The Fourforty (440) with Eric Branner

Eric Branner
  • 5.0 (12)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The FourForty Podcast is where musicians and music teachers share their journeys as educators, entrepreneurs, and creative leaders. Each conversation explores the real work of building a meaningful career in music... and the impact it makes beyond the studio.

  1. 4D AGO

    Follow Your Curiosity: Designing a Sustainable Music Career with Dr. Lisa Neher

    Dr. Lisa Neher didn’t choose one lane. She’s an opera singer, composer, professor, private studio teacher, actor, and President of New Wave Opera... and she does all of it at a high level. In this conversation, we explore what it actually looks like to follow your curiosity into a multi-dimensional career in the arts. Lisa shares: Why she didn’t follow a traditional conservatory pathHow she navigated being both a singer and a composer in graduate schoolWhat institutions get wrong about putting artists in boxesHow she built a thriving private voice studioWhat it takes to launch an opera company from scratchHow to commit to creative projects and actually finish themThe difference between being “busy” & being alignedWhy structure is what allows freedomThis episode is a blueprint for musicians who don’t want to shrink themselves into one job title. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too many things” to fit into a traditional arts career… this conversation will resonate deeply. 🌊 Learn more about Lisa's work here www.lisanehermusic.com Instagram: @lisanehermezzo Substack: Facebook:  🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    1h 14m
  2. Structure + Freedom: How Tony Parlapiano Built popMATICS

    FEB 11

    Structure + Freedom: How Tony Parlapiano Built popMATICS

    Tony Parlapiano is the creator of popMATICS, an online music school built on a simple but powerful idea: great music education lives at the intersection of structure and freedom. In this episode, Tony shares how popMATICS evolved from private and travel teaching into a membership-based, community-driven music school for adults. He talks candidly about the moment he hit a financial ceiling, why a bold model change caused him to lose half his studio overnight, and how listening closely to students ultimately shaped a better system. We explore Tony’s teaching philosophy—learning by listening, creating, and developing an understanding of sound—and how popMATICS supports musicians with real lives through live classes, clear rhythms, and a “stay present” approach to learning. Tony also breaks down his creative workflow, including his Friday execution days, daily short-form content practice, and why he prioritizes fun as a core value proposition. The conversation closes with Tony’s work teaching music in a correctional facility, where students can’t practice between sessions and the roster changes weekly—yet music still finds a way to matter. This is a deep, honest look at building a music education business that serves both the teacher and the student—and designing a life that supports creative work over the long term. Learn more about Tony's work at PopMATICS. 🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    1h 13m

  3. FEB 6

    Why I’m Wildly Optimistic About the Future of Teaching Private Music Lessons

    There’s a lot of excitement right now, and also a lot of anxiety in the music lessons industry. After returning from the NAMM Show and talking with teachers and industry leaders, I’m still wildly optimistic about the future of teaching private music lessons. In this solo episode, I share why the demand for music learning isn’t going away, what the data actually shows about instruments and lessons, and why private teachers are more essential than ever in an increasingly digital world. We’ll talk about leadership, culture, and what it means to stay confident, visible, and committed to work that truly matters. If you teach music, this episode is meant to put some wind in your sails and encourage you to keep going. 🌊 🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    26 min
  4. Merging Business and Art: Lessons on Gratitude, Risk, and a Life in Music with Brian Chung

    JAN 29

    Merging Business and Art: Lessons on Gratitude, Risk, and a Life in Music with Brian Chung

    Brian Chung has lived a rare kind of career—one where music and business were never opposites, but partners. In this wide-ranging and deeply human conversation, Brian shares the full arc of his journey: from a five-year-old who wrote “musician” in his childhood memory book, to a performer, educator, and eventually Senior Vice President of Kawai America Corporation, where he spent over three decades serving the music-making community. Along the way, we talk about risk, identity, and the quiet discipline of gratitude. Brian reflects on pivotal moments—walking away from music school, investing everything into a MIDI studio, rescuing a struggling product line live on QVC, and discovering how powerful it can be to connect heart, mind, and action when communicating an idea. We also explore his deep involvement with Music Teachers National Association, how invitations shaped his creative life, and how a lifetime of service eventually led him back to his first love: composing. Now fully devoted to writing music, Brian shares the story behind Life in 12 Keys, his newest solo piano collection published by Alfred Music—and what it means to come home to creativity with gratitude and intention. This episode is for musicians, educators, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating the tension between stability and calling—and wondering if it’s ever too late to return to what they love. Learn more about Brian's work here... www.brianchung.net YouTube 🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    1h 26m
  5. Clarity Over Chaos: Building a Professional Music Teaching Business with Michael Richey

