Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Blair
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started with my grandmother. You see, her father was a very accomplished amateur musician who played every instrument known to man. But the story goes, the violin was his favorite. So MawMaw wanted one of her grandchildren to play the violin in honor of her father. I don’t know why she chose me (insert grandmother magic here), but she did. And the rest is history, as they say.
I’ve played the violin since I was seven years old (thanks to MawMaw). When I was 13, sitting in a youth orchestra rehearsal in Houston, I decided then and there that I wanted to be a professional conductor. And I never looked back. My degrees are in violin performance, instrumental conducting, and orchestral conducting. I have founded orchestras and non-profits, taught as a college professor, and served as artistic and music director of several organizations; I currently serve as Music Director and Conductor of the Coppell Community Orchestra. I’ve conducted a third-grade string ensemble, youth orchestras all over the country, many musical theatre and ballet pit orchestras, professional contemporary ensembles, and countless symphony orchestras. I’ve conducted music that was written 350 years ago, and I’ve conducted music that the composer just printed off at Kinkos earlier the same morning– and everything in between. Conducting is one of the great loves of my life.
I started teaching violin at the studio on the downtown Carrollton square in January 2023, a few weeks after my son was born. That summer, the owner announced he was selling, and I jumped at the chance to leap into the brave new world of entrepreneurship. So here we are! Lark Music Loft opened for business in the Woody Building on the downtown Carrollton square on August 21, 2023. We started with 27 students on our roster, and today we teach 189 students at the studio and in area schools– and we are growing! We have expanded our offerings manyfold, and we now teach Guitar, Violin, Flute, Voice, Drums, Private and Group Piano, Spanish and English Summer Piano Camps, Summer Rock Band Camp, Summer Chamber Music Camp, and the award-winning research-based early childhood music curriculum, Music Together®. And through all of this, I have found another great love of my life– growing this business, connecting with every family who walks through our door, supporting each student on their music-making journey, and pouring into the incredible Lark faculty. I learn so much each and every day, and I have realized that bringing music to humans is one of my missions on this planet. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to bring more music to more humans through the work of Lark Music Loft.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to Lark thus far has been full of adventure, excitement, unexpected twists and turns, surprises, challenges, and lots and lots of learning experiences. One of my main learning experiences has been shifting my mindset to that of a business owner and operator. Since this was an entirely new world to me 18 months ago, the learning curve was significant at the outset. But I am incredibly lucky to have a strong network of support in the form of mentors and my family. I have humbly and unashamedly asked for help whenever I have needed it, and the people in my life have been incredibly generous with their time, business expertise, encouragement, and awesome ideas. And the most important lesson I have learned is that if I believe in myself and my vision, anything is possible. So I have been unwavering in my focus, determination, and passion for this work. This has served me very well so far, and each day I fall a little more in love with Lark.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Lark Music Loft is a family owned and operated music studio, offering top-tier music instruction in a welcoming and supportive environment. Located on the historic downtown Carrollton square, we teach group classes, private lessons, and summer camps in piano, guitar, violin, drums, voice, and flute. Our faculty is comprised of highly accomplished music educators and performers, each of whom has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in their instrument area. We are known for our robust Music Together® program, which includes the world-renowned, research-based curricula: Mixed-Age Class (ages 0-5), Rhythm Kids (ages 5-8), and Music Together in Schools (academic in-school classes).
As Lark’s owner, I am most proud of our focus on cultivating a community of music makers and inspiring music lovers of all ages. Beyond our in-studio classes and lessons, we are in schools, libraries, parks, and more, bringing music to as many humans as possible, thereby strengthening and giving back to our communities. Lark was named for the western meadowlark because of its sweet song and bold colors. At Lark, we believe that just as every bird has a song, every person has a musician living inside of them. And we’re here to help you find your song.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I believe that more people, families, schools, and communities will be investing in music education in the next 5-10 years. Research continues to confirm over and over that active music making and the study of music makes our brains better. How does this work? Well, a couple of things are at play here.
First, active music making crosses the left-right brain barrier, thereby creating unique neural connections that support everything from pattern recognition in babies and young children, to a grasp of advanced mathematics and problem solving in teens and adults. This crossing of the brain barrier also supports neuroplasticity into adulthood, meaning that it helps us rewire our brains throughout our entire lives. This comes in handy when let’s say we want to quit smoking, parent differently, or learn a new language. It all comes down to neuroplasticity.
Then, you have the study of music itself; it is a discipline, which therefore strengthens the brain’s ability to implement discipline and habit stacking in all areas of our lives– including getting up in the morning, following a morning routine, building healthy work and self-care habits, and stretching oneself in the pursuit of big, new, and maybe scary goals (like starting a business after a lifetime of being an artist, for example).
And I can’t overstate the importance of critical listening, taking constructive criticism, scaffolding incremental wins in pursuit of a larger goal, consistency of practice, frustration tolerance, and confidence from pride of accomplishment. These skills are just that– skills. And they can be learned. They are just as important to the study of music as they are to life itself. The practice of these skills within the study of music facilitates their deployment in our everyday lives.
Last but not least, there is the element of creativity and self-expression. Psychologists and psychiatrists have known for some time that anxiety is the creativity killer. When you’re worried about how a performance is going to go, you drop out of that creative flow state. But what they’re starting to observe is that creativity, in turn, is an antidote to anxiety. In other words, the part of the brain that lights up during worry and rumination powers down when creative flow is activated. In a world riddled by fear and anxiety, all the research points to a need for more creativity and self-expression.
We have seen systems and organizations adopt these research findings over the last several years with the advent of STEAM and other programs. My two decades of experience in the industry tell me that music education is on the rise and is entering its growth era.
Pricing:
- Private Lessons $180/month
- Group Classes $125/month
- Music Together $115/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.larkmusicloft.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larkmusicloft/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550632418439
Image Credits
Claire McAdams; Cam Graham.
