Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Swedberg.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story starts in Moorhead, Minnesota, where I grew up and joined the thriving 5th-grade orchestra program. I immediately fell in love with making music for myself and with my friends, but the turning point came in high school when my orchestra teacher, Brian Cole, encouraged me to try teaching at a summer camp. I was instantly hooked. I fell in love with empowering students through music.
After exploring other paths, I realized I missed the creative focus and community camaraderie of a musical environment. This gap became the drive to build something fulfilling and empowering.
In 2018, I founded Amped School of Music in downtown Fargo and taught music with a dozen other passionate teachers, united by the mission to Empower, Connect, and Celebrate Musicians.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road was anything but smooth, which is expected when launching a passion project from nothing. We faced intense financial grit from day one, launching the studio with literally less than $500 of initial investment. We furnished it with old family pieces, such as my father’s 100-year-old piano and my mother’s mid-century furniture, and relied on the generosity of our teachers to lend musical gear.
Simultaneously, as a young woman in my 20s, I struggled internally with imposter syndrome and perfectionism, often becoming consumed with speculating on potential problems and feeling the pressure to prove my worth as a business owner, boss, and teacher. Over time, however, both the business and my personal identity solidified. I grew more confident and learned to set strong boundaries. Despite these hurdles, the drive to provide inspiring and excellent musical experiences for our students has always been the powerful motivator that pushed us through every challenge.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Amped School of Music is a premier music studio in the Fargo area, specializing in high-quality, one-on-one lessons for ages 5 to adult. Our teachers instruct in a wide variety of instruments, including voice, piano, guitar, drums, violin, and ukulele, but our approach is what makes us unique. We don’t believe one approach fits all students. We focus on a student-led, custom curriculum. Every student receives a specialized Student Binder with practice trackers and resources, access to an online portal, and weekly lesson notes from their teacher, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way.
What truly sets us apart is our relentless focus on our mission: Empower, Connect, and Celebrate Musicians.
We are known for being a direct support system for our local music teachers. We hire the best independent teachers in the region—many holding Doctorates in music or having toured professionally with acts like Cher and Barry Manilow. We provide them with exceptional administrative support, competitive pay, and resources so they can focus entirely on their craft. This results in a higher quality of instruction that families rave about; we often hear from parents that we offer the “best music instruction in Fargo” because we prioritize building confidence and meaningful relationships over soulless perfection.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of the community atmosphere we have built. As a woman, neurodivergent, and LGBTQ+ owner, cultivating a genuinely inclusive and safe space is my top priority. Our lobby isn’t a waiting room; it’s a community living room where families and teachers hang out and chat, craft, or work on a community jigsaw puzzle. Amped is a place where families connect while students participate in our unique events, such as Quarterly Spirit Weeks (where students perform in the lobby), monthly Open Mics focused on first-time stage performances, and large showcases at community events such as the Fargo Street Fair.
We are also constantly innovating to meet the needs of our community. We recently launched Rock Band Crash Courses, where students of all ages form a band and perform on stage after just four rehearsals, and we are thrilled to introduce a weekly Adult Piano Lab in 2026 to bring social connection to adult learning. Supporting Amped is a direct investment in Fargo’s local, creative community and an endorsement of a welcoming and inclusive place where everyone is encouraged to be their authentic self and achieve their goals.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I grew up right across the Red River in Moorhead, MN, benefiting from our region’s vibrant music programs, from elementary school all the way to my alma mater, Concordia College.
To be honest, what I used to like “least” is what many young creatives feel in a modest-sized metro: the itch to leave. I felt I needed to go elsewhere to experience the world, so I lived on the East Coast and in Italy for a few years.
However, that distance is what taught me what I like “best”: the unique blend of familiarity and discovery. I missed knowing the best secret spots and seeing familiar faces, but I also missed the ease of connection. Upon returning, I realized Fargo-Moorhead offers the best of both worlds. It is small enough to provide wonderful community support for launching a new business, yet vibrant enough to constantly offer new friends and new favorite spots to visit.
I hope that the community continues to value local small businesses that support Fargo-Moorhead families over major chains.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ampedschoolofmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampedschoolofmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ampedschoolofmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ampedschoolofmusic
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/amped-school-of-music-fargo
