Meet Corbitt Williams | Singer and Early Childhood Music Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Corbitt Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Corbitt, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The idea to start my business really came from when I was working for different family franchises in New York City. I got into this line of work years ago in my early 20s when I was just looking for a job to pay the bills, and I didn’t have the experience or degrees my colleagues did, so I didn’t think much of it. Over the years, I started seeing how much my early childhood classes and birthday concerts were becoming popular and bringing a lot of folks through the doors and making whatever business I was working for a lot of money. Right before I made the jump to go solo, I was teaching over twenty classes a week, not including birthday parties on the weekend, and I didn’t feel like I was making the kind of money that reflected all the hard work I was doing. I started to realize that I could teach less and earn more if I worked with families independently.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an actor, singer, and somewhat of a dancer, otherwise known as a musical theater kid. I even got a degree from a fancy conservatory, but when I moved to the big city to pursue my art professionally, the business and I were not a match. Singing, however, is my first love. It has been a part of my life since I was a toddler. I studied classical voice for 20 years, from Pensacola, FL to New York City. I grew up performing with a youth singing group which taught me work ethic and how to engage and entertain many different crowds. I’ve also always had a knack for speaking to large groups of people, and finding ways to disarm and connect with them. I suddenly had this collection of skills and talents that needed a home. What I’ve been able to do with Mr. Corbitt that I wasn’t able to do in the world of opera and theater is embrace popular music and bring the love of different forms and genres to people who may not have that same appreciation. I love singing in different styles, from Italian arias to folk to blues to modern radio pop, and communicating the universality of music through my art.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love having visitors to the city, because I love to take them off the beaten path to see the city from the perspective of a local. We take CitiBikes around the loop in Central Park and down the Hudson Greenway, then hop on the 7 train and ride it to the east side of Manhattan. Instead of the Circle Line, we’ll pay a few dollars to ride the East River Ferry to DUMBO in Brooklyn as we get some amazing views of the iconic bridges and city skyline and some ice cream once the ferry docks. At night, we’d head to a quiet, hip bar that serves insane cocktails and live music from a local artist. Then we’ll take a crucial nighttime walk from the Alphabet City to Hell’s Kitchen to feel what the city’s like after dark. I’d take them to a life-changing Broadway show and make sure they got some Levain cookies before they got back on the plane.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh, my goodness, I would have to write a list the length of a novel to include all of the people who got me to where I am now. However, the name that first comes to mind is Michele Gabriele. Michele was one of my first managers at my first job working in the early childhood space at Gymboree in Manhattan. She saw something special in me when I really had no idea what I was doing. She hired me at two different businesses, constantly gave me incredible advice on anything from expert childhood development to customer relations, and really challenged me to wear many different hats at once when I was working. For years I taught classes that she designed for children from 2 months old to 6 years old, and it was a master class in writing curriculum that entertains and charms the adults in class, while being truly developmentally beneficial to the little ones in class. She taught me patience and strategy and playing the long game. She was also incredibly encouraging to me on a daily basis which truly makes all the difference in the world. Everyone needs a Michele when they’re starting out.

Website: http://www.mrcorbitt.com

Instagram: Biz: @corbitt.kids Personal: @corbittsinorbit

Facebook: www.facebook.com/corbittkids

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoKjEaJmnl_csDGFu0SAzPg

Image Credits
Benjamin Cobb Photography