We dreamed a dream

-Meredith Manley, Director of Music So Simple

This week’s blog is all about how Music So Simple was born. Before we get into the details of how it formed, let’s back up a bit to see how Stathia and I began on this adventure.

We initially met working together at a music school right after I moved back to Dallas; she had been there for about 15 years when I was hired. Before I moved, I previously owned a voice/piano studio as well as a music therapy practice in Chicago. I knew that I wanted to work at the school for a year or two and then open my own studio again when the time was right, as there are many perks to being self-employed.

Stathia and I initially hit it off as we discovered that we had very similar teaching philosophies. We are both traditional teachers, love teaching baby/toddler/preschool music classes, and value building strong relationships with our students. She was a great mentor when it came to finding piano repertoire, introducing me to the Dallas Music Teachers Association (DMTA), and giving advice whenever I needed it. It’s safe to say that Stathia really helped me get on my feet and was a great support system for me there (not to mention, a super fun co-worker!) As we continued to build lesson plans for our classes, we discovered that we not only worked well together, but that we were building a great friendship.

Around the time Stathia left the school in March, I really started thinking about what I wanted to do after the semester ended as I felt ready to go out on my own. After I left the school in May, I decided to call her to see how things were going. I knew that she was preparing to open a studio over the summer in Richardson, which was a great location for me as well, so I presented the idea of having a joint studio. The idea of being partners was ideal because we would split the administrative tasks, and it would prevent burnout/loneliness as a sole business owner (these are things I did NOT like previously in Chicago!) Plus, we share the same work ethic and studio mission. She agreed, and the rest is history; Music So Simple officially launched in June of 2016. We are so excited for our future plans, and we appreciate the support thus far from our students and families!