Brad's Teaching Studio

08/11/2026

I want to share a little bit about what it really looks like to be an independent musician today.

To record my single "Make It Happen," last year - I invested over hundreds of my own hard-earned money to travel to Nashville, secure a motel, and pay for professional studio recording. Total cost of everything, including travel and motel costs, was over $1,000. While I'm grateful for the gofundme contributions that covered some of the recording project last year, the majority of it I had to cover myself. That meant eating rice and beans frequently, sleeping in my car occasionally, and making sacrifices you'll never see. All to record a song you can conveniently access for free on YouTube, Spotify, etc.

Major streaming services pay independent artists roughly $0.003 to $0.004 per stream. That means a song has to be played thousands of times just to make a few bucks, while tech corporations take the rest. On top of that, services like DistroKid charge annual corporate renewal fees just to keep the songs visible on their apps. When you’re an independent artist grinding it out on the road, balancing deliveries, and working around the clock to fund your passion, those structural costs add up fast.

That is why Bandcamp is much better for independent music.

When you purchase a track on Bandcamp, 82% to 90% of that money goes directly into the artist’s pocket. One person buying "Make It Happen" on Bandcamp for just $1 provides more direct support than thousands of passive streams on Spotify. It allows listeners to actually value the art and help independent musicians fund their next project directly.

"Make It Happen" is fully available on Bandcamp right now. You can buy the track for $1, or contribute more if you want to directly support the journey and help fund my next recording. See link below.

https://bradellebrecht.bandcamp.com/track/make-it-happen

Thank you to everyone who truly understands the grind, respects the process, and chooses to support real, independent art!

08/29/2025

Hey everyone! I just put together a new playlist on Spotify of some of chill, solo piano music, including a couple of my own originals. I’m experimenting with a new way to reach more listeners on Spotify, so if you're looking for some relaxing music, it'd be awesome if you'd check this out and save the playlist.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UZ8dv8UV7djZoG2usotwH?si=6BYZYtntRA6x_0YIGvROjw

Playlist · goodnewspiano · 22 items

07/19/2025

I'll soon be taking a much needed social media break. My social media breaks vary on a spectrum from posting/viewing occasionally to not posting or going on social media at all. It's concerning that we live in a society where it's like "things don't really happen if they're not posted on social media."

I might still work on developing my YouTube Channels, and I may take breaks from that at times too.

Social media to some extent has been a supportive outlet for me, and I'd like to explore ways to keep in touch with supportive people through email, messaging, etc.

It's just not healthy to be bombarded with the information and sensory overload that most people are exposed to these days. My peace of mind and well-being are more important than a social media presence.

Of course, I know when I return to posting regularly again it will be like I no longer "exist" and engagement will be little to nothing. But that's a small price I'm willing to pay for my peace of mind.

Keep me in your prayers for provision as I keep moving along on my path!

Next gig is on Thu. July 31st, 5-8pm at Hendel's Market Cafe in Florissant in hometown St. Louis. It's located at 599 St. Denis Street. I have car maintenance expenses and also am working on saving up to make my singer-songwriter recording debut project with recording my first single in Nashville. Coming out and supporting me at this gig would truly be meaningful. It would be even more meaningful, given my social media break, that you'd come out to this gig and be supportive without me having to post about it 10 times or more. I've already posted about it.

While others are exposing themselves to unnecessary stress and chaos on social media, I'll keep taking frequent breaks for my peace of mind! I take my well-being seriously!

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Brad
🎹🎸🎵🎤

07/14/2025

Hey everyone! Are you ready to truly accelerate your journey on keyboard/piano and discover your unique musical voice? I'm opening up my schedule to just 10 dedicated clients who are eager to make real progress.

I'm not your typical piano teacher. With over 18 years of teaching experience, over 25 years of professional performing experience, and a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Piano from Webster University, I bring a deep well of knowledge and a unique, motivational and inspirational approach to every lesson. My goal isn't just to teach notes; it's to help you become an artist and find your authentic expression. You'll find our sessions are fun, engaging, and focused on helping you unlock your potential.

Unlike many teachers who overload their schedules with 30, 40, 50, or even 60 private students, I'm fiercely dedicated to keeping my private student roster small. By focusing on just 10 clients, I can give you the individual attention and personalized support you truly need to succeed.

