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The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast

Advertise on podcast: The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast

Rating
★★★★★
5
from
19 reviews
This podcast has
97 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
Jaclyn Mrozek
Explicit
No
Date created
2024/05/29
Latest episode
2026/10/26
Average duration
33 min.
Release period
14 days

Description

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, formerly The Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast, is a piano teacher podcast for independent piano teachers who love teaching but struggle with running a studio or need some encouragement. I’m Jaclyn Mrozek, a piano teacher and studio owner with 28 plus years of experience, all while homeschooling and raising three kids, so yes, I get it. This podcast covers piano teaching, piano studio business systems, private and group lessons, burnout, and sustainable strategies to help piano teachers build joyful studios with clarity and confidence.

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Check latest episodes from The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast podcast


When Your Side Hustle Becomes a Business
2026/10/26
Have you ever thought about creating something beyond your regular piano teaching schedule? Maybe an online course, a teaching resource, or even a side hustle that could bring in some extra income? But where do you even start? And what does it actually take to make it work? In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, I'm chatting with Ashlee Young of Ashlee Young Music Studio about her journey from teaching private piano lessons to building a successful online business. And her story is pretty incredible! Ashlee started with very little technology experience, a YouTube channel, and a willingness to figure things out as she went. Over time, she developed an online membership, began selling piano courses, and completely transformed what her teaching business looks like. But as you'll hear, there's a whole lot of work behind those success stories we see online. We talk about: How Ashlee got started and what her first online business looked like The realities of creating and selling online courses Why investing in business coaching made a difference The discouragement that comes with trying something new Why consistency and community matter Giving yourself permission to want more from your business One of the things I appreciate most about Ashlee is how genuinely encouraging she is of other teachers. She's not suggesting that everyone needs to start an online business. She's simply sharing what's been possible for her, what she's learned along the way, and why she believes music teachers have so much to offer. So whether you've been sitting on an idea for years or you've already started something and you're wondering if it's ever going to take off, I hope this conversation gives you a little encouragement to keep going! CONNECT WITH ASHLEE YOUNG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleeyoungmusicstudio/ Website and Online Courses: https://www.ashleejyoung.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ashleeyoungmusicstudio THE SCRAPPY PIANO TEACHER Website: https://thescrappypianoteacher.com/
Teaching, Learning, and Staying Curious with Joy Morin
2026/09/29
Joy Morin has been part of the online piano teaching world since the early days of teacher blogging. If you have ever searched for a piano teaching activity, worksheet, game, or pedagogical idea, there is a pretty good chance you have landed on her blog, www.colorinmypiano.com. In this conversation, Joy and I talk about how her teaching has continued to evolve over the years and why reflection has been such an important part of that process. We also take a pretty deep dive into Music Learning Theory. Joy shares how she first encountered Dr. Edwin E. Gordon while she was still in college, how his work changed the way she thinks about musicianship and learning, and what MLT can look like for piano teachers who are curious but may not be ready to completely overhaul the way they teach. We also talk about her Keys at Play series, audiation, sight reading, rhythm development, giving students more freedom to explore music, and the way Joy continues to learn and experiment in her own studio. And we get some exciting composing news! Joy shares about her work with Alfred Music, including The Lumbering Bear and her upcoming collection Starbound, an outer space inspired collection of 11 pieces for early to mid elementary pianists. Resources mentioned: Color In My Pianohttps://colorinmypiano.com Music Learning Theoryhttps://colorinmypiano.com/2018/01/15/music-learning-theory-exactly/ Joy’s First Encounter with Edwin Gordonhttps://colorinmypiano.com/2024/07/23/my-first-encounter-with-dr-edwin-e-gordon-and-his-music-learning-theory-mlt/ Audiationhttps://colorinmypiano.com/2017/11/30/what-is-audiation-exactly/ Keys at Playhttps://keysatplay.com/collections/all Gordon Institute for Music Learninghttps://giml.org The Lumbering Bearhttps://www.alfred.com/products/the-lumbering-bear-00-ps-0017771 Joy Morin at Alfred Musichttps://www.alfred.com/collections/joy-morin-sheet-music Notion for Music Teachers with Joy Morin + Amy Chaplinhttps://pianopantry.com/notion Scrappy Circle with Molly Gebrianwww.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle Coda Musical Storybookswww.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda
Two Opportunities for Better Practice This Fall with Leila Viss
2026/09/21
Two Opportunities for Better Practice This Fall with Leila Viss Surprise! I have a bonus episode for you. Leila Viss recently reached out to me after hearing about my upcoming Scrappy Circle with Molly Gebrian, author of Learn Faster, Perform Better. The timing was perfect because Leila has been incorporating many of Molly’s ideas and research into her own 2026 Practice Streak. What was supposed to be a quick ten minute conversation turned into a much bigger discussion about effective practice, helping students become more intentional, and why teachers might need a little practice accountability too. We talk about how Leila’s Practice Streak works, how teachers and students can participate, some of her favorite practice strategies, and how Molly’s research has influenced what she is doing in her studio. We also talk about the October 23 Scrappy Circle, where Molly Gebrian will join us live on Zoom for a 90 minute session about the brain, learning, and practice, including an open question