Private Music Studio Guides by Mimi Butler

Mimi Butler: Biography

Mimi Butler

Private Studio teacher, Author, Clinician

"I had students stopping me in the hall to tell me how valuable they found your information.
Your presentations were lively, good humored, inspiring, and information-packed all at once.
Throughout the two sessions, you had the rapt attention of graduate student and undergrad
all."

--Dr. Gerald Fischbach

 "It was great to see you the other week & watch how you teach! I learn so much each time (for me & for my teaching)."

--Teresa, student & violin teacher

"...a valuable reference for any teacher that teaches privately, regardless of the size of the studio. The information covered in this book is worthwhile towards improving all teaching situations."

—Roberta Warfield


Mimi Butler teaches violin and viola privately to 20 to 25 students weekly in her Haddonfield, NJ home. Once a month, all of the students play in a chamber music class. With Pam Fay, violist in the Philadelphia Orchestra, Butler runs the “Summer String Festival," a two week day camp every June & July in Cherry Hill, NJ.  Butler also offers music theory lessons, a ten hour cadet teaching course for advanced string players who wish to teach and teaching consultation for current and future music teachers.

Mimi Butler is the author/publisher of "The Complete Guide to Running a Private Music Studio", "The Complete Guide to Making More Money in the Private Music Studio" and "The Complete Guide to Raising Parents in the Private Music Studio" along with downloadable pamphlets.  Custom Fiddle Bags are now offered on privatemusicstudio.com. 

Butler has been conducting clinics on the books throughout the country and in Canada since 1999. In 2010, clinics include Kenai, Alaska, University of Maryland, The NJEA State Convention in Atlantic City, NJ and The American String Teacher's National Convention in San Jose, CA. Along with Sam Ruttenberg, classical and jazz drummer, Butler offers a private drum studio clinic.

Butler has been published in “Strad” magazine and currently “Strings” along with teaching violin at Rutgers University, Camden.

Friends of Belmont Volunteer Group Is Launched

Philadelphia, PA, April 24, 2009 -- A new, hands-on volunteer group called Friends of Belmont has formed to provide services to patients throughout Belmont Behavioral Health, the most comprehensive behavioral health system in the Philadelphia region and part of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. Behavioral health services are offered at Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Germantown Community Health Services, Philadelphia Center for Human Development, and Einstein Center One.

"The Friends of Belmont fulfill a unique need during our patients' time with us by providing extra special caring that goes beyond the quality clinical care they receive from our staff," says Sharon Bergen, Chief Operating Officer of Belmont Behavioral Health. "I am delighted that this dedicated group has revived volunteerism at Belmont and reminds us of our rich history of volunteer service which began over 70 years ago when the hospital was founded."

Friends of Belmont is part of the Auxiliary of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network and is comprised of nine volunteers. Mimi Butler (shown at far left) is Chair of the group and also a Vice President of Einstein's Auxiliary. She has been a devoted supporter of Belmont for many years and is a successful private music studio teacher and author of private music studio guide books. Ms. Butler is following in the footsteps of her mother Irene Fagan, a long-time volunteer and fundraiser. Irene Fagan passed away ten years ago and the Adolescent Unit at Belmont is named after her. "I am gratified to be part of this group, particularly since I have such fond childhood memories of coming to Belmont with my mother and helping with different projects," says Ms. Butler.

A key focus of Friends of Belmont is to educate the public about mental illness and create partnerships with community groups. The group's first project was the creation of Valentine's Day cards by members of Cub Scout Pack 168 from Cherry Hill, NJ, and students from the Cynwyd School and the French International School, both in Bala Cynwyd, PA. The cards were distributed by the Friends to patients at the Belmont Center as well as Einstein Medical Center, and Philadelphia Center for Human Development.

Another project involved students from Philadelphia Cares, a service organization, who donated their time and muscle by clearing out and sprucing up storage areas and a treatment room at the Belmont Center.

The Friends also collect and donate books and magazines for distribution on patient units, and donate items for the Point Store at the Belmont Center where children and adolescents purchase toys, toiletries, clothing and other items with points earned for good behavior. Upcoming projects include making and distributing Happy Spring cards for patients and brightening up Belmont's gardens with new planters.

Friends of Belmont work in conjunction with staff at the Belmont Center, including Nancy Beck, Director of Rehab Services (second from left), Paul Boyd, Social Work Supervisor (third from left), and Joe Pettinati, Assistant Vice President, Clinical Services (far right). Also shown: Jackie Rosenberg (second from right), and Bobbi Wasserman (third from right).