Behind the Scenes of Growing a Multi-Teacher Music Studio with Brooke Schrager
How to Grow Your Music Studio: Brooke Schrager’s Path From School Music Teacher To Music Studio Owner
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.
From Public School Music Teacher to Studio Owner
Back in 2016, 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.
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Hiring Her First Teacher
Taking that first leap to hire another teacher can feel like a big step—and it is! Brooke reached out to her colleague Marissa, who agreed to join her as the studio's very first additional instructor. Together, they figured out creating processes, contracts, and schedules.
This is where many music teachers get stuck. You’re not just a teacher anymore—you’re a business owner. Brooke didn’t shy away from the challenge. Instead, she embraced it, laying the groundwork for what would become a robust multi-teacher studio. Today, Lessons by Brooke & Company offers personalized in-home and virtual lessons in a variety of instruments, including piano, voice, guitar, violin, and more.
How to Grow Your Music Studio: Building a Team
One of the keys to Brooke's success has been her approach to building a team. She didn’t just hire any available teacher. She brought in people from her alma mater and even recruited college students and seasoned professionals from the local area. Her goal was to offer high-quality, personalized lessons in a variety of instruments, from piano and voice to guitar and violin.
If you’re looking to grow your music studio, consider how you can build a team that shares your vision and values. Remember, the right teachers can help elevate your studio from good to great.
Brooke’s Secrets to Success
Scaling a music studio wasn’t all smooth sailing. Brooke faced her fair share of challenges, from managing multiple locations to transitioning to online lessons during the pandemic. Here are some of her top strategies for overcoming obstacles:
Creating a Strong Team Culture: Brooke is all about building a supportive and inclusive environment. Her teachers feel like part of a community, which translates into a positive experience for their students as well.
Leveraging Online Resources: Brooke credits Teach Music Online’s resources and community for helping her successfully navigate the switch to online teaching in 2020. She found webinars on student engagement and other online teaching strategies to be game-changers.
Adapting to Change: Whether it’s figuring out the logistics of in-home teaching across a wide geographic area or pivoting to online lessons, Brooke has shown that adaptability is key to growth.
Managing Operations Of A Music Studio
Interestingly, Brooke’s studio still operates with a largely manual system, utilizing tools such as Google Suite for lesson scheduling and communication. Despite the potential convenience of dedicated music studio management software like My Music Staff or Fons, she chooses to maintain this manual approach because it keeps things simple and accessible for parents. They appreciate not having to log into yet another platform, which contributes to the overall satisfaction of the studio's families.
Each teacher in her studio has their own Google Calendar, co-managed with Brooke, allowing for seamless adjustments as needed. Parents and students are invited to the events, and as students grow older, they are gradually taught to manage their own schedules. This not only helps students keep track of their lessons but also teaches them valuable organizational skills beyond music.
We have seen huge success for music studios and automating the operations of a music studio, or music teaching business. Whether you choose to automate using softwares that we recommend like Fons or My Music Staff, we know you can find success!
Our waitlist is open for any aspiring online music teacher, or music studio owner!
How Teach Music Online Helped Brooke Grow Her Studio
Back in 2020, like many music teachers, Brooke Schrager faced a sudden and unexpected challenge: shifting her entire music studio online. It was overwhelming, but that's when she discovered the Teach Music Online membership—and everything changed.
“Teach Music Online was an absolute lifesaver,” Brooke shares. The resources and community were exactly what she needed to adapt her studio to the new reality. From technical advice on setting up her virtual teaching space to creative strategies for keeping students engaged through a screen, the membership gave her all the tools and confidence she needed to not just survive but actually thrive during the pandemic.
But it wasn’t just about the technical side of things, and it wasn't only relevant during the pandemic. The Teach Music Online community also provided a sense of connection and support. “It felt so good to know I wasn’t alone,” Brooke recalls. Being part of a group of like-minded music teachers who were all navigating the same challenges made a huge difference. They shared ideas, swapped tips, and supported each other through all the ups and downs of running an online studio.
And the impact didn’t stop there. As Brooke’s studio continued to grow, the business strategies and marketing advice she found in the membership were incredibly valuable. “It’s so much more than just a resource for online teaching,” Brooke explains. “It’s like having a step-by-step guide to building and scaling your music business.”
For anyone looking to grow their studio, whether online or in-person, Brooke can’t recommend Teach Music Online enough. “It’s hands-down one of the best investments I’ve made,” she says. “The knowledge, the community, the support—it’s been a total game-changer.” With the right resources and a supportive community behind you, there’s really no limit to what you can achieve with your music studio.
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Join the waitlist and get valuable resources, tips, tricks and support in the meantime from Carly and the Teach Music Online team.
Brooke's Advice for Aspiring Studio Owners
Thinking about expanding your studio? Brooke has some words of wisdom:
Trust the Process: Growth doesn’t happen overnight. It’s okay to make mistakes and learn as you go.
Build a Support Network: Don’t try to do it all alone. Seek out mentors, join communities, and ask for help when you need it.
Stay True to Your Vision: Know what kind of studio you want to build and let that guide your decisions.
A Day in the Life of a Studio Owner
One of the perks Brooke enjoys as a studio owner is the flexibility in her schedule. Gone are the days of rigid school timetables. Now, she balances her time between administrative tasks, teacher support, and family life. She uses tools like Google Calendar and Google Drive to keep things organized, which works well for her team and studio families.
Unlike some studios that use dedicated management software, Brooke opts for a more personal touch. Her manual system of scheduling through Google Suite keeps things simple and easy for parents, who appreciate not having to navigate another app or platform.
Brooke's Music Studio Is More Than Just a Business
Brooke’s studio is more than just a place for lessons—it’s a community. She has created a supportive environment for both teachers and students, complete with a Facebook group for instructors and regular workshops. Teachers aren’t just employees; they’re part of a team that collaborates, shares resources, and supports each other.
This sense of community is a cornerstone of her studio’s success. Brooke even hosts an annual holiday party and goal-setting meeting, making sure every teacher feels valued and heard. This inclusive approach has contributed to her studio's low turnover rate, with many teachers staying for years.
Your Next Steps: How to Grow Your Music Studio
If you’re wondering how to grow your music studio, Brooke’s journey offers a clear roadmap: Start small, build a strong team, adapt to challenges, and create a community. Whether you’re thinking about hiring your first teacher or scaling your existing studio, Brooke’s story is proof that with dedication, flexibility, and a passion for teaching, anything is possible.
So, what’s your next step? Whether it's hiring that first teacher or adding new instruments to your studio's offerings, setting up marketing and sales systems, or just getting started, take a page from Brooke’s book and trust the process. Your dream studio is just around the corner.
The Teach Music Online Membership is the perfect place to learn the next best steps for you to take in starting or growing your music teacher business.
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