and answer time. If practice has been on your mind this fall, come join us for one or both. ABOUT LEILA Leila Viss is a pianist, composer, author, and longtime independent piano teacher who helps teachers and students approach music with more curiosity and creativity. Through LeilaViss.com and her Space to Create community, she develops practical resources that make practicing, improvising, and composing more effective and more enjoyable. LINKS Leila’s 2026 Practice Streak:https://www.leilaviss.com/september-2026-practice-streak-signup How to Practice Piano Effectively:https://www.leilaviss.com/blog/how-to-practice-piano-effectively Leila’s practice cards and Guide for Caregivers of Budding Musicians:https://www.leilaviss.com/store-home/guide-for-caregivers-of-budding-musicians Leila Viss:https://www.leilaviss.com October 23 Scrappy Circle with Molly Gebrian:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle Learn Faster, Perform Better by Molly Gebrian:https://amzn.to/3V7m5lu This is an affiliate link. I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. My Piano Practice Workshop:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/practice-workshop 2026 Practice Workshop Blog Post:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappynotes/practiceworkshop2026
Jazz Band, Improv & Beyond with Quentin Walston
2026/09/14
Jazz can feel intimidating when it is not the language you grew up playing, but it does not have to stay that way. Jazz pianist, composer, and educator Quentin Walston is back on the podcast, and this time we are talking about jazz band, improvisation, authentic jazz playing, and how piano teachers can help students without feeling like they need to suddenly become jazz experts themselves. We start with one of the situations many teachers eventually encounter: a student walks into a lesson with a giant jazz band folder and asks for help. Quentin shares his own experience joining jazz band as a teenager and walks us through how teachers can look at those parts strategically. We talk about what actually needs to be learned, what can sometimes be simplified or left out, how to recognize the most important sections, and how to help students understand what the arranger is really asking the pianist to do. Then we talk about Quentin’s newest book, Jazz Piano Like a Pro. The collection includes 10 original intermediate piano compositions written using the techniques, textures, styles, and sounds of authentic jazz piano. Each piece also includes an optional solo section where students can experiment with improvisation using approachable guidelines. If jazz is an area you would love to explore more with your students, this conversation is full of practical places to begin. Find Quentin and his resources: Jazz Piano Like a Prohttps://quentinwalston.com/store How to Teach Jazz & Improvisationhttps://quentinwalston.com/teach-jazz Both books are also available on Amazon. Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/quentinwalston YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@thisisjazzofficial COMING UP IN THE SCRAPPY CIRCLE Scrappy Session with Molly Gebrian What Musicians Can Learn About Practicing from Current Brain Research Join Molly Gebrian for a 90 minute live session exploring what current brain research can teach us about more effective practice. We will look at spaced practice, interleaving, mental practice, breaks, and other ways to help students practice more efficiently and meaningfully. Friday, October 23, 20261:00 PM Eastern Time90 minutesLive online session plus Q and A$20 per person Register at:www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle
Teacher Trends and the Power of Community with Brian Shepard
2026/08/31
What are music teachers changing in their studios, and what do they need most right now? Brian Shepard, CEO of the Music Teachers National Association, joins me for a conversation about the trends he is seeing throughout the music teaching profession. Teachers are reevaluating their rates, simplifying administrative systems, exploring different tuition models, and looking for ways to create businesses that better support their lives. Brian also shares his wonderfully simple approach to managing his calendar and email, including the infamous “next week” folder that keeps important projects from disappearing without creating an elaborate organizational system. We also talk about the importance of community, especially for independent teachers who spend most of their working lives teaching alone. Brian explains how MTNA is working to help every music teacher feel welcome, regardless of educational background, studio size, teaching tradition, experience, or the kinds of students they teach. Along the way, we discuss MTNA’s business resources, virtual affiliates, certification, grants, professional development, and membership benefits. And, naturally, we end with a very important conversation about Christmas trees. In this episode: • Studio and business trends among music teachers• Revisiting rates and accounting for work outside lesson time• Creating simpler systems for email and administration• Building a studio that supports your life• Finding professional community as an independent teacher• Connecting with local and virtual MTNA affiliates• Why every music teacher has something valuable to contribute FIND A LOCAL OR VIRTUAL MTNA ASSOCIATION Visit https://www.mtna.org/ and select Connect, followed by Affiliate Websites. Choose your state to explore its local and virtual associations. If your state does not offer a virtual association, contact MTNA headquarters. Some virtual associations accept teachers from other states, although joining that state and local association may be required. MTNA contact information:https://www.mtna.org/Contact_Us.html RESOURCES Music Teachers National Association:https://www.mtna.org/ MTNA membership benefits:https://www.mtna.org/Membership_Benefits.html MTNA business resources:https://www.mtna.org/Business_Resources.html MTNA Professional Certification:https://certification.mtna.org/ MakeMusic Studio:https://www.studio.makemusic.com/ Use code SCRAPPY90 to receive 90% off your first three months of MakeMusic Studio. Visit The Scrappy Piano Teacher:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/ Questions or thoughts about the episode? Email [email protected]
Your Students Are Overscheduled. Now What?
2026/08/17
