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

Alright, Kirk thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes — I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it’s been a journey of faith, uncertainty, and growth through every season.

Before starting Hudson View Piano Studio here in Yonkers, NY, I worked in several roles across Georgia’s music education scene — as a graduate assistant at a conservatory, an adjunct professor at a college, teaching workshops at a local fine arts academy, and serving as the head of a pre-college conservatory preparatory program. I also taught for several community music schools in the area. On paper, I had what many would consider a successful career in academia and was on the path toward a Doctorate of Musical Arts. I had placed well in competitions and was positioned to continue toward the collegiate level — yet, despite those open doors, I often felt divided between my calling to teach and the limitations of working within institutional settings. God seemed to be leading me toward “success,” but I sensed He had something different in mind.

Then COVID hit — and like many educators, everything changed overnight. Lessons were canceled, schools closed, and the career path I thought was secure suddenly disappeared. Right before the shutdown, I had even auditioned for a DMA program and was named the runner-up for the only available spot. I was encouraged to reapply the next year, but when the pandemic hit, I knew deep down that God was redirecting me entirely.

During that uncertain time, I called my pastor back home in New York for counsel. He mentioned that his wife was willing to give me her piano students and that I could start teaching out of my home church in Yonkers, NY. It felt like a small opportunity — but a clear one. So I packed up and moved back to New York, trusting that this was the next step God was leading me to take.

That small studio began as a business, but I always saw it as a ministry. My goal was to serve families, build confidence in young musicians, and create a space that reflected biblical values of excellence and grace. As it grew, though, I realized I needed to learn how to sustain it. I began taking business and marketing courses to understand how to reach families, build effective messaging, and operate my studio professionally. I learned how to identify my ideal client, develop systems, and advertise effectively — all while keeping a ministry mindset at the heart of everything.

Over time, my church and I officially partnered, and my studio became a ministry of the church. I stepped in as the Director of Youth and Music, and during that time, I witnessed something unforgettable — a mother and father who came to know Christ because their child was taking piano lessons. I had often wondered, “Is this really working? Can a business truly be a ministry?” But that family’s story was God’s resounding yes — a reminder that the effort, long hours, and sacrifices were bearing fruit.

Eventually, though, I began to see that running a growing business within a church setting presented challenges — both logistical and practical. After much prayer and consideration, I felt that God was leading me to take the next step: moving the studio into its own commercial space.

That transition — from the church to a standalone studio — was the hardest step I’ve ever taken. Leaving behind the support, community, and familiarity of the church felt like stepping into the unknown. Suddenly, I had to manage everything on my own and rebuild from the ground up. It was a season of deep dependence on God, where He reminded me that strength doesn’t come from circumstances, but from His grace.

Now, as I mention this, Hudson View Piano Studio has been in its new space for almost two months. Things are still settling, and there are plenty of lessons I’m still learning, but the studio now serves dozens of families across Westchester County. I handle most of the operations myself with the help of a virtual admin, but the reason I can get up every morning and do all this work day in and day out is because I see the studio as more than just a livelihood — it’s a mission field. Every lesson, every family interaction, and every recital is an opportunity to invest in students’ confidence, creativity, and character… and to be a testimony for my God.

Looking back, every transition — from Georgia to New York, from academia to entrepreneurship, from ministry to business — was orchestrated by faith. I didn’t always see the full picture, but God used each season to deepen my trust, sharpen my skills, and prepare me to steward something greater than myself.

As Psalm 131:1 says:
“My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.”

God has taught me to rely on Him more and more, and not to concern myself with things beyond my understanding/ outside of my control. This business has become both a calling and a test of faith — one that continually draws me closer to Him.

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 Hudson View Piano Studio, my mission has always been bigger than teaching music — it’s about shaping people. I see piano education as both an art and a ministry. Every lesson is an opportunity to help students grow not only in skill, but also in confidence, focus, and perseverance. The studio’s heartbeat is built on biblical values — excellence, grace, and service — and I view my work as a way to strengthen families and cultivate character through music.

My teaching approach blends traditional musicianship with modern tools. I come from a conservatory background and believe deeply in high-level training — sight reading, theory, tone, and musical understanding — but I combine that foundation with today’s technology through programs like Piano Marvel and Piano Express. Students get the best of both worlds: conservatory-quality education presented in a creative, accessible, and joyful way.

Hudson View operates as a boutique-style studio, not a large music school. I’ve kept it intentionally small so every family feels known and supported. I’m personally involved in every part of the experience because I want the culture here to reflect integrity, warmth, and intentionality. That’s also why I made the difficult decision to part ways with a teacher who didn’t align with our values. Skill is important, but the heart behind the teaching matters more.

I’ll admit — I’m still learning how to fully integrate faith and business. It’s not always easy to reach people spiritually when most see you primarily as a service provider. But I keep praying for opportunities to be a light in the community and to reflect Christ through the way I lead, teach, and interact with families.

Recently, I’ve also been thinking more intentionally about how to create opportunities for other Christians — whether that’s hiring teachers and staff who share similar values or collaborating with believers in business. I actually work with a company owned by a Christian friend, and that partnership has reminded me that business can be ministry when it’s built on trust, purpose, and shared faith.

At the end of the day, I want Hudson View Piano Studio to be known not just for excellence in teaching, but for how it makes people feel seen, cared for, and inspired — a place where faith quietly undergirds everything we do.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is that more work automatically means more progress. For years, I thought success depended on doing everything myself and doing it perfectly. But eventually, I realized that most of what moves the business forward comes from a small portion of the work I do — and that’s when the 80/20 rule completely changed my mindset.

The Pareto Principle says that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Once I started noticing that pattern, it became clear how much time I was wasting on things that didn’t actually create impact. It forced me to identify what truly matters — the handful of priorities that actually drive growth, serve families well, and align with the studio’s mission.

That word priority really hit me. It was never meant to be plural — it originally meant “the one thing that comes first.” Yet we’ve turned it into priorities (with an s), which is why so many of us feel scattered and stuck. I had to learn that being effective means choosing one focus at a time and protecting it.

But applying this in real life meant learning to rely on other people — my virtual admin, freelancers, and community partners — and being okay with imperfection. Dan Martell says, “80% done by somebody else is 100% freaking awesome.” That truth hit me hard. I had to let go of the idea that everything needed to be done my way.

And part of that process also meant learning that not every disagreement or mistake is worth destroying the support system you have in place. The people around you — the ones helping you build — are there to protect your mission, not compete with it. Letting go of control, embracing collaboration, and choosing peace over perfection have been some of the most freeing lessons in both leadership and faith.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Two books have profoundly shaped the way I lead — Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, and Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.

Boundaries completely reframed how I view leadership and service. It taught me that saying “no” isn’t selfish — it’s stewardship. For years, I believed that being a good leader meant saying yes to every request and stretching myself endlessly for others. But I learned that healthy boundaries actually create freedom — for me, my staff, and the families we serve. It gave me the confidence to design studio policies, protect time for rest, and communicate expectations clearly, all without guilt.

Then Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer came at the perfect time. It’s a book about slowing down, living intentionally, and aligning your daily habits with what matters most. As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to fill every moment with productivity, but that book reminded me that hurry is the enemy of depth — in business, relationships, and faith. It taught me that stillness, prayer, and reflection aren’t distractions from the work; they are the work.

Together, these books have grounded me. They’ve helped me lead with both structure and peace — building a business that runs with excellence, but also with purpose, rest, and integrity. They remind me that success isn’t about doing more, but about becoming more intentional, more focused, and more faithful with what God’s entrusted me to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hudsonviewpianostudio.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hudsonviewpianostudio/