Say hello to Jo, our new franchisee in Gloucestershire

Joanna Johnston is a mum-of-three from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, and the latest addition to our Musical Minis franchisees.

We’re thrilled she’s on board – Jo is enthusiastic, energetic, and has a great understanding of children and what the Musical Minis programme can help them achieve.

She began running her classes around Gloucestershire in September.

Here, Jo tells us a little bit about how she came to join our team, and how she is looking forward to doing a job she loves, whilst still being able to spend lots of quality time with her family.

How did you hear about Musical Minis, and what attracted you to the business?

I heard about Musical Minis by searching on the internet for an opportunity to combine my pre-children career in banking with my post-children career and qualifications in Early Years with my love of music. Musical Minis ticked all the boxes!

What were you doing previously - why were you looking to change, and what difference do you hope Musical Minis will make to life?

I have been running a local playgroup which I loved but found the pressures of paperwork and long hours were starting to impact upon family life. I am hoping that Musical Minis will give me more flexibility and I am going to try not to work at weekends, other than parties which I’m looking forward to.

What are you most looking forward to with your new business?

Seeing the children - and their carers - have fun and develop whilst making music. I enjoy noticing something new that a child has done each week – it may be as simple as having the confidence to leave Mum’s lap to come and select an instrument or clap hands for the first time.

What does your family think about your new business?

I have three children, aged 13, 11 and eight, a hard-working husband and various pets including an energetic dog. It’s a busy household as the children enjoy lots of activities including various sports, cubs, guides etc and they are each learning a different musical instrument.

We often have the Musical Minis sessions playing in the car so I am prepared for the next week’s classes. They like to think they are too cool for such things but I’ve caught them singing along! Most of all, they like the fact that I can take them to school – a chance to talk about the day ahead.

What plans do you have for the business - are you looking to introduce anything new to your sessions?

At the moment I’m concentrating on making sure each session runs smoothly and that I find time to get to know each child and their carer. From my past experience of working with young children, I’ve found they like to have something to take home so I give them a colouring sheet relating to a part of the session such as a rhyme to enjoy together at home.

How do you feel about running your own business - does anything feel daunting?

I would be foolish to think that running my own business is going to be easy and I’m sure there will be many challenges ahead. However, I am very excited to have this opportunity and will do everything I can to make it a success.

Comments

[Avery Gerner]

Hello Jo! :D Good thing you've found something you can truly appreciate! Having a new business involves learning, and you need to have enough knowledge and passion for everything. How's everything now? You're surely busy these days.