Empowered Music: Dani Fiore's Vision of a Safe and inclusive Space in Music Education

A New Wave in Music Education

Welcome to a special episode that introduces Dani Fiore, a pioneering music educator whose vision is reshaping the landscape of music learning. Dani stands out in their field for an unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing, inclusive, and safe environment for students of all backgrounds. The approach is not just about teaching music; it's about using music as a transformative tool to build community, foster self-esteem, and encourage emotional expression in a supportive setting.

Beyond Notes and Rhythms: Building Inclusive Spaces

Dani's philosophy goes beyond traditional music teaching methods. They believe in the power of music to unite and heal, and their teaching style reflects this deeply. In their classroom, music becomes a language of inclusivity, where every note and rhythm weaves a tapestry of diverse voices and experiences. Dani emphasizes the importance of creating a space where students feel safe to express themselves, explore their identities, and connect with others, free from judgment or bias.

Empowering Through Music

In our conversation, Dani shares their journey and the inspirations behind their innovative teaching methods. They talks about the challenges they faced in traditional music education settings and how these experiences shaped their vision. Their story is one of resilience and passion, as they works tirelessly to ensure that their students not only learn music but also gain confidence, empathy, and a sense of belonging. Through their work, Dani is empowering the next generation of musicians and music lovers, instilling in them values of respect, diversity, and inclusivity.

The Impact of a Safe Learning Environment

Dani delves into the transformative impact a safe and inclusive learning environment has on students. They shares heartwarming stories of students who found their voice, overcame personal challenges, and developed a newfound appreciation for music and community. These narratives underscore the profound influence a supportive and understanding educator can have on the lives of young learners.

Innovative Techniques and Inclusive Curriculum

Listeners will get an insight into Dani's innovative teaching techniques and curriculum design. They discuss how she incorporates elements of various musical genres and cultures to create a rich, diverse learning experience. Dani also talks about her strategies for ensuring that each student's unique background and learning style is acknowledged and catered to in their lessons.

Support Dani and Empowered Music :  Patreon (current programs and needs) or Scholarship for Students

The Patreon subscription opportunity for anyone who resonates with our mission and would like to contribute on a monthly basis:  https://www.patreon.com/empoweredmusic

There’s also a scholarship fund to pay for workshop fees/tuition for students experiencing financial hardship: https://www.empoweredmusicpa.com/support-us

Website: http://www.empoweredmusicpa.com
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredmusicpa
Intagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredmusicpa
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/100193088/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/danifiore

Transcript

Josh Meeder: 0:00

Welcome to the great things LLC podcast, the show that celebrates people who are making an impact on the world, people creating conscious businesses that are in alignment with their own personal values. Each episode shares the wisdom, experience and the intentions of those that are following their dreams. visionaries who have chosen a different path, found their purpose, and create joy and abundance while helping others. Whether you're already a trailblazer, we're still searching for your path. The stories will inspire you towards being the best version of yourself. Hello, friends, welcome to the third episode in the third season of the great things, LLC podcast. My name is Josh Meeder. I'm your host and today I have with me, a very special guests that I'm excited to share their story. This is Danny Fiore of empowered music educators. So welcome, Danny.

Dani Fiore: 0:49

Hi, thanks for having me.

Josh Meeder: 0:51

So Danny, we're gonna jump into the story. But before we get started, I just want to give people a little bit about your background, because what we're talking about today is that you've created this amazing, inclusive, awesome music studio and business, but we want to start kind of back where you started. So when you're a little person, where did that love of music come in for you? Was there anyone who kind of fostered it or encouraged for you? That's

Dani Fiore: 1:13

a really good question. Because neither of my parents are musicians. And, but what they did was there was always music on in the house. So it was, you know, I grew up in the, like late 80s, early 90s, mid 90s, kind of you know, and it was like, where you had the TV on in one room and the radio on another it was like chaos. But so I was always surrounded by music, they had MTV or VH one or and then you know, Z 100 or, you know, one of the New York, New Jersey radio stations, going constantly. So I think I just absorbed all that stuff like a sponge. And for whatever reason, it really excited me. And I would do kind of these, you know, mini performances as kids do. But I think for me, it felt more real. And I wanted it to be more real. So who knows maybe if that's where the passion first started. But as far as encouraging that my parents were great about encouraging me to get involved in music, even though they weren't, which is, you know, I don't know how common that is, a lot of times, you know, we want to divert our kids to the things that that we like and or that we're involved in, and they they were like, okay, cool, you're into music, and they definitely helped me with obtaining different instruments. And even when, you know, my interests would change. I think I picked up oddly enough a bass, bass guitar first. And then I want a sixth string. And that was all I want drums and, and that's where I finally found my my true passion. My first real love in rhythm and drumming. So,

