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.

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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.

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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