We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Matthew Mulnix. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Matthew below.

Matthew , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My mission as a music instructor is to foster creativity, skill, and knowledge across all demographics. I give students the tools they’ll need to become self sufficient song learners, rather than relying on me to learn songs. In addition, I love when students begin our time together as cover song artists, and end as creative songwriters.

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

I’m a music instructor based in Lawrence, KS, receiving Best of Lawrence designations in 2020, 2021, and 2022. My instruction occurs at Americana Music Academy, Guitarma, Lawrence Arts Center, and JoyWorks Foundation in Lawrence. In addition, I’ve opened my own music education location in the small suburb Eudora, KS, Free State Music Academy. This desire came from my small town roots where I began teaching music lessons at 16 years old.

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

The March 2020 pandemic presented a challenge, which later became an opportunity, to pivot. Online access to music education is extremely important for those with limited mobility, transportation limitations, and ailments that keep them homebound. In addition, students became self sufficient through online lessons. All my students age 8 and up take their own hand written notes based on what I dictate verbally. Also, with limited performance opportunities, the focus moved away from performance, and gravitated towards creativity, skills, and knowledge.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

My co-founder in Free State Music Academy is singer-songwriter Karen Boyer. She’s an accomplished musician in both national performance and recording, and I’ve had the chance to produce her newest material in my Lawrence Songwriter Showcase studio. In passing, I mentioned to her I’d love to start teaching in Eudora, KS down the line. This would coincide with having a family and moving out of “the city”, perhaps five years? She said “how about now?”, and Free State Music Academy was born. It has been a challenge for me over 2022 to schedule time to focus on the new market. Feelings of competing with myself, loyalty to my current independent contract jobs, internet access in a small town, and finding a day of the week to work at the shop have been hurdles to overcome. I’m proud to say Wednesdays are my Free State Music Academy teaching days weekly. Karen has helped ground my varied thoughts and emotions on the venture, steering us towards the goal of access to music education in a rural area.

Contact Info:

• Website: matthewmulnix.com
• Instagram: matthewmulnixmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthewmulnixmusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MatthewMulnix

Image Credits
I Heart Local Music (Matthew Mulnix image) Corinna Mulnix (Student Recital images)