We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Kelley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I never really stopped to think how my business affected my community until others started pointing it out to me. Let me explain: While I do think about the past (and have so many fond memories of my work days and recitals), I am often looking to the future for what I can do next. How can I improve things? How can I be more efficient? What will work better in terms of work flow? I am the type of person that is always thinking three steps ahead, planning out curriculums and events. Mix that with also staying both present and grounded, and I am just doing what I do…intuitively teaching music and cultivating relationships with my students (both children and adults.) In other words, I am just being myself, caring for my student body both musically and emotionally. While my students have great success in their music studies, often getting solos in their school music groups or passing auditions with flying colors, it is the emotional connections with them that parents tell me is the most impactful, and the part I value immensely. With vulnerability comes learning, so I create a safe space in my studio where students can take risks, and grow.

I care deeply about my work, and always want that to translate into what I do. Many of my students talk to me about things that happen in their lives outside of music class. Being a strong support system for them and being available to listen, offer advice if asked for, and simply being another adult in their life that they can trust and rely on is a source of great pride for me. It is through this gratification, coupled with the feedback that I get from parents telling me how I have changed their child’s life for the better, is how I have realized I have built a community through music; using empathy, kindness and understanding.
Besides providing a solid, structured, music education, the feedback I receive is that I help kids have better self esteem, navigate through school, build a solid network of friends, utilize music to build teamwork skills, learn how to self advocate, discuss music industry issues, talk about social issues, process traumatic current events, set and attain goals, handle conflicts with other teachers or classmates, handle frustration, take risks, do auditions outside of their comfort zone, communicate with parents, channel anger, write a research paper, accept and love your body, practice self care, handle a learning disability, practice patience, and love yourself. So, one by one, in their private music lessons, these are the life lessons that unfold. And one by one, I help the kids in my community. It is these moments that I genuinely live for. Teaching music is amazing, important, and my true calling, but building a community and being available for kids is something that is so profoundly impactful, both to them, and to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The level of dedication I have to my art/craft, and also to my students is a huge part of my life and what keeps me the busiest. I also perform and write music, both as a solo artist under my name, and also with my rock band, Married a Dead Man. I continue to take classes on the music industry, stay current by attending workshops geared towards private music teachers, and I network all the time.

What do you want people to know about your brand?
It has been a journey getting to where I am today. I have been teaching for 25 years, and there have been obstacles and challenges, but with every obstacle, there was a massive lesson learned. So, by this time in my life, and through hard work, focus, effort, structure, and education, my business runs efficiently. What I would like people to know about my brand is that I have a strong balance of business and people skills, mixed with being a creative artist. I am organized, handle every aspect of the administrative side of things both with my teaching business and my band, and also make time for creativity.
When people sign up for lessons with me, they are not only getting an eduction from someone who is classically trained and holds two degrees in music. They are also getting the background of someone who knows the music business, anatomy and health, music technology, recording and live sound, songwriting, traditional pedagogy and technique with both piano and voice, psychology, sociology, and creativity. Teaching all aspects of music and helping people realize their full potential is the backbone of my studio. Diversity in this field is paramount, and I love utilizing everything I have learned over the course of my life in my lessons. I am always learning new things, and often times, my students are the best teachers. My relationship with them is truly reciprocal.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a rough question for right now, given the pandemic, and so many places closing. That being said, if the pandemic wasn’t an issue right now, I would do the following with my best friend who lives in New York, and make these recommendations: We would eat at Bastien’s, because it’s a Denver institution and the steaks are delicious. We would also eat at Pete’s Kitchen for the same reason, and because she loves diners. We would record shop at Twist and Shout. We would go to Red Rocks, look at the sky, and see a concert. We would drive to Estes Park in the fall and look at the Aspens, and stay at the Stanley because it’s haunted and fun. We would go for a short hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, and try to go white water rafting if the rapids are good in the summer. We would do a ghost tour through Capital Hill in downtown Denver, and see live music at the Bluebird Theater. We would go to my favorite dive bar, the Lion’s Lair, and hopefully catch more live music. We would get gifts at SpiritWays in Denver, and get a tarot reading. We would walk around downtown and eat brunch at Urban Farmer, and I would tell her what has changed and what has stayed the same in the past 16+ years (the length of time I have lived in Denver.) We would go shopping in Cherry Creek and go to the Denver Art Museum. And we would see a movie at the Sie. Lastly, we would get breakfast at Lucille’s, and take a yoga class at the Iyengar Yoga Center of Denver. I love my city and state so much.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom, Patricia Sahertian, an artist in Phoenix, AZ.

Website: www.megankelley.net

Instagram: @pentameg

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-kelley-98595798/

Twitter: @Megan_Kelley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.kelley.923

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.