In this inspiring episode of the Teach Music Online Podcast, host Carly Walton chats with Grant Collins, a visionary drum teacher from Australia who has taken his passion for teaching and transformed it into a fully online studio.

Grant’s journey from international performer to online educator is filled with actionable insights, personal stories, and motivational advice for any music teacher looking to make a bigger impact online. Join us to learn how Grant built his “Drum Dojo,” embraced technology, and created a supportive, thriving community for students worldwide.

Episode Highlights:

Grant’s Background and Shift to Online Teaching

• Discover how Grant transitioned from global performance stages to teaching drums online, and what led him to join the Teach Music Online (TMO) membership. Hear about his initial challenges with online setup and how he found the tools and confidence to make his lessons engaging and effective.

Building an Engaging Online Drum Studio with the Drum Dojo

• Grant shares the story behind his innovative "Drum Dojo," a weekly drum workout session where students of all levels come together to practice, improve, and connect. Learn how he recreated an in-studio experience for his online students, fostering a sense of community and motivation.

Embracing Technology to Elevate Online Lessons

• For Grant, technology isn’t a barrier—it’s a tool for deeper connection. He discusses his multi-camera setup, digital handouts, and how platforms like Apple Notes help him offer a high-quality, interactive experience for his students. Get tips on how you can use technology to enhance your own lessons and create a dynamic learning environment.

Retention and Long-Term Student Relationships

• Grant’s philosophy is all about creating meaningful, lasting relationships with his students. Inspired by his wife’s work in personal fitness, he shares how he applies these principles to his own teaching, emphasizing the importance of retention, building community, and viewing each student as part of a larger learning journey.

Scaling with Memberships and Future Goals

• Learn about Grant’s plans to scale his online drum studio using a membership model, offering students a library of lessons and resources they can access anytime. This model helps him reach more students without sacrificing time and provides an affordable way for students to continue their studies.

Advice for Online Music Teachers

• From getting comfortable on camera to creating unique teaching resources, Grant shares practical advice for teachers who are interested in online drum lessons or other forms of virtual music education. He reminds us that every little bit of effort counts—and that perfection isn’t required to make a real difference.

Links Mentioned:

• Visit Grant Collins’ website: grantcollins.com/academy
• Follow Grant on Instagram: @GrantCollinsDrum
• Learn more about Teach Music Online and join the waitlist: teachmusic.online

Join the Teach Music Online Membership Waitlist:

Inspired by Grant’s story? Join the Teach Music Online membership to access resources, courses, and a community of creative educators who are taking their studios online. Whether you’re new to online teaching or looking to elevate your setup, TMO has everything you need to thrive. Join the waitlist at

In this episode, we dive into a topic that can feel a bit intimidating but is actually incredibly powerful: vision planning. Ever feel like setting big goals for your teaching studio is overwhelming? You’re not alone! Vision planning isn’t about some perfect, pie-in-the-sky dream; it’s about creating a real and exciting picture of what you want your studio to look like and achieve. Once you’ve got that clear vision, it becomes easier to stay motivated, keep your focus, and take the steps to make it all happen.

Key Points Covered:

1. Why Vision Planning Matters – Vision planning acts like a personal compass, giving you direction, focus, and energy. It’s all about getting clear on your “why” and creating a real plan for what you want your studio to be.
2. How to Start Vision Planning – We break down five easy questions to guide you in dreaming big for your studio. From imagining your ideal teaching space to defining the kind of student experience you want to offer, these steps make vision planning feel totally doable.
3. Overcoming Common Obstacles – We also tackle common roadblocks that come up during vision planning. Fear, self-doubt, daily habits, and even mindset can hold us back, so we share tips on how to get past these barriers and stay focused on your vision.
4. Bringing Your Vision to Life – Once you’ve created your vision, it’s time to take action! We discuss four easy action steps, from writing your vision down to building a support system, so you can start turning those dreams into reality.

Episode Takeaways:

• Vision planning isn’t about having the “perfect” dream. It’s about crafting a clear, realistic picture of what you want and creating steps to achieve it.
• Breaking down your vision into small goals makes it more achievable and keeps you moving forward.
• Surrounding yourself with a supportive community can make all the difference. Don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow teachers who understand your journey.

Resources Mentioned:

• Teach Music Online Membership – Join the waitlist for the Teach Music Online membership to gain access to resources, coaching, and a supportive community that can help you make your studio vision a reality.

