Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Morales.
Hi Miriam, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was a little girl, I have been deeply in love with music. I began playing the piano at age six, and it quickly became a permanent fixture in my life. By the time I finished high school, I knew I wanted to major in music, even if the specific career path wasn’t yet clear. With the support of my parents, I dove into the industry, beginning as a jazz and classical piano performance major and eventually graduating with a degree in Music Recording and a minor in Business Administration.
While I didn’t set out as an education major, my college years were defined by several teaching roles that proved to be an incredible training ground. There is no better way to learn how to teach than being in a classroom full of students with a principal observing your every move! I fell in love with the entire process: getting to know each student’s unique personality, watching them form alliances with their peers, and collaborating with fellow faculty members.
When I moved on to my Master’s degree, I transitioned into private instruction. While I cherished the deep relationships I built with families, I began to feel the isolation that often comes with solo studio work. I missed the collaborative energy of music school and the group settings I had grown to love.
Recognizing a growing waiting list and a need for community, I realized that adding teachers to my studio would be mutually beneficial. I found that I truly enjoyed the administrative pulse of the business—the planning, the recital organization, and the intricate puzzle of scheduling. As our faculty grew, a distinct culture began to take root. Teachers were no longer working in vacuums; they were connecting with one another, and their students were collaborating on duets.
Today, New Song Music Academy has employed over 35 teachers over the last nine years, many of which are still on our team. My vision was driven by my own experience; for the first decade of my studies, I only had access to a single teacher. It wasn’t until I attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts—where I studied under several mentors simultaneously—that my musical world truly opened up.
I wanted that same expansive experience for my students. Now, I am responsible for a faculty and student body spanning three different cities: Dallas, Fort Worth & Miami, as well as our community-focused New Song Young Artists Ensemble. Most meaningfully, my own three daughters are now learning music from the very teachers I have curated. It is a “pinch-me” reality that I get to wake up every day and show up for this incredible community that we call New Song Music Academy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has certainly had its seasons of smooth sailing, but there have been significant hurdles along the way that have truly tested and refined our model.
The first major challenge is logistics. Because our teachers primarily provide instruction in private homes, we are managing a complex, ‘moving’ campus every single day. Coordinating schedules, travel times, and the personal nature of in-home lessons across three different cities requires a level of administrative precision that most traditional brick-and-mortar schools never have to navigate.
The second, and perhaps most consistent struggle, is maintaining our standard of quality. We have a very high bar for the teaching artists we bring onto our team, and we refuse to compromise that standard just to fill a spot. Because of this, we often operate with a waitlist that is longer than we’d like. While it’s difficult to tell a family they have to wait, I’ve realized that I would much rather provide a ‘curated’ match with an incredible educator than simply provide ‘a’ teacher.
These challenges have actually become our greatest strengths—they’ve forced us to become experts in efficiency and have solidified our reputation as a school that prioritizes the student-teacher relationship above all else.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The defining difference at our academy is the breadth of mentorship we provide. Many private students spend their entire formative years under the lens of a single instructor. Drawing from my time in music school, I realized that true musical maturity happens when a student is exposed to a variety of artistic voices. We’ve decentralized the ‘solo’ music lesson and replaced it with a multi-instructor ecosystem that keeps both the students and the faculty inspired. We also have high caliber events and venues for our students to experience performing in that you would not otherwise have access to such as NorthPark Center and Klyde Warren Park.
Beyond the curriculum, I take immense pride in the sustainable foundation of the business. I’ve spent over a decade proving that a creative enterprise can thrive on a debt-free, high-efficiency model. As a founder, I’ve built a business that has remained debt-free for over 12 years. This has allowed me to lead with a focus on efficiency and low overhead, which in turn means I can show up fully for my faculty and my family.
On a personal level, I am most moved by the longevity of our culture. We aren’t just a referral service; we are a collective. Knowing that the educational standard I’ve built is now the same one shaping the musical lives of my own children is the ultimate validation of the work. I’m not just a director looking at a spreadsheet—I am a parent and a teaching artist who sees the impact of our faculty every single day in my own living room.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
By nature, I am not a traditional risk-taker. I find deep value in predictable outcomes, and I’ve built my business on a foundation of stability and debt-free growth. However, I’ve come to realize that while change is inevitable in entrepreneurship, risk doesn’t have to be reckless—it can be strategic.
My perspective on risk is rooted in responsibility. As an owner, I am acutely aware that dozens of teachers and hundreds of families rely on my decision-making. Because of that, I don’t take leaps without a net; I believe in having rigorous contingency plans and ‘Plan B’ alternatives ready before a single move is made. To me, true leadership is balancing the courage to grow with the responsibility to protect the ecosystem I’ve built.
The most significant risk I’ve taken recently is the expansion of New Song Music Academy into the Miami market. This wasn’t just a business move; it was a personal one that required immense sacrifice from my family. Moving into a new city meant navigating unfamiliar logistics and stepping out of the comfort zone of our established Texas roots.
While the change felt daunting initially, the ‘other side’ of that risk has been incredibly rewarding. It has brought a fresh energy to our mission and opened up a world of joy and new experiences for my daughters and our faculty. It taught me that while I may always prefer a structured path, the most meaningful growth often lives just on the edge of what feels certain. By nature, I am not a traditional risk-taker. I find deep value in predictable outcomes, and I’ve built my business on a foundation of stability and debt-free growth. However, I’ve come to realize that while change is inevitable in entrepreneurship, risk doesn’t have to be reckless—it can be strategic.
Pricing:
- 45 Minute Lesson in Your Home: $85
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.newsongmusicacademy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newsongmusicacademy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newsongmusicacademy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/newsongmusicacademy/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@newsongmusicacademy7441
Image Credits
Mindi Hernandez, Joe Hernandez
