Violin Lessons and Music Theory - Palms Music Studio

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in music education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Allan Palmer, Owner of Palms Music Studio, located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Palms Music Studio is my home-based business, where I teach seven days a week. My clientele consists of violin students of all ages, musical theory students, event planners, or anyone looking to book a solo violinist for parties and weddings, and memorials.

Tell us about yourself

I was first introduced to violin at age six and immediately connected with it. I wanted to learn and perform to begin sharing my passion with others. Taking any opportunity I could to play for people and connect with other musicians, I had my first job at age ten, busking at The Forks Market. Soon after, I became a member of the Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra and was involved in Suzuki group classes.

At sixteen, I really wanted to just share my knowledge with others, so I placed a Kijiji ad for violin lessons, wondering if I would attract even one student. Within a short time, I had several adults contact me. Their enthusiasm for learning kickstarted things and sprouted my passion for teaching.

The special bond I have built with each of my students keeps me motivated to teach every day. Seeing students beyond happy when they make a big accomplishment or figure out why something wasn’t working brings me so much joy. I really enjoy helping everyone learn and am always happy to be there for them. Now at 23 years old, I am still learning too, and developing even stronger teaching tactics to help with any issue a student might be having.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel my biggest accomplishment has been in the successful arrangement and conducting of a summer recital this past year. Forty-three of my students performed their individual pieces for an audience of nearly 200. Additionally, I take great pride in looking back on how my business has grown and the marked improvement of my own skills through teaching over the years.

The first sessions I taught sparked an energy that made me want to teach more students more often. A couple of hours per week wasn’t enough, so I started marketing myself with print advertising, passing out business cards whenever I performed, hanging up flyers at libraries, grocery stores, and schools, and creating postcards and bookmarks to deliver door-to-door in my neighbourhood.

My student count has grown to 60 students per week, and their five-star reviews have rated my Google business page within the top 3 Winnipeg music schools. This and my social media presence have brought me new performance opportunities every week, for which I am beyond thankful.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

For me, the hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is the task of scheduling at the beginning of each year while including time for my own performance opportunities. The teaching part has become very natural for me and doesn’t feel like work to me.

In the beginning, the hardest thing was getting students, but I learned to enjoy the process and be patient. I knew that if I kept at it, it would continue to grow.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Be personal with your clients. I strive to develop a strong connection with all my students, understanding their strengths and weaknesses and getting to know the people they are outside their lessons. All of my students know they are welcome to text me anytime with questions they might have.
2. Stay organized, healthy and happy. I find all of these to be big contributing factors to running a successful business. I always take time to indulge in things I enjoy and work on other hobbies like basketball, the gym, acting, modelling, and binging Netflix with my family. It keeps me focused and relaxed to teach long hours.
3. Market yourself often. Branding yourself in print and putting yourself out there on multiple platforms has helped me so much with growing my business. It was game-changing to get myself a Google page where people can leave reviews and posting regularly on social media. I also take performance opportunities every chance I get, not only because I love to perform but because it also gives me more content to put out regularly, which my students can tune into as well.

Where can people find you and your business?

Google Page: https://g.co/kgs/8xQmny
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalmsMusicStudio/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnTShaJirwZ9TwfyfhNN9Tw

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/allan_palms/
https://www.instagram.com/palms_music_studio/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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