We recently connected with Michael Carpenter Jr and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, 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?

Carpenter Music Academy’s mission is simple: inspire musicians and guide them into areas of music in which they want to grow; within all ages, levels and interests in genres. In order to accomplish this, it is important to have a staff that is flexible and open-minded in their teaching styles. Our teachers are well-adapt in pivoting from teaching a 7-year-old the basics of guitar to teaching an advanced adult who is learning flamenco. Our mission is on the forefront of every lesson taught. The lessons and overall musical experience is custom tailored to each individual – no two lessons are ever the same. We aim to provide our students with direction so they can apply its teachings to whichever path they’d like to follow – whether it be a hobby, a career, or any other creative endeavor.

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

I have been a professional musician for the past 20 years; teaching and performing have been a constant in my life. Since moving to LA in 2014, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many great people and built a reputation for myself as a sought-after music instructor. In the fall of 2024, I decided it was time to take the leap from private instructor to business owner. Myself and my fiancée Alexis spent countless nights creating the academy, taking influence from former instructors I had in my childhood and from my clients over the years. It is also an accumulation of lessons I took in my hometown of Detroit, Spain and LA. I take a lot of pride in being a school that is artist owned and that my staff are all professional working musicians as well.

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

Building a reputation as a music instructor takes time. Ultimately, consistency is the most important. Students and families need to know you are reliable. Every student that walks through our door can be assured they will receive a quality instruction every week with teachers who value being on time, well-prepared and fully engaged.
Secondly, a reputation is built on the willingness to listen. I have built my career on taking the lead from each students’ aspirations towards music and their personal goals. Helping students navigate their way through learning music relies heavily on the instructor listening to the student and coming up with a tailored approach to get them to reach their purpose.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Be communicative. This is very important. Make everyone on the team feel heard. Be willing to collaborate and listen to ideas. Create an environment where everyone is comfortable sharing ideas and giving constructive feedback. This is when positive growth happens

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carpentermusicacademy.com
• Instagram: @carpentermusicacademy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564869470807
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/carpenter-music-academy-los-angeles?osq=Carpenter+Music+Academy

Image Credits

@bryanhiglesias
Bryan Hugo Iglesias