Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah-Beth Foster.
Hi Hannah-Beth, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was seven years old, I watched an episode of Tom & Jerry where Tom the cat plays the part of a concert pianist. For some reason, his comical and yet beautiful performance of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 absolutely captivated me. Suddenly, I announced to my family “I’m going to play the piano.” Not “can I,” not “should I”, but a very decisive “I’m going to.” That is when my adventure began. I studied with private piano teachers throughout grade, middle, and high school. The moment I realized I could combine my love of people and of music into a career, I once again decisively set my gaze on becoming a private piano teacher. After earning my bachelors degree in piano performance, I hungrily searched for an opportunity to put my skills into action. Two months after graduating, I was hired as a private piano teacher at New Song School of the Arts in Argyle. Under the superb mentorship of the founders, I began to solidify my teaching philosophy and technique, consistently teaching a studio of sixty students or higher in my two years at the school.
By my third year there, life began to change. Once my husband and I married, we purchased a small fixer-upper house in a charming Plano neighborhood. The long commute meant quitting my beloved job at the school. More importantly, it meant taking a much bigger step in my career – running my own private piano studio. This was my chance to finally realize my dream. However, I knew it was a feat I could never accomplish alone.
To start my studio off right, my family and my husband’s family combined resources to purchase a baby grand piano for our home. My husband worked tirelessly to ensure I had the opportunity and financial stability to strengthen my skills in teaching, marketing, and business management. Family members and friends spread my name throughout the community. Former students submitted public reviews of my skills as a teacher. Combined, these loving contributions amplified my efforts and ultimately led to the studio’s success. Joyful Song School of Piano opened in December of 2023, without a single student of its own. But by December of 2024, the studio was accruing the same amount of revenue as my previous job, but at half the student size and half the work hours.
These two years of owning the studio have truly been a privilege. Looking back, while I recognize the challenges faced and the milestones achieved, the most breathtaking thing I discover is that I have given back to the community what I was so generously given. I have created a space for students to enjoy learning, to overcome challenges, and to develop a life-long love of music.
Alright, 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?
Although I realized opening a business would have its challenges, I did not anticipate that the hardest struggles to overcome would be the internal ones. Emotional and mental discouragement were daily enemies. When I opened the studio in December of 2023, there was a solid two month period where I had no students of my own. This meant that my “work days” were not scheduled nice and neat, 9 to 5, with clear objectives. There was no handbook giving easy step-by-step instructions on how to open a studio. It was me, a laptop, and an overwhelming world of online advice to navigate. I had to remind myself that the little steps I took each day – designing advertisements, applying to present at school events, and researching marketing techniques – were actually productive uses of my time and would eventually get me back to my true passion of teaching. As I interviewed other successful private piano teachers, I had to discipline myself against “imposter syndrome” or the poisonous “comparison game.: Hardest of all, when students did begin applying, I had to believe in my “product.” I had to believe that I was the competent, prepared, creative teacher students needed me to be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a private piano teacher and studio owner, instructing students ages 5.5 and up in piano. I teach students of all levels, from absolute beginner to early advanced, and all stages of life, from young child to grandparent. I cultivate each of my students to be well-rounded musicians, incorporating music theory, ear training, sight reading, performance, and composition throughout their training. In my studio, students have the opportunity to study either through private one-on-one lessons or group classes. In both environments, students receive personalized mentorship to achieve their unique musical goals.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Living in Plano has been a huge blessing for my business. My favorite feature about our city is our park and trail system. Families who may need to find alternative entertainment while their student is in lesson have a plethora of trails and park systems to enjoy and explore.
Unfortunately, my least favorite part about our city of Plano is the homeless population. Not only is it heartbreaking to see so many young men and women on the street, but it poses a genuine safety hazard to families trying to enjoy the city’s amenities, such as its parks, public meeting places, and trail systems.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jssp.mymusicstaff.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfulsongpiano
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555791303850
