Daily Inspiration: Meet Amanda Bailey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Bailey

Hi Amanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Wow…….it’s hard to even know where to begin! I have always known that I wanted to teach and be in the field of education but I will never forget the feeling of walking out of my music classroom at Barwell Road Elementary School in September of 2013 when my son was born. As I took down the classroom decor and turned off the lights for the last time, I sobbed all the way to my car. On that day, it felt like I was saying “goodbye forever” to the amazing students, teachers, and principal who had just named me the Diane Kent Parker “Teacher of the Year” one year prior. I remember wondering how in the world I was going to be able justify a Bachelors Degree in Music, Masters Degree in Teaching, and many years of hard work “just” to teach private voice/piano lessons in the evening while staying home with my son during the day.

Now, eleven years later and with a beautiful daughter as well, I can look back on that day with a smile because it was the inspiration of those students, encouragement of my colleagues, and amazing leadership of my principal that gave me the tools needed to now own one of the fastest growing music studios in our area. Never, in a million years, could I have imagined the many students I would have the gift of teaching since that day in 2013.

As I send my son off to middle school next year, I am quickly reminded what an immense blessing it was to give him those extra baby snuggles during the day and then teach lessons every evening of the week. Those beginning years of growing my private studio from seven students to forty-five helped me learn that the values of hard work and dedication can never be taught, but must be experienced!

In January of 2022, I decided that my desire to, again, work with colleagues could be coupled with my love of private music instruction so I decided to hire my first teacher. Today, Amanda Bailey Studios has over 260 students and 18 instructors. We offer private lessons in voice, piano, guitar, drums, flute, ukulele, and cello. Our studio vision is to always empower people, of all ages, to reach their highest potential as a musician through quality instruction.
In addition to private lessons, we also offer Summer Camps, workshops throughout the year, two recitals per year, and concerts to benefit our community! The A.B.S. team is so excited about our upcoming “Music for the Mountains” benefit concert, supporting Western North Carolina’s recovery from destruction left by Hurricane Helene. All of our amazing teachers share my passion to serve every student that desires lessons, regardless of the boundaries that may stand in their way. With this always being on the forefront of my mind, I founded a scholarship board of directors this past year and we have worked hard to ease the financial burden of lesson tuition by providing opportunities for tuition assistance in the form of scholarships.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Phew….these last three years have truly been a blur of long hours, laughter, tears, smiles, and amazing memories. Most all of my closest friends and family can attest to the fact that I do NOT like change and this road has involved many changes along the way! I have now realized that sometimes change leads us out of our comfort zone and into places that we could have never imagined in our own state of complacency. I am SO thankful for my amazing “village” of friends and family who let me cry on the phone or just listened when I needed a listening ear. I owe a special shout out to my wonderful husband, Nick, who has truly been my rock through this journey.

When I hired my first teacher, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing but what I DID know was that I wanted to provide the most amazing work environment for each and every teacher that I have the privilege of working with every day! That was the only constant at the time and it still remains true today. The business side of things was something that I had never studied before, so I worked extremely hard to ensure that I spent every “non-teaching” hour I had with trusted colleagues and other business owners who could mentor me and help me navigate the insane world of business ownership with the arts education community. I have always loved “shopping local” and supporting local business owners but now, more than ever, I have a new found respect for business owners that have not just survived, but thrived!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Amanda Bailey Studios specializes in quality, in-home, music lesson instruction for students of all ages!
Our team of teachers desire to help their students gain the skills and experience necessary to turn their desire to take lessons into a life-long passion of music! Whether a student is looking into pursuing music as a career, or simply learning skills to become proficient in their instrument of choice, Amanda Bailey Studios can help!
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If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Any success that I achieve, whether personally or professionally, would simply not be possible without the three most important things in my life: my faith, my family, and my friends!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to our studio families and to our AMAZING team of teachers who make this the best job in the whole world. You have become part of my family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandabaileystudios.com
• Instagram: @amandabaileystudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWatsonBaileyStudios
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandabaileystudios/