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

Holli, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I grew up playing piano at a young age and music has always been at the core of who I am. I once thought I wanted to become a doctor, but ultimately realized that music was the bridge between creativity, science, and psychology that I had been searching for. Discovering Music Therapy as a field of study was a pivotal moment for me because it gave me a way to combine my love of music with my passion for healing and empowering others.

The name of my business also reflects this balance. I wanted to build something personal, so I played on my initials “HL” (Holli Leslie) and eventually landed on Healing Love Music Studios. It felt right, because at the center of everything I do is the belief that music has the power to heal, empower, and connect.

Over my nearly eight years as a board-certified music therapist, I’ve witnessed countless transformations: Autistic clients expanding their vocabulary, people with limited motor skills building strength, individuals finding coping skills to better manage their emotions, and clients discovering confidence to advocate for themselves. I also write and compose music, perform live piano, and teach instruments — and in every avenue, I see music’s ability to shift the atmosphere and create space for growth and healing.

As powerful as music therapy is, I’ve also seen the barriers. The demand is overwhelming with not enough therapists available to fill the need — in my state, services are primarily offered through the Medicaid waiver, and the waitlist is incredibly long. I am at the point in my business where I am ready to expand access by hiring a team.

I don’t have the overhead of a physical building, which allows me to pay my employees generously and focus on building an environment where therapists and teachers feel valued and supported. In this field, people may leave because they’re overworked, underpaid, and not treated well. What we do is too important and too powerful to lose good people to burnout. My vision is to create a sustainable, supportive community for music professionals while expanding life-changing services to those who need them most.

This isn’t just a business to me — it’s a mission. At its heart, Healing Love Music Studios is about using music to heal, empower, and bring more mental health resources into the world, at a time when they are needed more than ever.

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

My name is Holli Leslie, and I am the owner and founder of Healing Love Music Studios (HL Music Studios). I’ve been playing piano since childhood, and music has always been the thread that ties together my creativity, love of science, and passion for psychology. Becoming a board-certified music therapist nearly eight years ago gave me the opportunity to bring those passions together in a meaningful way — helping people use music as a tool for healing, growth, and self-expression.

Today, my business brings together all of the things I do: music therapy, music education, live piano performance, and music composition. I provide board-certified music therapy services for people of all ages and abilities, often through the Medicaid waiver program, and I also teach piano, voice, and guitar. Beyond that, I compose and perform music for events, films, and creative projects, with the goal of setting the emotional tone and creating an atmosphere that uplifts and heals.

What sets me apart is that I don’t see music as just a lesson or a performance — I see it as a pathway to empowerment. Lessons aren’t only about technique; they’re a space for creativity and self-expression. Music therapy sessions aren’t just interventions; they’re opportunities to build coping skills, strengthen communication, and nurture confidence. And whether I’m writing a song, playing piano, or leading a session, the heart of my work is always about using music to help people feel seen, supported, and capable.

One of the things I’m most proud of is watching my clients’ transformations over the years — from Autistic children gaining new vocabulary, to people with limited motor skills building strength, to individuals learning to regulate emotions and advocate for themselves. At the same time, I’m equally proud of the business I’m building: one that prioritizes the wellbeing of music therapists and teachers so that they can thrive in their work without burning out.

What I want people to know about Healing Love Music Studios is that it’s more than a business — it’s a mission. We’re here to expand access to music therapy and creative opportunities, while also creating a sustainable, supportive environment for the professionals who provide them. At the center of everything we do is the belief that music heals, empowers, and transforms lives.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My business has definitely been a journey. I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University’s wonderful Music Therapy program in 2017. Fun fact — I was part of the very first cohort when the program launched in 2014, and to this day, everyone I know who has gone through it has passed the certification exam on their first try. That’s something I’m proud to be part of.

After graduation, I completed my internship and went on to work for a small company for a few years. Things were going well until 2020 and 2021, right in the middle of COVID, when I hit a wall. I was driving all over the city providing music therapy in homes and facilities, and I was completely burnt out. It felt like I was running myself into the ground just to survive.

One night, I was venting to a friend about how exhausted I was, and she asked me something that changed everything: “Why don’t you become an independent provider?” I didn’t even know that was an option at the time. The very next day, I emailed someone at the disabilities department, consulted with another professional who had done it before, and got to work.

For about three or four months, I worked full days as a therapist, came home to finish documentation, and then spent hours in the evenings putting together my independent provider application. It was exhausting, but it paid off. In 2022, I became officially listed as an independent provider for my state. Suddenly, I was able to work fewer hours, earn more money, and have the flexibility I desperately needed. That pivot completely changed how I viewed myself — not just as a therapist, but as an entrepreneur.

Since then, my entrepreneurial spirit has only grown. In 2024, I consulted with a friend who does business management and ended up hiring her to help me start my LLC and expand even further. What started as burnout has turned into building a business that reflects my values and creates opportunities for others.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Oh my goodness, I met my business consultant during our Music Therapy internship back in 2018. I still remember orientation so clearly — she kept making these funny side comments in her country accent and then letting out this big, contagious laugh. She was such a positive light, and we quickly became really good friends during our internship.

After that, we didn’t hang out as much for a few years, but when we reconnected, it felt like we were both different and better versions of ourselves. She’s actually the one who first recommended that I become an independent provider, which completely changed the course of my career. Later on, when I was ready to expand, she began helping me organize and grow my business.

One of the things I value most about her is how intuitive she is. From the start, she was able to see things in me that I hadn’t even put into words yet — like my imposter syndrome, which was holding me back from boldly setting a vision for how I wanted to make a difference. She called that out in a way that helped me grow, and it really shifted how I lead my business.

What makes this partnership extra special is that she also started out in music therapy, but later pivoted into business consulting. Because she knows the ins and outs of the field, she brings a perspective that feels like it was meant to be. Now, we both work in ways that serve us, and it feels like such a full-circle moment — from meeting as interns to building something meaningful together

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hl-ms.com/
• Instagram: @healinglove_musicstudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064075270499
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holli-leslie-4053b0120/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5QKzMolvk0qehwSXrUeuXn

Image Credits

Nisha Stringer
Lakshmi Symone Rae
Natural Nerd Photography
Artistic Ramzan