Today we’d like to introduce you to Addison Horner.
Hi Addison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Sanford, training classically on piano before branching out into pop and rock music. While earning a Music Production & Recording Arts degree at Elon University, I was blessed with performance opportunities across the spectrum—playing the Bluebird Café in Nashville, touring with a jazz band in Italy, and directing an a cappella group for three years. I’ve worked as a composer, performer, arranger, choir director, worship leader, and accompanist.
While at Elon, I discovered my love for teaching music. I developed the world’s first Instagram piano curriculum for my Honors thesis and presented the research at national and international conferences. Since graduating in 2016, I’ve taught close to 15,000 lessons in piano, guitar, ukulele, voice, bass, and other musical disciplines.
That same year, I moved to Orlando, where I lived and worked until fall 2025. Now my family is back in the central North Carolina area, where I was delighted to open my first private studio in Holly Springs in December 2025!
I also work in the publishing industry, writing fantasy books and editing indie manuscripts under the label of Avocado Tree Press. I’m an obnoxiously cheesy and doting husband to my wife, Charis, and the proud father of the World’s Most Adorable Toddler, trademark pending.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Entrepreneurship in a creative field often feels like creating something out of nothing. Opportunities come from a mix of hard work and preparation (which I can control) and happenstance and exposure (which I can’t). The biggest struggle of running your own creative business in the twenty-first century is getting eyeballs on your services. In moving from Florida to North Carolina, I had to build my studio from scratch, and I’ve been blessed with some wonderful connections and many folks who’ve put their trust in me to guide them or their children on a musical journey.
When it comes to work, parenthood has been as much a blessing as it is oftentimes a struggle. Our son was born three months before his due date, and his medical journey led my wife and I through an incredibly difficult experience. But my career’s flexibility has given us the opportunity to adapt to circumstances and provide the attention and care our son needs, and he has grown into a gorgeous and inquisitive two-year-old. That flexilbility is the reason I chose to open a private studio in Wake County instead of working for a music school.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I teach music lessons to all ages—my students have ranged from 4 to their 80’s! But I find a special joy in teaching children how to begin playing instruments. I offer lessons in piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, and voice, as well as theory and composition. Having a wide range of instruments and experiences means that every student gets an expansive, comprehensive view of whatever they want to learn. I cater every lesson to the students’ goals and learning styles, because there is no one right way to play or learn an instrument.
Whether you want to study piano in college, play your favorite songs on guitar for fun, or dust off your vocal cords, I can help!
What are your plans for the future?
As my studio fills up, I’m looking forward to our first outreach opportunities—a fall recital, community performances, and student recording projects!
I’m also offering special benefits to anyone who finds me on VoyageRaleigh! You can get a free trial lesson and 50% off your first month of weekly lessons. Sibling/guardian discounts and financial aid are available.
Sign up for your free trial lesson: https://addisonhorner.mymusicstaff.com
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