Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Leuterio.
Hi Luke, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I did want to be a rockstar at first. Of course, that dream is too big and so I focused on being a music teacher instead since it’s a good middle ground between music and making a living. What happens is that if you look up music jobs online, you’re mostly going to see music teaching jobs and maybe a few jobs in music therapy. Once I made the conscious decision to be a music teacher, I immediately looked up “music lessons near me” to see it from the student’s perspective. Seeing it from the student’s perspective helped me understand how to market myself the right way. I didn’t have any experience in teaching but I knew I had to do my best to just jump right in and figure it out. Even though I have no experience and had a different dream, I think I was meant to teach. I find extreme value in altruistic pursuits rather than doing things solely for my benefit.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggles never came from my teaching method but more of finding students. But even when that was achieved, there would be another struggle. They feel like gates I have to approach. Every struggle had a gate and I had to present a “sophisticated and complex password” to pass through, only to find another gate or obstacle. Perhaps I need to take the “Sisyphus” approach and find enjoyment in the never ending process.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
“Building a legacy involves figuring out what is wanted, and what needs to be done for that goal.” This is one of my favorite quotes and it’s from the video game Metal Gear Solid 2. That video game blew my mind back then when I was 11 years old and it is the basis for my philosophy in teaching. We are all teachers. We are all constantly taking in information and filtering it out for the next generation for their benefit.
We are not here physically forever. And because of that fact of reality, it teaches us that we have to constantly “package” information for the next generation. It is all done through the power of human self awareness.
For example, I remember when I would be practicing my instruments and studying, I would think to myself: “What’s the point? I could lose my hands one day and not play piano. I could lose my sight and not be able to read. I have around maybe 60 years left and there would be no point to practicing and studying.” But once I got the idea of teaching in my head, I realized it’s not about me and what I do in myself only in my lifetime. It’s about the people I helped by packaging information I know for their benefit. I might lose my hands one day but I still have to ability to teach one, ten, or a hundred how to play piano.
The best part about teaching is that everyone is a teacher, whether we know it or not. “I like that place over this place.” “My best friend taught me this.” “That plate is hot, don’t touch it yet.”
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I need to constantly remind myself all the progress I’ve made. I have to remember to be grateful. I remember I used to teach 5 students a week and thought that was a lot of work and progress. Now I teach 30 students a week.
The next goal is to have 1 teacher to work with me. Then there’ll be 60 students in total.
The next goal is to have 1 school with 12 teachers to work with me, then there’ll be 360 students in total.
Then the next goal is to have 7 schools with 84 teachers to work with me, then there’ll be 2,520 student in total…
along with music festivals, recording studios, our own coffee shop (lol)… etc. etc. etc.
It’s all a bunch passwords and gates.
Pricing:
- $19 for a 30 minute trial lesson
- $39 for a 30 minute lesson
- $139 for a 4 Lesson Package of 30 minutes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://musiclessons4you.com
- Instagram: @musiclessons4you_official
Image Credits
The solo photo of me is by Mark Huber.