Josh Meeder: 2:55

okay, I was curious where the drumming came in. I know that is a big, big part of what you do. And I think your story is actually not that uncommon, a lot of parents that don't have musical ability, I think it's kind of scary for them to encourage their kids because they don't know how to support them. So lovely that you had supportive parents in that now. Did you participate in in school musical? Was it outside with the just kind of lessons? What was your early days? Yeah,

Dani Fiore: 3:24

it was all in school, actually, this is this influences. Mostly in school, I'll get to that this influences the way that I teach. Because I did not have private drum lessons. I learned everything in school, which is for like a school band director, you know, they've got kind of the basic knowledge of all the instruments, they, they can't really go deeper, depending on what instrument they play. And I was not surrounded by drum mentors, I just wasn't. So I learned how to read notation in school. And I was just so into it. And my friends were so into it, that we learned on our own. And we would listen to, you know, CDs or the radio and try to just copy note for note exactly what everybody was playing. And my friends who were better than me, they would get it first and then I would learn it from them. So, you know, I really have a very self taught mindset, self taught background for the most part. I had a mentor later on. I took vocal lessons for a short period. And my teacher in Jersey, her name is Jody Joseph. And she I think had a really large impact on the way that I teach now because it was very much like she was also not, to my knowledge, not classically trained to think she had a college degree in music or anything. But she was just so passionate about it and so Were very talented. And she taught in a way that was not just about, like, let's show up in, you know, read the page, it was like, you know, let's think about how we're feeling. And let's learn about how you know how to how to get our feelings out by writing a song about it. And I didn't know how to do any of that stuff. So, you know, between between Jodi and Jerry Ramana was my other mentor in school, he was my band director, another above and beyond kind of kind of person where it wasn't just about, you know, you're, you're my student, and we're gonna play and go home. And he really took his time with me to get me excited about other things outside of school band, he was like, why don't you check out, you know, Drum and Bugle Corps, he would pass me CDs, like all the time, why don't you listen to this new jazz CD, you know. And so we formed a bond and a relationship around that that was, again, deeper than just kind of an academic surface relationship. And both of those mentors in my early days really informed how I teach and how I perform now. Yeah,

Josh Meeder: 6:08

well shout out to not only those mentors, but the those teachers that really installed the passion and the excitement, not just the academic learning. Let's fast forward a couple years, so that there is some point that you got into the music profession from an educational standpoint, and that's leading up to where we're going. So you know, just briefly, what where did you start teaching? How did that come about? And what did it look like for you? At first?

Dani Fiore: 6:34

I was 17. And I, my parents, I think it was my parents had a friend who had a kid who was just a little bit younger than me, and it just started playing guitar. And, and it was like, would you want to, you know, have him over and teach him a couple things. And that's that was it like that was my first experience of showing someone else how to play an instrument that I really barely knew how to play. But you know, again, is set like, just, you know, leading with whatever little knowledge that you have, even if it's just a little bit more than the person behind you. So that was a great experience. And I just did that out of my house once a week. And then I think it was like, Well, I can if I can do this with one person, I can do this with a couple people. And I started reaching out a little bit. And to be honest, I don't remember how because this was pre social media. So I really am not sure but I started making contact with folks. And I was just driving. Once I got my driver's license, I would put my guitar in the car, drive around to different students homes and just in teach them right there in their house. And that's how it all got started.

Josh Meeder: 7:46

Oh, I love that one just being of close to your generation a little previous is yeah, the prior to social media, how things conducted its, you know, kids today won't understand that. Yep. Oh, so so then you eventually started teaching and you're in the central eastern part of Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg. So you were teaching as an instructor in a music school. But then something something really unfortunate and ugly happened. So if you want to tell us where the genesis of that came from, to get us here today to unpowered music.

