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 Armando Salas A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot022.  

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 Carissa Pitkin Cox.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot021.  

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 Holly Hornyan.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot020.

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 Tara Boykin.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot019.  

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 Susanna Klein. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot018.  

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 Boise Music Lessons founder, Angie Marianthi.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot017.  

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 Lynn Zwinck. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot016.  

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 Crystal Boyack.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot015.  

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 Joseph Rocha.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot014.  

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 Anna Fagan.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot013.  

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.  

Will you be in Reno, NV for the MTNA conference next week? Find out how we can meet! Not attending? No worries. We’ve got a great episode coming your way about starting group lesson programs in local schools. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2023mtnaconferenceannouncement.

Today I’m talking to Noah Tretter, a guitar teacher who branched out from his private studio in Oregon to start a virtual multi-teacher studio during COVID. One of the unique things about this studio, is the way its founder has tapped into charter school programs as a way of building the student base and making it possible for families to use educational funds provided by their state to pay for music lessons. If this sounds intriguing, listen on.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode116.

Today I’m talking to Celeste Watson, the owner of a thriving private piano studio in North Carolina. We cover a lot of studio nuts and bolts in this conversation: things like studio policies, parent communication, handling tuition increases, setting expectations for new students, and much more. But before we get into any of that, we talk about the journey it took for this teacher to get to the place where she could even consider full-time teaching. This journey included facing a playing-related injury and years of retraining, that eventually transformed her approach to teaching and influenced the way she built her studio. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode115.

Today we’re back with part two of a great conversation with someone you may have encountered on YouTube - The Ukulele Teacher aka John Atkins. John is YouTuber, Patreon creative, and now podcaster who got his start on YouTube back in 2011. We talk about the opportunities and the challenges of being an early user of platforms like Patreon, how monetization on YouTube has changed over time, and how John is continuing to find new creative outlets to keep his work fresh and meaningful.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode114.

Today we’re back with part one of a great conversation with someone you may have encountered on YouTube - The Ukulele Teacher aka John Atkins. John is YouTuber, Patreon creative, and now podcaster who got his start on YouTube back in 2011. We talk about the opportunities and the challenges of being an early user of platforms like Patreon, how monetization on YouTube has changed over time, and how John is continuing to find new creative outlets to keep his work fresh and meaningful.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode113.

Today’s episode is a little different than usual. Amy Elmore (who you may remember from Studio Snapshot 007) is returning to talk about mindset and goal-setting. We’re also pulling back the curtain on a little thing we’ve got in the works to release later this spring. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode112.

2022 has officially come to a close. With the turn of the calendar, many of us are closing the fiscal years for our businesses and wrapping up our bookkeeping for the year in anticipation of the tax season ahead. I am a HUGE fan of a low-stress tax season and the way to accomplish that is to get started early and tackle one step at a time. Which is why I invited back to the podcast, Andrea Yahr, a certified tax preparer, to get us going. Andrea’s first appearance on the Music Studio Startup podcast was back in Episode 012 when she talked about Business Structures and Their Tax Implications. Today Andrea is back to talk about some tax basics for self-employed teachers, how to get a smooth start to the filing season (even if you feel behind already), and we also talk about some short and long-term strategies to consider to lower your overall tax bill. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode111.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode110.

Today I’m joined by two guests who have started two businesses together: a thriving, multi-location conservatory, and a practice app to motivate and inspire students. You’ll get to hear about how Chris and Robert manage both  businesses and what they’ve learned along the way. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode109.

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming back Chris Swan, a guest who was on the podcast back in Episode 066. In that episode we talked about Chris’s studio STL Piano Lessons and all the changes he made in his first years in business to get his studio where he wanted it to be. Chris was super transparent about the highs and lows he had experienced as a business owner, and he was really good at articulating the challenges he was facing, and how he was iterating along the way to address those challenges. It was a great conversation and if you haven’t listened to it, I highly recommend you do. When I heard that Chris had sold his business in St. Louis, moved to New York City, and started a new studio, I knew I wanted to talk to him again to hear about this new chapter.  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode108.

