A zoning success story welcome to the neighborhood! a new home and a new studio: a dream come true? - Forum focus: independent music teachers

American Music Teacher, Oct-Nov, 2003 by Kelly Setler Sheer

Anyone who has ever set out to build a successful home studio knows that just the building of the business takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication and creativity. In the beginning stages, musicians are consumed with proving their educational abilities, developing lasting relationships with students and studio parents, and building a repertoire library with educational tools and activities. I had been teaching for several years using an upright piano in a nine-by-eight-foot bedroom of a two-bedroom apartment. In time, I had a wonderful group of students and was faced with the challenge of making sure the music education experience would continue to improve as my students were improving. With lots of saving and careful planning, my husband and I purchased a townhouse in a great location that would continue to be convenient for my studio families. A beautiful finished basement that had room for a new grand piano, comfortable waiting and homework area; a computer station and plenty of space for music games and activities awaited my students. I had achieved my dream of creating a home-based music studio that was comfortable, spacious and ideal for great music making and sharing. And, of course, we would be welcome in our new neighborhood....

You Are NOT Welcome Here

Within a few days after our move into our new home, we had exchanged several pleasant getting-to-know-you conversations with our new neighbors. Imagine our surprise when one of our neighbors informed us suddenly and angrily that he had reported me to our community association and our township for running an illegal business. So, two weeks into resuming my teaching, our seemingly courteous and friendly neighbor became very angry and antagonistic about a music studio operating in his neighborhood. In fact, several of our neighbors were extremely alarmed at the changes in the activities taking place in their neighborhood. You might assume from my neighbors' reactions that the studio created a tremendous noise nuisance, and I conducted large-scale classes with large numbers of students swarming in and out of the area. This, of course, was not the case. The townhouse was chosen because its cement walls provided good soundproofing. The studio activities are not visible to the community, nor is there a sign advertising the studio. I teach forty-five- to sixty-minute individual sessions, and a parent observer accompanies most students. What was happening was change in a neighborhood that had seen very little change in quite some time. In addition, I learned that most of my new neighbors did not have any background in music. Therefore, they had little appreciation for the value of music education in the community.

Fighting for My Rights

I initiated several discussions with my new neighbors after tension and anger had slightly subsided on both sides. Fortunately, my neighbor decided to drop the complaint against me. I appreciated his willingness to give me a chance to prove myself to be a respectful neighbor. Generally, our neighbor relationships are slowly developing into friendships. However, I decided it would be best to face the complaint to the township and apply for a home-based permit to legalize my studio. I had never faced a hostile reaction like I had experienced in this community. I, therefore, had never felt it' necessary to formally register the studio. If I was going to feel like I belonged in my new community, I needed to face the challenge of proving that a professional music studio is an asset of community pride, not a business to keep secret. Although I appreciate my new neighbor's change of heart, I did not want to teach simply because my neighbors decided to "turn a blind eye" to my business. I did not want to promote the idea that I was hiding my studio. Instead, I needed to promote myself and other independent musicians as "legitimate" professionals, who deserve respect and have a right to work in the community. We cannot achieve this if we are perceived to be deceptive about listing our business formally, publicly and legally.

Before the township hearing that would decide my fate as a piano teacher with the right to make a living in a new community, I had contacted MTNA. They responded by submitting personalized letters and packets of information that proved invaluable for presenting the many positive aspects for maintaining the tradition of private music instruction and supporting my personal rights to run a home-based music studio. In fact, when my hearing with the township zoning committee had begun, the very first comment I received from the board was a glowing review and thank you! They expressed their appreciation for the wealth of useful information provided by MTNA in the fundamental values of supporting home-based music educators in the community. MTNA helped represent me as a professional worthy of respect in the community. With MTNA's support, I received my permit, and my neighbors' complaints against me were dismissed. You Are a Teacher: Educate Your Neighbors and Community