Dani Fiore: 8:21

Yeah, so this is the birth story of empowered, and I'm really happy to talk about it. I was at a private art school here in Central PA and for five years, and really got a chance having a home base to build up my business. You know, driving around to students homes, is one thing but having somewhere you know, a collective with other teachers, other students. And, and a brick and mortar building a place to be it was a really good grounding for me to to actually grow. Somewhere in that five year mark, it was actually in April, there was an incident of harassment, it was actually an incident of anti LGBT harassment from one of the other members inside the organization. And I thought, you know, okay, I can handle this. This, this happens to our community quite a bit. It hasn't happened to me like this. But all right, I'll, you know, go to my mentors will figure out how to handle this. And it really just didn't get handled well. The leadership wasn't exactly set up to handle it. And as it escalated, I had to figure out another situation. I had to figure out how to get my students and myself somewhere that we could still do this really important work that we've been doing for the last five years this this was this was very important and it was, you know, not to be squandered. This is again, it's we're going we're going deep so I wanted to take Are the students and myself? Because I've put a lot into it as well. So I just started reaching out to other schools in the area to see, okay, you know, how do you guys feel about this? I'm coming in I got students, you know, or is this an inclusive environment? Are we going to be safe here. And unfortunately, none, none of the other institutions around here were were set up for, for what I needed. And that was a really scary time, there was a couple of months over the summer that were just, you know, my whole livelihood was, I could just see it crashing down, not only my livelihood, and you know, taking care of my own family, but my students, my students, well, being their their, you know, attachment to music, and, you know, was all coming crashing down. And I had no idea what I was going to do.

Josh Meeder: 10:59

Yeah, I can't imagine the, the tension in the fear of that. And, you know, and I love the place of responsibility to the students, because it as you, you've shown me, it's not just a teaching relationship. It's it's a personal development, it's an encouragement, there's a much broader action happening within your music studio. So, you know, what were some of those? What were some of those challenges? And you know, those fears? And really, how did you get through them? Because through your story, you move this through very quickly from from awfulness to beauty in a matter of months, which is not common.

Dani Fiore: 11:40

Yeah, I recognize that. And I guess, you know, there were a lot of things, you know, seen and unseen on my side, I don't know how else to say it, I had a mentor who said something, to me that that was so profound, it stayed with me every day, for years, and she said, nothing falls into your lap for no reason. And this was one of those situations where things started, quote, falling into my lap. And, and I had to trust that there was a reason for that, and, and keep putting one foot in front of the other. So, you know, like I said, one of the challenges was not being able to find a space that fit my, my needs. And, and then the other challenge was, it became finances, it became like, Okay, well, if you can't just slide into another, you know, space that's already made for you, it looks like you're gonna have to make one, you're gonna have to make a space where you fit. And so I just started reaching out to people who knew about things that I know absolutely nothing about, like, real estate, and accounting. You know, I'm not, I've never owned a business, you know, really like this before I just, I teach music, you know, I play music. This is this is outside of my areas of expertise. So I got hooked up with with someone who knew about commercial real estate, and they just so happened to have a building available. That was right in the price range that I figured out I could afford. And I so at that time, I think it was July, that the tenant was moving out the current the tenant was in there, and July was my month off. And that was one of those often falls into your lap for no reason moments like, this is lining up for you. Go with it, you know. So I was to begin teaching in August, that I didn't, there's not a lot of time there. So I just said, Okay, let's sign this lease. I like like, let's go. And I just dove in with both feet, not really knowing how it was going to work out. But what I did know is that I was going to make it work out, if that makes sense. So yep, sign the lease and on to other instructors from my previous location actually decided to come with me, they thought that what happened over there was not acceptable to them or to anyone or to me. And so they said, We want to join you. And so that took an enormous financial burden off of because I was going to be paying for this by myself. Like I said, I'm gonna make it work. I gotta do this. And then something else fell into my lap. So I had to, okay, all right. There's a reason for this. I'm gonna go with it. And so now two of them came over with me. And then I also did, I had help from, from the community. I had help from my students, my students, families, everyone came together. In light of what happened. It was really beautiful. To see people who seemingly were not affected. But they were, you know, they were affected because I was affected and I think it showed them that it mattered. I think it really He showed everyone around that when, you know, one of us and people when one of us is getting hurt or attacked or, or something that it really does affect each and every one of us that are nearby. So they, they came together, some people donated money, some people donated equipment. It was it was quite awesome. So with all of that support, we were really able to launch we had, we had a window of four days from when the old tenant was leaving, and when lessons would start. And I was at the great rhythm revival. So there was a very short window that we could move everything in and get it done. And everyone just came together. I have people calling me showing up, can I help move things, you know, in this in this four days that we put everything up, and we did it

