Hodis Learning & Music (HLM) is celebrating four incredible years of business! The South Pasadena-based tutoring, art, and music instruction company has expanded since its founding, now also offering academic coaching and homeschool instruction.
“It’s a little hard to believe that we’ve already been operating for four years now,” says founder and president Drew M. Hodis. “So much has happened in just a short amount of time, but I’m really proud of my team and what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
In 2021, Hodis saw that students of all ages were struggling with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns and school closures. With years of tutoring experience, he wanted to help.
“I thought at first I would just tutor by myself, but I saw a huge need and realized that if I wanted to help more people, I’d need more tutors,” says Hodis. A longtime musician, he also knew about the benefits that music lessons and other activities, like art, could offer to students.
“Including music lessons into my business was a natural choice, and art just made sense. I wanted to offer all kinds of education.”
Since 2021, HLM has expanded its offerings to also include homeschool instruction; academic coaching; SAT and ACT test prep, as well as test prep for the GRE, SSAT, and ISEE exams. The company also continues to donate 20% of its profits to the South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF) and the Pasadena Education Foundation (PEF), as it has since its founding.
“We’re investing in our community and the schools our students attend,” explains Hodis. “I’m from South Pasadena, I attended South Pasadena public schools from elementary to high school, so it’s important for me to give back to the community I came from.”
Initially, HLM only offered programming in the South Pasadena area and online. In the past four years though, the company has expanded to offer in-person sessions in Pasadena, San Marino, and Alhambra. While sessions can take place in-home for students located in their service area, HLM is happy to conduct sessions in public spaces such as local libraries or coffee shops. Virtual sessions via Zoom are always an option for students.
When asked what his plans are for the future, Hodis shared: “I just want to keep the same quality and keep expanding, little by little, so we can continue to help more students.” After the Pasadena-area community was devastated by the Altadena fires and all that accompanied it, students are surely going to need not only academic guidance, but also strong mentorship.
“Since I started HLM, I’ve always strived to hire educators who aren’t just experts in their field of study, but are also kind, patient, and can help students of all needs and abilities.” Hodis also hopes that programs like their art instruction and homeschooling education continue to gain traction. As a final word, Hodis is thankful for the community.
“We are so grateful for anyone who has supported this business at any point in the past four years. My staff and I look forward to continuing to serve you and our beautiful community in the coming years.”
