Meet Danit Yeshaya of Mountainside Music Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danit Yeshaya.

Hi Danit, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My husband and I moved to Boulder in 2013 after we both graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston. We each wanted to build teaching studios (for me piano and voice, and my husband trombone and trumpet). We found a house that we could make a lot of noise in and set out to find students. After getting to know some families in the area, it became clear that the biggest pain point for them was commuting to lessons. So we started traveling to them! Our studios grew faster than we had ever imagined, which made an old dream pop back up for us… When we were younger, we had always talked about starting a music school together, and it seemed that the time was finally right.

As musicians, we were noticing that there was a disconnect between the world of musicians and the families in the community. Musicians couldn’t find students, and the students couldn’t find a teacher. We were able to connect those worlds. It’s an amazing thing to know that our teachers were able to bring music into so many homes.

As a teacher myself, I found so much meaning in teaching – of course watching the students improve as musicians, but even more so, seeing what music could do in a child’s life. Learning to play an instrument is so much more than gaining a skill. This is something I learned by watching these kids. Learning music makes you believe in yourself, builds your confidence, and literally gives you a voice. I’ve watched so many young students identify with music and gain such a sense of pride as they develop as musicians. In the end, this was a bigger achievement than anything else I could have done with music. I feel that I’ve found a way to spread the magic of music in a community that I love.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In 2020, just like all the other small businesses in the community (albeit, world), we had to get creative to survive. The pandemic affected every business in a different way, and for us the solution was “virtual lessons.” The credit is due 100% to our amazing teachers – they were able to adapt their teaching for the screen. This is something that is incredibly difficult with music for many reasons. From finding the right camera angles to getting creative with digital whiteboards and file sharing to figuring out how to optimize the sound quality – our teachers pulled off an incredible feat and kept the music going during a time when kids needed it the most.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mountainside Music Academy?
Mountainside Music Academy offers in-home lessons in Boulder, Superior, Louisville, and more… This means that our teachers drive to your home! We offer lessons in over 20 different instruments, many different genres, and all ages and levels. We take pride in finding teachers who are not only talented and knowledgeable but inspiring and fun.

Our top priority has always been fostering a love of music in our students and ensuring that they develop a positive relationship with music. But now more than ever, our young people are facing a mental health crisis, so we’re taking our mission more seriously than ever before. We’ve watched so many of our students find solace in music, and we’re determined to share music with as many young people as we can in this time of uncertainty and change.

We put a lot of thought into finding the right teachers – musicians who can be not only teachers but mentors to their students, and help them find solace, confidence, and a purpose in music. We believe that music adds a beauty to life that everyone deserves to experience, so we’re proud to share that magic with our students.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. No one told me that I could start a music school, and I guarantee you that no one was ever going to. I had to give myself the permission and believe in myself all the way. Turns out there isn’t really anyone out there doling out the permission, so it’s up to you!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mountainsidemusicacademy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountainsidemusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainsidemusicacademy

Image Credits
Ethan Yeshaya