Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabrielle Stahlschmidt . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gabrielle, appreciate you joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?
My love for teaching grew naturally out of my passion to encourage and inspire people on a grassroots level; because music is such a uniquely personal gift, through it, I get to encourage and empower strong, independent voices in amazing ways! To me, music has always been the means to get to the heart of what I do; namely encouraging personal confidence, cultivating voices that matter, and celebrating self-expression, through the creative arts.
When I say I teach, I mean I teach the whole person – I strive to teach everything a person needs for a strong foundation: that means healthy vocal technique + experienced training, but it also means developing internally strong voices that produce confident and meaningful external voices, that believe in what they have to say. My studio was created first out of a love for people, then a desire to create community, and the hope of inspiring passionate, authentic voices, in music and life.
Gabrielle, 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?
Gabrielle Stahlschmidt Studio of Music is not your typical studio: We go above and beyond for our students by offering them the unique opportunity of performing in large-scale concert venues, backed by a professional band, which is invaluable when it comes to building confidence, and exploring both personal and professional performance goals!
It’s our goal to provide the foundational techniques required for healthy singing, advance a love for music, and ultimately foster a rooted confidence in each student as they discover (and own!) their unique voices. Our studio focuses on building dynamic voices through proper vocal technique training, maintaining vocal health through all styles/genres, cultivating well-rounded musicians that understand the theory of music, developing unique artists that understand how to use their voices intentionally, and preparing artists to confidently command the stage.
In addition, we offer recording services to our students, for the purpose of album creations and audition submissions. We also prepare our students for major auditions including The Fox, The Muny, The Voice, Broadway, and America’s Got Talent. Many of our students have gone on to perform with The Muny, Stages, COCA, The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, Destination Broadway, and more!
Extra-curricular online workshops + intensives are offered through our international music school, Own Your Voice Academy; each 60 + minute class offers the chance to explore various facets of vocal performance and technique, genre styling, music technology, composition, and more. We teach each of our workshops and masterclasses in conjunction with a network of professional educators and artists! We also offer theater and college audition workshops and provide studio field trips to area performances and other fun, relevant activities for team-building and community.
Lastly, we started our own inspirational clothing line called Well Worn Words Co.! Our collection perfectly encapsulates the heart + mission behind what we hope to offer our community, which is to ignite powerful voices that matter – in music + life. We are passionate about our belief that your voice is valuable and worthy of being heard, and it’s essential to us that we are able to cultivate a rooted confidence in the potential power of your voice in this world. However, we also believe that words alone aren’t enough to accomplish the change we want to see, so we turn our words into action by donating a portion of our sales directly to local charities!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being in the creative arts is the opportunity to meet people where they are, and inspire them on a deeper level. Music, specifically, is an extension of a very personal voice, which is unique to each individual. Teaching students how to truly understand their voices, both technically and artistically, often extends to a more intrinsic understanding of themselves, a heightened confidence in their gifts, and a tendency towards using those gifts with boldness and skill. This is the legacy that I hope to leave through the art of teaching: the cultivation of confident, healthy people that use their voices for the benefit of themselves, and for the inspiration of others!
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
I have found that the easiest way to keep in touch with my students is to take a genuine interest in their hobbies and extra-curricular investments. I love grabbing as many front row seats as I can to theater shows, choir concerts and dance recitals! A large part of my studio is focused on building community, so you’ll often find us together, participating in team-building outings; we go to shows together, cheer each other on at open mic nights, and actively participate in studio concerts!
As for fostering brand loyalty, that’s really all about the ability to stay authentic to yourself, and to hold yourself continuously accountable to your business’s mission. When your clientele sees that you’re not only qualified to do what you do, but that you are more than just a marketing statement – that you truly believe in what you’re doing, what you’ve set out to accomplish, and in your methodology – that’s the best witness as to why they should trust you as a professional. The key is to stay appropriately vulnerable and transparent in your business dealings, as well as in your personal dealings, and loyalty will follow!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.GabrielleStudioOfMusic.com
- Instagram: @GabrielleStudioOfMusic
- Facebook: Gabrielle Studio Of Music
- Linkedin: Gabrielle Stahlschmidt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GabrielleStudioOfMusic
Image Credits
Jen Gray, Daniela Keating