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Author: Jennifer Belk

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Avianna Sohner – The Keys & Cords Studio

We are incredibly proud of all of our LOOM Coworking members and love seeing their growth, personally and professionally.

Learn more about Avianna “Avi” Sohner!  

 

Who is Avi Sohner? I was born in Maryland just outside of Washington DC, but I grew up in a small town just south of here called Richburg, SC. I currently reside in Charlotte where I’ve lived for the last ten years with my husband Matthew and Calico cat, Cleo.

Tell us about your educational background?  I graduated from Winthrop University with a BA in Choral Music Education and a MA in Choral Conducting. Music has always been an important part of my life. My father is a drummer and percussionist, and I was in the church choir, school choir, marching band and played in piano competitions growing up. I served as the Assistant Choir Director of Grace Lutheran Church in Rock Hill while in college, and then Handbell and Choir Director of Mt Holly Methodist Church in Edgemoor, SC for six years.

Describe your company and who are your customers? I have operated my own business, The Keys and Cords Studio since 2017. I started teaching piano lessons at the Winthrop Music Academy during my undergrad and I went on to teach at the Playroom Academy of Music in Baxter Village. Shortly after getting married, the Playroom Academy closed its doors. I wasn’t sure where I would go next, or if I would be able to continue teaching my current students. Jen Belk’s daughter was taking lessons from me at the time, and Jen offered me space in the Studios@LOOM. My husband and I took a leap of faith, invested money in opening my own studio and I’ve been here ever since! I teach piano and voice lessons to predominantly children ages 7 and up, and some adults who are either looking to develop a new hobby or rekindle an old one.  We host winter and spring recitals every year in the Gallery where each student performs a piece they have been working on. We also do recordings in the Studio for solos and duets so families can see their students’ progress.

What are your personal and/or professional goals? Over the last ten years, I have taught students who began with me as young children, and have stayed with me through their high school graduations. It is such a joy to watch my students not only grow in skill, but grow in maturity and intellect from children into young adults. Many of my students have come to see me as a trusted adult, confidant, and friend. 

Other than work, what are you most passionate about?  I am very passionate about travel and new experiences with my husband and friends. I am a true beach person, and I really enjoy practicing my skim boarding skills when I am on the water. It has become another “vacation hobby” for me and I feel like my skills improve on each trip. I love food and many different cuisines, and my husband and I both enjoy cooking at home as well as trying new restaurants around our area and when we travel. 

How do you feel you have benefitted or grown at LOOM? LOOM has been instrumental to the success and growth of my business. They have done a great job of accommodating anything I need from daily lessons to the bi-annual recitals. Jen and Laurie have always been so responsive and open to any feedback I have, and have helped me promote my business among LOOM’s membership and in the wider Fort Mill area. I couldn’t have done it without them! 

What is the best way to connect with you? 

email: keysandcords@gmail.com

website: keysandcords.com 

WORST IDEA FOR SOLO WORK? TRYING TO DO IT BY YOURSELF!

Resolving to be more productive while working from home is surprisingly similar to deciding you want to get fit. The motivation is there, the goals are clear, and you may even start strong. But without the right structure and environment, it’s easy to lose momentum.

Creating a workout routine at home can be challenging. You have good intentions, but the couch is nearby, distractions are everywhere, and there’s no clear separation between “exercise time” and everything else. Working from home can feel the same way. Without boundaries, routines fade, focus slips, and productivity becomes inconsistent.

That’s where a coworking community acts as a springboard to success. Just as a gym provides the equipment, space, and atmosphere needed to build a fitness habit, a coworking space offers the amenities, peers, and environment that help work habits stick. Reliable internet, dedicated workspaces, meeting rooms, and quiet zones remove friction and make it easier to show up consistently.

Even more powerful is the presence of others. Being surrounded by people who are also focused and motivated creates a sense of accountability and momentum. You don’t have to compete or compare—you simply benefit from the shared energy of people working toward their own goals. Over time, that consistency turns intention into habit.

Productivity, like fitness, isn’t about bursts of effort or working longer hours. It’s about showing up regularly in a space designed for success. When you choose an environment that supports focus, routine, and connection, progress becomes sustainable—and your goals stop feeling like a struggle and start feeling like a lifestyle.

SLACKING IS LIKE SNACKING!

Resolving to be more productive while working from home is a lot like deciding you’re finally going to lose weight. The intention is good. The motivation is strong. But without the right environment, even the best resolutions can quietly fall apart.

Trying to focus at home can feel like trying to eat healthy in a kitchen stocked with snacks. The couch is right there. The laundry needs switching. The fridge keeps calling your name. You can rely on willpower, but just like dieting, willpower alone rarely lasts.

That’s where the environment makes all the difference. When people are serious about losing weight, they often change their surroundings—joining a gym, meal prepping, or surrounding themselves with others who share the same goal. Productivity works the same way. When you join a coworking community, you step into a space designed for focus, momentum, and accountability.

A coworking space removes many of the daily temptations that derail productivity. Instead of household distractions, you’re surrounded by people who are also showing up to do meaningful work. That shared energy creates structure, routine, and a subtle sense of accountability—just like working out alongside others helps you stay committed to fitness goals.

Most importantly, coworking is about setting yourself up to succeed. When your environment supports your goals, productivity becomes easier, more natural, and more sustainable. Just like weight loss, the real secret isn’t trying harder—it’s choosing a setting that helps you win.

As a Suburban Remote Professional, How Can Joining A Coworking Community Benefit You?

In the wake of the remote work revolution, professionals across the globe are trading their city offices for home setups. But for many suburban remote workers, the initial excitement of working from home has given way to isolation, distractions, and a lack of professional engagement. The solution? Coworking spaces — a flexible, community-driven solution that’s gaining popularity well beyond the urban core.

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