Music products are an essential part of any music retail company.  When Steve West took over as president of West Music after his father stepped down in 1980, he brought his interest in elementary music, and particularly Orff Schulwerk, into the company. Steve recognized how Orff exemplified the joys of playing music and made it accessible and fun. When the West Music catalog also began that year, Orff instruments and other elementary music resources were the primary feature.

These catalogs inevitably made it not only into the hands of music educators, but also those of music therapists. West Music exhibited at a national music therapy conference in 1980 and began forming relationships that allowed West Music to better understand the unique needs music therapists have when purchasing instruments. This led to a 1994 catalog section titled “Creative Arts Therapy,” and soon after that music therapists could easily locate “Adaptive Instruments” and “Music Therapy Materials” in the annual catalog. Music Therapy conventions were also listed in the catalog among the places where West Music booths could be found throughout the year.

West Music’s first music therapist was a part of the Music Education Department and was partially a sales position, unlike the primarily clinical roles that therapists serve now. The original music therapist was tasked with helping customers find products that meet their needs. This first therapist also traveled to trade shows and formed relationships with REMO and American Drum. These partnerships resulted in the development of several adaptive items, including adaptive mallets that are still used by music therapists. West Music’s presence at music therapy conferences, both regionally and nationally, grew and the company became a well-known resource for new adaptive products - a reputation which continues to the present day.