Transcript: Snapshot 046 – Libby Chiaradonna
Transcript for Snapshot 046 – Libby Chiaradonna
Andrea 00:02
Hey, it’s Andrea with Music Studio Startup, the podcast about the business of teaching music. Learn from the startup stories of music teachers who are doing incredible things with their studios. Be inspired by creative musicians who are branching out and thriving as entrepreneurs. Be empowered by the insights of experts who will help you grow your own studio. Let’s get started. Welcome back. We’re running our summer podcast series called Studio Snapshots. Rather than the in-depth process-oriented interviews you’re used to hearing, these rapid-fire interviews give us a glimpse into a guest’s studio at a moment in time. They’re part reflection, part anticipation of the future, and fully a celebration of where these teachers are today.
Andrea 00:53
Today I’m talking to Libby Chiradonna. Here’s Libby’s Snapshot.
Andrea 00:58
Hi, Libby. Welcome to the podcast. Today we are recording a studio snapshot, which is kind of a brief rapid-fire interview about where your studio is at this moment. So to start us off, can you introduce yourself and tell us briefly about your studio?
Libby Chiaradonna 01:11
Absolutely. I’m Libby Chiradonna. I own Miss Libby’s Music Class, which is right next to Cottleville, Missouri. It’s in St. Charles, and we offer mommy and me classes, preschool-age classes, group lessons for kiddos 5 and up, and private lessons.
Andrea 01:27
Awesome. And what is one thing you’re celebrating from the last school year?
Libby Chiaradonna 01:31
I’m celebrating getting new software for my private lesson side that’s going to streamline the whole process and make my life easier.
Andrea 01:37
Yeah, love that. How were you challenged in the last year?
Libby Chiaradonna 01:41
I’m just kind of looping into what I just said, like things have grown by the grace of God. They’ve grown exponentially. And so I’ve been trying to juggle lots and lots of things, including teaching, because I still do teach the group classes. I don’t teach the private lessons anymore. I have, I think at this point, 11 teachers working at the studio, some very part time, some more full time. So I’ve been trying to kind of handle juggling all of that. So that’s been a focus of mine basically since January. And we’re getting there.
Andrea 02:12
Alright, did you take any risks or go outside your comfort zone last year?
Libby Chiaradonna 02:16
Not last year, but I’m doing it this year in a couple of different ways. One is with the new software because it’s hard for me not to have my hands on stuff. And so enrolling in new software that gives it to someone else was a scary thing for me. And also we are launching a homeschool music program in the fall that’s going to be offering classes for homeschool families between the hours of 12 and 3. So that’s, I wouldn’t say it’s scary, but it’s a lot. So it’s kind of a new thing we’re putting our arms around.
Andrea 02:48
What do summers typically look like in your studio for your students and also for you?
Libby Chiaradonna 02:53
Summers are definitely more chilled out. We have a six-week session for all of our group classes, so it’s shorter, of course, and that’s by design because everyone’s all over the place. But the private lessons are still happening. We have a summer practice challenge we do with the private lesson kiddos. We call it the Summer Sound Quest. So it’s kind of like a summer reading page. They go through the tiles and everything, and then they get a prize at the end of the summer. But it’s just generally more chilled out. Some teachers go on vacation, some families do, and all that good stuff. But we’re still having fun.
Andrea 03:24
What are you doing this summer to prep for the next school year?
Libby Chiaradonna 03:26
I wouldn’t say anything different. We kind of have our 10-week session in the fall and 10-week session in the winter-spring, so it’s sort of kind of the same. Sometimes the lesson plans are a little bit different in the particular classes we offer, but I’m just going to kind of be getting ready to open registration in August for the fall. And of course, like I said, just prepping for the homeschool music program, that’s still kind of coming together, but we hope to have registration open for that one in mid-July.
Andrea 03:53
What app or tool has made the biggest impact in your studio or life management this year?
Libby Chiaradonna 03:58
That’s a good question. I mean, at this point, I probably would just say, like, you know, social media, you know, because you can advertise and all of that. So maybe just like Instagram, Facebook type thing, you know. But the Wix app is also very helpful. It’s the software I work through. And, you know, that just gives me everything you need about group classes.
Andrea 04:18
Wix is what you use for your registration stuff, to the website builder and all the add-on features. Right, right. Okay. What’s one area of your business where you tend to get carried away or go overboard, maybe it’s like themed recitals or just something that you really enjoy kind of going all out in? Well…
Libby Chiaradonna 04:36
I love aesthetics. So like the studio, I like it to be bright, you know, the colors to be bright and engaging. So there’s three units. When you enter unit one, there’s a big mural on the wall and the paint colors are very like bright and warm and engaging and stuff. So that might be something where I can’t help myself. I just am like, I want it to look like this.
Andrea 04:55
Well, I’ve seen pictures of your studio on Instagram and it shows very well. And where can listeners get in touch with you and follow along?
Libby Chiaradonna 05:03
I’m all over the internet. So just Google me or it’s mslibbysmusic.com, which is the website or ms****************@***il.com. Or I’m also at ms***********@***oo.com. I’m all over the place. I’m on Instagram, mslibbysmusic. I’m on Facebook, mslibbysmusicclass.com. You can find me anywhere. And we just have a ton of fun in class, you know, so I’d love to meet new families and I love seeing the old families too.
Andrea 05:27
All right, Libby, thanks for joining us today.
Libby Chiaradonna 05:27
Thank you so much.
Andrea 05:27
Thank you for taking the time to be with us, Libby. We’ll include a transcript and all the links mentioned in this episode at musicstudiostartup.com/snapshot046. The Music Studio Startup website is also filled with lots of other resources for music teachers just like you who want to set up their studios for success this summer, including our very popular self-paced Business Building 101 course and our hub and mastermind for studio owners who want to be supported and challenged to grow as entrepreneurs. It’s not too late to join our live cohort of Business Building 101 this summer. Register at musicstudiostartup.com/businessbuilding101. That’s all for today. Thanks for listening. I’ll be back next week.