Branding isn’t just about pretty colors and a polished logo—it’s about knowing who you serve and how you want to be known. Sara Campbell dives deep into what studio branding really means for independent music teachers and how it shapes the students you attract. From defining your ideal client to writing authentic website copy and using real studio photos, Sara shares practical strategies that help teachers stand out without burning out. If you’ve ever struggled to put your teaching vibe into words or want your online presence to reflect the magic happening in your studio, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and next steps.

• Sara shared an overview of her background and how she helps independent music teachers build sustainable studios through mindset, marketing, and branding strategy.
• Why branding goes far beyond logos and colors.
• The importance of identifying your ideal client as the first step in building an authentic brand.
• Why teachers should clarify their mission, core values, and what transformation they offer students.
• How niching down doesn’t mean excluding everyone—it means attracting the right students.
• Advise for teachers to reflect on what kind of students they don’t want to teach to better understand their fit.
• Why your website should reflect your teaching style and personality.
• She emphasized writing website copy that sounds like your real voice.
• Why parents care more about the student experience and transformation than your credentials.
• She warned against generic branding phrases like “all ages and levels” without explaining your unique value.
• Importance of using real photos from your studio over stock images to create a personal feel.
• Sara recommended investing in branding photo shoots to reflect your teaching in action.
• Some simple branding updates like refining your homepage copy or swapping one key image.

Podcast Exclusive Freebie:

• Free Branding Clarity Kickstart - If you’ve ever felt stuck writing about your studio — unsure what to say on your website, awkward in social posts, or paralyzed by Canva captions — this free workbook is your first step toward clarity!

Links Mentioned

• Sara's Website: Savvy Music Studio
• Sara's Facebook Page: Savvy Music Studio
• Sara's Instagram Page: @savvymusicstudio

Today's Guest

Sara Campbell is a business and marketing coach for independent music teachers who want to run thriving studios without losing their minds (or their weekends). She’s the founder of Savvy Music Studio, where she helps teachers clarify their offers, streamline their systems, and show up online with confidence. With 20+ years of teaching experience and over a decade of coaching, Sara is known for her strategic brain, casual style, and her ability to make business feel way less overwhelming. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three extremely opinionated cats.

About Rachel Ehring

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

• Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
• Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
• Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
• Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

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