Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Lindblom.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I opened Medina School of Music while I was nine months pregnant with my second child. At the time, I had already been teaching piano and voice for over twelve years and was running a full private studio with a waitlist. Families were asking for lessons in instruments I didn’t offer like violin, guitar, and more and I found myself stuck between growing demand and my unwillingness to recommend teachers I didn’t truly know or trust. That tension became the spark for building something bigger than my own studio.
I began teaching out of my home and eventually rented a small commercial space in Hamel, officially opening Medina School of Music in 2019. Those early years were equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. I was juggling a newborn, interviewing teachers, managing administrative work, and still teaching lessons both at home and at the school. Even so, I was fulfilling a lifelong dream: creating a place where high-quality music education was accessible, joyful, and rooted in real relationships.
Two years in, even with the disruption of the pandemic, we reached capacity. My husband, who has been an integral partner in the business from the beginning, and I knew it was time to grow. By chance, a business owner directly across the street approached us about taking over his lease. The timing was perfect, and that move marked a turning point. It allowed me to finally build the school I had always envisioned not just for students, but for teachers as well.
For years, I had lived the reality many music educators face: being the teacher, receptionist, scheduler, bookkeeper, and marketer all at once. I knew how draining that was. At Medina School of Music, my goal became creating a workplace where teachers could focus solely on teaching and the student experience, supported by systems and a team that handled everything else. That philosophy continues to guide how we operate today.
While I’m no longer teaching regularly (a change I hope to reverse soon) teaching has always been at the heart of why I do this work. I’m incredibly proud of our students: those who have gone on to win competitions, earn lead roles in school productions, join band and orchestra programs, and, just as importantly, grow in confidence and joy. Even when students move on to larger opportunities, families consistently leave grateful for the experience and the role the school has played in their lives.
At the core of everything we do is our guiding belief: experience the joy of music. Music education should be joyful, whether a student is pursuing it seriously or simply for personal enrichment. My work is driven by a desire to give our community access to music education that meets students where they are.
Today, I’m in my final semester of a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education, in addition to holding a master’s degree in music pedagogy. My goal is to deepen our programs by better understanding how children learn, think, and grow bridging music education with strong classroom-based pedagogy so we can continue expanding thoughtfully and sustainably.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Two years in, even with the disruption of the pandemic, we reached capacity. My husband, who has been an integral partner in the business from the beginning, and I knew it was time to grow. By chance, a business owner directly across the street approached us about taking over his lease. The timing was perfect, and that move marked a turning point. It allowed me to finally build the school I had always envisioned not just for students, but for teachers as well.
The pandemic was one of our most challenging seasons, but it also forced us to become better communicators and more thoughtful system-builders. Our teachers and staff adapted quickly, and many of the self-service and communication tools we rely on today were born out of that period.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is rooted in classical music training and a deep understanding of both the artistry and realities of a life in the performing arts. I began my musical career as a classical singer, earning a degree in opera performance and traveling to Europe to perform. Those experiences were formative, not only artistically, but personally. While I loved the rigor and beauty of that world, I also came to understand the challenges of sustaining a performance-driven career while wanting a stable, family-centered life.
That realization led me to reimagine what a fulfilling career in music could look like. Rather than stepping away from music, I leaned more deeply into teaching, pedagogy, and community-based music education. Over time, that evolved into the creation of Medina School of Music, where I now focus on building programs, mentoring teachers, and shaping an environment where students and educators alike can thrive.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
We rely heavily on our scheduling and student portal Opus1.io
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.medinaschoolofmusic.com
- Instagram: medinaschoolofmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/medinaschoolofmusic
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medina-school-of-music/
