Music Studio Startup: Helping music teachers thrive as entrepreneurs

Hosted by Andrea Miller

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255

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May 2026

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About the show

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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60 recent

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.

November 12, 202536 min

175 - How Guitars 4 Vets Scaled to 100+ Chapters to Bring the Healing Power of Music to Veterans with Bernie Kampf

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

November 5, 202548 min

174 - The Power of Steady Creativity: Growing a Second Income Stream Through Self-Publishing with James Michael Stevens

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

October 22, 202529 min

173 -Rethinking Lessons, Branding, and Belonging in Your Studio with Leischen Moore

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

October 15, 202548 min

172 - How to Plan Recitals That Showcase More Than Just Skill with Janna Williamson

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

October 1, 202558 min

171 - Negotiating a Studio Lease and the Real Numbers Behind It with Leah Drake

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