Today we’d like to introduce you to Camille Hastings.
Camille, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been in music since I was young child starting at the piano and have never stopped. After graduating Berklee College of Music I began teaching. I have taught 6 month olds to 83 year olds for the past 25 years. Nine years ago I opened up Leading Note Studios with 5 students and a dream. With community support we have grown to 390 students, 25 teachers, 12 rooms, 7 days and 1 recording studio. I pride myself on a professional, clean, safe, high-tech, fun place where parents can drop off their kids for lessons or take lessons themselves.
We do studio recitals, many community event performances and also teach at local schools with PTA support. Our students become confident, happy, well rounded and many are in college continuing music while pursuing other majors as well.
Music will always be a part of everyone’s life!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have amazing parents who both worked and were willing to put in the time and effort to accomplish what they wanted. So when I started my business, I knew that I would have to be willing to put in the time and work that they had shown me needed to be done. This included putting on work boots and a construction hat so I could be painting and designing the studio, adding more teaching rooms and space to grow.
Later, I realized that I lacked certain skills for growing the business further. Luckily, I have been able to surround myself with mentors, friends, teachers and business leaders who I trust enough to teach me where I need help and I was willing to learn from them. Therefore, following their advice, I’m able to continue growing the business.
The struggles… working 7 days a week, 10-12 hours daily, finding reliable staff and fear about paying rent.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We teach music to everybody – all instruments, all ages and we even provide lessons via Skype or FaceTime for clients who do not live in our area. We specialize in a fun, friendly, educational and safe environment where we develop, grow and nurture a love for music. Our methods are fun and innovative and are customized to each individual.
Unlike most music studios, we have a recording studio where clients of all ages can experience the true music recording and engineering process and can even take lessons to learn how to engineer their own original recordings. We also teach songwriting and theory, do audition coaching, and can assist anyone needing advice with song composition.
Our instructors have incredible backgrounds and experience. What sets us apart from others is our warm, friendly atmosphere where every client becomes part of our musical family. Due to our in-house lessons, students work together and know each-other personally.
What were you like growing up?
I can’t remember a time not doing music and I was always happiest doing so. I took piano, recorder and flute lessons in elementary school, was part of the marching band in Jr. High, choir in high school, and musical theatre shows in the community, I also did commercials in LA, sang back up for Barry Manilow, performed private home shows for Merv Griffin with my singing trio, sang at Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm and was even a magician’s assistant. My mom tells stories that everyone would tell her I had perfect pitch and that I was always smiling with or without a spotlight. I never played sports and the only time I tried I took a soccer ball to the face so I quickly went back to dance class.
Pricing:
- Private Lessons and Semi Private Lessons starting at $147/monthly
- Rock Band Classes $80/monthly
- Music Camps starting at $299/weekly
- Recording Studio Rates starting at $150
Contact Info:
- Address: 2146 Encinitas Blvd, Ste. 105
- Website: www.leadingnotestudios.com
- Phone: 760-753-7002
- Email: info@leadingnotestudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadingnotestudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadingnotestudios/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chastingsprep/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/leading-note-studios-encinitas
Image Credit:
Chris Tillman – Photographer
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
