Well, hello again! It has been a minute since we released a new episode here on the podcast.

This spring, we wrapped up our second tax season with Charles Harris, and Music Studio Startup exhibited for the first time ever at the MTNA conference in Chicago. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth. It is always so fun to connect with listeners in person.

And now we're back, just in time to start talking about one of my favorite things we do: the Studio Launch Grant Competition.

If you're new around here, the Studio Launch Grant is designed to help new and new-ish independent music teachers launch their studios with more support, more clarity, and a little more breathing room.

As in past years, this year's winner will receive a prize package of business tools, coaching, professional support, and $1,000 in seed money to help them get their studio off to a strong start.

This is our fourth year hosting the competition, and applications for the 2026 Studio Launch Grant are open now. If you are a new or new-ish independent teacher, or if you know someone who is, go to musicstudiostartup.com/grant to apply or share it with a teacher who should. Applications are due June 15.

Today, we're going to revisit the story of one of our past grant competition winners, Anna Showalter.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode180

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

I first interviewed today's guest, Stephanie Bonte-Lebair back in Episode 025. The focus of that interview was about how she rebranded her voice studio to attract a more profitable niche, but in telling that story, Stephanie also talked about the role business networking played in the marketing of her business. She talked about it with such intentionality that I knew I wanted to learn more.

So today we're talking about everything, from how to choose events to network at, how to prepare, how Stephanie makes the most of her time at an event, her follow-up routines, examples of weak and strong calls to action and more. Get your notepad ready because you'll want to take notes.

If this topic of networking makes you uneasy, at least listen until you hear Stephanie's definition of business networking. A lot of us have probably had an experience with someone who was "networking" that was so obnoxious that we found the very concept repulsive. I think Stephanie's approach will be refreshingly different and one that most teachers can get excited about. People who are doing networking well are not obnoxious and you don't have to become obnoxious - in fact, please don't - to build your business through networking.

Here's my conversation with Stephanie.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at www.musicstudiostartup.com/episode179

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

Welcome back! It's January, which means tax season is officially upon us—so today I'm sitting down with CPA Charles Harris to kick things off. We're covering the basics—who needs to file, what to know about quarterly payments, and a few key deadlines—so you can feel clear on your next step. And quick note: registration is open for our free Self-Employment Tax Crash Course webinar coming up on February 5. You can find all the details for that at musicstudiostartup.com/tax.

A full transcript and resources from this episode can be found at musicstudiostartup.com/episode178

MSS Entrepreneurs Hub + Mastermind

MSS Studio Launch Grant Competition

Music Studio Business Building 101

Business Finance for Music Teachers

MSS Tax Podcast Episodes:

162 – Business Travel and Conference Deductions for Music Teachers with Charles Harris, CPA

159 – Tax Prep Service for Music Teachers – Q&A with Charles and Andrea

158 – Charles Harris, CPA on Tax Prep Tips and FAQs for 2025

Tax-related Blog Resources:

• Music Teacher Income + Tax Calculator
• Lowering Taxes with Business Expenses
• 3 Ways to Track Your Mileage for Tax Purposes
• 4 Music Teacher Tax Myths
• 7 Smart Ways to Use a Tax Refund