113: The CEO Mindset for Music Teachers with Nathalie Simper

So many music teachers are incredibly skilled at what they do, but feel unprepared for everything that comes with running a studio. In this episode, w’re talking with Nathalie Simper about developing a CEO mindset as a music teacher, and how confidence, systems, and entrepreneurship can help you build a studio that truly supports your life. Nathalie shared how musicians follow a traditional path but feel unprepared for real-world careers.How shifting from “musician” to “music entrepreneur” changed her perspective.She introduced the CEO mindset framework: confidence, entrepreneurship, and opportunity.The importance of confidence in both teaching skills and personal identity.How entrepreneurship skills are essential for running a studio.Nathalie explained how viewing your studio as a business supports long-term success.She encouraged teachers to seek out business skills even if they feel unfamiliar.How opportunity comes from staying open to growth and new directions.Nathalie shared how early teaching setups often lack structure and systems.Why systems should be implemented even with just a few students.How disorganized systems can lead to burnout as studios grow.She described how automation and recurring payments simplify studio management.Nathalie emphasized that saving time on admin creates more space for teaching.She encouraged teachers to set boundaries that support their energy and wellbeing.How rates should reflect both income needs and value provided.She encouraged teachers to design studios that align with their desired lifestyle. Links Mentioned Get your TopMusicLive 2026 On Demand Pass here.Lessons: A Modern Guide to the Business of Teaching Music by Eric Branner Guest Links Nathalie's podcast:The Limitless Musician PodcastNathalie's Instagram page:@thelimitlessmusicianFreebies for Music Teachers:www.kecreative.com/freebiesThe Musician’s Real-World Survival Guide (Free Resource) Today's Guest Nathalie Simper is a flutist, private studio owner, and music entrepreneur in North Georgia. She got the music performance degrees and did all the “right things” to build a music career, but still struggled to fill in what wasn’t taught in music school. After learning things through trial and error, she finally decided to invest in the perspective of being a music entrepreneur instead of “just a musician.” Fast forward a few years, and Nathalie has embraced the non-musical things about being a classical musician, using her own failures and successes to support her fellow music entrepreneurs through The Limitless Musician! About Rachel Ehring Dr. 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 Music Thank 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 Trial Heard 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