We recently connected with James Clarke and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, James thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

I grew up in a very musical environment. As much as I hate to admit it, religion and church played a major part in building my musical vocabulary. It didn’t take very long to start taking more prominent roles in the church playing hymns on the organ, directing the choir, filling in the role of worship leader. These roles spilled into my personal life in the form of music theory classes throughout high school and college, starting numerous bands in different genres, and really doing what felt natural. Music became a second language and gained a fluidity that I wanted to share with others.

After quite some time in the private gigging circuit, I realized I wanted to do something more meaningful with my talent. Something that could inspire the younger generation to pursue the same musical life that I have had. After trial and erroring my way through private lessons, I finally settled upon Music Together. It was the perfect combination of feeling like I’m still performing while educating and sharing my passion for music. Contrary to private lessons, where a child is forced to torturesouly sit at a piano and practice scales in proper form, Music Together classes offered a different approach to the learning model–simply playing songs and creating an environment that a child is free to explore as they please. The lack of rigidness was something that felt way more natural to me.

Now having my niche, the challenging part was putting it into action and figuring out how to gain clients. I rushed the process in Fall 2023–pushing through the proper paperwork, haphazardly marketing, and not giving it the full attention needed to start something from the ground up. I gained zero clients. I decided to take a few months and figure out a game plan. I hit the ground running in winter and was able to sign three families. Music Together recommends a minimum of six families in order to be profitable. Should a person still start a venture already being in the red? I figured I had to start somewhere so I moved forward with the three families. The session came and went, the venue fell out from under me, two of the three families decided to sign up again. However, between my marketing and collaborations with local same niche businesses, I was able to gain another 11 families. And found an even better venue for a cheaper price. I learned a valuable lesson: You can’t start a business on your own. You can be solo, but in order to grow, networking with like-minded businesses is key. Without the help of Shay Co Shop, The Discovery, FIT4MOMReno, Our Center, and the countless moms and families that vouched for me on the social medias, and within their friend circles, I would be nowhere near where I am today. I kept my passion true and kept my head down and luckily people noticed and spread the word about my classes. By no means are my services perfect–everyday I learn something new or a different way to improve my trade, but knowing that makes me adaptable. I’m always open to change and welcome any advice that will help improve my business. Thank you to all my supporters!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

At Music Together Biggest Little City, we are proud to offer the early childhood music program Music Together®. Since 1987, Music Together has introduced millions of children, parents, and teachers around the world to the joys of family music-making and the powerful benefits of having music in their lives. Today, classes for children ages birth through grade two are found around the world—including right here in Reno, Nevada.
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From babyhood through the early elementary years, Music Together® nurtures each child’s natural musicality in a playful, musically rich learning environment. Our research-based music classes are designed to be non-formal and non-performance oriented, so your child can learn at his or her own pace, in a way that’s developmentally appropriate.
By enrolling in our children’s music program, you’ll experience a whole semester of classes led by one of our trained teachers. No matter what music class you take at Music Together Biggest Little City, you’re guaranteed to learn new songs and music activities to inspire you to bring music into your family’s everyday life.

At Music Together®, we know that children learn differently than adults. They learn instinctively and constantly, and teach themselves through imitation and play, through being immersed in their environment, and through interaction with adults and older children. The family-like setting of Music Together classes creates an ideal learning environment. And it’s all based in research in early childhood and music development.
Learn about the research behind Music Together® at the Music Together Worldwide website.

You are your child’s most important music teacher right now! Young children learn through play and experimentation and by watching and listening to the grownups they love. Setting an example as an enthusiastic participator in music activities is the best thing any parent or caregiver can do to help set a child on the road to a lifelong love of music. Parents don’t need to have music skills—they just need a desire to play and have fun with their children! Our teachers are specially trained to create a safe atmosphere so you can happily join in, experiment, or even get silly—and feel closer to your child while doing so.

Wiggling, singing, and laughing with your child is so much fun, it’s easy to forget how much learning is taking place! Our research-based curriculum not only develops music skills, it nurtures creativity, self-expression, and confidence while also supporting social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Because these benefits build over time, children enjoy the fullest growth in each of these areas when they participate as consistently as possible up through kindergarten.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

It’s all networking and offering the best kind of service you can! I’m passionate about my classes and make sure each one is the best it can be. I also have a very active referral program, even if a family says it’s okay to not offer them a referral discount, I do it anyway so that it stays at the forefront that this is based on spreading the word.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That in order to be succeed you have to being working 10 hours a day. I want to enjoy my life and my time away from work. The goal of work is to have more free time to do what I want. If I’m giving up all my free time to work, then what’s the point?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.musictogetherblc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musictogetherblc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musictogetherblc/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/music-together-biggest-little-city-reno