If you have a child involved with music in Napa County, chances are you’ve met Robin Hampton.

Hampton runs the Music Connection, a nonprofit business that supports music in schools and the city. The Music Connection offers instrument rentals and sales, music accessories and books, as well as sponsoring clinics, workshops, camps, concerts and tutoring.

Hampton is not a musician herself, but she gave birth to two. “I saw what music did for (my kids) when they were growing up and that’s why I am very passionate about it,” she said.

“Music puts kids on a level playing field,” she said. It doesn’t matter what your grades are, your family situation, if you’re into sports or not, she said. “Socially, it empowers kids. I love that.”

Which three people would you most like to have dinner with?

Christ. That would be the ultimate.

I love having dinner with my husband, any time any place.

My two sons and one daughter-in-law ... as long as I don’t have to cook.  

What job would you like to try/not like to try? 

Try: Inspirational speaker. Encouraging and empowering others is my passion.

Not try: Any of the jobs that Mike Rowe does on the show ‘Dirty Jobs.’

What was your first job?

Picking cotton on my grandfather’s farm in the San Joaquin Valley. I went down there every summer. My first paying job was scooping ice cream at Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor in Napa.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

The needs keep growing and funding is harder and harder to come by. We don’t receive funding from the school district, state or federal government (the Napa Valley Unified School District supports the program by housing our office). I hate turning students away each school year because we run out of instruments. I turned away more than 80 kids away last year.

How many instruments do you have in your inventory? 

More than 650. Most of them are used by students during the year.

What’s on your to-do list? 

A long vacation in Europe with my wonderful husband. Venice, Italy is a must. I was there once with 120 choir students as a chaperone, I think I would enjoy it more alone with my husband.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

Three things: Unlimited funding for music instruments, more time in the day, and expand music education from kindergarten on with no worries about funding for music in the schools. The first one is my focus now, the second one I will never have and the third goal will have to wait for better budget years.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you? 

I have a brown belt in karate; however, it’s been a while since I have used that skill … but I did earn it.

What’s the most significant project you’ve been involved with in your career? 

I love seeing a child receive an instrument for the first time. It is the most wonderful thing to witness the anticipation and excitement in a child’s eyes. I love the choral and band festivals that the Music Connection puts on each school year. We bus all the middle school groups over to the Napa Valley Unified School District’s auditorium for the day and each group works with the high school music directors. We conclude the day with a concert featuring each group and the high school groups. I love the interaction between students and that parents can see how far the high school groups have progressed and inspire the middle school groups.

What other business person(s) would you like to see featured in “10 Questions?”

Ron Driscoll, senior pastor of Napa Valley Baptist Church.

Nick Curtis, director of the Napa Valley Unified School District’s auditorium.

Jamie Butler, Napa High choral director.

More from Robin Hampton

How did you get into this business? 

The Napa Valley Education Foundation needed a director for the program and I had just gone off the (foundation) board and was asked to work just 12 hours a week and have been working 40 plus ever since.

I can’t live without: Coffee.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime that you haven’t yet?

Become a grandparent. I can’t wait for that.

What was your childhood ambition?

To be a mom. I had a great example.

What’s one thing Napa could do to help local business?

Shop local. We live in an incredible beautiful community — support it.

Who do you most admire in the business world?

My grandparents. From the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma to successful ranchers in California, their work ethic was an incredible example to me. 



Each Wednesday, the Napa Valley Register’s Business Focus asks “10 Questions” of a local entrepreneur or businessperson. Readers are welcome to suggest business people to be profiled. To suggest a candidate for “10 Questions” e-mail: jhuffman@napanews.com