Zhenel Rawlinson grew up surrounded by music in Memphis, Tennessee. With a mother who was a recording artist and a father who worked as a Hip Hop producer, music was ingrained in her life from an early age. “I was always involved in music, whether it was at church, school, or in the community,” she said. By the time she was a teenager, she had recorded her first album in her father’s home studio.
But while music was her passion, financial stability was harder to come by. As the first in her family to attend college, Zhenel knew she needed a way to make ends meet while pursuing her goals. That’s when she decided to offer music lessons, starting with just two students. Over time, what began as a modest side gig blossomed into a $1,000-a-month income stream.
Zhenel’s deep connection to music started at home where both her parents were involved in the entertainment industry. “Music was always around me—my mom was a recording artist, and my dad was a producer,” she said. Growing up, she performed in local festivals, regional choirs, and church worship teams, gaining experience and developing her talent. By high school, she had already released her first album with the help of her father’s home studio.
Despite these early achievements, financial pressure was a constant challenge. Raised in a low-income area, Zhenel lived with her mother, sisters, and grandparents, and the family’s financial struggles were always present. “It was tough, but I always felt driven to make something of myself and help my family,” she recalled. Determined to create new opportunities, Zhenel became the first in her family to attend college, enrolling at The Ohio State University with a major in Music (Voice) and a minor in Music, Media, & Enterprise.
College, however, brought new challenges. While Zhenel thrived musically—headlining concerts and releasing original songs—covering her living expenses and tuition was another story. “I was doing what I loved, but it wasn’t enough to pay the bills,” she admitted. During her senior year, Zhenel realized she needed to make extra money without compromising her passion. That’s when she began offering music lessons on social media.
After graduation, Zhenel took things a step further by joining Fiverr, the freelancing platform that allowed her to expand her reach beyond her local community. By offering vocal coaching, music production, and songwriting services, her online business idea soon grew into a steady income stream, with some months generating over $1,000. “Fiverr became a way for me to continue pursuing my passion while earning extra money on the side,” she said.
To learn more about how she took the leap to start a side hustle on Fiverr, read Ben Huber’s article on DollarSprout: https://dollarsprout.com/how-one-woman-earns-1000-per-month-teaching-music-on-fiverr/
About the author, Ben Huber: After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2011 and Western Governors University in 2015, Ben worked as a Clinical Administrator for a regional hospital network before launching DollarSprout with his long-time friend and business partner, Jeff, in October of 2017.
A long-time entrepreneur, Ben used his corporate experience, along with an established interest in hosting and web design, to launch what has become one of the fastest-growing personal finance sites in the world.
A quoted consumer behavior and personal finance expert in numerous online publications, including NBC, Business News Daily, Business.com, Discover Bank, MarketWatch, and more.
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