Music Studio Takes Clinton Hill's Song to Heart

Opening a new business anywhere can be a daunting task, but in some parts of Brooklyn, there is an added degree of difficulty: the constantly changing demographics of the borough.

Enter Marty Isenberg and Jen Herman, owners of Clinton Hill Music Studio, a brand-spanking new music school for students of all ages.

The school is something unique in the area — a one-to-one studio for instrument and music lessons that's self contained and draws much of its business from the Clinton Hill community. 

Owners Isenberg and Herman say that unique element is also their biggest strength.

"What's nice is that we have very local people coming here, and that's what we'd like to get more of. People who can just walk here," Herman said. "We wanted to bring more students here to serve the community here and create that in this neighborhood."

Originally, both Herman and Isenberg — co-owners who also happen to be getting married later this year — taught music lessons by travelling all over Brooklyn and Manhattan. 

But the vibe in Clinton Hill — from the other neighborhood businesses to the friendly neighbors — kept whispering in their ear that they should maybe think about teaching closer to home. 

Clinton Hill Music Studio, which opened in January 2013, operates out of an unassuming rowhouse at 195 Gates Ave. Aside from a sign in the window and a box of "take me" fliers, there isn't much to distinguish it from the residents it sits between with no elbow room. But that's part of the point, Isenberg said.

"The inspiration for starting our studio was in a lot of ways our neighborhood, because it's changed so much," Isenberg said. "There's a lot of new businesses coming in and doing really well — hip businesses — and I think that attracts people that are interested in being someplace where they can have a great meal, they can get lessons, they can get yoga or gourmet food, whatever they want and it's all within walking distance."

Now, instead of packing up and traveling to students, the two teachers have everything they need right at their fingertips, including a piano in every room, and a potential client in every building on the block.

"It seems like — one of my students is 60 years old, he's lived here all his life — people are just very welcoming of new people and new businesses," Isenberg said.