July 2023 • Volume 2, Issue 4

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Welcome

As much as I have enjoyed serving as MTNA’s first Business Resources Coordinator, I recently shared with MTNA Executive Director and CEO, Gary Ingle, that it is time for me to move on to other adventures. I am thrilled that Karen Thickstun is taking my place as MTNA’s Business Resources Coordinator. Karen is committed to cultivating best practices in the business areas of our profession and I can’t think of a better person for this job!

Many thanks to Gary, Karen, the MTNA staff, and all the members of the Business Network for their support during my tenure as Business Resources Coordinator.



It has been a pleasure serving you,

Beth Gigante Klingenstein, NCTM

♪ Just a Note: For those who have an interest in the topics below, links are provided at the bottom of many of the Digest articles to take you to various MTNA Business Resources sections of the MTNA website.

In the Spotlight

What We Can Learn from the 2020 MTNA Member Survey

Beth Gigante Klingenstein, NCTM

Having conducted surveys for decades, I am a huge believer in their value. When the MTNA 2020 Member Survey results first came out, a number of findings were of particular interest to me; other items might speak most to you. What we each gain from the survey and how we use the results is an entirely personal choice, but I feel confident that all MTNA members can discover something that will better inform their individual professional choices and studio practices. Read more.

Meet the Entrepreneur

Do’s and Don’ts of Starting a Non-Profit

Cody Goetz

Ever thought about starting or leading a nonprofit? Learn some Do’s and Don’ts about nonprofit leadership and management from an experienced nonprofit professional. Watch Video.

Technology Tips and Tools

Back to the Future: Effective Visual Communication and the Interdependence of In-Person, Online and Hybrid Piano Instructions

João Paulo Casarotti

The modern world has gone through rapid changes in recent years. Music teachers faced real and demanding challenges during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many were able to quickly adapt, invest and learn when presented with a more advanced technological reality. Now we are headed back to the future, including a post-vaccine reality that consists of a world where safe, in-person instruction coexists with more technologically savvy teaching. Blending our past and current experiences is essential to guarantee a future filled with more opportunities and increasingly effective instruction. Read more.

Top Five

Top 75+ Ways to Say No and the Value of Saying Yes

As teachers, we all know how hard it can be to say no. We often feel obligated to take on more than we can handle, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Thankfully, there are ways to politely decline without sacrificing our own needs. But don’t worry, we don’t have to narrow it down to just five. I may have gotten a little carried away as I came up with 75+ ways to say no, while also remembering there is value in saying yes. Read more.

Legal Landscape

The Value of Conducing a Member Survey—The Legal Way

Beth Gigante Klingenstein, NCTM

As independent music teachers and directors of independent music schools, we constantly seek information on the most up-to-date business trends in our profession. Articles, blogs, presentations and webinars all help, but another way to find the latest and greatest information is to conduct a survey of our peers. When planning a member survey, be aware of the following do’s and don’ts to help you gather relevant data, observe best practices and abide by legal requirements. Read more.

Resource Gems

Online Business Training for the Independent Studio Teacher

Tim Stephenson

Are you looking for ways to grow your student base, increase your studio revenue, or generally get a better grasp on the business end of running a private studio? Look no further! These online training sessions are taught and developed by successful independent studio teachers and are designed to help you turn your passion for teaching into a sustainable business. Read more.

Looking for a Good Read?

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath

Lisa Schuler

We have all faced many changes in our lives. They happen throughout our day-to-day lives and in our careers and have been especially prevalent in the past few years. Understanding the psychology of how people can change (be it individual, organizational, or societal) is extremely beneficial when it comes to how we instruct. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath can help us understand and deal with changes, both planned and unplanned, in our lives and in our careers. Read more.

Heads Up

• Would you like to contribute to a future MTNA Business Digest? Contact Karen Thickstun at mtnanet@mtna.org with any ideas or questions you may have. We’d love to hear from you! Guidelines for submission

• MTNA offers its sincere thanks to all those who contributed their insights, knowledge and experience in this issue of the MTNA Business Digest.

• Many thanks to the members of the Business Network who have written articles, given advice, and made recommendations for topics and authors during this last year:
• Thank you to Jennifer Foxx for all of her hard work as she leaves the Business Network
• Many thanks to the following individuals who so generously continue to serve on the Business Network:
• Deborah How
• Andrea Miller
• Heather Smith
• Jennifer Stadler
• Timothy Stephenson 
• Jennifer Walschap 
• Karen Thickstun (MTNA Business Resources Coordinator)
• Gary Ingle (ex-officio)
• Welcome to Peter Mack, a new ex-officio member of the Business Network

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