Josh Meeder: 15:55

that I love the advice that you got in a lot of people turn away from or run from adversity, no one welcomes it. But when it when it comes to you followed your heart, your passion and your beliefs, which I think is really hard to stop in any any scenario. And that adversity really builds the strength and you know, wonderful for the community for friends popping out of the woodwork. I know, you had to not only fill the space and get ready, but you had to, you know, source all the instruments and having all that stuff come together in such a short period of time is nothing short of amazing. Now, now you're in empowered, and let's talk about empowered. Like, first off, let's start about the vision and the underlying because it is much broader than just teaching kids how to play an instrument.

Dani Fiore: 16:50

Yeah, you're right kids and adults to that. So that's part of it a greater part of it as well that it's anyone, regardless of your perceived musical ability, I kind of made it important point to say perceived because a lot of people, you know, might think they don't have musical ability. But, you know, I believe it's in each and every one of us. So anyone regardless of that perceived ability can you know, get started, can keep going, and they can get better, and they're gonna have fun doing it. So that that's like my main mission, every day when I when I walk in the classroom, I think that, that anyone can do this, and we're definitely going to have fun. So, you know, and by anyone, I really do mean anyone, and especially folks that have had challenges that have kept them from pursuing music, whatever those challenges might be, they could be societal challenges, they could be personal, internal challenges. And we really want to make an example of, you know, I thought I couldn't do this, we really want to make examples of those each and every day. So I work with a lot of people who've got tons of anxiety, I work with people who've got physical, mental disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum, Parkinson's, you know, and then just kind of general depression, you know, people that just have like things that are like would stop them, you know, in any other circumstance. And if it's not fun, they're not, they're not going to want to keep coming back. And that's the piece that allows us, you know, the Getting Started part is sometimes easy. The keeping going part is this big hump in the middle that that's where we, you know, do the most work to keep people engaged, keep people involved, because that's how we actually get to the part where, over that hump, that you're having a ton of fun playing an instrument. So

Josh Meeder: 19:00

the identifying someone's perceived musical ability is fabulous, because we all have that self limiting belief. You know, I'll just share my personal stories. You see my drum behind me? Well, a couple years ago, I was invited to the first drum circle, and I'm like, I do not have any rhythm at all. And I went, and you know, it didn't matter. The drum circle itself brought out that that excitement, I'm like, Well, I'm terrible, but I'm having a lot of fun, and just stuck with it. And it was because of that environment of one. It was exploration, it was creativity. There was a safety and there was a laughter around it. So the ability to show that to kids to get them out, breaks down that barrier. And also, I think in our earlier conversations, you may, you know, seeing kids who might be marginalized or underserved when they see someone else that looks or feels or sounds like them, it's got to bring them forward and giving them that competence to step up and try something new. Now, one of the things I loved about what you're doing, not only from the inclusiveness and the fun in the teaching, you know, here, we talk a lot about business as well. And you created a wonderful model on how you treat your students and parents from almost almost a subscription basis. And if you want to talk a little bit about how your studio handles individual and group lessons, I think it's fascinating and really, really welcoming and easy for people to step into.

