The Fourforty (440) with Eric Branner

Eric Branner
  • 5.0 (8)
  • 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. 1D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Scaling with Soul: The Sloan School of Music Story

    12/11/2025

    Scaling with Soul: The Sloan School of Music Story

    In this episode, Eric talks with guitarist and entrepreneur Anthony Sloan: co-founder and CEO of the Sloan School of Music. What started as a family idea grew into a two-location music school, retail operation, and community hub offering more than 30,000 lessons a year. Anthony shares the full story: building a business with friends, creating a welcoming “coffeehouse” atmosphere, attracting and retaining great teachers, and crafting meaningful performance opportunities for students. They also discuss the importance of clarity in leadership, Anthony’s experience in the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses program, and his new venture MelodyMap, designed to help families find trusted music teachers with ease. A must-listen for music educators, studio owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone building community through creativity. Learn more about Anthony, Sloan, and MelodyMap here. www.sloanschoolofmusic.com   www.melodymap.io Facebook.com/sloanschoolofmusic Instagram.com/sloanschoolofmusic Youtube.com/sloanschoolofmusic  🌊 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

    56 min
  8. The Three-Legged Stool: Building a Successful Music Career with Joe Bergamini

    12/04/2025

    The Three-Legged Stool: Building a Successful Music Career with Joe Bergamini

    Drummer, educator, author, and industry leader Joe Bergamini shares how he built a resilient, multi-hyphenate career spanning Broadway pits, international touring, best-selling drum books, and more than 35 years of private teaching. We talk about confidence, nerves, community, curriculum, mentorship, the realities of gigging, and Joe’s “three-legged stool” model for a sustainable life in music.  This episode is a roadmap for any musician or teacher who wants longevity, purpose, and steady growth in an ever-changing musical world. Learn more about Joe's work here. Facebook Instagram 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

    54 min
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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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