Today we’d like to introduce you to Veena Pandiri.
Veena, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Here’s a draft written from **Notes n’ Beats’ perspective**:
Notes n’ Beats started with something simple: teaching music to a few children of family and friends in our neighborhood. In 2005, our founder, Veena Pandiri, was working in technology when she discovered how much she enjoyed teaching music. As she spent more time with her students, she began thinking about how music education could be both rooted in strong fundamentals and more engaging for today’s children. [Loudoun County Economic Development](https://loudounpossible.com/blog/loudounpossible-success-story-notes-n-beats?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
In 2012, Veena opened Notes n’ Beats in Ashburn while still working her full-time job. What began as a small effort gradually grew as more families connected with the idea. In 2015, she made the decision to pursue the school full-time. [Loudoun County Economic Development](https://loudounpossible.com/blog/loudounpossible-success-story-notes-n-beats?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Today, Notes n’ Beats brings together teachers and students with a wide range of musical backgrounds. They offer lessons in voice and instruments, with opportunities to learn both Indian and Western music. While they value a strong classical foundation, students also explore the music they love, whether that’s pop, rock, Bollywood, musical theatre, or something else. Through recitals, ensembles, camps, and performances, students get to share what they’ve learned and grow more comfortable on stage. [Notes n Beats](https://www.notesnbeats.com/ourteam?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Over time, we’ve also seen how music can bring people together across generations beyond the classroom. Our students and families have participated in community performances and benefit events, giving young musicians the chance to use their talents to give back. It’s been special to see students grow not only as musicians, but also as confident, compassionate members of their community. [Serve Virginia](https://servevirginia.org/stories-of-service/notes-n-beats-music-school/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
We’re proud of how far Notes n’ Beats has come, and grateful to the teachers, students, parents, and community members who have helped shape it along the way. Our goal is still much the same as it was at the beginning: to help people connect with music and find joy in learning it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has taught me something.
One of the first big decisions was leaving my career in technology to pursue music full-time. It meant giving up a steady income and taking a financial risk, but I knew I wanted to follow the passion I had found in teaching music.
I also wanted to teach music in a way that was different from what I had seen. Introducing contemporary music alongside a classical foundation felt like a risky proposition at a time when few others were doing it in the Classical Indian music arena. I wanted to bring Indian and Western music together and help students appreciate both traditions. Even introducing rock music to families in the Indian diaspora who weren’t familiar with it took time and trust.
On a personal level, I’ve faced health setbacks along the way, including cancer, chronic gastrointestinal issues, and broken bones from accidents. There were times when managing my health while continuing to build the school was difficult.
Growing the business has also meant finding our way in an unknown territory as I had no large personal network or much press exposure. Building awareness and helping people understand what we do has taken persistence.
Looking back, taking those risks has been worthwhile, but I couldn’t have done it alone. Having a dedicated team that believed in the vision, especially, our Director of Operations, Ritu Shanker, has made all the difference, along with the support of our students and families.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I teach Indian classical music and Indian film songs, but my favorite part of the work is helping students become performers. I love seeing a student grow comfortable on stage, connect with an audience, and discover their own way of expressing a song.
Through Notes n’ Beats, I also feel a responsibility to keep families and generations connected through music. There is something very special about a young child and their grandmother singing a song they both know and love. Those shared songs create connections across generations, languages, and different upbringings.
I’m also a software engineer, and I believe “once an engineer, always an engineer” and that makes me a problem solver. That background shapes how I approach challenges at the school. Alongside the musical and creative side, I’m always thinking about how to streamline processes and build better systems. I want our teachers to have the support and organization they need to enjoy working here and focus on their students.
What also sets our work apart is our willingness to experiment. I enjoy taking risks with music, performances, and traditions, and questioning the boundaries between genres and cultures. We give students a strong foundation while encouraging them to explore beyond what is familiar.
What I’m most proud of is the difference we’ve made through our nonprofit work with children in shelter homes and people in mental health institutions, both here and in India. Equally meaningful is seeing our music students develop empathy and learn to recognize the needs of people around them. I want them to understand that their talent gives them a way to contribute.
Our students also get involved in what happens behind the scenes. Some are gaining hands-on experience in project management, sales, graphic design, marketing, event management, and audio engineering at just 12 or 13 years old. Watching them take ownership, solve problems, and discover abilities beyond music has been incredibly rewarding.
As a business owner, I also take seriously the responsibility of supporting the team that makes this possible. Every paycheck represents someone who depends on us. For me, the work means caring for our students, creating opportunities for our staff, and making sure the music reaches beyond our classrooms.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
If I had to choose one quality, it would be conviction—the willingness to believe in an idea and put in the hard work to see it through, even when it challenges the norm. Leaving technology for music and bringing different musical traditions together both required that conviction.
But conviction needs empathy and critical thinking alongside it. Empathy helps me understand what a student needs, what a parent hopes for, or what a teacher is struggling with. My engineering background helps me look at problems logically, question assumptions, and find practical solutions. I believe strongly in listening and being willing to change my approach when something isn’t working.
I also set high standards for myself. I’m always looking for ways to improve a lesson, a performance, or how we run the school. That combination—caring about people, thinking carefully, working hard, and daring to try something unfamiliar—has been central to my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://notesnbeats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notesnbeats_music/reels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notesnbeats/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80508933
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxXuR-fpRDhIC0voFDIp9i2Ye1Lhamn_C
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/notes-n-beats-ashburn-3?osq=notes+n+beats
