The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast

This Scrappy Snippet is a five minute studio policy reset for music teachers who want a smoother second half of the teaching year. This is not about rewriting your entire policy or sending long emails to parents. Instead, I guide you through a simple self audit so you can see what is working, what feels fuzzy, and where your boundaries have started to slide. We talk about clarity, communication, e...

Partner lessons, also called buddy lessons, have become one of my favorite formats in the studio. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I teach and structure them, what a 45 minute format looks like, and how I decide which students to pair together. I’ll walk through how partner lessons help with scheduling, practice motivation, and even teacher burnout. If you’ve ever wondered how to find a ba...

Ever feel like your piano studio has turned into a grumpy grocery store? In this Scrappy Snippet, I’m talking about what grocery store customer service can teach us about piano teacher leadership, studio systems, and creating a positive studio mindset. Our energy matters. How we show up in lessons affects everything: student morale, parent communication, and even how sustainable our teaching week...

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher , I’m diving into one of the biggest challenges for independent teachers: how to actually be seen and found in a crowded world of lessons, listings, and local studios. Using data from the 2024 MTNA Member Survey, we’ll look at what real teachers are doing for visibility and why word of mouth alone isn’t enough anymore. You’ll learn what’s working right...

Scrappy Snippet: Performance Prep for Piano Recitals with guest Dr. Molly Gebrian It’s recital season and if your students are anything like mine, they need a little extra help turning their practice mode into performance mode. In this Scrappy Snippet, I chat with Dr. Molly Gebrian about how to prepare students for performance, not just practice. We talk about practical ways to help piano students...

Have you ever had a student come to a piano lesson saying they practiced all week, but it sounds exactly the same as it did before? Or they look at you with that frustrated face and say, “I swear it sounded better at home”? In this episode, we’re talking about why that happens and what’s really going on inside the brain when students practice music. My guest today is Dr. Molly Gebrian, a professio...

Can We Really Control Piano Practice? Reflections from My Studio Workshop In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher, I share reflections from the OhioMTA state conference and walk you through a practice workshop I held in my studio. Together we will think about how practice strategies, student engagement, and teaching philosophy connect to real life for our students. We all know piano practice...

When makeup lessons or online lessons simply are not realistic, asynchronous lessons can keep your students learning and give you peace of mind. As teachers, we all know that life happens. Snow days, sick days, sports schedules, or just plain burnout. In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast I am talking about one of my favorite backup tools: asynchronous lessons. I share how I first s...

Makeup lessons are one of the most debated topics in piano teaching. In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, I share how I approach teaching policies and studio management and why clear boundaries around makeup lessons and flex weeks have helped me protect both my time and my students’ progress. I tie in a personal Pilates story that shows how accountability systems keep both student...

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast I share some reflections on volunteering as a music teacher and how it has looked different in each season of my life. From early years of barely being involved to now serving on a board, I talk about community involvement, mentorship, and professional growth through teacher events. I want to encourage you to think about volunteering in ways tha...

In this episode, I’m sharing the questions I asked myself after a year that looked successful on paper but felt… off. I had full classes, amazing students, and met my income goals. But something wasn’t quite right. So I reworked my schedule. I rethought how many students I actually want to teach, what formats bring me the most energy, and how I define success on my terms. If you’ve ever found your...

If you’ve ever felt like jazz and improv sound great in theory but overwhelming in practice, this episode is for you. I’m joined by pianist, educator, and author Quentin Walston to talk about how jazz and improvisation can help teachers re-engage students, fight burnout, and bring more creativity into everyday lessons, without needing a jazz degree to make it happen. Quentin’s book How to Teach Ja...

Is Your Studio Policy a Contract or Just a Really Long PDF? You’ve got a policy, but is it doing what you think it is? In this episode, I’m talking about what a studio policy really is and what it is not. I’ll share how mine started, how I completely reworked it, and what finally helped me create something that made sense for both me and my studio families. We’ll talk about what a policy is meant...

In this episode, I’m breaking down how the Profit First system completely changed how I handle money in my studio and why it gave me more peace of mind than any spreadsheet ever did. I’ll walk you through how it works, how I set it up as a piano teacher, and the mindset shift that made all the difference. You’ll hear real examples from my studio, a few budgeting truths I had to learn the hard way,...

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher, Jaclyn Mrozek interviews pianist and educator William Perry, creator of the Piano Music Database. What began as a spreadsheet to help one adult student quickly turned into a tool that’s helping teachers across the country save hours of lesson planning. William shares how the database was built, how teachers are using it to find repertoire by concept, l...

In this episode, Jaclyn Mrozek discusses the importance of implementing flex weeks in teaching to promote work-life balance, a PTO for independent music teachers, as well as mental health. She emphasizes the need for clear communication with families, along with examples, in regarding changes in studio policies and tuition. The discussion also highlights the significance of taking time off without...

In this episode of the Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, host Jaclyn Mrozek shares her journey as an independent music teacher, emphasizing the importance of having a teaching philosophy. She recounts a recent experience accompanying a choir concert, which led her to reflect on her teaching methods and the value of self-questioning. The episode provides insights into crafting a personal teaching phil...

About The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast Hosted by Jaci Mrozek Formerly The Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast This podcast is for independent piano teachers who love teaching but feel overwhelmed by everything else...scheduling, tuition tracking, parent communication, lesson planning, and running a business. Whether you teach private piano lessons or group classes, you’ll find practical strategies a...

In this episode of the Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast, host Jaclyn Mrozek interviews Sam Reti, founder of Muzie.live, a platform designed to enhance music education through innovative technology. Sam shares his musical background, the inception of Muzie, and how it evolved during the pandemic to meet the needs of music teachers and students. The conversation highlights the unique features of Muz...

In this episode of the Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast, Jaclyn Mrozek and Rachel Ehring discuss the role of collaborative pianists and how teachers can leverage accompanying gigs to supplement their income during the summer. In this conversation, Rachel and Jaclyn discuss the intricacies of playing music for weddings, including selecting appropriate music, understanding the importance of timing,...

In this episode, Jaclyn Mrozek discusses her personal experiences with burnout and imposter syndrome as a music teacher. She emphasizes the importance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in maintaining a stable teaching environment, especially during challenging times. Jaclyn provides practical advice on creating effective SOPs to streamline studio management and reduce stress, ultimately supp...

In this episode of the Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast, host Jaclyn Mrozek welcomes Dorla Aparicio to discuss summer piano lessons and the innovative Piano Pyramid curriculum. Dorla shares her journey from Costa Rica to Texas, her teaching philosophy, and the structure of her summer piano camps and clubs. The conversation highlights the importance of engaging students through multi-level group le...

In this episode of the Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast , Jaclyn Mrozek interviews Nicola Canton about the upcoming Teacher Turbo Boost conference. They discuss the evolution of the conference from in-person to online, the importance of community among teachers, and the unique challenges faced by today's students. Nicola shares insights on how to engage students effectively, the significance o...

In this episode, Jaclyn Mrozek and Sarah Boyd reflect on their experiences at the MTNA 2025 conference, sharing highlights, personal connections, and valuable lessons learned. They discuss the importance of community in music education, memorable sessions, and unexpected moments that enriched their experience. The conversation emphasizes the significance of networking, innovative teaching techniqu...

In this episode of the Music Teacher Mastermind podcast, host Jaclyn Mrozek discusses the upcoming Music Studio Bootcamp designed for independent music teachers. She reflects on her early teaching experiences, the challenges of navigating information overload, and the importance of revising teaching practices. The bootcamp aims to provide a structured and supportive environment for teachers to ref...