The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast

In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley Danyew to talk about musical informances and how they can offer a fresh, educational alternative to the traditional student recital. Ashley shares what a musical informance is, how the idea developed in her own studio, and how this kind of event can help students share more than just a polished performance. We talk about helping students speak, demonstrate, ex...

Communicating studio changes can feel surprisingly hard. Maybe you are raising tuition, changing your makeup lesson policy, adding flex weeks, switching to autopay, adjusting your lesson model, or simply trying to make the year run a little more smoothly. You know the change needs to happen. But then you open the email to tell your studio families, stare at the blank screen, and wonder, “What exac...

In this episode, I’m joined by Karen Thickstun, NCTM, MTNA past president and coordinator of MTNA Business Resources and MTNA Business Digest. We talk through some of the fascinating results from the 2024 MTNA Member Survey and what they reveal about independent music teachers, including lesson rates, rate increases, studio policies, marketing, payment methods, student retention, software, and leg...

Pricing music lessons can feel simple until you actually have to choose the number, put it in your policy, send the email, or say it out loud to a parent. In this episode, Jaci talks about how independent music teachers can build a tuition number with more confidence. Not by copying another teacher’s rate, not by guessing, and not by choosing the number that feels the least awkward, but by using a...

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher , I’m joined by Eric Branner for a practical and honest conversation about one of the biggest questions independent music teachers face: How do we structure our tuition, raise rates, and actually get paid in a way that supports a sustainable studio? Eric brings such a helpful mix of real teaching experience and business perspective. He breaks down actua...

Recitals are not just a celebration. They are one of the most powerful marketing opportunities you have all year. In this episode, I’m sharing simple, scrappy ways to turn your recital into a natural marketing cycle without adding more to your plate. From collecting reviews to capturing meaningful content, you will learn how to use what you are already doing to support both studio growth and reten...

Not every music student learns the same way. Most teachers already know that. But what if you had a simple way to name what you are seeing and make more intentional teaching decisions? In this final episode of the Working Genius series, I connect the dots between how students respond in lessons and how we can adjust our teaching without overcomplicating things. This episode covers: Why some studen...

Last week, we talked about the six types of Working Genius. This week, we’re actually putting it into practice. Because understanding your strengths is one thing but knowing how to use them in your studio, your schedule, and your business is where this really starts to matter. In this episode, I walk through what each of the six types can look like in a real music studio and how to support yoursel...

Working Genius for Music Teachers: Understanding the 6 Types This episode continues the Working Genius series by breaking down all six types and how they show up in teaching, studio management, and everyday work as a music teacher. As independent teachers, we are responsible for every part of our business, from planning and creativity to communication, follow-through, and organization. This framew...

Why do some parts of teaching feel energizing while others feel completely draining? In this episode, I’m introducing the idea of Working Genius and how it might help explain why certain parts of your teaching feel natural and others feel difficult. This is the start of a short series where we’ll explore how this framework applies to music teachers, including burnout, follow-through, and how we st...

If you are thinking about offering summer camps in your piano studio but are not sure where to start, this episode is full of ideas from real teachers who are already doing them. In this meetup replay, several piano teachers share creative summer camp concepts they have successfully run in their studios. These ideas range from music and art camps to story based camps, game inspired camps, and inte...

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher, I sit down with Dr. Jason Sifford to talk about running a successful piano studio, and preparing students for jazz band, and more. Many teachers know Jason for his published works through Willis Music and Compose Create, but in this conversation we dig into how he actually runs his studio, how he thinks about practical teaching decisions, and what it l...

Imposter Syndrome in Piano Teachers Lately, imposter syndrome feels loud in our industry. In this episode, I unpack what imposter syndrome actually is, how it connects to burnout, and why it often shows up right after growth in your studio. If you’ve ever: • Raised your tuition and then spiraled after one parent questioned it• Compared your recital to someone else’s highlight reel• Felt confident...

Recital season can bring excitement, nerves, and a whole lot of pressure for both students and teachers. In this Scrappy Snippet, I’m sharing a recent experience that completely reframed how I think about performances and why silent film recitals have become one of my favorite creative options for studios. I recently participated in a silent film celebration for our local MTNA district, and it end...

In this episode of the Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, I’m talking about what “back to basics” actually means for a piano studio that is already full and running. This conversation came from a season where I realized I had said yes to too many things and needed to pause and ask what was still serving me and what wasn’t. Not because anything was failing, but because things had started to feel heavy...

In this Ask Me Anything episode, I’m answering real questions submitted by music teachers who are navigating real life situations. This is the first AMA episode, and we’re talking about two topics that come up constantly but are rarely explained simply. First, I answer a question from a teacher who unexpectedly needed to move and transition students to online lessons. I share my honest thoughts on...

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast , I’m joined by Amy Chaplin from Piano Pantry to talk about digital organization and why it matters far more than most teachers realize. We discuss how digital clutter quietly drains mental energy, why email overwhelm is so common for music teachers, and how organization systems should support your life rather than add more pressure. This conver...

This is a Scrappy Snippet episode, which means it is short, lightly edited, and very real. In this episode, I scroll through piano teacher Facebook posts and react in real time. I share my honest thoughts on recital themes, piano method book debates, and why questions like Bastien vs Faber vs Alfred are often not the real issue for piano teachers. I talk about how teacher experience matters more t...

In this episode, I’m talking about studio analytics and what the numbers in your piano studio are actually telling you. This is not a business heavy episode and it is not about turning teaching into spreadsheets. It is about gaining clarity. Most independent music teachers were trained to teach music, not to analyze how their studio functions as a business. That gap often leads to guessing, frustr...

Bonus Episode: Celebrating Piano Teachers Around the World We talk all the time about music being universal. But teaching is universal too. This is a special bonus episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast , created to help ring in the new year and celebrate independent piano teachers from around the world. I invited teachers from different places to send in a short voice note. Just a quick ref...

In this reflective conversation, I sit down with Christina Whitlock to look back on years of piano teaching and talk honestly about how perspective changes over time. We reflect on practice expectations, overscheduled students, burnout, perfectionism, and the quiet pressures piano teachers carry, often without realizing it. This episode is not about fixing anything. It is a thoughtful conversation...

What does it really mean when we say our piano studios are “taking a break”? In this Scrappy Snippet, Jaclyn Mrozek talks through the confusion around winter break, piano practice expectations, and what rest actually looks like for students. December can feel heavy for both teachers and students, and this episode offers a grounded, realistic approach to letting students rest without guilt or press...

Today’s episode is one big exhale for every piano teacher who is carrying a lot right now. Teaching does not happen in a vacuum. It happens inside the real life we are living, with all its surprises, interruptions, emotions, and responsibilities. And if you have ever tried to teach through a full life season, today’s conversation is for you. I recently went to a teacher Christmas brunch, and it wa...

This Scrappy Snippet is a fast December piano resource roundup filled with easy lesson ideas for the busiest month of the year. Perfect for group piano teachers, private teachers, and anyone who needs low prep Christmas activities that work for many ages. In this episode I share● Christmas by Ear for aural work● Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations● Lead sheet Christmas arrangements for teens● Quick...

Teaching follows a rhythm and some months feel heavier than others. In this episode I talk about the seasons of a teaching year, why certain months can feel overwhelming, and how the science behind decision fatigue and burnout explains the stress independent teachers carry. You will hear simple shifts that help you move through the hard seasons with more clarity, more energy, and less mental load....