Twins Cassie and Shannon Shankman may be teenagers, but they’re already experienced business owners.
They launched the International Music Academy as freshmen. Now juniors at Carroll Senior High School, the 17-year-olds spend several hours a week giving private music lessons to area children.
The home-based school provides instruction in violin, voice, music theory and piano. During the summer, they offer music appreciation classes for toddlers.
This year, a $1,000 scholarship has been established in honor of the girls’ mother, Cheryl Shankman, an educational advocate and volunteer who died in November. An avid traveler, she had lived in Japan and Europe.
Offered by the Carroll Advanced Placement Boosters, the scholarship will help a Carroll High School sophomore or junior participate in a district-sponsored travel-abroad program. Shankman was a past president of the group. The application deadline has been extended to Saturday.
When the twins were in fourth grade, the family moved to London, where the girls attended an American school for about three years. Back in the United States, the girls started giving music lessons and later joined the Southlake Chamber of Commerce to work with other business owners.
What was it like living in England?
Cassie: That was a great experience, being with different cultures, different types of people and being exposed to different types of activities. We grew up there.
Tell me about your business.
Cassie: In London, we were learning a method of piano different than the American system. We combined the American and European systems. It’s a curriculum we put together ourselves. We wanted to have a job, and we wanted to work for ourselves instead of working for someone else. We set our own wages, and we can have holidays off. It is neat to see other kids learn your method, expand on it and share it with others. There are different languages throughout the world, but one thing that brings people together is music.
What do your students think about being taught by people close to their own age?
Shannon: They find it more cool, and they feel more open. We gradually developed a method to make it fun. We didn’t want them to have homework, so they go home and play whatever they want. They will more likely do it if they don’t think they’ll get in trouble for it if they don’t.
Why did you join the chamber?
Shannon: It was given to us as a present from our mom. It was such an honor. We got involved because everybody is so nice and so helpful. She wrapped it [a plaque] up under the Christmas tree.
Did you have a ribbon-cutting?
Shannon: Yes, we did a ribbon cutting March 15, 2006. There were businesspeople, friends there. It made us feel it was official. We felt valid. It felt more grown-up.
It’s an interesting gift to give teen girls.
Shannon: It’s a typical mom gift. She wanted us to help others and give us one more step into the adult world. This is something you don’t usually get. It felt like, now we’re part of something greater than ourselves. She gave us the gift of helping others.
What do you think about the travel scholarship in honor of your mother?
Cassie: It is because our mom really loved traveling. She loved different cultures, exploring
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