I can guide you through:

* Music Theory & Songwriting Composition: Learn the language of music and how to craft your own pieces.

* Piano Technique: Build a solid foundation for confident playing.

*Ear Training: Develop your ability to hear and understand music by ear.

* Project-Based Learning: Helpful if you're a guitarist looking to expand to keys, a vocalist wanting deeper keyboard musical knowledge, or working on a recording project that needs keyboard expertise.

Learning keys is a process, and I don't promise overnight success. However, I can offer valuable insights and dedicated support to help you realize your dreams in a more accelerated way.
I'm also willing to work with your budget and make my services accessible to you! I don't want money to get in the way of you reaching your potential!

Lessons are primarily online, offering flexibility wherever you are. But I also travel! If you're within reasonable driving distance from St. Louis or Nashville, there might be a way to schedule in person sessions at your home! Message me directly for more information!

06/02/2025

Stay open minded musically! 😎

The importance of staying open minded musically! Listen to all kinds of music, you'll learn something!

05/06/2025

Check out my latest video on my teaching studio YouTube Channel!

05/04/2025

If you are interested in piano or guitar lessons, I'll work with you. If you're suffering under this ridiculous economy yet genuinely want lessons, then yes I'll work with you. We can work something out. We can do online lessons, but if I'm traveling near your area there might be an occasion to have a one-off lesson. Currently, I'm floating between Nashville and St. Louis, Kentucky, etc. Might be on the east coast late summer/early fall.

I'm also interested in remote recording work. I can't say I know much about remote recording stuff, but I have a laptop, USB mic, and keyboard. I'd need some kind of interface and possibly other cables, but I'm willing to learn.

My teaching approach is unique : instead of trying to indefinitely retain students, I want to empower them and send them out. I'm not interested in viewing a student as a walking paycheck. I do have to eat, but I'm not in this for the money. I do this because I like helping and inspiring people to achieve their dreams.

Unless you're a total beginner or child, you may not need weekly lessons. It could be bi-weekly for a period of time. If you can already play but just want to hone in on a certain skill like music theory, improvisation, or technique, I can help with that too.

You get personal attention with having me as your teacher. I'm not interested in overloading my schedule with 40 piano/guitar students. I want to have the time and energy to dedicate to just 10 students.

I have 18+ years of private lesson teaching experience.

I have 25 years of professional performing experience.

I have a B.M. in jazz studies - piano performance from Webster University in St. Louis.

Message me anytime!

Peace and joy,

Brad Ellebrecht
Piano performer, Composer, Educator, Singer-songwriter

02/16/2025

Thought I'd share :

Hey everyone! I'm excited to announce I'm working on a singer-songwriter recording project! To bring these songs to life, I need to cover expenses like paying my awesome band, a skilled recording engineer, mastering costs, and even a vocal lesson to sound my best. I'm working hard to fund this myself, but any support you could offer through my GoFundMe would be hugely appreciated! It's a little outside my comfort zone to ask, but you never know who wants to be supportive if you don't share. I'm so passionate about this music. Thank you for considering!

https://gofund.me/9fa64684

01/04/2025

I've seen some posts last year of people bashing another musician's performance. There was this thing with someone's performance of the national anthem. If you think you're "cool" because you mock someone who had a bad night or rough performance, you're not. And what's disappointing is I've seen posts on this from people I appreciate, and it's really disappointing.

You and I probably don't know what was going on in someone's life to have a rough night or rough performance. Leave them alone, mind your own business, and focus on your own craft.

The truth is we as musicians all have bad days for one reason or another, it's not even humanly possible anyway to always 100% get every single detail right in a performance. Even the best of us know this.

I've also never appreciated when people trash talk on another band or musician. You don't like a certain band or musician...ok fine, carry on, life goes on.

If I see you mocking or making fun of any musician again in the future, well known or not, I'm distancing myself from you.

Music is a healing force in this world that changes lives. You have a right to your opinions, but you don't have the right to tear down others. You don't like a certain band or musician or genre...fine, you're free to have your opinion. That's your right. But consider keeping your bad attitude to yourself. Trash talking other musicians doesn't make you better.

12/09/2024

Be with your instrument as much as possible!