start with one if you desire to play another. Follow your heart. My goal for all my students is to help them achieve their goals.”
One of the most important things is to know your goal. Some folks want to play in church, some want to sing around a campfire, and others want to sing in a band. So, it’s important to realize what your goal is.
To those who want to learn to play an instrument, Kip emphasized having a good time.
“You have to have fun. Look forward to it – don’t dread it. If it’s something you really want to do – you’ll make time for it.”
As a musician playing up to 7 instruments due to necessity and through teaching and recording, Kip landed on guitar, mandolin, bass, and banjo and teaches all of these.
“I’ve been told I’m proficient in them all.”
Kip played a little bit of fiddle but discovered it wasn’t his thing. And early on, he worked some with drums.
But when the economy crashed in 2008, his business model needed a change. Having had additional music teachers in the store, Kip began to work solo and settled into a new norm that felt good.
“As I’ve gotten older, it’s less pressure to keep up with it and more fun. I’ve been a very blessed individual to do what I wanted to do, and I can honestly say, I look forward to every day.”
There’s a thing or two that Kip has learned about bluegrass techniques – whether old grass or modern; With a background of playing bluegrass, experienced musicians seem to move easily in different musical directions.
“Take a grass guy and put him in a rock band – and he’ll shine. Teach them to be good musicians, and then they’ll play in any genre they want to.”
His process for writing music has always been simple. He doesn’t have one.
“In my way of thinking – if you go chasing it, you will never catch it, but if you remain calm, it will come right to you.”
Because Kip woke up so often during the night with words to a song on his mind, his fiance, Vicki, surprised him with a four-track recorder that ran off batteries.
“I’d wake up and go record in the middle of the night. Having never sat down and said to myself, ‘I’m going to write a song, today’ – I realized it has to come to me in stages, apparently.”
It’s often been said that music should be a backup career, but this music teacher never doubted his ability to earn a living in the business.
“To be honest, I was working a full-time job when I started. I drove a truck and was off on Wednesdays and weekends. So on Wednesdays and Saturdays, my studio was open – but I was turning away so many. I decided to stop work and give it all to the business.”
His first year in the business began in March of 1999, and he was working part-time. In May of that same year, he began working full-time.
And then, as more good things came his way – one day, Vicki walked in.
On that fortuitous day, Sept. 30 of the same year, Vicki signed up for guitar lessons.
“We celebrate that day to this day – we’ve been together, and she’s helped me ever since. I don’t want to say, ‘She’s working for me’ as that might get me in trouble. I guess I’d say she was a gift from God. We never fuss or argue. Vicky is my rock – I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
The couple has raised their daughter, Anne, and now have three grandchildren – twin girls and a boy. Kip even wrote an instrumental about his family called “We Seven.”
And then life took another turn. There came a point in Kip’s life when he could never have anticipated the blessing he would receive.
His mother, Jackie, reached out and contacted him.
After so many years, Jackie and Kip were able to establish a relationship. Because she lived in central Florida, Kip rarely had opportunities to see her. But over time, their relationship would change.
“I moved my mother in with us the last 5 years of her life – she was lost and forgetting where she was. So, I went and packed her up and moved her into our home. She took the master and we moved upstairs.
“My dad raised me to tell the truth and treat others the way I want to be treated – and I’ve always kept that in mind. Love is the glue – if you love what you do and if you love others.”
And that’s exactly what Kip attributes to their success.
Having no plans to retire, he can’t imagine quitting something he loves doing.
“My written instrumentals – I’d like to try to record them. My daughter wants me to get them recorded – especially her song, “Little Pun’kin.” I’ve had many students tell me they’d like to have my music. I have enough for a collection of 12 songs or so. It would be a download thing and project for later on.”
In the future, he’s considering going to a shorter week instead of the 5 days a week the store’s now open.
“I look forward to continuing to teach as long as God allows me to – I’m very healthy at this point.”
Kip grew up as an only child – and his story touches on trials and tribulations along the way. And it’s our trials that bind us as humans. Everyone has their share of hardships – sooner or later.
Having been carried through a few and now on the other side, Kip thanks God for all his blessings.
“I’m a firm believer in God’s will be done – I’m nothing special but very blessed.”
There’s a biblical passage that comes to mind here that’s found in Matthew 6:33 and reads,
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (KJV)
Truly, it seems the heart and soul of this good man is expressed in these few, simple, but yet profound, words.
“I hope my story will bless someone else along the way.”