Music Studio Startup: Helping music teachers thrive as entrepreneurs

Welcome back to Music Studio Startup!

Our summer Studio Snapshot series has wrapped up, which means we're heading back into our longer-form interview episodes for the fall.

I have some really good conversations coming your way with inspiring studio owners and entrepreneurs.

But before we jump into the new season, I wanted to give you a little update on what's been happening around Music Studio Startup.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/september2026announcement/.

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

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 Sarah Boyd.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot050

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

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 Kathleen.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot049

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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