Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Bourassa.
Eric, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I taught guitar and piano in the evenings and weekends while teaching elementary music at Ridglea Hills Elementary by day. It got to the point where I could no longer do both, so I made the plunge into being a “solopreneur.” After two years of teaching out of my house, my wife decided 80 students warranted an actual rental space. Also, our third child was on the way and we needed the room!
In April 2014, Ridglea School of Music was born and I hired our first teacher to help lead the way. We expanded into violin and voice lessons and became a real school. Guitar became our primary instrument, and people had a hard time pronouncing “Ridglea,” so we rebranded to Fort Worth Guitar Academy. But since we kept teaching other instruments, we finally became Fort Worth Music Academy in 2019, which made a lot more sense. We currently teach guitar, piano, bass, and drums.
We have four awesome teachers, really excellent students, and the best families that come see us. I’m not kidding. The families that choose to study with us and trust us for their family’s music lessons are fantastic. We are grateful to have a school culture where everyone is respectful, thoughtful, and hardworking.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, boy! (laughs inappropriately) Let’s see… We’ve struggled with running out of money, issues with former teachers, issues with the owner learning how to lead and inspire (and he’s still learning that one!), learning how to listen to the students and parents and what they want and need even when it challenges what we think they want or need.
One of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to let each employee shine in what they do best. I’ve tried forcing rectangles into circular holes when I should have just let them be rectangles! For example, one teacher was great with adults but had a hard time connecting with kids. I should have allowed him to be an adult instructor exclusively but instead things didn’t work out because I was determined to make him become great with kids. Some things can be taught, but other areas, it’s important to just accept our natural strengths and run with it.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
At its most basic level, we teach music. We help kids go from knowing zero about guitar or piano to becoming confident, independent musicians that feel good about who they are. We’re there for them to celebrate their successes and navigate the challenges that make them want to give up. We get them to see the long-term vision for success while ensuring small victories along the way.
Students also get opportunities to perform and learn how to promote themselves. We have them give flyers to their friends for their shows and spread the word, and it can tough for many people to say, “Look at me! Come to my show!” It’s easy to feel guilt or fear of rejection doing something like that. And about half our students are pretty introverted so it’s our job to show them it’s ok and even necessary to promote yourself.
We also help students develop creatively, which is becoming a more and more valued skill in the marketplace. Employers don’t just want people who can follow directions- they want employees who can think outside the box and create new solutions. So that’s a prime focus for us.
Finally, we want students to become self-disciplined in our world of instant gratification. New tech can be immensely beneficial but it also gives our kids (and us) that immediate dopamine hit that rewards them for doing very little. We want to retain the basics of “work hard, earn reward later.” Sowing and reaping. For musicians, the reward is being able to freely express oneself through song, either by performing others’ music or your own music and sharing that with the world or playing alone for self-enjoyment (or therapy, which it is for me!)
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The quality most important to the success of our school is perseverance, for sure. And I think by setting the example that we never give up as a school, as a staff, as a community, we lead the way in communicating to our students that they don’t give up either. No matter what happens around you or to you, keep going. There is no other way.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3327 Winthrop Ave Ste 151
Fort Worth, TX 76116 - Website: www.fortworthmusicacademy.com
- Phone: 8174206462
- Email: info@fortworthguitaracademy.com
- Instagram: @fortworthmusicacademy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortworthmusicacademy
Image Credit:
Renee Tacheny
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