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I first interviewed today's guest, Stephanie Bonte-Lebair back in Episode 025. The focus of that interview was about how she rebranded her voice studio to attract a more profitable niche, but in telling that story, Stephanie also talked about the role business networking played in the marketing of her business. She talked about it with such intentionality that I knew I wanted to learn more. So today we're talking about everything, from how to choose events to network at, how to prepare, how Stephanie makes the most of her time at an event, her follow-up routines, examples of weak and strong calls to action and more. Get your notepad ready because you'll want to take notes. If this topic of networking makes you uneasy, at least listen until you hear Stephanie's definition of business networking. A lot of us have probably had an experience with someone who was "networking" that was so obnoxious that we found the very concept repulsive. I think Stephanie's approach will be refreshingly different and one that most teachers can get excited about. People who are doing networking well are not obnoxious and you don't have to become obnoxious - in fact, please don't - to build your business through networking. Here's my conversation with Stephanie.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode179   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

Welcome back! It's January, which means tax season is officially upon us—so today I'm sitting down with CPA Charles Harris to kick things off. We're covering the basics—who needs to file, what to know about quarterly payments, and a few key deadlines—so you can feel clear on your next step. And quick note: registration is open for our free Self-Employment Tax Crash Course webinar coming up on February 5. You can find all the details for that at musicstudiostartup.com/tax.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode178   Resources MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers   MSS Tax Podcast Episodes:  162 – Business Travel and Conference Deductions for Music Teachers with Charles Harris, CPA 159 – Tax Prep Service for Music Teachers – Q&A with Charles and Andrea 158 – Charles Harris, CPA on Tax Prep Tips and FAQs for 2025   Tax-related Blog Resources:  Music Teacher Income + Tax Calculator Lowering Taxes with Business Expenses 3 Ways to Track Your Mileage for Tax Purposes 4 Music Teacher Tax Myths 7 Smart Ways to Use a Tax Refund

Is independent teaching actually a stable career for music teachers? In this episode, Andrea talks with Danielle Ingram, a former school music teacher who left a classroom job to build a sustainable, home-based private music studio. Danielle shares how she redefined stability, ran the numbers before quitting her W-2 job, and built demand before making the transition to full-time independent teaching. They discuss practical questions many teachers face, including replacing a school salary with private teaching, marketing strategies that worked (and didn't), designing a home studio, and why flexibility and schedule control became just as important as income. If you're a music teacher considering self-employment or questioning whether private teaching can truly be stable, this episode offers a clear, honest look at what a thoughtful transition can look like.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode177.   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

 Today's episode is a rebroadcast of a super fun conversation I had a few years ago. I'm talking to two musicians about how they've made a career in music over the last 15 years. I think their story illustrates what it means to be not just an entrepreneurial musician, but an entrepreneur in general. You'll hear about how they've made plans and pursued ideas, while keeping an open ear to what's going on in the market and the world around them, so they can respond with products and services that meet real needs and opportunities. At points this has led them to make pivots. COVID has been one of these points, but we also talk about how the 2008 financial crisis impacted their work and how they bounced back. Here's my conversation with Barbara and Keith.  The transcript and show notes for this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode176.

This week, as we observe Veteran's Day in the US, I'm honored to be talking to a Vietnam Veteran and guitar teacher for a non-profit organization that aims to brighten the lives of veterans who suffer from physical and mental wounds from their times of service. You'll hear about how their mission is shaped by those they serve, how they raise funds for the program, and how they address some unique considerations when matching teachers with veterans and finding creative ways to make the guitar accessible. Here's my conversation with Bernie.   Full transcript available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode175   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers

If you've ever wondered whether the music you compose or arrange for your students could become more than a creative outlet—maybe even a second income stream—this episode is for you. My guest, James Michael Stevens, is a composer and college music dean who has steadily built something quite remarkable: a catalog of thousands of piano and organ pieces, all self-published online, that reaches players around the world. What I love most about his story isn't just the scale of what he's created—it's how he's done it. His process is simple, consistent, and completely self-driven, and it offers a model for any creative teacher who wants to turn small, steady efforts into something substantial. In our conversation, James shares how he got started, what keeps him motivated, and the systems he uses to sustain that level of creative output year after year. Whether you write music, design resources, or just have an idea you've been meaning to follow through on, this episode is full of practical wisdom for anyone building something one step at a time. Here's my conversation with James. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode174.   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

