Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Watt.
Erin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a professional actor and opera singer, and I have been teaching afterschool music classes and private voice and piano lessons to student’s ages 4 to 64 for the last ten years. After completing my master’s degree in music in 2010, I moved to New York City to pursue my acting career and ended up starting my own business teaching music, writing curriculum, and producing recitals. I moved back to my home town of Chicago in 2014 and began teaching part-time at The Music Playhouse. In 2015, the owner called me up asking if I would be interested in buying the business, and I said yes! I didn’t know this was my dream job until it fell in my lap. Running The Music Playhouse has been the most fulfilling and exciting experience of my life. I fully enjoy getting to know these families, and watching the kids grow, develop, and learn right before my eyes! We are often their first music teachers, and we have the privilege of helping them discover the power and the joy of music. For me, stepping into the role of the Owner and Center Director was a no-brainer, and I am very excited for the future!
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been fairly smooth. There were some kinks to work out, and some upgrades that needed to be made once I took over, but overall we are very blessed to have an excellent and talented staff, and wonderful families who come to our classes. This business is all about the children. We love all of our students. The teachers, parents, and caregivers all want the best for the kids, so in a way, we’re all working together for their benefit! No matter how frustrating the business side may get at times, seeing an excited child bound into class is always an instant cure for the blues!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We offer high energy, super fun early childhood music classes to kids’ ages 0-6 to enjoy with a parent or caregiver. Each class is non-stop singing, dancing, and instrument play. The methods and activities that we use are deeply rooted in music theory, and early childhood development and learning research, and designed to maximize musical potential in every child. Our program is unique in that it is very interactive and each child and grown-up is actively engaged the whole time. All of our teachers are strong singers, professional performers with strong backgrounds in music, and passionate about teaching young children. I am most proud of the fact that every child bounces into class with a big smile, and leaves with an even bigger smile! We all truly love and believe in what we do.
Our primary goals are to teach children how to sing in tune and keep a steady beat, and leave each of them with a lifelong love and appreciation for music. I love hearing stories about kids who “play music class at home” with their siblings or toys, or stories about them gaining confidence in other areas of their lives as a result of music class. It’s always so heartwarming to see videos of kids singing at home with their families, or inventing songs on their own! When I hear a child sing delightfully in tune, or nail a rhythm pattern with a giant grin on their face, that’s when I know we’ve done our job well.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Chicago is a great place for a business like ours. Chicago has a rich music history, and is known for its great abundance of culture. Families here understand the value music education, and they want what’s best for their kids. There are so many wonderful resources for young families in our city, it’s a perfect fit! Chicago also has great resources for small businesses. I’ve been really fortunate to be involved with the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. They truly care about small businesses, and enjoy involving us in the community and providing us with support. I would definitely recommend starting a business in Chicago.
Pricing:
- Music Pups(tm) for Ages 0-5 is $180 for one 10-week session, siblings are $130.
- Birthday Party Packages range from $175-$500
- Special Event tickets range from $15-$20 per child, grown-ups are free
Contact Info:
- Address: 3829 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613 - Website: www.themusicplayhouseofchicago.com
- Phone: 773-572-8054
- Email: info@themusicplayhouseofchicago.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themusicplayhouseofchicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicplayhouselakeview
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MusicPlayhouse
Image Credit:
Kelly Lemon Photography http://kellylemonphotography.com/
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