Newspaper Articles about Mike

The Alaska Star has granted us permission to reprint the following articles on Mike and his store. Although Mike's last name is spelled wrong in the article, we think they did a great job. It was corrected in their October 9 article in 1997 that follows this one. We are working on getting the photos scanned in here.

August 29, 1996 Alaska Star article

Violin inspires youth's Business

by Brook Sarvela, Alaska Star Reporter

When a child must raise money on his own, the parent generally expects the child to go out and find a job around town. Not Mike Dunkle(sic). After asking his parents unsuccessfully for a $5,000 hand made violin, Dunkle started his own music store, Mike's Music, at age 12.

During the first year, Dunkle operated out of this parents' house. He bought new and used music instruments, mostly strings, and rented or sold them. A lot of his business came from schools, such as music students needing instruments to join the band or orchestra.

Dunkle's advertising was mostly through word of mouth. He let his friends and teacher know about the business, and customers were directed to him. His customers are mostly from the Eagle River area, though there are a few Anchorage accounts.

After a year of successful operation, the slew of instruments was too chaotic to be kept in the house and the store moved into commercial space in Eagle River. That's where Dunkle has operated for the past year.

Two years into the business, Dunkle will be a 14 year old freshman at Chugiak High School next week. He works after school and on Saturdays, while managing to keep up his grades. Because he's a minor, none of his parents stays in the store with him. With an extra work hand always around, Dunkle is able to work on homework during slower hours.

Having one of his parents working with him allows Dunkle to take private music lessons during store hours. His mother, Sharon, drives him to Anchorage while his father takes care of the store.

There haven't been too many customer problems since the store began operating. One bad check, but nothing serious. His parents take care of any problems with customers while Dunkle pays close attention for future reference. The reason his parents take care of customer problems, said Sharon Dunkle, is "Can you imaging a kid calling up an adult and asking him to pay (for a bounced check)?

The hardest part about running his music store, Mike said, is "learning how to associate with customers." Getting more experience as time progresses will help with that.

Forty to 50 is the average number of violins rented out at any one time. Over 100 were rented out last year. Besides instruments, Dunkle sells accessories, strings, oils, guitar picks, books, music and music stands.

From his business, Dunkle has learned that "it (a business) doesn't run by the clock." The closing time on the sign isn't always the time he can go home.

The best thing about having the business is "you don't have to beg (your parents) for money," he said.

The violin Dunkle wanted, the inspiration for his store, is in the process of being made. Though he hasn't quite reached his goal yet, Dunkle expects to have enough money when it's finished in about five months.

This is the October 9, 1997 followup article on Mike to the August 29, 1996 Alaska Star article above. We are working on getting the photos here also.

October 9, 1997 Alaska Star article

Sixth grader's dream turns into sophomore's reality

By Chad Stadig, Alaska Star Youth Editor

When Mike Dunckle decided he wanted to be in the school orchestra, his parents had no idea where that subtle decision would leave them.

Shortly after he started playing, Mike decided that he wanted a "nice" violin. But what the sixth grader had in mind stunned his parents.

"He didn't want any violin," exclaimed his mom, Sharon, "he wanted a $10,000 violin!"

Like most parents, the Dunckles weren't ready to invest that much money into something that their son might not stick with.

"He was in the sixth grade and wanted us to spend that kind of money (on the instrument). We told him to save his money and possibly get a job, then we would see about getting him a violin," Sharon said.

Being the good son he is, Mike heeded his parent's advice -- and took it to the next level. "I decided to open a music store," said Mike.

And he did just that. The store, Mike's Music, is going into its fourth year of business and sales are flourishing. This year alone Mike has rented several hundred band and orchestra instruments to students from Anchorage, Eagle River and Chugiak. Mike also sells many products and accessories for musical instruments.

"I've got everything from sheet music and accessories to guitars, mandolins and banjos, in addition to your standard band and orchestra instruments," Mike commented as he looked around his store.

While Mike is at school or involved with one of his many activities, the store is run by his father, David.

Mike, currently a sophomore at Chugiak High, is a member of the CHS Concert Orchestra, CHS Fiddle Club and the Anchorage Youth Symphony. He has performed at the State Fair for three years with the Chugiak Fiddlers. He teaches a private studio for violins, private lessons and taught for Alaska String Camps last year. He is "The Fiddler" in Chugiak High School's production of Fiddler on the Roof that will be performed this November.

After more than two years on a waiting list, mike's violin was hand-delivered in September by professional Alaskan violin maker John Osnes, who hand carved the instrument.

Proudly displaying his new violin, Mike rattles off a description of his prized instrument. "It's hand carved with a spruce top, maple back and sides, mahogany neck, and rosewood fittings," he said.

Mike plans to get a doctoral degree in violin performance from the Oberlin Music Conservatory and become a professor of violin and music theory in addition to keeping his store running.

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4/4/04 last update