Today I'm talking to the owner of a boutique voice studio about how she rebranded her studio to make it more about her students and less about her. You'll hear all about how she introduced the new brand, how it was received by studio parents, and how her students have taken ownership of the studio community, to the point where they've even developed their own gang sign. There's a lot of food for thought in the episode with Leischen Moore. Full transcript available at musicstudiostartup.com/episode173 MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

 In this episode, I'm talking with pianist and educator Janna Williamson about how she prepares her students and studio for recital season. I wanted to talk with Janna specifically because she's a teacher who models both excellence and perspective. Her students perform beautifully, but her focus isn't on perfection. For Janna, performing isn't about proving skill or passing a test. It's about sharing music. We talk about the practical side of recital prep, things like timelines, scheduling and rep, but also about how Janna's studio vision guides every decision she makes about those events.  Here's my conversation with Janna.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode172.   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers

Today I'm back with Leah Drake of Vibrant Valley Music Studio for part two. In part one we talked about her transition to group lessons through the chaos of COVID and losing her teaching space. It's quite the story! In today's episode we zoom in on her move to a commercial space—and the very real finances behind it. Leah is based in San Jose, so none of this is cheap. She walks us through how she chose square footage with room to grow, why she prioritized a storefront for visibility, and how she financed the whole thing. If you like numbers, this episode will not disappoint. Leah is very transparent about her budget. Here's my conversation with Leah.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode171.   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

Today I'm talking with Leah Drake of Vibrant Valley Music Studio—a solo teacher running a 100-student group program in San Jose. Leah walks us through the messy middle of a major model shift: how she transitioned from private to groups over a year, navigated COVID, survived multiple space moves, and ultimately signed a long-term lease that forced clearer systems and smarter decisions. We get into Leah's why behind group teaching, the structure of her classes, and the operations that make a 100-student studio work—onboarding/offboarding, a VA, and digital tools that help families actually practice between lessons. We had so much to cover that we actually split our conversation into two parts. Today's episode focuses on Leah's transition and systems, and in our next episode we'll delve into the realities of space rental.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode170.   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

As a new school year begins, it's natural to step back and think about where our studios are headed. Maybe you're updating policies, setting fresh goals, or just imagining what you want this year to look like for your students and yourself. This is such a good moment to pause, get clear on your vision, and make sure the choices you're making now are leading you toward the studio you really want to build. In today's episode, you'll hear from Carissa, a piano teacher who walked through this process in one of our early cohorts of the Business Building 101 course. She talks about how clarifying her studio vision gave her the confidence to make important changes—like raising her rates and restructuring tuition—and how she shared those updates with families in a way that actually strengthened their trust and connection to her studio.   A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode169.   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

In this episode, fitness professional Daniel Matthews shares how functional fitness can help musicians and teachers prevent injury, improve posture, and build sustainable careers. He reminds us that just like music, health doesn't have to be about elite performance—small, consistent habits matter most. As we head into a new school year, Daniel's insights are the perfect reminder to care for the body that makes music possible. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/episode168.   MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers  

Hey everyone, it's Andrea with Music Studio Startup and I'm excited to share what we've got coming up this school year. We are back to our regular interview format. And I've got some great episodes lined up, including chats with fitness experts for musicians, group studio owners, and more amazing teachers and entrepreneurs. Over in The Hub, our members are continuing to get their studios more organized and streamlined. This fall, we're diving into sales and marketing systems to help teachers bring in new students and keep their studios running smoothly. I'm also teaming up with our CPA Charles Harris to beta test a brand new course this fall all about helping teachers feel more confident with bookkeeping and studio finances. And looking ahead to spring, we'll be running our biannual Studio Launch Grant Competition once again. You can get updates on that by joining the list at musicstudiostartup.com/grant. So we've got lots in store. To learn more about the Hub, bookkeeping course, or grant competition, head over to musicstudiostartup.com A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at www.musicstudiostartup.com/september2025announcement. MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Business Finance for Music Teachers  

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 Arielle Sukhram-Ziemer. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot043.   Music Studio Business Building 101: Summer 2025 cohort happening now! MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Business Finance for Music Teachers  

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 Jennifer Walschap..  A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot042.   Music Studio Business Building 101: Summer 2025 cohort happening now! MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Business Finance for Music Teachers