We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hailey Hua a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hailey , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In order for a team to be successful, I believe that the utmost important factor is clear communication and a concrete goal.

With a multitude of tasks that need to be completed, we have many people in different branches of our non-profit that need to be coordinated. One large project that we previously worked on was a summer camp with Mark Twain Elementary.

This event entailed a four-day-long musical camp filled with workshops including musical games, teaching theory, maraca making, performances, fine art collaborations, and more. With a large pool of children that we had to cater to, our team needed to ensure that clear communication was established so that no time is wasted and our programs could run smoothly. This allowed for materials to all be acquired without excess, lesson plan building and familiarity within our mentors, and fun games to be prepped for the children.

All of our members and officers work towards a smaller common goal that varies by event – in this case – keeping the children engaged and happy, and our larger goal of spreading the love and appreciation for music to help heal the world. By listening and communicating with one another, we are able to achieve our goals and give back to our community,

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Hailey Hua, and I grew up in Houston, Texas born and raised by Chinese-Vietnamese parents. Starting from a young age, I always had an inclination towards music as a whole, whether it be playing the piano and guitar or writing and composing songs. What frequently filled up my free time was music lessons, recitals, and concerts ranging from Selena Gomez at NRG Stadium to the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall.

I joined Music as Medicine as a freshman in high school when my dear friend and now also fellow board member, Mary (Hwi-Eun) Shim started our organization as a club. Music as Medicine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that originated as a club at the Michael E. Debakey High School for Health Professions in 2020, and grown to the non-profit status in 2023.

Over covid, we started with what we were allowed, which was organizing and recording covers of songs and sending the videos off to hospitals for patients to watch. As restrictions lifted, we were able to move to an in person setting and our limits became endless.

Now, our organization works in all things related to music, including teaching music theory and instruments, live performances and concerts, workshops and camps, virtual programs, and more.

One of the things that I am most proud of is the community that we were able to build for Music as Medicine. With our work, our members and officers have been able to make new friends, improve themselves as both people and musicians, and learn new skills such as delegation, organization, time management, etc.

I want people to know that Music as Medicine is more than just a music organization. It is a curated brand that is now home to over thirty chapters across the nation, and contains a large interpersonal network of people that can all learn from and support one another.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Our business, like all starting businesses, was initially working with what we had and covering costs out-of-pocket. Some things that fell along these lines included instruments brought by performers and volunteers, music stands, sound amplifiers, etc.

As we expanded from performances, we realized we needed flowing cash in order to sustain ourselves. To counter this obstacle, we started selling merchandise. This was in the form of hoodies, shirts, sweaters, as well as promotional stickers. These articles not only brought in revenue, but it also helped get our name and logo out and into the world.

As we grew more and our costs increased, we hosted large scale fundraising concerts that showcased rising musicians from across the Houston area. With our profits, we are able to purchase supplies needed for our workshops, cover long transportation costs, donate instruments to struggling music programs, and offer lessons for youth that want to learn an instrument but cannot support the financial means to sustain it.

Any advice for managing a team?

My advice for managing a team with high morale is getting to know each and every member and learn what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Working as a team means that a greater understanding between members and officers needs to be established. I think it is important to get to know everyone as people first and then afterwards, explore their individual ranges on a professional scale.

Staying open minded and flexible is also another crucial trait to have as a leader, as everyone is always learning, including myself. There needs to be room for error and forgiveness so that all of us can grow as a whole. We are able to keep high morale by actually enjoying what we are doing and enjoying each other’s company. From going on group walks in the park to meeting up for lunch to plan future events, creating a safe and comfortable space for everyone to be themselves is sure to bring success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://musicasmed.org
• Instagram: musicasmed

Image Credits

Hailey Hua