We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alyssa Feltes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alyssa below.

Alyssa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission for this studio is to provide encouragement through educational care for all students. The goal result is for them to be more confident and connected with their singing voices and overall self. (Care, Confidence, Connect)
My mission is deeply rooted in my own personal journey of growing up and navigating my place in the music industry. I struggled with severe performance anxiety, perfectionism, low self-esteem, a co-dependent personality disorder, and deep depression. Therapy became my most vital tool in confronting and overcoming the obstacles that held me back from feeling successful in this industry. Throughout these challenges, the one constant that supported me was this studio. What began as a mission to help my students has now evolved into a mission of self-care and reclaiming success with my own voice.

Alyssa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have had a deep love for music since early childhood, beginning with singing in church and participating in choirs and competitions. Although I didn’t have a clear plan for my college studies, I pursued a music degree with the goal of making a living in the field. Through my education, I discovered a talent for teaching, particularly in one-on-one settings, which inspired me to start a voice studio.

In this studio, I emphasize a scientific understanding of how the voice works, while also incorporating holistic approaches. I believe that mental health awareness is crucial to a student’s success, particularly in helping singers who struggle with confidence in their abilities. I am flexible in my teaching style, which helps me broaden my knowledge of vocal techniques across various genres, including heavy metal vocals.

I am very proud to have worked with over 150 individual students in the past five years, spanning various parts of the United States. Whether a young singer or a seasoned professional, I am dedicated to providing every student with performance opportunities and creating a safe space for them to focus on improving their voices.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I saw a niche that was missing in the area where I grew up, so I knew building my studio through word of mouth was going to be my number one way to find students. The way I grew my reputation as a teacher rather than as a student was by advertising on social media, offering performance opportunities for my students, and music directing teen community theatre shows.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The biggest challenge for the my business was not the pandemic in 2020, but rather relocating to Minneapolis in 2022 and having to restart and re-establish my business. Attracting voice students proved more difficult than expected, as many parents prioritize lessons in piano or guitar for their kids. However, after moving to Minneapolis, I’ve identified a growing demand for teen audition prep and adults seeking to improve their voices as a hobby. Through targeted advertising on social media, Google, and word of mouth, I have reached part-time capacity within a year. I recently hosted a student showcase with 9 students and am on track to add more students for the upcoming spring showcase.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.avocalstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssasvocalstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssasvoicestudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alyssasvocalstudio7876
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/alyssa-s-vocal-studio-minneapolis

Image Credits

Joshua Kloster and Ana Leyva