How a Mississippi Music Studio Grew from a Home Entryway to 6,500 Square Feet

Four years after teaching piano lessons out of her home entryway, Emily Brandon has moved her music studio into a 6,500-square-foot building in Ridgeland, Mississippi. It’s the studio’s third home since 2022, and by far its biggest. The new space gives every teacher a private studio, gives students a warm-up room before lessons, and gives the whole school something it never had: its own recital hall.

Brandon spent nearly two decades teaching music in Mississippi public schools before she decided to build something of her own.

“I spent about 18 and a half years in the classroom before experiencing burnout,” she said. “At that point, I decided to turn my side business of teaching private music lessons after school into my full-time career.”

From Pandemic Side Business to Full-Time Studio

That side business started small. During the pandemic, Brandon began teaching virtually and was later asked to lead music instruction for the district’s virtual students, a role that grew her roster from 300 students to 3,000 almost overnight.

When she decided not to return to in-person teaching, she turned her own home into a studio, posting on Facebook to find students willing to come to her. Her daughter came up with the name, Mrs. B on the Keys, and a friend gave her a baby grand piano on one condition: that she use it to teach children.

Three Locations in Three Years

The lessons grew and grew again.

In 2022, Brandon opened her first commercial location, a 900-square-foot studio. A year later, the business outgrew that space and expanded into 2,500 square feet. By this summer, it had outgrown that space too, prompting the move into its current building.

Communities Unlimited’s small business lending connected Brandon with financing for the first relocation and now the third, with support from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Marnell Love, Area Director of Entrepreneurship, has been a mainstay for Mrs. B on the Keys over the years.

“Mr. Marnell has always been there to help, whether it’s answering bookkeeping questions or helping me work through challenges,” Brandon said. “The Lending Team held my hand through every step of the process. I never felt intimidated because everyone treated me with kindness, patience, and encouragement.”

Building Community Through Music

The growth reaches beyond Brandon’s own business. Mrs. B on the Keys now employs a staff of teachers across its six instrument areas and has built partnerships with band programs at Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South and Rust College. The studio has also added programs to support students on the autism spectrum, widening access to music instruction in the Jackson metro area.

Back in Session — and Already Planning What’s Next

The studio finished its move about two weeks ago, taking one week off from classes before returning to a full teaching schedule. Summer semester wraps up July 24, and fall classes begin the first full week of August.

Brandon says the growth hasn’t come without long nights.

“There have definitely been some sleepless nights and growing pains, but that’s part of expanding a business,” she said. “Every challenge teaches us something new.”

She’s already looking at what comes next. She’d like Mrs. B on the Keys to grow beyond performing arts and start offering visual arts classes, including introductory sewing.

Brandon said she couldn’t have experienced this growth without Communities Unlimited by her side every step of the way.

“Honestly, it almost brings tears to my eyes because without Communities Unlimited, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m just thankful. I appreciate everything Communities Unlimited has done for me, and I look forward to continuing to grow and seeing where this journey takes us.”