Business Resources Library

This issue’s featured entrepreneur is Martha Hilley. Many know her as a long-time professor at the University of Texas, or as a past president of MTNA, or for her Southern charm and “darlin’!” greeting. Now meet her as an entrepreneur at age 79, opening an independent studio for senior adults. Watch her video to see her studio set-up and hear her story. Or keep reading for her story in her own words.

As piano teachers, we understand how to diligently practice our instrument and the art of music; however, do we prepare for career transitions that alter the course of our lives? All musicians traverse different seasons and that journey should include practicing the mental processes that accompany significant changes.

As we face the later years, our relationship to our profession, indeed to our everyday life, is full of opportunity, but also limited in ways we may never have imagined. With some deliberate choices, but also as an organic evolution, my metamorphosis has been a reimagining and an accounting. Absent large amounts of wealth, what can I leave behind?

We often assume someone’s potential is based on levels of talent or giftedness. In his book Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, Adam Grant defies this myth and shows how anyone can rise to achieve greater things. Through powerful storytelling and diligent research, Grant’s New York Times bestseller delivers insightful and timely advice for music students, teachers, entrepreneurs, and school administrators.

What do members report as the most important challenge to independent music teachers? How much have average lesson rates increased since COVID? Keep reading to learn what the “survey says…”

How old are you? Why would I ask, you may wonder. Because the younger you are, the more value you will get from this article. The older you are, the more essential this information will be. Self-care is a broad topic, fit for all of us. For example, you might have great studio policies and marketing strategies but have ignored saving money and are headed down the slippery slope of financial insecurity.

When it comes to falling victim to scams, the best defense is education to identify and avoid them. After a scam is complete, recovering funds and catching the scammer can be a slow process. This article provides useful tools to help readers better identify scams when they encounter them.

Attending conferences can be one of the best investments you make in your teaching career. Not only do you gain new ideas, skills, and connections, but many of the costs can also be deducted on your taxes.

As an independent music teacher, you’ve likely encountered situations where the rules around music licensing felt unclear. I once attended a conference session with a room full of music professionals, and despite their expertise, there was no consensus on when an (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) license is required. Even worse, misinformation spreads quickly, underscoring just how important it is to clarify this topic.