In today’s episode, we chat with Jess Homewood, a piano teacher who made a major shift from teaching 60 private students a week to fully embracing group piano lessons. Jess shares her journey from experiencing burnout to finding balance in her teaching schedule through group lessons. She discusses how she initially resisted the idea of group lessons, fearing they wouldn’t provide the same value as one-on-one instruction, but soon discovered the incredible benefits of group and individual learning in music.

Throughout our conversation, Jess highlights how group lessons foster community and connection among students, helping them become more independent learners. She also shares how streamlining her teaching days and using studio management software gave her more personal time and reduced the stress of managing her studio.

If you’ve ever wondered how group lessons could work for your music studio, or if you’re looking for strategies to find balance in your teaching life, this episode is for you!

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why Jess transitioned from private lessons to group lessons
• The unexpected benefits of group and individual learning in music
• How group lessons foster student independence and community
• Jess’s approach to pricing group lessons vs. private lessons
• Tools and strategies to streamline your teaching schedule and reduce admin time
• How Jess incorporates fun and engagement into her lessons with her No Printout Playbooks

Resources Mentioned:

• No Printout Playbooks by Jess Homewood: https://www.notyourmotherspianostudio.com/
• Teach Music Online Membership

Join the Teach Music Online Community: Looking for more tips to help you grow your music studio? Join our Teach Music Online membership, where you can access resources, courses, and connect with other teachers to take your online teaching to the next level.

Teach Music Online Waitlist

Instagram Growth for music teachers and studio owners

Other resources:

Free Facebook Community

Time management workshop

Online teaching starter kit

The essential music teacher marketing checklist

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the most important aspects of growing your music studio—marketing! Whether you teach online or in person, marketing is crucial to attracting the right students and building a thriving music school. In this episode, we'll uncover the 5 common marketing mistakes that music teachers often make and share actionable strategies to avoid them.

I also highlight a powerful testimonial from a member of the Teach Music Online community who transformed her business after joining. Plus, exciting news—the Teach Music Online membership waitlist is now open for 2025! Don’t miss your chance to level up your marketing skills and take your music studio to the next level.

Resources for your music teacher business mentioned in this episode:

Teach Music Online Waitlist

Instagram Growth for music teachers and studio owners

Other resources:

Free Facebook Community

Time management workshop

Online teaching starter kit

The essential music teacher marketing checklist

Key Timestamps:

[00:00] – Marketing Strategies For Music Teachers

Brooke talks about her early days as a music teacher and what led her to start her own studio in 2016. She shares how her initial goal of managing 30 students quickly grew beyond her expectations.

[02:31] – Marketing Is On-Going

Facing a massive waitlist and an overwhelming workload, Brooke discusses her pivotal decision to bring on her first instructor and how that set the stage for future growth.

[04:55] – Common Marketing Mistakes & Solutions

Brooke opens up about the struggles she faced while growing her team, from finding the right teachers to creating a cohesive culture within her studio.

[12:37] – Charging Higher Lesson Rates

Brooke highlights how the Teach Music Online membership provided her with the technical know-how and community support needed to transition her studio online. She emphasizes the role of Carly’s webinars in helping her keep students engaged and maintain her studio’s momentum during a challenging time.

[17:19] – Your Thriving Studio Long Term

Brooke reflects on how she manages the administrative side of running a large studio while still staying connected to her passion for teaching and supporting her students and teachers.

Are you a music teacher wondering how to grow your music studio from a one-person show to a thriving, multi-teacher business? Brooke Schrager's journey is full of insight and practical tips that might be just what you need to grow your music studio.

Brooke Schrager was just like many music teachers—passionate about teaching but unfulfilled by the constraints of a traditional classroom. She decided to launch her own studio, imagining a cozy setup with about 30 students. Fast forward a few months, and Brooke found herself with 40 students and a waitlist that stretched on and on.

Little did she know that this would be the first step in going from public school music teacher, to building what is now a flourishing music studio with 26 instructors and over 300 students in the Chicago area.

Enjoy this episode filled with tips for expanding your teaching studio!

Resources for your music teacher business mentioned in this episode:

Teach Music Online Waitlist

Other resources:

Free Facebook Community

Time management workshop

Online teaching starter kit

The essential music teacher marketing checklist

Instagram Growth for music teachers and studio owners

Key Timestamps:

[03:45] – Brooke’s Background and Studio Beginnings

Brooke talks about her early days as a music teacher and what led her to start her own studio in 2016. She shares how her initial goal of managing 30 students quickly grew beyond her expectations.

[07:30] – The Decision to Hire Other Teachers

Facing a massive waitlist and an overwhelming workload, Brooke discusses her pivotal decision to bring on her first instructor and how that set the stage for future growth.

