Meet Tarina Kim: Executive Director of MozArt Music Academy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tarina Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tarina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Music played such an important role in my life and truly shaped who I am today. When my family first moved to Canada, I was a shy, little Korean girl. I felt the world was turned upside down with the abrupt changes of culture, school, and lifestyle. As a result, I didn’t talk for two entire years and I had no friends. Obviously, my parents were extremely worried about me so my mother signed me up for piano lessons, hoping that it will be a hobby that will provide some comfort and stress outlet. Actually, music became more than just a hobby for me. Playing the piano gave me motivation in life, boosted my confidence, and eventually led me to obtain a doctorate degree (Ph.D equivalent) in music education. Since I have taught over 30,000 lessons, influencing countless numbers of people through music.
When my family first moved here to the San Fernando Valley in 2015, I felt the need to share what I experienced with music. I wanted to create a music school where everyone would be welcomed and discover the joy of music learning. Moreover, I wanted to inspire students to dream big through their musical journey. It was not an easy task and it took me 3 years and my family’s entire savings to make my dream come true.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MozArt Music Academy is the largest and the fastest-growing music school in the Valley providing one-on-one, private music lessons in various instruments including piano, violin, drums, voice, guitar, saxophone and more. MozArt started with 0 students back in 2018 and just after 3 short years, we now serve over 350 students every week! MozArt is known as the best music school in the entire San Fernando Valley for its quality lessons through a state-of-the-art facility, innovative music programs, and exciting performance opportunities.
As a small business, going through a pandemic was the most challenging time I ever faced since starting MozArt. I had no other choice but to stay laser focused and lead my team through what seemed like an insurmountable hurdle.
One important lesson I learned through pandemic is that having an excellent team like MozArt’s staff is invaluable. I know MozArt wouldn’t have survived if it wasn’t for our team’s endless effort, dedication, and support. As a result, we were able to convert to 100% online lessons overnight and provided seamless operation. Effective June of 2020, we safely reopened and have been providing both online and in-person lessons without a single case of COVID-19 occurring at our facility. With a strong team, you can face any challenge and make the impossible possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Here is a kids-friendly itinerary that will provide family fun!

-Attend a concert at Hollywood Bowl
-Check out film sets at Universal Studios Hollywood
-Visit Mickey’s House at Disneyland
-Get your feet wet at Malibu Beach

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to express my gratitude to my family. I cannot have done it without my husband who has been the biggest supporter from day 0. During the early stage of MozArt Music Academy, he was the janitor, receptionist, bookkeeper, my mentor all the while working his day job. My two beautiful daughters are my daily inspiration. They remind me to be a positive influence to my communities to make the world a better place for the next generation. They help me keep my focus in place and push me to be stronger than I ever imagined. Finally, I want to recognize my parents, who signed me up for piano lessons, and taught me to work hard and always strive for the best.

Website: www.mozartmusicacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mozartmusicacademy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MozartMusicAcademy

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mozart-music-academy-los-angeles-4?osq=mozart+music+academy

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvPe3Os9Yz8B2ogEHFwlaQ