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THE MONTHLY MUSICIAN
763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com SEPTEMBER 2023
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO 10 YEARS IN BUSINESS A DECADE OF GROWTH
It’s hard to believe, but July marked the 10th anniversary of MnSOM. That milestone makes this a particularly special back- to-school season and has allowed me to reflect on how far we’ve come. One day in 2014 sticks out in my mind. MnSOM was only me then, and I had just moved into our commercial location. I had about 25 students, and money was tight. It took every dime I earned to pay the rent, and how I’d pay the utilities was a mystery. My business plan didn’t consist of much more than crossing my fingers and hoping things would work out. The brand-new desk and phone I’d just set up were a point of pride. I couldn’t help but admire them because they made me feel like I had a “real” business. Then, the phone rang. I answered excitedly, hoping there was new business coming in. But the call was from my wife to say we needed diapers. The only problem was that I didn’t have money for diapers — I’d just spent it on a new desk and phone. To have a shot at success, the average entrepreneur must put everything on the line. I’m grateful to no longer face the same challenges I did a decade ago; diapers are almost in our family’s past as my youngest son transitions out of them. But those early struggles have given way to new ones. Any company that scales past the point of a sole entrepreneur must learn how to hire and delegate. The challenges I face today aren’t about diapers — they’re about how I can recruit, hire, train, and retain the
highest-quality staff possible to make MnSOM a premier music school.
My first staffing hurdle involved finding the
appropriate organizational structure. Like virtually every other music school, I began hiring teachers as contractors. But it didn’t work. We had too many competing ideas, and it felt like herding cats. So, in 2015, I changed MnSOM to an employee model. Traditionally, there have been two criteria to become a music instructor: Do you have
with mine. Meanwhile, I’m doing much of my customers’ work for them. There’s no reason to Google “best music teachers” because I’ve dedicated my life to finding them. And if Google reviews are any indication, I’ve done pretty well. We currently have 242 five- star reviews, making us the second highest ranked music school in the nation. The journey to MnSOM’s 10th anniversary hasn’t always been easy, but I’m proud of our accomplishments. Since no business can survive without talent, I credit our success to the teachers who instruct our students every day. We still face our fair share of challenges, but they differ significantly from the early days when I had to choose between baby supplies and furniture.
a degree, and do you have a pulse? If so, you’re hired. But since implementing an employee model, I’ve vetted our teachers using the highest standards in the industry and worked hard to ensure they embody our values (see Page 3). The most crucial aspect of my hiring process is also the most unique. Every applicant I interview must teach a class to one of my five children in front of me. This step allows me to evaluate them as an employer and a customer. As a parent, how does watching them teach make me feel? How do they seem to make my daughter feel? Is she glowing or shrinking? How is the lesson affecting her self-esteem? Others in this industry think I’m a little nuts, but I strongly believe in not placing any child in a classroom with a person I wouldn’t trust
–Eric Nehring
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GET YOUR HOME FALL-READY Simple, Affordable DIY Projects You’ll Love
Housewares stores are currently full of cute autumn decor, but the cost of refreshing your house’s look each season adds up quickly. Fortunately, you can do a lot for less. Many DIY crafts are not as complicated as you might think. In addition to saving money, you’ll create personalized charm none of your neighbors can match. REPURPOSE YOUR PUMPKINS. Small gourds are incredibly versatile. Just sprinkling a few around your dining room table or mantle makes it feel like fall. But you can quickly elevate them using metallic paint to add cute designs, phrases, or names. Another option is to wrap seasonal fabric around them like a pouch, gathered at the stem. If you feel more ambitious, you can also use pumpkins to make succulent planters. Cut a crater in the top of the pumpkin, pop in the succulent and soil, and press the dirt until snug. LIGHT UP THE NIGHT. The soft glow of a lantern or candle is the perfect way to get the cozy vibes started. Instead of succulents in the top of your pumpkin, you can set wax and a candle wick to create
something unique. If you’re bored with pumpkins, try the same with acorn caps.
An even simpler idea involves glazing real or fabric leaves on the outside of mason jars with craft glue. Then add decorative stones and a wax or battery- operated tealight for a seasonal twinkle. DECORATE YOUR DOOR. Wreaths are a DIY staple for several reasons. They’re easy for beginners to make and can set the tone for your home by offering visitors an autumnal focal point. You can buy a variety of starter wreaths at the craft store, so find one that suits your taste. Then pick up other supplies like leaves, pine cones, dried corn, and ribbon. Now you’re ready to hot glue to your heart’s content and create something distinctive. If you need further ideas, look closer the next time you shop. Many of the fun fall items for sale aren’t very difficult to make yourself with a few minor adjustments and a little creativity.
JOURNEY TO MNSOM LOVE, WAR, AND MUSIC
LIDIIA NEMIROVA’S INSPIRING
Vocal teacher Lidiia Nemirova took an unlikely path to Minnesota School of Music. While she had long planned to teach music, she expected to do it in her native Ukraine. But the Russian invasion changed many of her plans. Lidiia got involved in music at a young age, starting violin lessons at 5 and switching to piano at 6. She picked up vocals as a teenager and studied music in college. During school, she enjoyed teaching piano to adults and assisting with lessons for 8–9-year-old refugees. She began her first official teaching job at MnSOM in February 2023, and she adores working with students. “The kids love it here,” she says. “They say they were waiting for their lesson all week. Eric creates an atmosphere where the kids are glad to come back.” Becoming a new teacher has been an exciting journey. “I enjoy that I can explain things I didn’t understand with my teachers,” she says. “I want to describe difficult ideas in simple words, and I love when even a 7-year-old understands what I mean.”
