Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Sweeney
Hi Kelli, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For ten years, we were an active duty military family; we moved every 1-2 years. While my kids were young, I was the stability at home for our family. Once my children grew more independent, I tried to imagine a job for myself that would move well with the Army and provide flexibility with my family’s schedule. After a time of career exploration, I found that teaching violin lessons checked all of our family’s boxes and provided so much joy and fulfillment. In 2022, we left the military and moved back to our home state of Minnesota and settled in Elk River. I built my studio from the ground up, and have now expanded into teaching viola and cello lessons. My students and families are a blessing and a joy to have, and they are the hardest working students! Looking forward, I hope to develop a youth string orchestra in the area, as well as provide string summer camps with a few other music instructors in the area. The need is there, and we have so much opportunity for growth!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No one is free of struggle, including myself. First and foremost, I have a few diagnosed disabilities that affect me in my musical process; ADHD, APD (Auditory Processing Disorder), and Hyperacusis. Some of the ways it affects my music is that I have difficulty processing sound in areas with many conflicting noises, I have noise sensitivities, am slow to process sound, and have difficulty processing my pitch when playing quickly. However, I do not allow my issues to be an excuse to fail. I try to see the positive; my disabilities help me to be more understanding and open to different ways of learning for students who may have their own struggles with learning.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a violinist, violist and cellist. I specialize in private instruction of these instruments. I teach in the traditional method, but utilize parts of the Suzuki books as needed. A few things that I am known for and take pride in, is that I want my students to love and appreciate music and I also strive to develop strong relationships with my students.
I believe that developing love and appreciation of music is a gift that will stay with a student throughout their life. No matter how long they take lessons with me, I want them to know that their music will always be there for them when they need it.
For example, they can still utilize the musical skills they learn with me if they decide try another instrument. Or, if they go to an orchestra concert they will understand the instruments, may have background knowledge on the composer, and be able to make an educated guess on the time period the songs are from. They may just decide to pick up their instrument and play for relaxation ten years from now. In these ways and more, I hope to instill a life-long appreciation of music in my students.
I also strive to develop strong relationships with my students. To me that looks like attending their musical performances when invited (whether a school string orchestra performance, or another performing art), or like taking their cat when they move into a house that doesn’t allow pets (yes, my student gets to see her cat every week at my house!). Building a relationship looks like buying stick bug eggs from the cutest six year old violinist who also loves and sells bugs. I care for my students, and that strong relationship is the basis for learning their instrument well.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The best advice I have is to be resilient, surround yourself with good people, and to have a growth mindset.
I truly had a lot of things going against me with my disabilities, and for a long time that affected my confidence in myself. For awhile, I even started going to school to be in a different job field, because I was so scared about doing this job long-term with my hearing issues. After awhile, I asked myself what I was thinking, because
I truly find joy in teaching and in music. Also while I was in school, my music studio kept growing. Obviously I was doing something right… I just needed to have confidence and stick with it! So, I nixed the school distraction, and my studio continues to grow, evolve, and thrive.
Cultivating relationships with other professionals has been a major key to success. Instead of seeing other musicians as competition, I try to reframe that person as a fellow professional. We can learn from each other, grow together, support each other, and explore music together. Many of these connections are women. I choose to bring them “up” with me, and work together towards shared goals. For example, Alexis Barthel has been an amazing connection in music. She is a pianist, instructor and accompanist. She and I have been hosting concerts together and working together, and it makes for a more enjoyable time for everyone at these concerts. I have also been making connections with other local musicians towards creating a local youth orchestra and hosting summer string camps in the Elk River area.
Having a growth mindset is the last major key to success. We can always improve our own music skills, find new ways of teaching, and be open to new ideas. Constantly improving upon my own musical and instructional skills helps me to feel confident and that I’m providing my students with high quality instruction. Asking families for feedback has also been critical to my studio’s growth and success.
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