|
May 10th was National Small Business Day, and it reminded me of the time I woke up to find a public hearing sign planted in my front yard. 😅 A few years earlier, the city had told me I couldn’t teach music lessons from my home without a business license. So I went to get one… only to be told I lived in a residential area and couldn’t operate a business there. After quite a bit of back and forth, we left believing I would have to shut down immediately. The very next day, they called back and said they had researched it further and determined that music lessons fell under “fine arts and tutoring,” meaning I could continue teaching and receive a license after all. So after moving to a new home and receiving HOA approval to teach there, I was more than a little surprised to discover my property was going before the Board of Adjustment. It was listed publicly in the newspaper, and a few sweet friends came with me to the hearing for support. One concerned citizen stood up and announced that she had driven past my house, noticed how close the homes were together, and declared that she would NOT want to live next door listening to “plink, plink, plink” on the piano all day. 🎹 (We later learned she didn’t actually live near me — she simply attended meetings regularly to voice concerns.) When the board asked if I wanted to respond, I explained that I had been teaching for over 20 years and had never once had a neighbor complain about music or noise. They also asked whether I hosted recitals or large events at my home, and were quite satisfied with my answer: no. In the end, they approved my license, and it still hangs proudly in my studio today. Running a small business often involves far more behind-the-scenes challenges than most people ever realize. 
0 Comments
Our 2026 Harp and Piano Spring Recital Friday night’s Spring Recital was such a special evening! This was our longest recital to date, coming in at just over an hour and fifteen minutes, and it was filled with beautiful music from start to finish. We had 11 piano students and 3 harpists perform, with a wonderful variety of styles—everything from hymns and classical pieces to pop favorites. The program ended with a lovely harp and piano duet of Canon in D, which was a perfect way to close the night. One of my favorite parts of teaching is walking alongside each student on their musical journey. Seeing fingering patterns finally click, hearing difficult passages come together smoothly, and watching pieces that took months of practice come to life in performance—it never gets old. Each recital is especially meaningful because I know where every student began and how far they’ve come. Watching them share their music with family, friends, and even a few strangers is incredibly rewarding. We’ll have two more weeks of lessons before a short summer break, and lessons will resume in July. I’ll have a couple of openings for teens and adults (beginner through advanced), so now is a great time to reach out if you’re interested. One question I’m often asked is why we continue lessons after the recital. I’ve found it’s so important to sit down with each student while the experience is still fresh. We talk through their performance, celebrate growth, and set clear goals so they head into summer with purpose and direction. If you’ve been thinking about music lessons, I’d love to connect. It would be an honor to guide you (or your student) on your musical journey. |
Bethany MurphyWife, mother, small business owner, music teacher and performer. Categories |
RSS Feed