Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura McMahan.
Hi Laura, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I don’t remember dreaming about being the neighborhood Music Teacher as a child. I feel like most of my friends & I went through a phase where we wanted to be Marine Biologists. Music has been ever-present in my life, and it became the path I followed because it brought me the most happiness. That has been an important life lesson for me to learn to follow what fills my soul with joy. I’m so thankful that my job is to share that joy with students through Laura’s Lessons, my private Music Studio in Oakhurst, where I teach piano, voice & the occasional ukulele introduction. I absolutely love being the local music teacher. Every time I go for a walk, or my husband and I have a date on a local restaurant’s patio I hear “Hi Ms. Laura!” My cup runneth over again and again and again.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It took me time to build up the courage to take a chance on myself and leave what was comfortable for the possibility of creating my own music studio. What if I couldn’t get enough students and failed miserably? But what if everything worked out & I could create a special space where I share my love for music with my students? Stepping into the unknown has helped to change the way my mind worked. Instead of thinking of the worst-case scenario, I now think, what if it all works out better than I even knew possible?
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in beginner piano (though I have some students who have been with me for many years and are now playing amazingly challenging pieces) and also teach voice. I think what draws many families to me is my approach of allowing the student to lead us in their lessons by what kind of music they like. Both the student and I would be miserable if I forced them to play or sing music they hated. I design lessons to be fun and enjoyable. I work hard to sneak in Music Theory in fun ways through utilizing technology & games. I also think my families appreciate my go-with-the-flow attitude. Schedules are hard, sickness happens, and I’m very relaxed, where many Music Schools are extremely strict and unbending with their policies. I find that I attract the kind of energy I put out, and it has created a wonderful community of support that goes both ways. I’m always looking for new and interesting opportunities for my students to be involved in that move outside of our lessons as well.
Any big plans?
Honestly, I just want to keep on truckin! I’m so happy with what I’ve created. More recitals, more open mic opportunities, more fun studio outings. I can’t tell you how fun it was to go see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in the theater with so many of my students in the same room singing and dancing along to songs we’ve worked on for years. I’m super pumped for the new movie version of Wicked to come out for another fun Studio Event. I have two seniors graduating this year & I’m honored to have been invited to their graduation because each family only has so many tickets. I’ll probably cry like a baby!
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