Over the next two episodes, you’re going to hear from two teachers who have moved and restarted their studios in new cities. The circumstances are pretty different, so I think you’ll enjoy hearing the contrast between the two experiences. Today I’m joined by a teacher who relocated from Colorado to Utah. We talk about the steps she took and timeline she followed to close one studio and how she went about filling her new studio. Here’s my conversation with Cheyenne Olson. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode107.

Today’s podcast hits on one of the harder aspects of being a music studio owner and one of the harder aspects of life in general: navigating through a personal crisis. In a time of crisis, your world is turned upside down. You might be facing uncertainty, confusion, grief, pain, or a whole host of emotions, but the rest of the world is still turning. And as business owners, taking time away to figure things out may not be as simple as calling your admin and trusting them to take care of all the logistics. Today my guest, Leila Viss, shares the story of the crisis that hit her family a few years ago and how she journeyed through the first hours, days, weeks, and months that followed, both personally and professionally. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode106.

If you’ve been a music teacher for a while, you’re probably familiar with the most common studio management systems out there. And you may have noticed in the last year or so that one of these platforms got a makeover and a new name. Music Teacher’s Helper and its counterpart for multi-teacher studios, Studio Helper, have become Duet Partner. Behind the name change and rebrand, there’s also a new owner and CEO. Today I have the privilege of talking to Neylan McBaine about how she came to buy the business (teaser - that story wasn’t at all as I was expecting) and how she has navigated her first 18 months as CEO. Here’s my conversation with Neylan A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode105.

Today we’re covering a topic that is a huge question for musicians and often a barrier for people considering self-employment. The topic is: health insurance. Whether you have it already, anticipate needing it in the future, or are shopping for it right now during open enrollment, this episode will help you understand what the options are and how you can make an affordable and informed decision. My guest today, Daniel Dacquisto, was super thorough and helpful in breaking down everything you’ll want to consider when shopping and budgeting for a plan. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode104.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode000-Fall-2022.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot010.

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 Christina Whitlock. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot009.

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 Shelly Davis. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot008.

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 Amy Elmore. Here's Amy's snapshot. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot007.

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 Hannah Graf. Here’s Hannah's snapshot. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot006.

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 Amy Chaplin. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot005.

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 Steven Potts, owner of Pottshouse Music. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot004.

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 Abigail Proffitt. Here’s Abigail’s snapshot: A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot003.

Summary 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 Candace Hamm, owner of Candace Hamm Piano Studio. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot002.

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 Ken Thompson, owner of Musical Arts Center of San Antonio. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot001.

It’s that time of year again! Time for the summer cohort of Business Building 101. Here’s what a piano teacher, Sophie, says about the course: "The Business Building 101 course was EXACTLY what I was looking for when I wanted to find a way to make my piano studio official. From the moment I signed up, I felt that Andrea was right there to hold my hand throughout the entire course. Her positive and engaging approach allowed me to feel welcome to inquire about any aspect of building my piano studio. Her knowledge of musicianship, entrepreneurship, web design, taxes, retirement is impressive and the course was organized and easy to follow. I can not stress how much this is a necessary course for any musician wanting to further their dream of owning their own successful music studio." This course is available to go through anytime at your own pace, but a couple of times each year I walk through it in real-time with a live cohort of teachers over 10-12 weeks. This summer’s cohort will be starting the week of June 19th. You can find all the details at musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101.

I have winners to announce! This week the judges made their final decisions to select the grant competition finalists and grand prize winner. Thanks to the following sponsors for making this year’s grant competition possible: Duet studio management system, Alamo Music Center, Cascade Method, Dynamic Doodle Co., and Virtual Piano Studio. I’ll be announcing those winners on the podcast and also sharing a mini interview with a teacher who has a unique niche and studio mission. Find the show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/mini006. Business Building 101 - summer cohort forming now!

With the school year coming to a close, I thought this would be a helpful time to talk about how I reset my schedule in times of transition. I’m not talking about goal-setting today, although that might also be part of the “reset” process. What I’m talking about today is more about how I plan my days and weeks to create a rhythm in my life that is conducive to working on those goals. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode103. Business Building 101 - Enroll now for next cohort! https://www.musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101/