Daily Inspiration: Meet Briana Lyn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Lyn.

Hi Briana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since I was 3 years old, I was singing in public. I got my start singing in church and my parents have always said, I was singing before I was talking. It was just who I was. I started taking singing lessons around the age of 3 and and had opportunities to sing at pageants, churches, nursing homes and various other places as a child. I started learning piano at the age of 8. My dad was very musical so he really inspired me just by his example. He was a drummer, played pedal steel guitar, and had a recording studio in our house. I grew up in a town of 6,000 people so the options were very limited with where I could go to perform but I made the most of every opportunity. Throughout high school I was involved in jazz band, vocal jazz ensembles, choir, marching band, rock bands, and church bands constantly perfecting my craft. I also began studying voice with a college professor in 7th grade. Her name was Doreen Hutchings and she headed up the opera department at a private school in St. Paul, Minnesota. Studying with her really helped me to grow exponentially, especially in the classical/musical theatre world. I continued to study with her throughout high school and then went to college and continued my studies in both piano and voice where I earned a BS in Music. Throughout my adult life, I have studied with different teachers and coaches which has really helped expand my voice and what I’m capable of doing. I also did some songwriting growing up and loved putting my pen to storytelling. I enjoyed English class probably the most outside of my music classes because I could be creative and write. I always wanted to be a professional singer and really couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else in my life. I sang professionally for weddings and funerals and would joke I was the “marry & bury singer”. While I love singing for both occasions, I really wanted to expand my performance opportunities. So I performed live with other singer songwriter friends of mine at various venues in Minneapolis. Then I had a turning point while visiting San Diego. I met a music producer in the ocean (quite literally) who was based in LA and while we were swimming, he asked me some questions about where I saw myself and what I really wanted to do. It really awoke a part of me that I think I had allowed to stay dormant for so long which was my own performing and artist career. That led me to start studying with some LA coaches and within 2 years, I picked up and moved to LA. I left all my family, friends and everything that was stable with only a dream in my heart, a plan of how I was going to execute it and a lot of hope and faith. I moved to LA just six months before COVID, and those months & years during the pandemic brought some unforgettable experiences that pushed me, challenged me, and stretched me in ways I never could have imagined during. I honed my skills in music production, started taking acting classes, extensive vocal training, and started recording and releasing my own original music for the first time in my life. Fast forward to today, and I feel like I’ve really found my sound as an artist.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say my road has been easy. In a lot of ways, I’ve taken the road less traveled. I think any artist would say that the most challenging thing about pursuing a creative career path is your mindset. I really have had to work on my own mindsets and stay grounded in my spirituality as I have faced so much rejection since pursing the creative path. As a creative, singing, performing and even doing some on camera and voice over work, I’m constantly auditioning for things. So often I think, ‘Man, I would be absolutely perfect for this,’ and then… crickets. I also faced some health challenges about three years ago. I was diagnosed with fibroids, and the physical pain and everything that came with it really took a toll on me emotionally and led to some periods of depression. I had to really prioritize taking care of my health, and after two surgeries in one year, I was finally able to get back to a more normal life without the pain and frustrations I had been dealing with. I think I really found a more grounded form of myself, and discovered the woman inside of me that was no longer chasing for approval and validation from others. I really had to practice going inward in my spiritual life and focus on what makes Briana happy and at peace with myself, instead of pleasing others and constantly looking outward for my worth.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an artist at my core, with a genuine desire to help and inspire others. I’m a country singer-songwriter and recording artist, and I write and release my own original music. Creating music has always been a central part of who I am, and I love being able to use my experiences, stories, and creativity to connect with others.

The music I write is deeply soulful and honest, which I believe is a reflection of who I am as a person. I’ve always wanted to be as truthful and transparent as possible, both as an artist and in my everyday life. When you listen to the lyrics of my songs, I hope you can hear that honesty come through. I want my music to feel real—to tell stories, express emotion, and connect with people in a genuine way.

Alongside my career as an artist, I’m a vocal coach, piano instructor, and the founder of Briana Lyn Studios, a multi-teacher music education studio. I started my business 13 years ago in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and today I have a team of teachers who work with me to coach and develop singers and musicians. Building the studio has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career because it has allowed me to create something that goes beyond my own teaching and reach even more people through music.

Interestingly, I don’t have a formal degree in business. I’ve learned the majority of what I know about running a business through experience, mentorship, private coaching, friends, colleagues, and simply figuring things out along the way. Building a business from the ground up has taught me a tremendous amount about leadership, perseverance, creativity, and the importance of continually being willing to learn.

