Music Studio Startup: Helping music teachers thrive as entrepreneurs

Today I have a return guest on the podcast! I did a two-part interview with Thomas Grayston, the developer behind the NoteRush note-reading app in episodes 021 and 022. In those episodes, we talked about how he turned NoteRush from a side project to a full-time gig and then we talked about the first steps a teacher might take if they have an app idea of their own that they want to bring to market....

Today, I'm deviating from our usual interview format to discuss a challenge that I'm sure all of us have experienced at one point or another and is especially common this time of year—managing life when it becomes overwhelmingly full. In this episode I break down the process and strategies I follow in my own life to get through these times and calm the chaos. A full transcript and resources from t...

A quick episode to wish you a happy thanksgiving and share a resource to aid your year-end tax planning. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/2023novemberannouncement

Today I'm continuing the pattern of quarterly check-ins that I've been doing all this year kind of on accident. Previously, I did these with Amy Elmore as we were launching the new Harmony podcast together. But today I'm solo, and I'm going to be recapping my quarter three: what I've been up to, what was challenging this quarter, and what I'm looking forward to in quarter four. A full transcript a...

Today I'm joined by David Smolover, a serial entrepreneur who has led an inspiring career in music education. You'll hear about how he started the National Guitar Summer Workshop that has served up to 6k students, how he made his way into publishing instructional materials (both digital and physical), and how his response to a random cold email led to the start of the guided practice app that we'r...

With Tonara's announcement that they will be shutting down their practice app, a lot of teachers are looking for a replacement, so we thought it would be helpful to feature a few of the other apps in this space. Last week we talked to Nicola Cantan about the startup story of her brand new app - Vivid Practice and today we're rebroadcasting an episode with the founders of PracticeSpace, Robert Mill...

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode126.

Today's mini interview is with Scarlette Kerr, a teacher who went from having a very part-time studio while in grad school to building a strong student roster within seven months, even with COVID happening. We talk about being a musician AND business owner, time management, and self-promotion. Scarlette also happens to be the winner of the startup grant we awarded back in May 2020. Find the show n...

Today I'm talking to Jenny B Peters, a recently retired school music teacher who has had a very full - and sometimes challenging - career. Jenny talks about how budget cuts in her district prompted her to get really creative with her teaching curriculum and eventually led her to develop a series of ukulele books, videos, and online courses. We get to hear how Jenny and her sister built that busine...

We commonly think of entrepreneurs as people who start businesses, but over the years I've really come to appreciate people who bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the work they do in existing organizations — sometimes these people are called "intrapreneurs." Today I'm talking to one such person - Chris Madden - who spearheaded the introduction of a new masters degree program at his university. You...

Hey and welcome back! While you've hopefully been enjoying some much deserved rest and relaxation this summer, we've been busy behind the scenes here at Music Studio Startup and have some amazing things in store for you this fall! Today I'd like to highlight three of those things: upcoming podcast episodes, the new MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind, and the MSS Grant Competition. A full transcrip...

We're getting ready for a new season of Music Studio Startup beginning in a couple of weeks. As we bid farewell to summer, I've got another quarterly check-in to share with you. In case you didn't catch our other quarterly check-ins from earlier in the year, you can listen to them here:  Winter Q1: MSS Episode 112 – Amy Elmore on 3 Mindset Questions to Ask Before Setting Your New Year's Resolution...

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 J...

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 A...

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 C...

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 H...

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 T...

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 S...

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 B...

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 L...

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 C...

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 J...

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 A...

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 J...

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 To...