The podcast about all things business for music teachers and studio owners. Learn how to brand, market, and grow your music studio. Hear stories of creative music teachers who are taking on other cool entrepreneurial projects. Get answers to your self-employment questions from experts. Hosted by entrepreneur, business coach, and piano teacher, Andrea Miller.
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August 5, 202617 min
Snapshot 048 - Craig Harmann
Welcome back. We're running our summer podcast series called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth process-oriented interviews you're used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse into 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 Craig Harmann. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot048 MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers
July 29, 202612 min
Snapshot 047 - Christina Agostini
Welcome back. We're running our summer podcast series called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth process-oriented interviews you're used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse into 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 Agostini. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot047 MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers
July 22, 20266 min
Snapshot 046 - Libby Chiaradonna
Welcome back. We're running our summer podcast series called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth process-oriented interviews you're used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse into 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 Libby Chiaradonna . A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot046 MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers
July 15, 20266 min
Snapshot 045 - Caelyn Meier
Welcome back. We're running our summer podcast series called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth process-oriented interviews you're used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse into 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 Caelyn Meier. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot045 MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers
July 9, 202611 min
Snapshot 044 - Jaclyn Mrozek
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 Jaclyn Mrozek. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot044 MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers
May 29, 202632 min
180 - Anna Showalter on Launching a New Studio and Winning the MSS Studio Launch Grant
Well, hello again! It has been a minute since we released a new episode here on the podcast. This spring, we wrapped up our second tax season with Charles Harris, and Music Studio Startup exhibited for the first time ever at the MTNA conference in Chicago. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth. It is always so fun to connect with listeners in person. And now we're back, just in time to start talking about one of my favorite things we do: the Studio Launch Grant Competition. If you're new around here, the Studio Launch Grant is designed to help new and new-ish independent music teachers launch their studios with more support, more clarity, and a little more breathing room. As in past years, this year's winner will receive a prize package of business tools, coaching, professional support, and $1,000 in seed money to help them get their studio off to a strong start. This is our fourth year hosting the competition, and applications for the 2026 Studio Launch Grant are open now. If you are a new or new-ish independent teacher, or if you know someone who is, go to musicstudiostartup.com/grant to apply or share it with a teacher who should. Applications are due June 15. Today, we're going to revisit the story of one of our past grant competition winners, Anna Showalter. A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode180 MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind Music Studio Business Building 101 Business Finance for Music Teachers
February 18, 202643 min
179 - Business Networking the Not Obnoxious Way with Stephanie Bonte-Lebair
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
January 28, 202617 min
178 - 2026 Tax Season Kickoff with Charles Harris, CPA
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
January 14, 20261 hr 9 min
177 - From "Safe Job" to Sustainable Studio with Danielle Ingram
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
December 17, 202555 min
176 - Building a Flexible Music Career Through Recessions, COVID, and Beyond with Barbara Siesel and Keith Torgan
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.
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