049: Growing Creative Cultivation Studio with Shannon Saravia

In this episode, Shannon Saravia, founder of Creative Cultivation Studio, shares her inspiring journey of turning her passion for music into a thriving studio. Shannon shares how she transitioned from balancing piano lessons with a full-time office job to opening her dream studio in 2020. She dives into the challenges and triumphs of launching her unique parent-and-me classes while navigating the pandemic and setting up a new studio space in downtown La Verne in 2023. She discusses the challenges, triumphs, and key takeaways from her experience of creating a developmental and musical space for young learners and their families. Shannon’s story is packed with creativity, resilience, and a dedication to making music accessible to all. Join us as we explore her innovative approach to music education and how she’s building a community rooted in kindness and growth.Sharon shared a brief overview of her background and her music teaching studio.Her journey of launching a parent-and-me music program while building her commercial studio.The challenges and excitement of opening a physical studio space.How the parent-and-me classes was inspired by her experience as a new parent.Developmental milestones for young children influenced the curriculum design.How her program gained traction and grew through word-of-mouth recommendations.Shannon shares tips for researching developmental milestones to guide program design.She emphasizes using templates or frameworks to kickstart similar programs.Why teamwork and collaboration were key to expanding programs and reaching diverse communities.The importance of inclusivity, catering to different languages and learning styles.Links MentionedShannon Saravia's Website: Creative Cultivation StudioCreative Cultivation Studio Instagram PageCreative Cultivation Studio Facebook PageDownload your TopMusic Magazine here.Today's GuestShannon Saravia began her piano journey at the age of nine and taught her first lesson at 16, eventually transitioning to full-time teaching in 2019. Despite previously balancing piano lessons with a full-time office job, Shannon's passion for music never wavered. After relocating from Los Angeles to California's Central Valley, she seized the opportunity to follow her dream and established Creative Cultivation Studio in 2020.In 2023, the studio found its home in downtown La Verne, embodying a culture of kindness, creativity, and nurturing. Shannon and her team focus on personalized lessons tailored to each student's unique needs, fostering their growth into skilled and confident musicians. Through her studio, Shannon shares her love for music while inspiring creativity and knowledge in her students' lives.About Rachel EhringDr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.Visit her website at RachelEhring.comVisit her Instagram page: @rachelehringVisit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender MusicThank you for tuning in!Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Fridays weekly.TopMusicPro 14-Day Free TrialHeard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL