Nick Pantano shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Nick, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, without question. I think it’s something that’s been eroding in our country and in the business world for quite some time. Big business has become such a powerful force that it’s cast a shadow over a lot of smaller businesses, creating a culture where people almost expect low-integrity behavior. But many of us in the small business world are actually doing the opposite — we’re here to do things the right way.
Every now and then I’ll make a decision that’s just the honest, fair thing to do, and people seem surprised — like, “Wait, you’re really going to do that?” And my answer is always, “Yes, because it’s the right thing to do.” It’s kind of sad that integrity has become the exception instead of the rule. If there were more of it across all levels of business — large, medium, and small — I think our country and our communities would be in a much better place.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nick Pantano, and I’m the owner and founder of Sound Space, a private music lesson studio located at the historic Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta. Our team currently includes myself and one other instructor, David Pritchard. I teach guitar, bass, and ukulele, and David teaches those instruments along with beginner piano.
Sound Space first opened at the Goat Farm about ten years ago. Like many of the artists and studios here, we temporarily relocated during the property’s extensive renovation and happily returned about a year and a half ago. It’s been incredible to come back and see how the space has evolved. The Goat Farm is unlike anywhere else—it’s a 12-acre creative campus filled with artists, musicians, and makers of all kinds. It’s a place that radiates inspiration, both for us as instructors and for our students. It’s not unusual for lessons to happen alongside a gallery show, concert, or live performance, which adds a really special energy to what we do.
What truly sets Sound Space apart, though, is our commitment to being welcoming to students of all ages. When I started the studio, music lessons were often viewed as something primarily for kids. Over the past decade, we’ve worked hard to shift that perception. Today, roughly half of our students—or sometimes more—are adults who decided it’s never too late to start learning an instrument. Creating a space where adults feel just as comfortable and encouraged as kids is something I’m genuinely proud of.
Looking ahead, we’re focused on growth. Our goal is to expand our offerings to include drums, piano, and voice lessons for the Midtown and Westside Atlanta communities. Beyond that, we hope to eventually add lessons for band and orchestra instruments to support local school programs. As this area continues to grow and evolve, my goal is for Sound Space to grow with it—to remain a place where creativity, learning, and community intersect in meaningful ways.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work is Ryan Turner of Unsukay Concepts, the restaurant group behind places like Muss & Turner’s, Local Three, Eleanor’s, and others. Ryan has been a mentor to me since 2005, when I started working at Muss & Turner’s at around nineteen years old, and he continues to be my primary mentor today.
From him, I learned what it means to build something with intention, lead with values, and show up for your team and your community. Ryan is someone who does things the right way, even when it is harder, and seeing that in action at such a formative time shaped a lot of how I operate Sound Space today.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. I think any small business owner right now would probably tell you they flirt with that feeling somewhere in the range of daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. I am only half-kidding. The past few years have brought a unique set of challenges for small businesses, and there are moments where the weight of it all catches up with you.
But here is the thing: if you are wired to build something of your own, there is some kind of internal drive, or maybe even a syndrome, that keeps you going. Even on the hardest days, that spark shows up and reminds you why you started and why it matters. Running a small business is not easy, but there is a deep sense of purpose and pride that comes with it that makes the difficult days worth pushing through.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie in the music lesson world is the idea that learning an instrument is easy. It is not. And pretending that it is does a real disservice to students. Learning an instrument is challenging, and that is exactly what makes it rewarding. The magic comes from the equation where a little bit of focused effort turns into a massive amount of joy and personal accomplishment.
Where I think the industry goes wrong is in setting unrealistic expectations. If someone walks into lessons believing it will be effortless, they are going to feel discouraged the moment they hit the first difficult stretch. Instead, I believe we should be upfront. Yes, this takes work. Yes, it will challenge you. And that is why every small bit of progress matters and deserves to be celebrated.
As soon as you master one skill, there is another waiting for you on the horizon. That is not a flaw in the process, it is the beauty of it. Music gives you a lifelong path of growth and discovery. The work is real, but so is the payoff, and the payoff is worth every bit of effort.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am doing what I was born to do. I have been on this path since I was thirteen, when I walked into my local music store for my very first lesson. From that point forward, music and teaching became the thing that lit me up and shaped how I saw my future. It is really the only world I have ever known, outside of the ten years I spent working in restaurants at Muss & Turner’s.
Sound Space is a direct extension of that spark I felt as a teenager. Helping people learn an instrument, watching them unlock creativity and confidence, and being part of that journey feels like what I am meant to be doing. It never felt like someone told me this was the path. It felt like the path chose me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.SoundSpaceATL.com
- Instagram: @SoundSpaceATL
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/SoundSpaceATL
Image Credits
Photos by Barbie Margolies @gakimedia gakimedia.com
