Currently a part-time group fitness instructor, I've also been a mechanical engineer and a stay-at-home mom.

When I started teaching group fitness, I was overwhelmed with the planning and practice that went into each class.

I desperately needed something to hold, organize, and display (many pages at once of) my choreography notes.

I’m usually a very good product sleuth; however I couldn’t find ANYTHING that came close to what I wanted. It didn’t exist.

Although I wasn’t planning to use it for music, my piano playing experience with taping pages onto manila folders suggested that looking in the music realm would be my best bet.

Still nothing. So I proceeded to throw something together.

I started by cutting and taping to join single sheet protectors. (In fact, for about a year, the trifold sheet protectors we sold were my homemade creations. It was extremely time-consuming and I couldn’t do very many each day.)

Also, the outer trifold pockets sagged when my binder was propped up, so I began brainstorming how to hold avoid that. My idea was to use paint stirring sticks for the swing-out arms. This is when my chemical engineer husband Brian jumped in and found better materials for the arms.

Because it was SO useful to me, we started offering these online.

Several years later, musicians are the largest group of users. Our customers also include group fitness instructors, scrapbookers, family tree researchers, map organizers, and Dungeons & Dragons players.

Along the way, we got a patent and found a manufacturer for the trifolds and bifolds. Brian cuts, sands, assembles, and installs the arms. I reinforce/fold/bag the sheet protectors, inspect everything, and handle the shipping.

I continue to use my personal ChoreoKeeper at least twice a week. I need it AND it’s a good chance to keep testing it too.

It’s been fun, frustrating, joyful; overall I’m grateful for the pursuit. Our children are on their own, and this was great vehicle to navigate the transition from full-time parenting to being empty nesters.

I love hearing from you on how you use this, and we’ve “met” so many wonderful people as a result!