John Kozicki

Rock School Proprietor Podcast

Music EN ↓ 100 episodes

Teaching you the secrets of running a successful rock band program, or just how to create an inspiring community centered on making music in your music lesson business. Host John Kozicki played in punk rock bands and went to school for business, while co-host Mandy York studied vocal performance and sang classical music. With vastly different background, these friends both run successful music lessons businesses and decided to record their conversations. From philosophy and culture to teaching and business strategy, each week John and Mandy turn their experiences into practical advice you can...

Author

John Kozicki

Category

Music

Podcast website

johnzjh.podbean.com

Latest episode

Jul 8, 2026

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Episodes

52: Events That Build Community & Improve Retention 23.07.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) discuss hosting memorable events that do more than just showcase musical talent. Explore how well-run events can bolster community bonds, enhance your studio's reputation, and create lasting memories for students and families alike....

51: Becki Laurent | Tips for Teaching Neurodiverse Students 16.07.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, host John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) delves into effective teaching strategies for neurodiverse students with guest Becki Laurent ( The Music Studio - Lubbock, TX , Simply Piano ), a respected music studio owner and educator. Becky shares her unique insights into teaching neurodivergent children by embracing h...

50: John Kozicki's New Book -- 'Complete Guitar Strumming' 09.07.2025

Join John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) on the this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast as they introduce John's new book, "Complete Guitar Strumming." This episode delves into John's journey of writing a book that concentrates on building rhythm and timing skills for beginner to intermediate guitar players. Discover...

49: How to Take a Stress-Free Vacation from Your Lesson Business 02.07.2025

In this insightful episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) discuss the importance of taking time off as small business owners, particularly in the context of running a lesson studio. They explore the anxieties and fears that often accompany taking a break, such as concerns about...

48: Mike McKinstry | From Passion to Profession -- The Lifestyle Business Journey 25.06.2025

In this engaging episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, host John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) sits down with Mike McKinstry, the charismatic host of The Bassquatch Hunter: Fish Out of Water on the Discovery Channel . Mike shares his unique journey of transforming his niche hobby of kayak fishing into a popular television show with millions of viewers. In th...

47: How to Talk to Parents About: Practice in Music Lessons 18.06.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) dive into a common question faced by music instructors: "How much time should my child spend practicing?" Challenging the conventional wisdom of setting specific practice times, they explore the broader, more complex conversation of...

46: How to Talk To Parents About: What Age to Start Music Lessons 11.06.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) delve into the common questions about starting children in music lessons. Is there a minimum age requirement? Which instrument should they begin with? In this episode: Mandy shares insights from her extensive experience transitioning...

45: Tyler Marolf | Building Strong Culture and Community in Lesson Studios 04.06.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, host John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) is joined by Tyler Maroff, the founder of Los Rios Rock School and co-founder of TeacherZone Studio Management Software. Together, they delve into the topic of cultivating a powerful culture within music lesson studios and how it significantly enhances student retention. Jo...

44: How to Build Community Among Students in Private Lessons and Beyond 28.05.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) discuss\ building a sense of community among music students, particularly those receiving private lessons. They explore how private instructors can create interactions similar to those found in rock schools and other performance-based pro...

43: How to Talk to Parents About: Confidence in Music Lessons 21.05.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) discuss how music lessons contribute to building confidence in children. Many lesson providers promote the claim that music lessons will build confidence in children, but how can we back that claim up? In this episode John and Mandy...

42: Michael Hemsworth | Building A 1300 Student Studio & His New Book 14.05.2025

Join hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) on this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast as they dive deep into the world of music education with a special guest, Michael Hemsworth, founder of NewSongs School of Music in California. Michael is also the author of a new book, "Mr. Michael's Music Maker Manual: A Paren...

41: Jenny Alday-Townsend | An Entrepreneur's Path to Success in Music Education 07.05.2025

In this episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) speak with Jenny Alday-Townsend, the mastermind behind Music Compound in Sarasota, Florida. In addition to Jenny's work with her studio she is also a best-selling author and a podcast host herself. Jenny shares her journey from real est...

