How Teaching Piano Shaped My Path to a Successful Career in Real Estate

Blog Kristi Jenkins February 9, 2026

As a teenager, you don’t really think about how your part-time high school jobs might shape your future career. I certainly didn’t. But looking back now, teaching piano was one of the earliest experiences that quietly prepared me for the work I do today.

While I’m now fully immersed in the world of real estate, my path to this career was taking shape long before I ever sold my first home. Teaching piano may seem unrelated at first glance, but it taught me skills that continue to guide my business every day. Patience, communication, discipline, and the ability to meet people exactly where they are. Those early lessons became the foundation for how I serve my clients and build lasting relationships in real estate.

Early Entrepreneurial Lessons: Running a Piano Studio

During high school, I ran my own piano studio, teaching 20 students and organizing both winter concerts and end-of-year recitals. Managing a small studio taught me valuable lessons about running a business:

Multitasking: Balancing lesson plans, student progress, recital schedules, and administrative tasks honed my ability to juggle multiple priorities at once.
Communication: Every student and family had different needs and learning styles. I quickly learned how to communicate effectively, a skill that translates directly to guiding clients through the buying or selling process in real estate.
Care and Attention to Detail: Running a studio requires precision, patience, and thoughtful planning, qualities that are essential when managing real estate transactions and serving clients.

These experiences not only gave me confidence but also encouraged me to grow as an entrepreneur at a young age. It’s one thing to learn business theory in school, but building and running your own business from scratch teaches lessons you can’t get anywhere else.

How Teaching Piano Led to Success in Real Estate

The skills I developed while teaching piano, organization, communication, and client care, were directly transferable to my career in real estate. Running a piano studio required dedication, adaptability, and a focus on results, all of which are critical in real estate.

Starting in real estate, I realized that my early entrepreneurial experience gave me a competitive edge. I was comfortable managing multiple clients, handling complex transactions, and maintaining a level of professionalism that earns trust and repeat business. The confidence I gained from running my piano studio empowered me to navigate challenges and grow my real estate career in ways I never could have predicted.

Encouraging Passion and Mentorship

One of the most important lessons I learned through this journey is the value of encouraging young people to explore their passions. Whether it’s teaching, sports, or creative pursuits, providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities helps build skills that can last a lifetime.

In my career, I make it a point to mentor and train others in real estate, sharing insights from my own experiences so they can develop the skills they need to succeed. Many young professionals find themselves uncertain about their career paths, and I firmly believe that fostering exploration and practical experience can lead to discovering the perfect fit, just as teaching piano led me to thrive in real estate.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, my early experiences teaching piano were about so much more than music, they were about business, communication, and personal growth. Those lessons formed the foundation of my career in real estate and continue to influence how I run my business and mentor others today.

If you’re a young professional exploring your passions, my advice is simple: dive in, learn everything you can, and let your experiences shape the skills you’ll carry into your future career. You never know which early passion might lead to your next big opportunity.