The Fourforty (440) with Eric Branner

What does a truly professional music teaching practice look like in 2026?

In this episode of The FourForty Podcast, I’m joined by Michael Richey, owner of Tennessee Music Academy, a multi-teacher, in-home music studio serving Nashville families.

Michael shares how he’s built a calm, sustainable, high-trust studio by making a few clear decisions and sticking to them. We talk about flat-rate tuition, no-makeup policies, clear communication, and why professionalism actually creates better relationships with families.

We also explore how the Alexander Technique and Dalcroze Eurhythmics have shaped Michael’s teaching philosophy, helping students move, learn, and grow with less tension—both musically and logistically.

This conversation is a masterclass in doing fewer things, better.

🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

Candace Lark-Masucci is a harpist, educator, and musicians’ life coach helping artists build careers that are emotionally grounded, mentally healthy, and financially sustainable.

In this deeply honest conversation, Candace shares her journey from aspiring ballerina to concert harpist, through burnout, illness, and identity loss—and how those experiences shaped her work coaching musicians today. We talk about why “just do what you love” can be dangerous advice, how over-booking becomes a substitute for self-worth, and why learning what to say—and when to say no—is a core professional skill.

This episode explores burnout, boundaries, money, trauma, and meaning—and offers a powerful reminder that sustainable careers are built with clarity, courage, and community.

Learn more about Candace's work here.
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🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

Brian Shepard, CEO of the Music Teachers National Association, joins the FourForty Podcast for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about the past, present, and future of music teaching.

As MTNA approaches its 150th anniversary, Brian reflects on the organization’s founding mission, the role of community and association in a digital age, and why studio music teachers remain essential cultural leaders. We explore the idea of artist citizens—students who may never pursue music professionally, but who carry a lifelong appreciation for beauty, creativity, and the arts.

Brian also shares his own non-linear career path from music education to marketing to executive leadership, offering valuable insight for young professionals navigating their place in the music world.

This episode is a hopeful, grounding reminder of why music teaching matters, and why it always will.

Learn more about MTNA here...

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🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

In this solo episode, Eric explores gratitude as a critical skill for musicians, educators, and creative entrepreneurs. Practice a guided meditation,  hear stories from the studio, and craft your own gratitude statement. 

This one is especially for the days when your hands hurt, your students aren’t practicing, or a few families just left —and for remembering why you chose this musical life in the first place. 🌊

🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

In this episode, Eric talks with guitarist and entrepreneur Anthony Sloan: co-founder and CEO of the Sloan School of Music.

What started as a family idea grew into a two-location music school, retail operation, and community hub offering more than 30,000 lessons a year. Anthony shares the full story: building a business with friends, creating a welcoming “coffeehouse” atmosphere, attracting and retaining great teachers, and crafting meaningful performance opportunities for students.

They also discuss the importance of clarity in leadership, Anthony’s experience in the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses program, and his new venture MelodyMap, designed to help families find trusted music teachers with ease.

A must-listen for music educators, studio owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone building community through creativity.

Learn more about Anthony, Sloan, and MelodyMap here.

www.sloanschoolofmusic.com  

www.melodymap.io

Facebook.com/sloanschoolofmusic
Instagram.com/sloanschoolofmusic
Youtube.com/sloanschoolofmusic 

🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

Drummer, educator, author, and industry leader Joe Bergamini shares how he built a resilient, multi-hyphenate career spanning Broadway pits, international touring, best-selling drum books, and more than 35 years of private teaching.

We talk about confidence, nerves, community, curriculum, mentorship, the realities of gigging, and Joe’s “three-legged stool” model for a sustainable life in music.
 This episode is a roadmap for any musician or teacher who wants longevity, purpose, and steady growth in an ever-changing musical world.

Learn more about Joe's work here.

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🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

Today I’m talking with Josh Gillis, founder of Catfish Alley Studio in Columbus, Mississippi. Josh is one of the kindest, most curious, and most future-leaning educators in the Fons community. He’s building a modern, community-centered music studio that blends interest-based teaching, student experiences, founder-led marketing, and emerging technologies.

We explore Josh’s journey from teaching in his sunroom to running a multi-teacher music school downtown, his daily framework of offer, value, and asset, why consistency beats perfection, and how he creates student experiences that feel more like concerts than recitals.

We also dive into future tech, from VR practice tools to blockchain use cases… what it means to build a studio that’s ready for the next decade of music education.

Connect with Josh here

https://www.facebook.com/gillis.josh 

https://www.instagram.com/joshgillis

🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

How do you stay joyful and grounded when you’re teaching, performing, and leading at a high level?

In this episode, Eric talks with Kevin Chance, President of MTNA and Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Alabama about presence, purpose, and the realities of a life in music.

Kevin shares stories from his recent sabbatical in Chile, his upbringing in Alabama, and the mentors who shaped him. He shares wisdom and insights about performance anxiety, burnout, boundaries, and why he identifies first and foremost as a teacher.

You’ll walk away with fresh perspective on practice, performance, and what it really means to make a difference in your students’ lives every day. 

Learn more about Kevin's work here.

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🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

Marketing mentor, voice teacher, and choral director Allie Tyler joins Eric Branner to explore how to grow a creative business without losing your joy. From running The Voicepreneur Program to directing a non-audition community choir in the mountains of Colorado, Allie shares hard-won wisdom about seasonality, courage, intuition, and loving yourself through every phase of entrepreneurship. A must-listen for teachers and creatives ready to build success that actually feels good.

Learn more about Allie's work here.

www.thevoicepreneur.com

Instagram The Whole Voice & The Voicepreneur

🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)

In this solo episode, Eric shares three vivid mentor stories. Pete (artist–entrepreneur), Terry (the open-hearted teacher), and Bryce (the student who became a guide) to unpack what mentorship is, how it shows up, and why becoming both mentee & mentor creates a virtuous cycle in our lives. You’ll hear practical ways to recognize mentors, cultivate intergenerational relationships, and know when it’s your time to step up for someone else.

🌊 Connect with us:

• Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group
  a supportive community for teachers & creatives
• Follow on Instagram: @makemusicstudio
• Learn more about MakeMusic Studio (Formerly Fons)