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

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 Marie Lee. 

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot041.

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 September Salazar. 

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot040.

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 Jenny Townsend. 

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at MusicStudioStartup.com/snapshot039.

Music Studio Business Building 101: Summer 2025 cohort happening now!

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Business Finance for Music Teachers