Meet Monica Labonte | Private vocal teacher/coach, songwriter, musician

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

Hi Monica, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Overtime, I have fine tuned my passions and realized my dreams through trial and error. I have worked so many different jobs but I keep coming back to music, one way or another. I also have a deep need and desire to help people. With my degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and my experience and love for making music and singing, I get to combine all of my strengths into teaching, performing and writing. I also have a son who is in kindergarten and running my own business allows me the flexibility of time that a different type of job would not.

I was on a track to go to grad school for Speech Therapy the last few years. I worked in a school district as a speech therapy assistant, and although I loved the work, I could not achieve the work-life balance I was hoping once my son started elementary school. Prior to that job, I was essentially a full-time working musician performing 3-5 times a week and driving all over the state. That also was not a sustainable schedule as a parent. Starting my own business as a private music teacher keeps my knowledge sharp and my skills in teaching strong while affording me time with my family. I get to make my own schedule and (over the course of the last ten years or so) have found students who are a great fit for me, me for them, and fit my schedule. It didn’t happen over night but I’m so happy I dug in and kept working at building my studio. The patience and persistence has truly paid off.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is my guidance in voice and music as a teacher and then as a songwriter and performer. I consider both to be interconnected and vital for the other. For as long as I can remember, I have loved singing and music. It seems that singing as been as natural to me as breathing, even when I was a little girl. I think something that sets me apart is my breadth of experience working with different types of people in all different kinds of contexts and how that has shaped me as a teacher. I worked with people with disabilities for over twenty years in different capacities (CNA, personal aide, arts and crafts director at a camp, speech assistant in a school district). I have also worked with children in many different ways (camp counselor, music director at a camp, lead music teacher at a Montessori school, and now as a mom). I’ve traveled the world, I have worked in restaurants, I have taught children to speak. I’ve also played on stages all over the country, mostly singing my original music. It’s clear to me that I absolutely love working with people and I really love working with people who want to explore their voice and music. Music is an absolute for me, there’s no questioning how important it is for me and for my amazing clients who come to see me. Lastly, I have a degree that gave me a clear and deep knowledge of the physical systems required for singing. Because vocal teaching/coaching is unregulated, you don’t alway find people who know what’s actually going on in the body and how to trouble shoot issues that come up. I have that knowledge and I hold that it close so that I can guide people in a way that’s healthy and not hurtful.

Getting to where I am today was not easy at all. It took me many tries of dipping in and out of music, in and out of teaching, in and out of speech therapy, and other fields to really figure out what worked well for me and my family. I can say that every job and every experience was a stepping stone for where I am today. I wouldn’t go back and change a thing even if I could.

Overcoming challenges for me is a practice in persistence and patience. I like it when things happen fast and right away. Life has mostly worked out differently, and usually for the better. When I came back to music these last two years, I had to let go of my previous paradigm around what it was supposed to look like, ask myself some really honest questions about what was really important to me, and rebuild from a new place. This is the most balanced and happiest I’ve been in music so I feel like I’m on to something.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way……..something I wish I could go back and tell my younger self is that there will always be growth that needs to happen, always something to learn, and to seek out mentorship with a humble heart early on. I was so guarded and sensitive that it inhibited my growth early in my music career. In short, I was in my own way so much of the time. I’ve learned what works for me and what I’m good at, and I create my path from that place instead of fear and insecurity.

What I’d love the world to know if that I’m here, ready to teach you out of the wonderful Butterscotch Studios! I also run a songwriter show in Longmont every month called Mixtape that I’m very proud of and I’d like you to come!

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?
If my bestie showed up and stayed for a week, I’d focus on nature, food, and music! We would ride bikes around the awesome bike paths in Longmont, maybe to a brewery or two. Left Hand and 300 Suns are two of my favs. Another day, I’d take her to Rabbit Mountain to hike and see the view and then lunch at Juniper Goods to grab a sandwich and a coffee. She’s from Alabama so I’d have to take her to Estes Park for the day to drive around the park, hike, and swing by the Stanley to get a drink at the bar. I’d probably have my son with me so we could ride bikes to a park and enjoy the Colorado sunshine or go to Roger’s Grove to explore around by the river. Other places I’d love to bring her would be the Firehouse Art Center, music at Bricks or a Soundpost Sessions show at The Times Collaborative, Cheese Emporium (because who doesn’t love cheese), and takeout at Tiffins (best Indian food around). If the weather is great, I’d take her to Lake McIntosh for a paddle and picnic!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My success is absolutely dedicated to those who believed in me and took a chance on me, even when I was in my early stages of figuring out who I was as a professional in any of the fields I’ve landed in. The mentors in my journey include Robby Loeb at Harmony House (who gave me my first private music teaching job), Tricia Leines (my vocal mentor for many years who helped me build my private practice and literally saved my voice), Jill Hawks (my speech therapist supervisor who taught me advocacy for the most vulnerable populations and integrity in all of my work as a speech assistant), and most recently Kate Emrich (who directly mentors me in my own vocal journey and my vocal teaching). Without these incredible people believing in me, I think I’d still be floundering to find my purpose.

I also grew up in a household that fully supported my creative and academic endeavors. I’ve always had cheerleaders in my parents and siblings who’ve given me wings no matter what direction I’ve chosen. For this, I’m so grateful!

Website: https://monicamariemusic.com

Instagram: @monicamariemusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@monicamarielabonte8714

Image Credits
Photo 1: Grace Clark, Photo 3: Andrew Sturtz