love story is prime material for a Netflix film. She was assisting eastern Ukrainian refugees at her church in western Ukraine when the air raid siren sounded, and everyone headed to the basement. She met Vlad and his brother there. They had nowhere to go, and the church was full, so Lidiia and her family offered them a place to stay. “We thought these two guys would be at our place for 2–3 months,” she remembers. “And they stayed for four months.” The couple eventually fled to Poland but had trouble finding work because they didn’t speak Polish. Fortunately, she says, “My generation has English lessons from second grade,” so the United States was a better fit. Lidiia and Vlad married and came to the United States one week later. She applied for the position at MnSOM on her first evening in the country and interviewed the next day. “It was a miracle,” she says. Through everything, Lidiia has maintained a positive outlook. “Sometimes, bad situations can bring you to a good place,” she says. “The war was the biggest trauma of our lives, but in the end, we’re glad we are here. Now I’m working my dream job.”
While Lidiia loves her new job, coming to America as a refugee has been difficult. She and her husband, Vlad, joke that their
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Emily O. Nora M. Jimmy Z.
Chloe W. Colin S. Diya A. Avyukth N. Alena C. Emma G. Blaine D.
It’s very simple to run a business without a set of core values — entrepreneurs do it every day. But it’s not easy. At MnSOM, our core values guide us to be better music educators. I expect every teacher to embody them daily, or they aren’t a good fit for our school. The values are straightforward but intensive, represented by the acronym HELPS . HUMILITY can be difficult to come by in music performers. Their world is competitive, and “lead singer disease” runs rampant. But 7-year- olds don’t care about clout and credentials. Our teachers must be able to set aside their egos and put the children we teach first. EFFORT is essential to being a teacher. If a student wants to learn how to play a piece, their teacher must be willing to take the time to learn the accompaniment. But just as crucially, they must be ready to stop and pick up a can someone carelessly threw away in the parking lot. Every kid deserves our all, whether their class is the first or last of the day. LEARNING requires us to be students first and teachers second. After 20 years, knowledge does not impress me. But a willingness to continue growing and improving does. Some of the best lessons I’ve ever learned were from my students. Educators must be willing to engage in this give and take and accept that they don’t know it all. PASSION is a word that etymologically originates with the concept of suffering. Teaching is grueling, especially in front of a child’s parents. We deal with dynamic personalities and uncomfortable feedback daily. Our teachers must be passionate enough to dust themselves off after a difficult day and return to do it all again. SERVICE is the backbone of any business. For example, I used to take my son to Applebee’s frequently. It wasn’t for the food, which I find very mediocre — it was because Brittany, the server, made my kid laugh. People care about how you make them feel, and while they ostensibly hire us to teach music, they really want to be treated well. These values are nonnegotiable and keep us on a consistent path to excellence. They’re the basis for our identity as educators and how we make MnSOM the best music school it can be. How MnSOM’s Values Shape Us OUR GUIDING LIGHT
Hendrick S. Adelaide S. Mackenzie M. Yasmin M.
IS YOUR TEACHER SOLD OUT?
Mr. Barrett: 2 SPOTS LEFT Mrs. Bunish: 1 SPOT LEFT Ms. Ferbuyt: SOLD OUT
Mr. Nehring: SOLD OUT Mr. Nelson: SOLD OUT
Ms. Rotvold: SOLD OUT Mr. Spears: 1 SPOT LEFT Ms. Tomlinson: SOLD OUT
Mrs. Nemirova: 1 SPOT LEFT
Ms. Hsu: SOLD OUT
Mr. Nistler: 1 SPOT LEFT Mr. Popken: SOLD OUT Ms. Possert: SOLD OUT
Mrs. Lehner: 1 SPOT LEFT Mrs. Morris: 2 SPOTS LEFT
–Eric Nehring
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3533 88th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN 55014 763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
10 Years of Music
Simple, Affordable DIY Projects You’ll Love
Vocal Teacher Lidiia’s Path From Ukraine to MnSOM
The Values Every MnSOM Teacher Should Uphold
Keep Yourself Safe While Traveling Alone
Traveling solo is a thrilling experience, but it comes with some extra steps to stay safe! Trust your instincts and use these tips to ensure your trip goes down in the memory books as safe and exciting! KEEP YOURSELF SAFE WHILE TRAVELING ALONE
Traveling alone can be a memorable and adventurous experience — it’s a great way to step outside your comfort zone and continue learning about yourself. While solo travel is chock full of exciting perks, staying alone in a hotel can be dangerous if you aren’t careful to take certain safety precautions. The next time you take a trip by yourself, keep these tips in mind! CHECK IN THE SMART WAY. When you check in to your hotel, always ask for two room keys — this way, hotel staff and anyone else in earshot will automatically assume someone else is traveling with you. If they ask how many guests will be staying with you, don’t admit you are alone. If you have the option, request a room that isn’t on the ground floor, as research shows they are the easiest to break into! INSPECT YOUR ROOM. As soon as you enter the room, make a quick sweep to ensure no one is
present in closets, in the shower, or under the bed and that nothing appears to be amiss. It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry! KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED. Any time you leave your room, even if it’s just to scope out the vending machines, be alert for anyone watching or following you, and always keep your room number discreet. If you ever feel like someone is following you, get off on a different floor and avoid going to your room. USE THE DEADBOLT. If the door in your room comes equipped with a deadbolt, use it! This extra safety measure keeps even those with a key from entering your room without your knowing! SHARE THE HOTEL INFORMATION. Let your family and friends know where you are staying! Provide them with the hotel name, address, and phone number in case an emergency arises!
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