When 10-year-old Tobin Rockley started piano lessons in the mid-'70s with Phyllis Pieffer, no one suspected that he would eventually marry the teacher's daughter Liane.

Though they attended Green Mountain High School, their paths didn't cross as adults until fall 1996. Tobin had attended the University of Northern Colorado, and Liane studied flute at the University of Missouri Kansas City conservatory.

"I missed Colorado," she said. "I started working at Rockley Music Center as a flute teacher and owner Bob Rockley, Tobin's father, said, 'In order to be a better flute teacher, you need to work in the band department,' I needed the money, so I said, 'OK.'"

Tobin was working at the family business developing a market for the pianos the company sells.

After a romance developed between Tobin and Liane, they married in 1998. The demands of raising three children forced Liane to give up teaching, but, like all the employees at Rockley's, she is a musician and plays second flute and piccolo in the Lakewood Symphony, "when they invite me," she said.

Tobin plays sax and clarinet in a band called Flipside that entertains at corporate retreats and weddings. But these endeavors are what they do in their spare time.

The couple works together with Tobin's parents, Nina and Bob, his brother, Robin and a staff of 12 at Lakewood's oldest family business. The combined musical expertise of the Rockley family and employees is broad enough to cover questions on everything from kazoos or guitars and violas to grand pianos.

Robin is in charge of violins, cellos, guitars, basses and drums. Parents Bob and Nina, who retired for a while, now work three days a week at the 26,000-square-foot landmark with the golden oval sign at Colfax and Dover.

The center was named for Bob's dad -- founder Melvin Rockley was band director and principal at Alameda High School. He and his wife, Mildred, originally sold washers, dryers and print music.

Now with the third generation at the helm, the store has a massive piano showroom, where customers can be seen strolling, occasionally playing a sonatina or blues riff.

The musical instrument department may find Bob demonstrating a guitar for a customer. Nina likes helping customers, and 28-year employee Jean Frudeger supervises the print music selection. Liane manages finances.

Liane said, "Our versatility has kept us in business. We change with the demands of the customers."

Nina concurred that remaining independent is difficult. "It's harder than ever, but it's always been hard. I tell my customers they vote with their dollar," she said.

Both women agreed it's a lot of work.

"But that's the joy and the challenge," Nina said. "We say, 'OK, who are we this year?'"

Nina added that when the family gets together for special occasions, they have a rule about not talking shop.

"Liane started weekly lunch meetings where we get together and talk business. When we're together as a family, we no longer discuss it. If anybody starts, someone else will say, 'Not today,'" Nina said.

Rockley Music Center timeline
1946 - Melvin and Mildred Rockley start business at Colfax and Wadsworth
1955 - Rockley's moves to current location, band instruments main focus
1964 - Melvin and Mildred's son, Bo, marries Nina, guitars added
1970s - Records eliminated, print music section developed
1980s - Teaching studios relocated behind store
1988 - Tobin, Robin join business, music technology department born
1993 - Expansion, purchase of adjoining restaurant makes room for piano department, teaching studios made available for private lessons
1996 - Liane enters business as flute teacher
1998 - Liane and Tobin marry