“It takes a village to raise a child” is a sentiment we’re all familiar with, and while it may be a cliche, it’s also true. Helping children discover their passions and guiding them to adulthood is no easy feat, which is why having a community to rely on is so important.
Two of those communities, Bach to Rock, a modern music school in the Minneapolis market for five years, and Mathnasium, a math learning center in Minnetonka, support children on their path to discovering themselves through music and math programs. They explore how kids can take their passions and gifts and turn them into so much more.
Bach to Rock is a growing franchise organization based out of Bethesda, Maryland. Judy Shoulak and her son, Jake Shoulak opened their Plymouth Bach to Rock School in 2018, Coon Rapids in 2022, and are excited to open in Minnetonka this August. Judy and Jake's mission is to impact lives through music. Their schools offer music lessons to all ages starting at eight months old.
With classes ranging from guitar and piano to voice lessons and DJing, Bach to Rock is a place for kids to feel safe, have fun and discover a passion for music. According to Judy, it’s also a place for kids to grow their confidence.
Aidan Kulseith was just 10 years old when he joined Bach to Rock. He started out just learning piano but added voice lessons soon after. Aidan quickly joined a band and almost immediately started performing at events. Now at 14 years old, Aidan's band, Jade, has won Bach to Rock’s “Battle of the Bands” event for the second year in a row.
“Aidan is talented and passionate about performing at his best! When combined with amazing instructors, opportunities to perform, and unconditional parental support, the sky’s the limit,” Judy says.
Similarly, Mathnasium of Minnetonka is a place for kids to receive support in all things math-related. Some kids find themselves falling behind in math classes, while others discover a gift and want to pursue opportunities in the math field. Mathnasium “meets every student where they are,” Owner and Director Sri Ganti says.
Mathnasium tailors lessons to each child’s specific needs and offers one-on-one instruction to ensure every child receives proper support and instruction.
Sri says one of the best parts about working with kids is seeing their confidence levels grow. She recalls one student who was so anxious when he first joined Mathnasium that he would crawl under his desk. With consistent, sustained efforts, his confidence grew, and he made significant strides outside of math as well. “He was able to join honors classes and reach goals in other areas of his life too,” Sri says.
Both Judy Shoulak and Sri Ganti have seen the impact a supportive community can have on young children looking to gain confidence and pursue a passion. Being the one offering the support is a humbling and unforgettable experience. On the flip side, receiving support from parents and community members is something that forever changed Isabel and Caroline Bercaw’s lives.
Co-founders of Da Bomb, Isabel and Caroline became interested in bath bombs when they were just 10 and 11 years old. With support from their parents and the community, the girls were able to grow their passion into a business that now sells bath bombs to retailers like Target and Ulta Beauty.
“Without the support of our parents, it’s no secret the business would not be what it is today. But the way they taught us how to deal with problems, it really benefited us and made us better people in general,” says Isabel, 22.
As a result of being so young, Isabel and Caroline say they were occasionally overlooked or not taken seriously as business owners. But with encouragement from the people around them, the girls have become successful entrepreneurs who are using their platform to provide clean drinking water to communities in Africa through The Water Project.
When asked if they had any advice for children wanting to pursue a passion and gain confidence along the way, Caroline, 21, offers, “Don’t wait until you think the moment will be right. Just start. Whether that’s something small or taking a big step. Start with something and work your way up from there.”
Both Judy Shoulak and Sri Ganti have seen the impact a supportive community can have on young children looking to gain confidence and pursue a passion. Being the one offering the support is a humbling and unforgettable experience.