Sarasota, Fl August 08, 2014 - Elizabeth Farrell loved teaching music in the schools, but the long hours and tremendous focus they put on standardized testing just burned her out. She was never going to give up teaching, but needed a change, so she decided to go out on her own and provide private music lessons from her home.
To say the beginning of her new venture was challenging doesn’t really demonstrate the real struggles she had to face. Her perseverance however enabled her to get through the hard times. In only two years, her story of hardship turned into one of complete success!
Today, Elizabeth Farrell Music totals 8 music instructors that provide piano lessons, music lessons and now theatre arts classes. She plans on expanding into the regional market to provide other FL cities with the superior quality lessons that Elizabeth Farrell Music provides for the Sarasota area. The website and smart phones apps are an active part of her business as well, serving up free courses, information, tips and tricks for aspiring musicians and parents for free.
Why did you leave the school system?
The biggest reason, was I was just so tired everyday. Don’t get me wrong, I loved teaching the classes, bands, choirs and drumline - loved the kids, but the days were too long for me. I stayed late almost every day to give the students extra music offerings, because I wanted to of course, but in the end, I barely had any leftover energy to do other things I loved, like playing and practicing for myself, or dancing. When I wasn’t at school, I felt like I just needed to rest!
What happened when you left the schools?
This was really hard - and most people told me it would be. I wanted to hear what my friends and family thought about it, so I told them my plan and asked them what they thought. Some thought it was a great idea and others thought I was crazy to leave a great job (and it was) with stability - steady paychecks, insurance and retirement benefits and head off into the unknown.
After a short while I depleted my savings and racked up credit card debt, couldn’t pay my student loans and struggled to make rent for a time. At 28yrs old I found myself questioning if I had made the right decision to leave my job. I didn’t make enough teaching private lessons so I had to take on other jobs too, which was never something I wanted to do.
When did the business make a turnaround?
Eventually I said to myself “Liz - if you’re going to do this, give it all you’ve got!” First step was leaving both side jobs and pouring all my focus into my own business - even though that meant very limited funds again. Once I made this decision, I noticed things started to happen - At the risk of sounding silly, I really felt like the universe opened up to me at this point, giving me what I needed to succeed. When I made poor decisions for my life and business things went in a downward spiral, but then I started making different choices - and everyone I met or anything I did helped me improve the business.
What makes your business stand out from the others?
The teachers and the resources we provide. The teachers are amazing. I feel like most studios have a “corporate” feel, like their owners are not musicians or educators at all - how can that be good for the students? I only bring on the best instructors on the Elizabeth Farrell Music team. There are so many factors to consider, but the bottom line is you can be a world renowned pianist, but if you’re a lousy teacher, I won’t hire you.
We also try to move with the times, versus staying stagnant. I’ve developed apps because I know they will help the students. We provide free courses online so our students, or anyone globally can take learning into their own hands. I also give parents of music students resources on my website to help them. Many parents need extra advice, tips and tricks as their child progresses through the years. For example, you can go online as a parent and see articles on handling when your child wants to quit, or does not want to practice. I’ve taken my personal knowledge of what works and great advice from other professionals, whether a musician or a psychologist, and put it all together making it readily available to parents.
What are your future plans?
I love what we’ve been able to provide for the Sarasota community, and I’d like to offer it to other cities regionally. I know how to find the best teachers, and I want the Elizabeth Farrell Music name to be synonymous with high quality, AWESOME music lessons, no matter where you live! The other plan is to continue developing my website and digital services as an organized resource for musicians globally. I have a dream where I can organize video courses and resources (paid & free) on my website and give greater involvement to music learning. I love the idea that someone halfway around the globe can use my website or digital services to expand their music capabilities.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to venture out on their own?
Have a clear idea of what you want, and go for it. Don’t distract yourself with other things the way I did at first. The best way to find out if you can succeed and reach your goals is to put everything you’ve got into it. The next one would be to create a marketing plan, specifically and online marketing plan. It helped me turn my business around and grow aggressively.
About Us:
Elizabeth Farrell Music is a provider of top quality piano lessons, music lessons and theatre arts classes.
Company Name: Elizabeth Farrell Music
Contact Person: Elizabeth Farrell
Email:Send Email
Phone: (941)315-6888
City: Sarasota
State: Fl
Country: United States
Website: www.elizabethfarrellmusic.com
