Music Studio Startup: Helping music teachers thrive as entrepreneurs

Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.

They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.

Today I’m talking to Janna Williamson.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot012.

Welcome back! We’re doing a special series on the podcast this summer called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth, process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse in a guest’s studio at a moment in time.

They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Today I’m talking to Tony Parlapiano

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot011.

We have wrapped up another school year and another season of our long-format teacher interviews. But don't worry, we have NO intentions of abandoning your playlists this summer.

Listen in to hear about a returning series AND a brand new series coming your way!

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2023summerannouncement.

My conversation today is the second in a set of two interviews from first-time parents talking about how they planned for parental leave. In both last week’s episode with Renee Shaw Nutwell and today’s episode with Jeremy Eikenberry, we talk about the goals these teachers had for their students and studios during their leave, how they attempted to plan for something that they didn't have full control over, how their plans played out in real life, how they transitioned back into teaching, and what they learned from the experience.

Our discussion centers around taking parental leave after the birth of a child, but the insights and takeaways translate to taking extended leave from a studio for any reason: vacation, sabbatical, health reasons, whatever.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode122.

Today's interview is on a topic I've never covered on the podcast before and it's not one that gets a lot of attention, but it’s a real thing that a lot of teachers have to navigate and it can be kind of complicated. I’m talking about taking an extended leave from a studio.

Our discussion centers around taking parental leave after the birth of a child, but the insights and takeaways translate to taking extended leave from a studio for any reason: vacation, sabbatical, health reasons, whatever.

My conversation today is with Renee Shaw Nutwell and it is the first in a set of two interviews from first-time parents (a mom and a dad) talking about how they planned for parental leave. We talk about what their goals were for their students and studios during their leave, how they attempted to plan for something that they didn't have full control over, how their plans played out in real life, how they transitioned back into teaching, and what they learned from the experience.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode121.

This interview is really fun, because it’s sort of a listener response to some previous interviews I did with teachers who used lead generation websites, like Thumbtack.com, to build their studios.

Today I’m interviewing a drummer who dove into teaching during the pandemic when gigs stopped. Rob had such great success building his studio that, even with gigs returning, he’s kept the studio open.

You’ll hear about the original episode that inspired Rob, how it led him to action, what his experience was like, and how the new-found stability of his teaching business is giving him freedom to make other career choices as a performing artist.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode120.

Today I have the privilege of interviewing Kayia Baker, the director of a non-profit music school from my own city - St. Louis!

In this interview we talk about how the program launched to 45 students in one location to now serving over 250 students in three different neighborhoods, we talk about what it takes to fund a program that provides free lessons to students while also paying teachers, and we talk about how the program is being modified to make an even greater impact and serve more students.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode119.

This time of year I get a lot of financial questions from teachers. We’ve just gotten through the holiday spending spree, new year’s might have inspired some financial goal-setting, and then there’s the looming tax deadline in April, so there’s a lot to think about.

Sometimes the questions I get are really specific to an individual, but lately a bunch of clients and listeners have said “hey, you talk about reviewing financials on a regular basis as a way of getting more familiar with my financial picture, but what exactly should I be reviewing?”

And they’re totally right, I haven’t been very specific here. So today I’m going to do that.

I’m going to show you how to find some key numbers on your tax return that can give you powerful insights into your business and personal finances.

A full transcript along with printable + digital resources to supplement this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode093.

Today we’re talking about all things non-profit management. My guest, Erin Parkes, founder of the Lotus Centre shares so many insights from her experiences working with a board of directors, crafting effective messaging for different stakeholders, managing a budget, and even dealing with burnout. All while keeping the mission of her organization front and center.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode118.

Many teachers are intrigued by the idea of introducing group lessons into their studios, but may feel like the hurdles to getting started are too high.

Today I'm talking to an Ohio-based teacher, Debra Mattera, who started her group lesson program by partnering with other organizations - first a music store and later local elementary schools. We talk about getting the word out to students, pricing, and maintaining strong relationships with important collaborators.

This program happens to be centered around piano, but there are plenty of takeaways that apply to group lessons for any instrument.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode117.