[10:20] – Challenges of Building a Multi-Teacher Studio

Brooke opens up about the struggles she faced while growing her team, from finding the right teachers to creating a cohesive culture within her studio.

[13:50] – How Teach Music Online Supported Her Journey

Brooke highlights how the Teach Music Online membership provided her with the technical know-how and community support needed to transition her studio online. She emphasizes the role of Carly’s webinars in helping her keep students engaged and maintain her studio’s momentum during a challenging time.

[18:15] – Balancing Business and Passion for Teaching

Brooke reflects on how she manages the administrative side of running a large studio while still staying connected to her passion for teaching and supporting her students and teachers.

[22:00] – Advice for Aspiring Studio Owners

Brooke offers her top tips for music teachers looking to grow their own studios, from trusting the process and building a strong network to staying true to your vision.

[27:45] – The Power of Community and Collaboration

Brooke shares how fostering a strong sense of community among her teachers has been essential to her studio’s success and...

If you’ve ever dreamed of combining your love for music with the freedom to explore new places, this episode is just for you. Today, we’re diving into a topic that merges adventure with education: how to teach music online while traveling.

If you’re like me, you might have never imagined that teaching music online while traveling would be feasible. But let me tell you, it’s not just a dream—it’s a reality that I’ve lived through. Before the pandemic, I spent about three years traveling and teaching online, which was an extraordinary experience that gave me the flexibility to work from virtually anywhere with a simple setup.

Whether you’re considering a short getaway or planning a more extended journey, the ability to teach music remotely can offer you unparalleled flexibility. Even if full-time travel isn’t on your agenda, having the option to teach from different locations can be a game-changer.

► 🎶 Our Teach Music Online membership is here to support you every step of the way. Currently accepting members for our waitlist, OPENING 2025: Click Here to Join

E137: How TMO Helped Mark Weathers Rebuild His Studio and Grow a Waitlist

Join Carly Walton in this inspiring episode of the Teach Music Online podcast, where she interviews Mark Weathers, a resilient piano teacher from Alaska. Discover how Mark transformed his piano studio after losing three-quarters of his students during the pandemic.

The TMO community played a crucial role in Mark's journey. The support and shared expertise from fellow members provided him with continuous learning opportunities and the confidence to implement changes such as raising his rates and offering longer lesson times. Mark also benefited from TMO's resources on marketing strategies, tech for online teaching, and mindset for growth, which collectively contributed to his studio's success.

In This Episode We Cover:

● Mark Weathers' journey of rebuilding his piano studio online after the pandemic.

● Strategies for transitioning to a year-round tuition model and convincing families to commit.

● The importance of using automation tools to manage a large waitlist.

(00:00) Resilient Piano Teacher Transitions Online

(13:27) Enrollment and Convincing Families to Transition

(20:34) Optimizing Studio Management and Rates

(36:46) Membership Benefits for Online Music Teachers

Join the TMO waitlist today and transform your music teaching business!

https://www.teachmusic.online/waitlist

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts!

“I love listening to the Teach Music Online Podcast!” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps us support more teachings, just like you, move toward a successful online teaching career and lifestyle that they desire!

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast! When you follow the podcast you’ll be sure to never miss an episode. We’d hate for you to miss out on some highly valuable insights for your studio growth. Follow Now!

In this new episode Carly delves into how passive income can offer educators invaluable insights and actionable strategies to expand their teaching scope. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to achieve financial freedom and flexibility while making a lasting impact on their students.

In this episode, we cover:

● Passive income and its key benefits, such as autonomy, flexibility, financial stability, and growth opportunities.

● Successful product development tips and practical advice on product launching, focusing on the importance of building an audience, setting realistic timelines and leveraging excitement.

Every skill you gain along the way will be valuable in the long run. Don't miss out on these transformative strategies for your music teaching career!

Time Stamps:

[00:00 – 06:00] Creating Passive Income

[06:22 - 07:37] Building Audience for Passive Income

[16:00 - 17:35] Teaching and Learning Skills for Success

[19:54 - 21:41] Marketing Strategy and Launch Planning

Join the TMO Waitlist HERE!

https://www.teachmusic.online/waitlist

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts!

“I love listening to the Teach Music Online Podcast!” If this sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps us support more teachings, just like you, move toward a successful online teaching career and lifestyle that they desire!

Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t yet, follow the podcast! When you follow the podcast you’ll be sure to never miss an episode. We’d hate for you to miss out on some highly valuable insights for your studio growth. Follow Now!