After receiving her Master’s of Music degree from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, Melanie Bell considered teaching music at the university level, but soon realized that what she really wanted was to teach music privately. With the confidence of having two degrees in piano, Melanie started and ran a successful piano studio from her home in Bowling Green. When Melanie decided to return to Iowa to be closer to her family, she sold her studio for a small profit and left knowing that her students were with a well-qualified instructor. There was never a doubt in Melanie’s mind that she would start another business.

 

Melanie had no knowledge of the demographics of the area or even the interest level for music instruction in Marion, Iowa, where she relocated. With only the knowledge that she could teach music and her own money, Melanie opened the Marion Music Academy as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in August of 2005, just two months after deciding to do so. Melanie attributes her early success to the importance she places on being organized.

 

Melanie began advertising—simple newspaper ads and a banner on the front of the building. Her initial goal was simply to break even, but one year later the business had outgrown its location. During that first year, Melanie gained considerable knowledge of the area and its potential clients and determined that she wanted to maintain her academy in Marion’s historic downtown area. She found a location just two blocks away from the existing one.

 

The obstacles Melanie faced in moving from her initial location to her current one were twofold:  obtaining reasonable financing and the constraints on her own time and energy as she continued teaching while doing her own construction work. She decided to seek assistance from the Kirkwood Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

 

Steve Sprague of the Kirkwood Small Business Development Center counseled Melanie, helping her to develop a business plan that allowed her to obtain the financing needed to purchase and renovate her new building, plus obtain additional money when she found out she’d need to hire an electrical contractor to finish the remodeling. Using money from the SBA loan she obtained, and the labor of family members, the new building was soon stripped and remodeled. In November of 2006, just four months after beginning the major renovation, the Marion Music Academy moved into its new location.

 

The Academy continued to grow by 30 to 40 percent each year, and by early 2010 more space was needed again. Melanie was concerned about her existing debt and the additional money she’d need to borrow to remodel the academy’s second floor into additional studio space, so she went back to the Kirkwood Small Business Development Center for help.

 

Al Beach at the Kirkwood Small Business Development Center helped Melanie develop a plan to restructure her existing debt, which saved Melanie a substantial amount in interest and lowered her monthly payments more than 36 percent. Wells Fargo also issued her an ARC loan that allowed Melanie to defer six months of structured debt payments, and an additional loan to pay for the remodeling of the upstairs apartment into extra studio space.

 

Melanie says, “I was feeling overwhelmed, suffocated by my debt load, which included credit card debt. I didn’t know what to do. I contacted the Kirkwood Small Business Development Center. Al helped me to restructure the debt so that I was able to manage it and also to get the additional money I needed to remodel the second floor.”

 

The restructuring of her debt allowed Melanie to open a second location in Cedar Rapids in October 2010, calling it the Cedar Rapids School of Music. She used prefab units for this facility because she expects to outgrow the space very quickly.

 

Melanie has never experienced a plateau in the growth of her business although she did see a slight slowing in 2008, which she attributes to the general economy. Even so, although music instruction is a luxury, Melanie hasn’t seen any real impact from the economic downturn. Starting with five employees in 2006, Melanie now employs more than 20 part-time people.

 

Even though Melanie has great organizational skills and the entrepreneurial drive to succeed, she praises the SBDC, “I wouldn’t have been able to manage financing on my own without the assistance of the Kirkwood Small Business Development Center. They helped to make my plans presentable to the bank.”

 

The Marion Music Academy offers individual and group instruction in piano, voice, and other popular instruments for students from five to 75…and older. The Academy’s mission is to provide students of all ages with the skills they need to enjoy music for a lifetime. The teachers are friendly and highly qualified, each having a degree in the specialty he or she teaches. Many have extensive performing experience as well.

 

Melanie’s goal is for her students to want to be at the Marion Music Academy, to receive quality training, and to do well. It is her desire to serve the community through her students. She is starting to reach out to local schools, inquiring how she might enhance existing music programs. The response so far has been modest but positive. Schools often recommend her to students who are interested in private instruction. Be sure to check out all the Academy offers at www.marionmusicacademy.com.