Zoe's Experience at Mountainside Music Academy

For many music teachers, the ideal teaching environment combines flexibility, supportive families, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students. According to one instructor at Mountainside Music Academy, that balance is exactly what made the experience so rewarding.

“My experience at Mountainside has been fantastic,” the teacher shared. “When I joined, I was looking for flexible hours and the opportunity to increase my workload over time. Mountainside has these accommodations built into their business model, so a positive experience came that much easier.”

That flexibility, combined with a strong sense of community, helped create an environment where both teachers and students could thrive. The instructor spoke warmly about the families and young musicians they worked with throughout their time at the academy.

“The families and young musicians I had the pleasure of working with were the truest joy of my time at Mountainside,” they said. “Such kind and caring adults built genuine joy and curiosity about music in their kiddos.”

The academy’s scheduling process also stood out as a major positive. For teachers balancing busy lives and multiple responsibilities, clear communication and respect for availability can make all the difference.

“Mountainside was always very conscious and respectful of my availability and communicated about scheduling early and often,” the teacher explained. “That was very beneficial to coordinating my own busy schedule.”

Beyond scheduling support, the teacher emphasized the creative freedom they experienced while teaching. Rather than enforcing a rigid curriculum, the academy encouraged instructors to shape lessons around each student’s interests and learning style.

“Mountainside allowed me to develop my own path as an educator,” they said, “giving me the autonomy to explore with my students which elements of music we would like to explore and which music we would use to dive into musical learning.”

Some of the most meaningful moments came directly from students themselves. One story in particular captured the excitement and connection that can develop through music lessons.

“As I pulled up to a family’s residence for our second lesson together, the young kiddo was sitting on the front steps,” the teacher recalled. “When I walked up, the child shouted, ‘Thank goodness you’re here! I couldn’t wait any longer for our next lesson!’”

“The joy radiating off this young musician was incredible,” they added, “and put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.”

When asked what they would say to someone considering joining the company, the teacher highlighted the emotional impact of working with students and the growth that comes from the experience.

“Having your first positive interaction with a kiddo will have you hooked immediately,” they said. “However long your time with Mountainside is, you will walk away a stronger educator with a deeper love for music and its impact on a child’s life.”