Music is very important for child's education and proper development. It makes our children more receptive to art, promotes creative self-expression and is simply a lot of fun!
Our today's #heroine_of_the_week - Jessica Peresta @thedomesticmusician has created a unique offer for children and their parents - online music courses for children. Her project The Domestic Musician offers a monthly music education subscription that can be used at home or in the classroom as well as a beginning piano course.
What inspired Jessica to create such an innovative offer, where she draws energy from, and how she juggles being a entrepreneur with raising three kids - read in her interview below!
Jessica, you have created a very innovative offer - online music courses for children. How did you come up with this idea?
I love teaching and playing music and have my degree in music education. While I taught in the public school system, there was music being cut from schools all around me. I also have friends who homeschool their kids and would ask me what to do with the music portion of their curriculum or travel full time yet still wanted a way for their kids to take piano. So, an idea was born. I decided to create a site where I offer a monthly music education subscription that can be used at home or in the classroom as well as a beginning piano course (with more courses to come.)
Your courses are a great mix of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises, they are easy to follow, well thought through and fun to learn. You also offer printables to go along with your lessons - this is a huge amount of learning material that you had to prepare, write down, record, revise etc. - did you have help creating this course or was it a solopreneur project, where everything is done by you?
I planned out, typed up, and arranged all of the music, theory, lesson plans, and all other materials. My husband records me teaching and helps by editing the videos. So it's pretty much a team effort between the two of us.
Do you believe that online courses are enough for a child to learn music, or are they meant as complementary to live courses?
I believe that online courses are definitely enough for a child to learn music. I taught elementary music full time in the classroom and taught piano lessons in person for years and years. So, the courses I created is the same content I taught students in person. It is definitely not being there in person and having that face to face interaction, yet I am still the one teaching. I love feedback and am working on my Facebook group (music education connection) where my students can share what they're learning with other students and allowing it to become a virtual classroom. Yes, it's unconventional and different, but I think it's just another way of being able to learn music. In person lessons and music instruction is still so important too.
You are a mom of three boys and have a music teaching business to take care of: Can you tell us a little bit more about your daily routine? How does your average working day looks like?
I get my 1st grader to school, and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays get my 4 year old to Pre-K. Usually, after getting everyone where they need to be, I share my latest blog post on social media, post in Facebook groups or Instagram, tackle my to do list for the day, and do my recording and editing at night when they're in bed. So I usually work in the morning, around lunch time or when the 2 year old is napping, and after bed. It's definitely a juggling act some days and I think every work at home, stay at home, or work out of the home momma has to find a rhythm that works for them.
What is/was your main challenge as an entrepreneur? Did you find a way to deal with it?
Honestly, figuring out how to start and grow a blog. It's definitely something you have to pursue and work at every single day. I could go out tomorrow and start teaching piano lessons in person or teach music at a school, but I feel called to teach online right now. It's challenging getting my name out there and for people to know who I am. Just staying positive and continuing to work hard is bringing the right people and students my way.
What would you advice to a woman who wants to start her own business but is hesitating to start?
Just do it! If you have something you are passionate about, then follow your dreams. Trying anything new is so hard, and starting up a business is daunting and hard some days. But, the reward of doing what you love, is so worth it.
As a mompreneur you have so many things to take care of, how do you tank energy once you have a quiet moment just for yourself?
I love to unwind by watching my favorite show or reading a good book. I am actually an introvert at heart, so sneaking in those moments for myself is so important.
Can you please share with our community a quote or an affirmation that helps you achieve your goals and dreams and motivates you to follow your entrepreneurial journey?
"A ship is always safe at shore, but that's not what it's built for." Albert Einstein
I love this quote because it's so easy to just stay in one place and take the easy path. But we are built to take risks and to follow our dreams.