40: Demitris Maddox | Designing Music School Websites That Attract & Convert 30.04.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) delve into the essentials of creating a compelling music school website with expert webmaster Demitris Maddox. They discuss key elements like layout, imagery, and content that effectively convert visitors into students. In this epis...

39: Taming Your 'Nope List' to Delegate Like a Pro 23.04.2025

In this engaging episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) dive into the crucial topic of delegating responsibilities within your music lesson studio. In this episode: The 'nope list'—those tasks that studio owners should avoid doing themselves—and how handing off these duties can pave t...

38: RSP Book Club -- Books to Inspire Music Instructors 16.04.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) dive into book recommendations that can benefit music instructors and studio owners alike. Mandy's Pick: Music and Mind edited by Renee Fleming , featuring an array of essays that delve into the profound connection between music, the brai...

37: Can Early Exposure to Music Enhance Ability to Learn? 09.04.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) discuss the intriguing connection between early exposure to music and possibly links to ease of learning. They discuss how early experiences with music—as infants and toddlers—can significantly influence a child's ability to grasp new con...

36: Tim Topham | From Tradition to Innovation -- Teaching Music Differently 02.04.2025

On this episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) is joined by Tim Topham, a pioneer in music education and the founder of Top Music. Tim shares his insights on a student-focused approach to teaching music, emphasizing the importance of playing music first and reading second. In this episode: The evolution of music education from m...

35: Is Reading Music Necessary to Play Music? 26.03.2025

On this episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) engage in a spirited debate on the necessity of teaching note reading in today's world. They explore their differing musical backgrounds and ponder whether reading music is essential for students or if playing by ear and leveraging modern tec...

34: Chris Bates | The Power of Mindset and Strategic Planning 19.03.2025

On this episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com welcomes friend and entrepreneur Chris Bates ( Teacher Zone ) for an insightful discussion on mindset and strategic planning. With rich experience in multiple industries, and co-owning Los Rios Rock School , Chris brings valuable insights into the world of business in the arts. Liste...

33: Future-Proofing Music Lessons in the Age of AI 12.03.2025

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) explore the concept of future-proofing music lessons, ensuring they offer more value than readily available online resources like YouTube tutorials, and the prospective threat of AI-driven music instruction. In this philosophical discussi...

32: Q&A Episode | Getting Better Results in Groups & Bands 05.03.2025

In this insightful episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) tackle a common challenge faced by studios offering rock band programs: managing young rock band programs effectively. Responding to a listener's question about improving results from groups and instructors, John and Mandy shar...

BONUS: The Unbelievable Five-Day ChatGPT Experiment 26.02.2025

In this bonus episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) explore an unexpected and enlightening encounter with artificial intelligence. After assigning a seemingly straightforward task to ChatGPT, they unravel a five-day saga of delays and deception. Through a detailed transcript re...

31: Sam Reti | Real-Time Feedback from AI in Music Lessons 26.02.2025

On this episode Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) are joined by Sam Reti, founder of Muzie.live ,. Sam previously visited the show to contemplate how advancements in AI could change how music lessons are delivered.  Speculation on that episode has become a reality, but even quicker than a...

30: Inside Look at Why Parents Pull Kids from Music Lessons 19.02.2025

On this episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York ( Music Time of Milford ) dive into the common issue of parents withdrawing their children from music lessons due to a lack of practice. They explore alternative ways to measure success beyond just practice hours, emphasizing the joy and engagement in music as key ind...

29: Dave Simon | Revisiting the 'Practice Problem' & Rethinking Music Lessons 12.02.2025

On this episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki ( Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dave Simon, known for his podcast " Music Lessons and Marketing " and innovative music programs. In this episode: Explore the concept of the "practice problem," which challenges the traditional focus on practice as the sole measure of...

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