inBachs / Building a Flute Studio That Supports a Portfolio Music Career

Today we are exploring how building a private lesson studio can financially support a portfolio career as a musician and I’m stoked to share with you a new example of this.

Starting from zero students, Anamarie shares how she grew her flute studio into a sustainable business that now supports her family, time off, and has inspired long-term financial goals for her.

If you’re interested in a roadmap for the private teaching side of your portfolio music career, make sure to take advantage of our free strategy session offer.

1. Starting with a Clear Vision for a Portfolio Career

Anamarie didn’t just want “more students.” She wanted a studio that would serve as the financial foundation for her broader portfolio music career (which includes a lot!) like performing, flexibility, and long-term planning.

Instead of chasing random enrollment, she clarified:

-How many hours she wanted to teach
-What revenue she needed
-How teaching would fit into her life

Takeaway: Growth without vision leads to burnout. Define what role your studio plays in your overall career.

2. Building to 20 Students with Structure
   
   Within 12 months, Anamarie grew to:

20 private students
15 teaching hours per week
$3,500 per month
46 guaranteed teaching weeks per year

She implemented consistent tuition, structured scheduling, and clear expectations from the start.

Takeaway: A structured studio scales faster and feels more stable than a casual one.

3. Designing Income That Supports Real Life
   

   Instead of maximizing teaching hours, Anamarie focused on sustainability. She built a studio that allows her to take six weeks off per year while maintaining consistent income. By thinking strategically about pricing and enrollment, she created predictable monthly revenue.

Takeaway: A private music studio can financially support your life, but only if you treat it like a business.

4. Hiring Another Teacher to Expand Capacity

As demand grew, Anamarie brought on another teacher. This shift allowed her to:

-Serve more students
-Protect her own time
-Grow beyond a single teacher model

What started as a solo flute studio became the foundation of a multi-teacher program.

Takeaway: Delegation can increase your impact.

5. Connecting Studio Growth to Personal Finance
   
   A major turning point in Anamarie’s journey was linking her studio decisions to personal financial clarity. Understanding her income goals helped her price confidently, plan ahead, and make strategic business choices. Her business growth was 100% about long-term stability.

Takeaway: Financial literacy strengthens artistic freedom. When you understand your numbers, you make better decisions.