Meet Regina Noel Downing | Entrepreneur, Music Instructor, Coach, & Children’s Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Regina Noel Downing and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Regina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always been sort of entrepreneurial. In middle school and high school I had my own babysitting business. I loved being with kids. And I liked the flexibility of making my own schedule, as well as all the fun business things, like book-keeping and such. That seemed to just carry through to adulthood. While I was working on my MA in education, I taught piano lessons on the side. I finished my MA, got married, and started a family. Teaching was put on hold. When my daughter was about 6 months old, people started asking me about lessons again. I didn’t have my own piano at the time. But if I could travel to my students’ homes, baby in tow….well that just might work! We were fairly poor starting out as a young family. This seemed like a reasonable way to make a little money, while still being mom. I started with one family. Today, I have a bustling music studio full to the brim of students (that now travel to me!). I also offer health & life coaching, as well as write children’s story/song books. And I do it all from home – still while being mom.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m the owner and instructor of the Regina Noel Music Studio, where I teach private piano, voice, and ukulele to students of all ages and abilities/disabilities. I’m also a health and life coach, as well as a children’s author. I currently have two story-song books with Fox Pointe Publishing (Give a Little Snuggle and The Bedtime Rhyme), and a third on the way.

Getting where I am today – was definitely not easy. I built my business(es) raising my two children. We didn’t have family nearby, we couldn’t afford daycare, and my husband had his own business to run. We also had our own personal struggles to overcome. I had PTSD from a series of traumatic events in my 20s, my husband came down with Type 1 diabetes, and we were poor – so poor. All that has an effect on productivity. I just didn’t give up. I didn’t want to work for someone else. Part of that had to do with my PTSD. But also I wanted to live a life that had space for the things I valued (mostly family, and being true to myself). When I was working on my MA in education, I discovered I didn’t want to teach in public school. So “failure” just wasn’t an option. If I wanted to live a life I loved, the studio had to be successful. I didn’t want a job I wasn’t passionate about. And I didn’t want to have to teach according to someone else’s “rules.” I wanted work that made me feel touched, moved, and inspired, as much as it left my clients feeling the same. And the studio has afforded me just that, as have my books and coaching.

What am I most proud of?

I think there are a few things. One, when I think about all my students in the studio, and how long many have been with me, I’m often amazed. Sometimes I can hardly believe it. From nothing – to a full schedule year round, with students and clients nationwide and even worldwide. And to think, I did it on my own! That’s not to say that having the love and support of my husband and good friends didn’t help. It sure did! But I did the footwork – myself – while raising my kiddos. Not only that, but my own kids are growing into some pretty cool people, even with mom working and being mom simultaneously.

The other thing that really stands out to me, is the person I’ve grown into – despite all the hard times I’ve experienced. We all have hard times. What we do with them is what matters most. I’ve been able to use my experiences to help me be an effective teacher, coach, and author. I have an uncanny ability to connect with most people. In that connection, my students and clients feel safe enough to let their guard down, and really take on the challenge of learning. It’s probably what I am most known for. I don’t make people feel “right” or “wrong” or “good” or “bad” if they “do” or “don’t” act or perform a certain way. That’s a great space to be in – in general – but especially when it comes to learning. And that’s really the kind of thing I write about. My story-song books are designed to be supportive tools for families…to help not just the children feel loved and supported, but the parents and caregivers, too. All that, has grown from my hard times. Like I said, we all have hard times. What we do with them is what matters most!

Lessons I’ve learned along the way:

Mr. Rogers always said there are 3 steps to success:

1) Be kind.
2) Be kind.
3) Be kind.

I really strive to follow that. Though it seems to have taken forever to get where I am today (and believe me, there is still lots of room for growth, both personally and professionally), I think this is what has made me the most successful. You never know what a person is dealing with. Unhappy people, are hurting people. We could all use a little extra kindness now and then. Sometimes I think people are really surprised when I meet them with kindness. And yeah, I have my less-than-awesome moments, too. But I’ve REALLY learned the power of an authentic apology. If my actions are out of line, I’m quick to apologize and be clear about what’s really up for me (especially in the world of parenting). It’s also really good to be straight with people. People can handle “big” things. Kids can handle “big” things. If you’re straight about it, and come from a place of real love. Being straight means not lying or making excuses, and being clear about what you really need, or what is working or not working. People really appreciate that!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Fort Collins. There’s so much to see and do. I’d for sure take my friends to Nuance Chocolate in Old Town, Ben & Jerry’s, and The Farm House at Jessup Farm for dinner (healthy made from scratch meals in a beautiful 133 year old farm house). Of course, we’d have to hit the Anytime Fitness (I’m a total gym rat), and definitely the Rocky Mountains National Park. There’s also a great independent bookstore I really like, Old Firehouse Books. The Colorado State Fair is always a hit. And I’d definitely introduce my friends to my auntie and life coach, Tori Yarbrough Stone.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Who else gets a little credit for my story? My family life is a bit disjointed. But I’ve been fortunate to have a handful of really good mentors and friends. I think the biggest shoutout would go to my Grandma Muriel. She raised me from baby to about 3.5 years old. And she sure loved me. That love carried me through lots of trying situations in my childhood, and in the end really saved me. I’ll also give a shout out to my husband, Matthew Downing, for being there in my hardest times. My bestie, Jessie Rolfe for loving me in all my ups and downs. My Auntie and life coach, Tori Stone for supporting my personal development. And my idol, Fred Rogers, for making me feel loved and special just for being me. I think I’d also give a shoutout to my publishers, Kiersten Hall and Chelsea Farr at Fox Pointe Publishing. They’ve been SO wonderful to work with and have as a team. I’ve been pretty lucky to have the love and support of these people.

Website: www.thereginanoelmusicstudio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorreginanoeldowning/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mynetwork/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Regina-Noel-Music-Studio-107028098780744/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgL3g_15aELl7l5Z34DnPQg

Other: https://linktr.ee/AuthorRND