Dani Fiore: 20:28

Yeah, great question. Um, lesson music lessons business is, you know, at least around here, there's a standard of studio fee where teachers will pay by the time slot that they teach. And we normally teach in half hour increments. So if you have 3040 students, and you're counting up half hours each week, it becomes really tedious. And then also, you've got to do hours of that work on paper. And then you have to relay that to each and every one of your, you know, however many students you have, that could be 10 students, but it could be 40. So this is a very time consuming, very tedious thing. And I just thought, why. Maybe we can simplify this because the easier it is, it's just like teaching the instrument, the easier it is, and the more fun we're having, the more we're going to do it. Not that paying for lessons is always like the most fun thing, but you get what, you know, the more ease with which we have it, you know, the more likely they are to do it. And so I yeah, just decided, why don't we simplify this, I'm just going to take all the lessons that I teach per year, divide that, you know, multiply that by my current rate divided by how many weeks I'm there, and we have an average that we can go subscription each month. So basically, how it works is they have a flat rate each month, and whether the calendar spits out four or five weeks for them that month. It's the same price every single month, nobody has to think about it or contact me every month. You know, it's just there. And it's all laid out and very easy to follow.

Josh Meeder: 22:10

Yeah, that's, that's, to me. It's brilliant. You know, as a parent who had a son who tried a music lesson once, it was like, Okay, how many times how did you go? If you just know what it is, you know? Oh, that's easy. That's in the budget. That's great. Now you've been in so your student base has grown and your teacher base is expanding as well.

Dani Fiore: 22:31

Yeah, yeah, we have five teachers now total, including myself, teaching a variety of different instruments. We've got guitar, drums, voice, piano, flute, trumpet, and actually even mixing audio engineering, covered through our five teachers. So the

Josh Meeder: 22:49

school has been welcomed in the community, and how is it being seen? How's it getting out to the community?

Dani Fiore: 22:56

Great question. So I play drums for a band. And my bandmates are really, really supportive. And they're behind my model. They're behind everything that we're doing and empowered. And so we had this collaborative idea that maybe on some of our gigs, we can invite some students to sit in with us. And this has been really exciting. I think it's one of the most exciting parts and one of the most engaging parts of our of our program that the students get mentors in the music industry, just like I did when I was young. So we have them learn a song, from usually one of our original tunes, actually, which is pretty impressive for the students. And we invite them to come sit in with us on the gig. And what this does is it gets the student up on a stage in an atmosphere where maybe they thought they would never be. So getting the students on stage. They're contributing to visibility there, they're actually in a way they're giving back without even knowing it. I'm getting up on stage. I and I'm out in the LGBT community. I've been out for a long time. And I think visibility is super important, whether it's you know, trans visibility or any other kind of marginalized community, if we're not seeing folks that look like us doing the things that we want to do, we're going to be less likely to get out there and try them. So, you know, my getting up on stage and being an example for my students is great, that gets them up on stage. And now they're actually inadvertently an example to other students. And it's a really beautiful process of of giving back. So I, you know, often will ask students who think that they're ready or maybe they're questioning I try to get to the ones that are you know, maybe they're a little anxious about it, and try to build that confidence in them. Because maybe they've never seen anyone that looks like them, get up there and do it. So their head As a tent, so we work on confidence building, we work on stage performance techniques in the classroom. And then when it comes time to do it, they get out there and they get up on stage and they conquer, they conquer their fears.

Josh Meeder: 25:12

So imagine what these performances and given the kids this chance to be on the stage to gain that confidence, there's got to be some just heartwarming stories from them, their parents or even any that you can share with us.

Dani Fiore: 25:26

Yeah, I'm remembering one of our student performances, that was completely unplanned at our grand opening. So tons of people showed up to this event. We had a big stage setup, nice big audience, big PA system, it was the real deal. And one of our students who is autistic and has never performed in front of an audience before on the drums. decided that that was that was the day. So his mom came up to me in the middle of another performance. And she said, Hey, he wants to play. And I think we were all very surprised. And, you know, without any hesitation, alright, he's next. Let's go, you know, and he came out and without saying a word to anyone. He sits down behind the drums. He had his laptop with him. Press play on the laptop speakers on the song, and he wanted to play a police song. And yeah, and I think it was Roxanne. And you can faintly hear Roxanne like, coming from this kid's laptop speak. I say, kid, I think he might be 18 now coming from his laptop speakers, and he hit every groove, every backbeat, every drum fill, it was epic, and the entire audience that was there. I don't think anyone said anything the whole time he was playing. They were just watching him. And it was just one of the coolest moments.

