We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Lewis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Hannah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea.

As a performing musician, teaching lessons has always been on my radar. Throughout college and the first few years after, I would teach the odd piano or voice lesson for a neighbor or friend of a friend. Then I got a job teaching through a music lesson studio to get back on my feet after lockdown, and I accidentally ended up working almost full-time hours teaching music.

Performing is my first love, but after nearly 9 years of teaching, I’ve realized how much it feeds me as an artist and person. I love watching students gain confidence in their own abilities, and the self-trust they build in their musical study always overflows into other aspects of their lives. This is why in addition to teaching private lessons, I work as a vocal coach at three different schools, supporting the same types of a cappella and choir programs that I came up through.

Most of my family is made up of other musicians, but one of my brothers is a visual artist. In a similar vein, creating new art pieces is his bread and butter, but he discovered at a young age that he had a particular knack for teaching. Roughly 10 years ago, my brother Miles started his art school, Valley Art Workshop–and the growth has been outstanding. From kids’ classes to adult portraiture and everything in between, VAW hosts multiple classes a day, nearly every day of the week in the great room of my family’s historic home.

The idea to create a musical equivalent to my brother’s art school was planted many years ago, but remained a tiny seed as I focused on finishing college and starting my career. Now, as a 26-year-old professional musician with a strong foundation in both performance and teaching, I’m finally ready to step into something that truly feels like a part of my destiny. My family’s home offers a unique and special experience to every student who comes through the doors, and I believe that my holistic style of teaching allows me to connect deeply with my students and provide them with exactly what they need.

Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Music has been a part of me since before I was born. I was listening to Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major right on top of me from the womb. And while my family would have supported me no matter what field I chose to pursue, music has always felt like the right path to follow, no matter where the journey has taken me.

I have an eclectic musical background, with many years of classical piano training under my belt as well as classical choir and solo singing experience, pop ensemble singing. and songwriting/arranging/solo performance within a huge variety of genres. I draw from aspects of all of my musical endeavors to give each student a truly unique experience.

Since I’ve been so many places musically, I can speak from many perspectives and tailor my students’ lessons to serve their individual goals. Having experience in many different genres and performance styles also means that I’ve been a beginner many times, which means I can meet students exactly where they are and give them the comfortable atmosphere they need to thrive.

I’ve noticed with many of my students (and shared a laugh about it with more than one of them) that music lessons can be almost like a therapy session sometimes. People develop all kinds of limiting beliefs around music, whether they are 13 and have never sung a note in front of another person or 45 and have always wanted to play the piano, yet never tried. I’m the first to broach this subject with my students, and we create the space to explore the preconceived notions they might have about music or their own abilities to participate in it.

These qualities have led my students and me to some amazing results, which is why my other Valley Music Workshop teachers all have similarly eclectic backgrounds and the musical literacy to teach in many different styles. My goal is for Valley Music Workshop to become a hub for music education, exploration, and performance for people of all ages and backgrounds.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Music lesson studios are one of those businesses that grow exponentially more through word of mouth than most other strategies. However, another effective route I’ve taken is putting myself into situations where my potential students can see me in action and get to know my style in a group setting.

I’ve had the privilege of working with many vocal ensembles across several schools, from 6th grade to 12th grade and from classical choirs to contemporary a cappella groups to musical theatre ensemble casts. Even though ensemble teaching is a bit different from one-on-one teaching, the students in the ensembles I work with can get to know me, learn my personality and teaching style, and seek private lessons with me having a baseline understanding of how I function going into it. This makes developing that student-teacher relationship in private lessons so much easier for both of us, and it gives students confidence about what to expect when working with me.

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

I think your reputation as a business owner and someone who can provide a valuable product is comprised of many things. People want to work with someone who is respectful and professional, but they also want to feel that real human element. Plus, when it comes to music lessons, your own background plays a key role in how much an hour of your time is worth.

As a music teacher, one of my calling cards is the fact that I am also a working performer and recording artist. Dedicating most or all of your time and abilities to teaching is so respectable and awesome, but that has never felt like my path. I love using and building my skills in the professional setting and then bringing back what I’ve learned and discovered to my students. I’ve found that many of my students’ parents as well as adult students appreciate that about me, and it makes my lessons more valuable than simply drilling technique. I’m able to give real-world advice about technique application, skills to focus on, and how to prepare yourself for a career in music (or, if not a career, a fulfilling life-long relationship with music).

Contact Info:

• Website: valleymusicworkshop.com
• Instagram: @valleymusicworkshop
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-lewis-646120251/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/valley-music-workshop-woodland-hills

Image Credits
Laura Degraw