Behind the scenes, Music Masters is operated by husband-wife duo Bryan and Aolani Kuban. With an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Organizational Management, Aolani admits that music wasn’t her cup of tea growing up (mainly because she didn’t want to trim her nails to play the instruments). However, the Kubans use their combined talents to keep the Academy on key. Bryan teaches lessons and handles the music side while Aolani manages the business. We recently chatted with Aolani about how she keeps Music Masters finely tuned.

1. What inspired you to start Music Masters?

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Prior to owning Music Masters, I owned an accounting business in Scottsdale for 10 years. When my husband and I married, he was teaching music lessons and doing studio sessions out of his house, and then out of our house together. He had a dream to own a music school but didn’t know how to go about getting it started and that’s where I came in. I wrote a business plan, got some funding together and Music Masters Music Academy was born! Music Masters opened Sept. 21, 2006 – so we’ve been open about four-and-a-half years. We started out with no students and two teachers and now teach approximately 140 lessons a week with 12 teachers on staff. 

2. What is it like working alongside your husband?

Luckily, Bryan and I are extremely compatible. We have our tiffs like any other couple, but we really enjoy being able to work together and share a common goal. Even though we spend at least five hours a day together at the Academy we aren’t really together as he is in his room teaching and I am working the front desk. He is scheduled with back to back students from about 2 until 8 each night so sometimes our communication is a wave or a quick hug. Or, more commonly a request from him that I make a food or Starbucks run!

3. What are some challenges you face as a business owner?

One challenge we face is getting and keeping students. The summers are especially challenging when a lot of families take vacation. Our student population changes, but our expenses don’t. We have a “magic number” of 200 students every month. If we could hit that number consistently on a monthly basis, I would be a happy woman! We haven’t gotten there yet, but I am still hopeful.

4. What sets Music Masters apart from its competition?

We offer the first lesson free, just to try Music Masters out, no obligation. We don’t have sign up fees or recital fees  and we also have several student bands. The students learn serious subjects like music theory, but in a fun atmosphere.

[Overall,]I want to offer a great product at a fair price: We keep our pricing affordable so that families with multiple children don’t have to pick and choose which child gets to take music lessons. It means less profit for the business, but when I hear students who had never touched their instrument six months prior playing songs at the recital, that makes it all worth it. I want to create a low stress, happy work atmosphere. We treat our customers and instructors like family. I try to know every parent’s name and we greet everyone coming through the door and thank them when they leave.

Interviewed by Scott Huscher, Olson Communications, Inc. intern. You can follow him on Twitter @scottyhush.