Unknown: 27:02

Well, I

Josh Meeder: 27:03

can feel that that that's, that's beautiful. That's that is. That's the work that you're doing. To me. That's, that's absolutely beautiful. Now, what's next? I hear that, you know, you've been recognized for what you're doing and talk a little bit about what's next and how people can support you in your mission.

Dani Fiore: 27:24

Sure, yeah, I applied to a program called the ownit program that is run by the NGL. CC. And it is a an entrepreneurship development program for trans owned businesses or newly transit owned businesses or aspiring businesses. And so I applied, I got in, and I went through this eight week program. And at the end of that eight week program, the NGL CC helps you get, which is the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. They help you get certified as an LGBT owned business through their organization.

Josh Meeder: 28:06

Wonderful, congrats. Thank you. Now I would imagine that's probably new. And one of the one of the few businesses in in the area in the state where you're at. Yeah,

Dani Fiore: 28:17

I did a little bit of research on that. And I could not find any other businesses like me that are certified LGBT owned. So it might be, it might be a new thing. You know, visibility is kind of funny like that, like, you're not sure if you're the only one some folks that might not be out. But yeah, to be certified. Looks like we might be the first or one of the first. Well,

Josh Meeder: 28:43

it's no surprise that you're cutting the path and showing the example for others. So congratulations. Now, if people are interested in supporting and powered music, how can they find you? What are the two options or a couple options that you have for support?

Dani Fiore: 28:59

Yeah, we we are looking for support in a couple of different ways. We would love to develop our scholarship program. Again, we had a scholarship program for folks that want to take either lessons or workshops and might be experiencing some financial hardship, maybe their current students or new students, it doesn't matter. We want to have a scholarship fund that would help pay for them at a reduced or removed cost for a temporary you know, time if they need it. And to do that they can go to our website, it's empowered music pa.com And they'll find a donate to our scholarship fund link specifically for that scholarship program, if they're interested in supporting that way, and then just in general to support our mission and really sponsor our programs. We have ongoing support through Patreon. We actually just had our very first open mic it was a Patreon sponsored open mic and what a cool event and It was fantastic. We had someone say that, you know, what did she say? She said, I never danced at an open mic before. And another performance, she actually played piano for the first time in front of people that night at our open mic. And that whole entire event was made possible because of our Patreon subscriptions. And so that link is also on our Support Us page on our website. And they can also just go to patreon.com/empowered music to make an ongoing donation that way.

Josh Meeder: 30:33

And that the money that you raised through your Patreon, that is for the school itself for equipment, what's what's that supporting?

Dani Fiore: 30:43

Great question that's gonna go to support programs, and or anything leftover would go toward any equipment that we might need at the moment, we actually don't need any equipment. So that's gonna go straight into programming right now. So that's going to go to pay for any, you know, facilitators that want to come in to do group workshops, any wellness workshops that's going to go to pay the person who host the open mic, etc.

Josh Meeder: 31:11

And if someone wants to reach out and just donate directly, they can contact you through the website, if they're interested in doing that, as well.

Unknown: 31:19

Absolutely. All right. Well, Danny, I

Josh Meeder: 31:22

appreciate your time. I appreciate you. And I appreciate knowing you these last couple of years, you are an inspiration and congratulations on all you pulled together. While we close up here. Any final words for the audience or young students out there looking to get into music or old students even?

Dani Fiore: 31:39

Yeah, anyone? That's that's the that's the thing. It's, there's never a right time or you know, a bad time or a wrong time or a great time. We've got right now and so if you're thinking about trying something new, anything new, really, if it's, you know, music, or trying something old, maybe you used to play, you know, maybe you want to rekindle that, that just getting your foot in the door, any way that you can, that getting started, right and get started, keep going get better and try it. Trust yourself, you know, that thought maybe that thought didn't fall into your lap for no reason.

Josh Meeder: 32:21

There you go. Well, thank you, Danny. Best wishes for everything. And thanks for tuning in everyone. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of the great things, LLC podcast. If you did, be sure to share the link with this episode with your friends, and share it to your social media with your biggest takeaway tagging me a great things LLC. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. There's so much more to come. You can support me by leaving a rating and a review of the show and that will help others to find their purpose, dream, collaborate and create their own success story. Until next time, this is Josh Meeder your host signing off