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

Matthew, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My parents put me in piano lessons when I was 6 years old. Like most kids, at first, I had no idea what I was doing in this little room once a week or why I had to practice every day. But very quickly, I started to fall in love with the piano, advancing swiftly and diligently through the lesson books and performing in every recital. By the time I was 10, I played Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata in full (and the crowd went wild!)

I remember when I was probably about 12, I was practicing my pieces – specifically this little jazz number – and my dad overheard me from the other room. He came in and listened, and when I was finished, he told me that, for the first time, he really and truly felt moved by my playing (and if you know my stoic Turkish father, that was saying a lot!)

Moments like these have shaped the way I’ve lived my life in so many ways. I’ve been teaching music to students of all ages for over 10 years now. The self-discipline, focus, passion, and fulfillment that have come from dedicating myself to a fine art like music have truly been an inspiration for me, and it has become my mission to pass on that enrichment and enjoyment to the next generation as director and instructor for the Grand Music School.

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?

My goal, mission, and passion, is to inspire students of all ages to feel proud of learning new skills, to have fun achieving their creative goals, and to discover how rewarding it is to share in the joy of music.

I was a piano, guitar, and voice instructor for over 10 years before becoming the director of the Grand Music School.

The Grand Music School is a premier music school that provides after-school music lessons to students of all ages in the instrument of their choice.

Learning to play a musical instrument is fun, can grow into a life-long passion, or provide a rewarding career.

Music lessons have been scientifically proven to improve brain development, strengthen cognitive functions, improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity, teach patience, self-discipline, and working towards goals of improvement, and instill confidence through progress and gaining new skills.

The Grand Music School provides a unique and highly personalized method of learning, creating an environment to nurture, educate and encourage our students to achieve the highest level of success.

Our facilities are state-of-the-art, with each studio equipped with excellent instruments as well as a high-definition camera system that sends a live feed of your child’s lesson with audio and video, securely straight to your smartphone or tablet – accessible in our lobby or on the go.

We believe in enrichment through music education, and as a family-owned business, we are proud to serve the community where we’ve lived for over 25 years.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I started teaching piano lessons while attending University of Houston full-time, as it was the most lucrative thing I could do with my limited spare time. I majored in Economics, with a Business minor. I didn’t realize how much my passion for playing piano would be reignited, and I was able to pass on the inspiration to dozens of students every week.

When I graduated from UH, I got a corporate job at a financial advisory firm, and only taught lessons or performed music on occasion. After two years in finance, I started to realize that I was not satisfied with the kind of work I was doing, and made the decision to teach and perform music full-time.

My number of students grew quickly as I consistently received praise from parents, students, and administrators, and soon I had a full teaching schedule. Now, I have the opportunity to be not only an instructor, but also the director of the Grand Music School. We are just opening this fall, and looking forward to a wonderful start.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I would say the biggest impact on my career decision is the book, What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles. I read this book when I was feeling unsatisfied with my finance job and looking for a new direction. It really helped me identify what was most important to me and helped me realign my career with my interests and passions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thegrandmusicschool.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrandmusicschool/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrandmusicschool/