View more Spotlight articles at www.mysaline.com/scf-spotlight.
Saline County Favorites Spotlight: Starling Music Studio 🎶
When you walk through the doors of Starling Music Studio in Bryant, you’ll feel more than just the sound of music, you’ll feel the heartbeat of a community that has embraced music education as a lifelong gift. This year, Starling Music has been honored as one of the Saline County Favorites, and their story is one of passion, growth, and community connection.
A Musical Journey from Nashville to Bryant
Starling Music was born from the vision of a touring singer-songwriter who spent years in Nashville before moving to Saline County. After teaching at a studio in a different town, it became clear there was a need for a dedicated music academy in the Benton/Bryant area. In 2019, Starling Music opened its doors with 88 students and six instructors. The community responded enthusiastically, and today the academy has grown to over 320 students and 17 instructors, with no signs of slowing down.
Music has always been at the heart of founder Sally Howell’s life. She grew up in a musical family, studied voice performance at Belmont University, pursued opera at UMKC, and later toured nationally. “Music is all I’ve ever known,” she shared. “It’s not just about teaching songs, it’s about building a foundation of music theory and helping students understand why and how music works.”
Building a Community Through Music
At Starling Music, it’s not just about learning notes on a page, it’s about building connections. Every instructor is chosen not only for their education and experience, but also for their passion and heart for teaching. The result is an environment where students feel supported, parents feel involved, and families become part of something bigger than weekly lessons.
“Being named a Saline County Favorite shows that we’re more than just teachers,” founder Sally Howell shared. “We’re building trust with kids and families. Music is personal, and the relationships we build last a lifetime.”
That commitment to connection is what has made Starling Music a hub in the community. From the excitement of their grand opening—when the studio and parking lot overflowed with people, friends, and prayers over the building—to their ongoing student showcases, the academy has created a place where children are encouraged, challenged, and celebrated.
Lessons for Every Age & Stage
The academy offers lessons in nearly every instrument: piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, drums, brass, woodwinds, strings, banjo, mandolin, and more. They also provide voice lessons, Pre-K programs (ages 3–5), and special-needs instruction with two specially trained teachers. Starling’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that music transforms lives: piano can boost IQ, music theory builds transferable skills across instruments, and early lessons create lifelong benefits.
A Thank You from Starling Music
“We love our families and our students. We want to thank them for letting their kids be a part of our life for so long. It’s such a blessing to share music with them weekly. Thank you to our families for being loyal, and thank you, Saline County, for trusting us to lead you in music. And to our instructors – you are the heart of Starling. With your passion and care, you’ve made this place more than a music academy, you’ve made it a home.”
Meet the Instructors
● Don Tucker – Guitar/Songwriting
● Steve Purifoy – Drums
● Madison Betz – Piano
● Katelyn Bayless – Piano & Voice
● Carol Holman – Piano & Special Needs
● Art Holman – Brass
● Oneta Winkler – Piano
● Tiffany Turner – Banjo & Mandolin
● Zannon Hogue – Woodwinds
● Mandi Carreiro – Voice & Piano
● Dustin Yoder – Strings
● Michael “Boom Boom Boom” Shipp – Guitar/Bass
● Emory Molitor – Piano, Voice, Pre-K
● Clay Ingold – Guitar & Recording
● Cliff Pennington – Guitar/Bass
● Sally Howell – Voice, Piano, Songwriting
📍 Starling Music Studio
Address: 3614 Market Pl Ave, Bryant, AR 72022
📞 501-653-SING
Every year thousands of individuals vote for their favorite businesses and professionals on our Saline County Favorites Survey. Once voting is finished we compile the votes and award the winning businesses and professionals with certificates to display, honoring their achievement. These nominations and certificates validate businesses in their work, and grow their reputation! Thank you for your continued support, Saline County!
View more Spotlight articles at www.mysaline.com/scf-spotlight.
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