    JAN 20

    Clarity Over Chaos: Building a Professional Music Teaching Business with Michael Richey

    What does a truly professional music teaching practice look like in 2026? In this episode of The FourForty Podcast, I’m joined by Michael Richey, owner of Tennessee Music Academy, a multi-teacher, in-home music studio serving Nashville families. Michael shares how he’s built a calm, sustainable, high-trust studio by making a few clear decisions and sticking to them. We talk about flat-rate tuition, no-makeup policies, clear communication, and why professionalism actually creates better relationships with families. We also explore how the Alexander Technique and Dalcroze Eurhythmics have shaped Michael’s teaching philosophy, helping students move, learn, and grow with less tension—both musically and logistically. This conversation is a masterclass in doing fewer things, better. 🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    53 min
  6. The Happy Musician: Burnout, Boundaries, and Building a Sustainable Career with Candace Lark-Masucci

    JAN 14

    The Happy Musician: Burnout, Boundaries, and Building a Sustainable Career with Candace Lark-Masucci

    Candace Lark-Masucci is a harpist, educator, and musicians’ life coach helping artists build careers that are emotionally grounded, mentally healthy, and financially sustainable. In this deeply honest conversation, Candace shares her journey from aspiring ballerina to concert harpist, through burnout, illness, and identity loss—and how those experiences shaped her work coaching musicians today. We talk about why “just do what you love” can be dangerous advice, how over-booking becomes a substitute for self-worth, and why learning what to say—and when to say no—is a core professional skill. This episode explores burnout, boundaries, money, trauma, and meaning—and offers a powerful reminder that sustainable careers are built with clarity, courage, and community. Learn more about Candace's work here. Facebook Threads Instagram 🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    1h 7m
  7. MTNA at 150: Creating Artist Citizens and the Future of Music Teaching

    JAN 7

    MTNA at 150: Creating Artist Citizens and the Future of Music Teaching

    Brian Shepard, CEO of the Music Teachers National Association, joins the FourForty Podcast for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about the past, present, and future of music teaching. As MTNA approaches its 150th anniversary, Brian reflects on the organization’s founding mission, the role of community and association in a digital age, and why studio music teachers remain essential cultural leaders. We explore the idea of artist citizens—students who may never pursue music professionally, but who carry a lifelong appreciation for beauty, creativity, and the arts. Brian also shares his own non-linear career path from music education to marketing to executive leadership, offering valuable insight for young professionals navigating their place in the music world. This episode is a hopeful, grounding reminder of why music teaching matters, and why it always will. Learn more about MTNA here... MTNA Website MTNA Facebook MTNA Instagram 🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    51 min
  8. A Gratitude Practice for Music Teachers with Eric Branner

    12/17/2025

    A Gratitude Practice for Music Teachers with Eric Branner

    In this solo episode, Eric explores gratitude as a critical skill for musicians, educators, and creative entrepreneurs. Practice a guided meditation,  hear stories from the studio, and craft your own gratitude statement.  This one is especially for the days when your hands hurt, your students aren’t practicing, or a few families just left —and for remembering why you chose this musical life in the first place. 🌊 🌊 Connect with us: Join a supportive community for teachers & creatives at the Fons Family Facebook Group a supportive community for teachers & creatives Follow on Instagram: @getfons Learn more about Fons TikTok: @getfons

    38 min
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5
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12 Ratings

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The FourForty Podcast is where musicians and music teachers share their journeys as educators, entrepreneurs, and creative leaders. Each conversation explores the real work of building a meaningful career in music... and the impact it makes beyond the studio.

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