20/05/2026
In January 2018, I started teaching music lessons from my home studio under the name The Lion Project Music Studio. I had no idea where the journey would lead, but I knew I loved teaching and helping students grow in confidence through music.
On 31st July 2018, I started working for Primary Music Institute — my first days teaching in schools were at Bonnells Bay Public School and Wyong Creek Public School where there were already existing programs running.
That same week, I got a call asking if I’d also like to start teaching at Morisset Public School. I became the very first tutor there for PMI, and getting to help launch a brand-new school program was such a special experience.
At that point, I’d never run group music lessons before. It was a steep learning curve. We were teaching mostly keyboard and guitar, writing notes by hand in students’ books, and figuring things out as we went.
Before long, we’d expanded into drums and vocal lessons, and started running some of our first school rock bands so schools could have headline acts for performances and events. I found myself constantly doing R&D for the company — improving systems, trialling new ideas, developing programs and looking for ways to make lessons more engaging and effective. I absolutely loved it.
About 18 months into my employment, the owner started talking about the future of the business. He believed the company would grow best through locally driven owners who genuinely cared about their regions and communities. Eventually, he approached Sarah and I about purchasing the Central Coast region.
At that stage, I was still running my own studio lessons too.
After a lot of conversations, paperwork, stress, prayer and deliberation, on 20th May 2020 we officially became the owners of Primary Music Institute Central Coast.
We bought the business during COVID.
We had no savings for a deposit.
Sarah’s Grandma and Grandpa generously loaned us a sizeable amount to help make it possible, and the previous owner believed in us enough to set up vendor finance over a six-year period so we could gradually pay the business off.
And as of Thursday 7th May 2026… we officially finished paying it off.
That feels surreal to write.
There have been many hard moments over the years. Because most of our income only comes during school terms, there were multiple times we needed to borrow money from family just to get through. To everyone who helped us in those seasons — thank you. We genuinely couldn’t have done this without you.
When we purchased the business, we started with 3 schools and around 80 students — many of whom were actually doing online lessons because schools were closed during COVID restrictions. Honestly… were we sane? 😂
When schools reopened, there were still strict rules: sanitising equipment between students, sanitising hands constantly, masks, no singing, distancing requirements — it was a wild time to step into business ownership.
But we also knew from the start that we wanted to build something with heart.
So we made changes straight away:
• Every student would receive a welcome pack with a bag, folder, textbook and debutant wristband
• Lesson notes would move online instead of being written on paper
• We introduced instrument rental and purchasing options
• We added a 10% family discount
• We kept looking for ways to improve quality, communication and student experience
Over the years, we’ve continued refining what we do so that the business reflects who we are and what we value.
One thing that also deserves to be said is just how much Sarah has poured into this business behind the scenes.
While I’ve often been the visible face teaching lessons, developing programs and working in schools, Sarah has carried an enormous amount of the administration, communication and coordination that keeps everything running.
Emails, enrolments, scheduling, customer communication, invoices, tutor coordination, problem solving, organisation, systems, parent support — there are countless moving parts in a business like this, and Sarah has faithfully held so much of that together over the years.
A huge part of why we’ve been able to grow is because of her consistency, care and willingness to quietly do the work that most people never see.
Today:
• We’ve grown from 3 schools to 10
• From 80 students to 230
• We’ve taught 786 students
• We’ve employed 10 tutors over the journey
• We currently run with an incredible team of 3 tutors
• We now operate across 3 studio locations and online lessons as well
One thing we’re really proud of is that our group lesson pricing started at $18.50 and, despite six years of massive inflation, has only increased to $21. We’ve always wanted music education to stay as accessible as possible for families.
This business has stretched us in every possible way.
It’s been hard.
It’s been rewarding.
It’s been exhausting.
It’s been deeply meaningful.
Most importantly, we’re incredibly grateful.
Grateful to every family that trusted us.
Every student who walked through the door.
Every tutor who gave their time and heart.
Every school that partnered with us.
Every family member who supported us financially, emotionally and spiritually during difficult seasons.
And we’re still just getting started.
We care deeply about creating quality music education, building confidence in students, fostering creativity and continuing to grow something that genuinely serves our community well.
Thank you for being part of the journey so far ❤️