My path into music education was somewhat unexpected. When I graduated from college, I found my way into music teaching through the Yamaha Music Education System. I didn’t have a teaching degree—my college training had primarily focused on voice, piano, and some psychology—so Yamaha became an important part of my development as both a musician and an educator.

Through Yamaha, I received extensive training in both music and teaching and became certified in their method. That training was instrumental in teaching me how to work with children and how to give them the tools to develop a strong musical foundation through solfège, ear training, and a hands-on approach to learning music.

While I was working with Yamaha, another opportunity came my way at a private school. I was offered the role of K–12 choir director as well as a kindergarten teaching position. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I would find myself teaching in a school setting, especially without having to go back to school for a master’s degree. It was an incredible learning experience and pushed me to grow in ways I never expected.

The training and experience I gained through both of those opportunities were invaluable. They gave me the foundation and confidence to eventually start Briana Lyn Studios when I was 27, combining my passion for performing and music with my love of teaching and helping others grow.

As a vocal coach, I’ve worked with everyone from children as young as three years old to adults preparing for professional auditions, including singers pursuing Broadway opportunities. I help singers find their voices, strengthen their sound, and develop a better understanding of how their voices work. When I work with a singer, I first identify their natural vocal tendencies and then give them practical tools to work through them—whether that means addressing a breathy tone, tension, pushing, pulling, or other habits that may be holding them back.

As a piano teacher, I’ve worked with children as well as professional musicians and songwriters who want to learn piano from a more contemporary approach. My specialty is helping students understand how music works—not simply teaching them how to play a song. I teach them how to read music, understand keys and chords, create accompaniment, and approach arranging so they can confidently accompany themselves and develop a stronger overall understanding of music.

As a classically trained pianist and vocalist, I also have a strong foundation in music theory and sight-reading. Being able to read music at a high level allows me to accompany my vocal students on piano while we work, which is an important part of how I teach and coach.

I think one of the things that sets me apart is that I bring both sides of the music world into my work. I’m not only an educator—I’m also a working artist, songwriter, recording artist, and performer. I understand what it’s like to step into a studio, get on a stage, write a song from scratch, prepare for an audition, and continue pursuing a career in music while navigating all of the challenges that come with it. I’m able to take that real-world experience and bring it directly into my teaching.

I also believe strongly in meeting people where they are. Every singer and musician has different strengths, challenges, goals, and learning styles, so I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. My goal is not just to teach someone a song or help them hit a certain note—it’s to give them the tools, understanding, and confidence to become more independent and capable musicians.

What I’m most proud of is the community I’ve built through Briana Lyn Studios and the number of people I’ve been able to impact through music. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone who once thought they “couldn’t sing,” felt intimidated by the piano, or didn’t believe they were capable of pursuing music begin to find confidence in themselves. Seeing people discover something in themselves that they didn’t know was there is one of the biggest reasons I continue to do what I do.

At the end of the day, whether I’m on stage performing my own music or sitting at the piano coaching a student, I’m doing what I love. I get to create, teach, encourage, and hopefully inspire people through music—and I feel incredibly fortunate that those different parts of my life have come together in such a meaningful way.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the music industry and music education are both going through a pretty significant shift right now, largely because of technology and the rise of AI. We have more tools available to musicians and students than ever before, and I think that’s going to continue accelerating in the years to come.

For music education, I think we’ll continue to see a blend of in-person and online learning. Technology has made it possible for students to work with teachers and coaches they might never have had access to otherwise, which I think is incredibly exciting. At the same time, I don’t think technology can replace the value of having a real person listen to you, understand your individual voice and learning style, and give you personalized feedback in the moment.

I also think musicians are going to have to become increasingly versatile. The ability to not only perform, but also write, produce, record, create content, understand technology, and build a personal brand is becoming more important than ever. There are so many ways for artists to reach an audience now, but there is also so much more competition for people’s attention. (deep breath, one step at a time) 😉

With AI in particular, I think we’re going to have to become even more intentional about what makes music human. AI can help us generate ideas, organize information, and make certain parts of the creative process more accessible, but it can’t replace the personal experiences, emotions, stories, and life experiences that make an artist’s work meaningful.

For me personally, I think that creates an interesting opportunity. I want to continue embracing technology and finding ways to use it as a tool, while staying grounded in the things that can’t be automated—real human connection, creativity, storytelling, and helping people find their own unique voice. I actually think those qualities will become even more valuable as technology continues to evolve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brianalynstudios.com/linktree/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brianalynofficial and www.instagram.com/brianalynstudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianaLynAnderson and https://www.facebook.com/brianalynstudios
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianalyn/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brianalyn
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/briana_lyn
• Other: https://www.brianalyn.com/linktree

Image Credits
Suada Van Varenberg