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

Mindy, 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?

Little School of Music students develop a passion for learning and a love for music as they take ownership of their studies and develop leadership skills and personal character by engaging in a variety of creative music-making activities.

Through individual and collaborative learning environments, students have the opportunity to explore and learn from their peers, motivate others, and make meaningful connections in a community of people with common interests.

Mindy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Mindy, and I am a creative entrepreneur and business owner. I studied music at the Juilliard School in New York and the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. Over the past two decades, I’ve grown my music school, impacting thousands of students and making a positive difference in the local community.

As a trumpet player, my professional music career has led me to diverse experiences and circles of musicians, including symphony orchestras, big bands, pop bands, funk bands, musical theater, heavy metal bands, Latin bands, brass quintets, film scoring sessions, recording sessions, and touring. You name it, I’ve probably played it. But there was another side of me—the music educator.

Teaching lessons, groups, and ensembles throughout Southern California, I realized how profoundly music education impacts the world. From cognitive development in early childhood to social bonding in high school, and memory recognition in the elderly, not to mention the joy music brings to our daily lives, the world needs more music and more people making music. With school music programs being cut, I felt compelled to act. That’s why I started Little School of Music, a place where kids can come to learn outside of the traditional school setting.

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

One of the most important aspects of building a business is cultivating relationships—with clients, staff, professional organizations, and other businesses. Personalized and supportive interactions are key. Consistency, following through on promises, delivering timely and quality work, and maintaining a friendly and helpful attitude year after year are essential in building a strong reputation and earning trust.

Any advice for managing a team?

People want to be heard, seen, appreciated, and acknowledged. As a leader, one of the most valuable things you can do is provide clear expectations, set examples of what “good work” looks like, and equip your team with the tools they need to succeed. This includes offering positive reinforcement, giving regular feedback, providing opportunities for growth and learning, recognizing achievements, and giving credit where it’s due. Listening to your staff and their ideas is also crucial. Instead of dismissing an idea, try saying, “Tell me more about that and how it might work.” Showing genuine interest encourages future contributions—you never know who might invent the next Frappuccino!

When you have the wrong person on the team, it’s important to take action. Your team will respect you more as a leader and trust your judgment, and it may even inspire them to step up their own performance. Creating a safe and comfortable workspace also impacts how people feel about coming to work. Simple gestures like greeting them when they arrive and leave, giving a high-five for a small victory, bringing in doughnuts on a random day, and celebrating birthdays all contribute to a positive environment. Most importantly, having a clear, shared vision of what the company is striving to achieve, and setting achievable goals, is essential. The weekly, monthly, and annual routine can get stale, so it’s important to shake things up occasionally to keep the creative juices flowing and opportunities for growth and expansion alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://littleschoolofmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleschoolofmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleschoolofmusic
• Twitter: https://x.com/onceuponatune
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/littleschoolofmusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/littleschoolofmusic

Image Credits

Photos by Mindy Cabral and Angelo Di Fusco