Naptown Sings and Plays... Doesn't Miss a Beat!!

Sophia Hardesty likes running the show. And over the last two years, she's learned that she can do so from anywhere. From her phone, she can control and enable the happiness and joy of groups of adults and children and individuals of all ages. All it took was some initiative, a smart phone, and the love of music.

Naptown Sings and Plays is Sophia's dream come reality. Initially teaching voice lessons out of a friend's music studio, she had posted flyers in local restaurants to get that far. But once she studied marketing and formed a strategy, her personal studio mushroomed to the point that she needed a larger space and now has over a dozen music teachers working for her.

Family is important to Sophia, and she has recently added to her own, with the birth of baby Irene. Sophia has taken this love of children and applied it to her strategy for Naptown Sings and Plays. The business now offers both group and private lessons, as well as classes, camps, and homeschooling. Naptown Sings and Plays also does a lot of outreach at schools in the area and works to provide scholarships for students without means. Sophia's belief is that music is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.

During the pandemic, Naptown Sings and Plays didn't miss a beat. In the course of 24 hours, the business migrated operations to online. Students and groups met virtually and collaborated to keep the dream alive. Sophia notes that Naptown Sings and Plays was a saving grace for many families, as it gave the children an outlet during the pandemic and interaction with others during self-isolation.

Naptown Sings and Plays has been a labor of love for Sophia. She notes that it's a learn-as-you-go sort of business. She recognized a need and asked people who were well-informed on how to implement plans. She did research marketing and had very organic needs at the time, based on her lifestyle.

The pioneer of Naptown Sings and Plays now has new goals. Sophia is in a new phase of business ownership. She is now the mother of two and is phasing herself out as the main teacher. As she notes, "I want to work less hours and simplify everything. I want to work *on* my business instead of *in* it." Her strategy is all about teacher training and focusing on the classes you want to offer. She loves that teachers already know how to teach, and only need guidelines to follow. And withCovid, the guidelines change regularly.

Sophia is happy with her change in situation--both personally and professionally. She has worked to prioritize her life and puts her babies first. That said, Naptown Sings and Plays has always been her baby, and she is really excited to see it grow and mature. As with anything given life, it is getting its own identity and becoming its own thing. At this point in time, Naptown Sings and Plays has a new and larger site on West St. to welcome all its participants. At its current rate, one wonders if it will stop there, or keep mushrooming, growing as big as any dream turned reality can grow. The sky is the limit!

(Author's note: photos courtesy of Naptown Sings and Plays)