Your Students Are Overscheduled. Now What? What do you do when your piano students are too busy to practice? Between school, sports, theater, jobs, homework, and everything else competing for their time, many music teachers are trying to figure out how to set realistic practice expectations without simply lowering the bar. In this episode, I am talking about overscheduled students, piano practice motivation, and what the research actually says about kids with increasingly packed schedules. I also share how I handle this in my own studio through our Honors Program, where students look honestly at their schedules and set realistic practice goals for the year. We also talk about student ownership, Self Determination Theory, involving parents in the conversation, and why sometimes the answer to a student who only has twenty minutes is not telling them to find forty. Sometimes we need to teach them how to use the twenty minutes they already have really well. The Scrappy Piano Teacherwww.scrappypianoteacher.com Coda Bookswww.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda Molly Gebrian, Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicinghttps://amzn.to/4gdjHjQ MakeMusic Studiohttps://studio.makemusic.com Use code SCRAPPY90 for 90% off your first three months of MakeMusic Studio. You can also schedule a demo to see how MakeMusic Studio could work for your studio. 2024 MTNA Member Survey Are Children Spending Too Much Time on Enrichment Activities? by Carolina Caetano, Gregorio Caetano, and Eric Nielsen Self Determination Theory Jennifer Breheny Wallace, Never Enough Molly Gebrian, Learn Faster, Perform Better Being realistic does not mean getting rid of standards. It means creating expectations that make sense for the actual student sitting in front of us and then helping that student follow through. If this episode helped you, remember, sharing is caring. Send it to another piano teacher or independent music teacher who might enjoy the conversation.
Does Your Registration Fee Have a Job?
2026/08/03
Does Your Registration Fee Have a Job? How to Calculate Music Studio Fees How did you decide what to charge for your studio registration fee? Did you calculate it from real expenses, or did you choose a number that simply sounded about right? In this episode, Jaci looks at how independent music teachers can calculate a registration fee using real information from their own studios. She shares how her registration fees once became general emergency money, why that approach did not solve the underlying problem, and how teachers can give each fee a clear and specific job. You will hear practical ideas for reviewing expenses such as: • Books and student materials• Recitals and studio events• Piano tuning and instrument maintenance• Studio software and payment processing• Registration and administrative work Jaci also explains how to separate shared studio expenses from individual student expenses and use that information to calculate a realistic starting point for your fee. CALCULATE YOUR REGISTRATION FEE Create three columns: Column 1: Everything you want your annual fee to cover Column 2: What you spent on each item last year, or your realistic estimate for this year Column 3: Whether the expense belongs to one student individually or is shared across the whole studio Then calculate: Shared annual expenses ÷ expected number of students = shared cost per student Shared cost per student + average individual student costs = starting point for your annual fee That number does not automatically have to become your final fee. You can still decide what belongs in tuition, what you may choose to subsidize, and what makes sense for your families. The important thing is that you are making the decision using real information from your own studio. The episode also explores two ways to collect registration fees: charging the full amount upfront or spreading it across monthly tuition. Jaci shares the results of her own studio experiment, in which 85 percent of participating families chose to roll the fee into tuition. Finally, she discusses how Profit First style buckets can help ensure that money intended for books, recitals, maintenance, or other expenses is still available when it is needed. The goal is not to copy another teacher’s number. Your fee may be higher, lower, included in tuition, or structured completely differently. What matters is that it is accurate, intentional, and connected to the real cost of operating your studio. RESOURCES Free Recital Expense Calculator and Profit First Cheat Sheet:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources FREE SCRAPPY CIRCLE Join Jaci and Eric Branner on August 14 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern for a casual back to school teacher conversation and Q&A. Eric will also share a short look at how Fons has grown into Make Music Studio. RSVP and submit your question:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappy-circle Visit The Scrappy Piano Teacher:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com
Your Fall Studio Checklist
2026/07/20
Before fall lessons begin, take a step back and make sure the systems underneath your studio still fit the teacher, business owner, and human you are today. In this episode, Jaci shares five areas every music teacher should revisit before the new teaching year: Studio policies A calendar built around margin Business bank accounts and Profit First buckets Administrative systems and studio software Your teaching philosophy Your studio may have worked beautifully last year and still need to change this year. The goal is not to keep adding more. It is to build a studio that supports your students, your income, your energy, and the rest of your life. Policy workshop replay, policy workbook, editable studio calendars, Profit First resources, and teaching philosophy workbook: https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources Explore Make Music Studio: https://studio.makemusic.com Use code SCRAPPY90 to receive 90 percent off your first three months of Make Music Studio.
Musical Informance: Engaging the Audience
2026/07/06
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, explain musical ideas, and give the audience a deeper look at the learning process behind the music. We also discuss the practical side of planning a musical informance, including choosing a theme, preparing students, communicating the idea to parents, pacing the event, and finding a simple first version that feels doable for independent teachers. If you have ever wished your studio events could show more than the finished piece, this conversation will give you a thoughtful and practical place to start. In this episode, we talk about: What a musical informance isHow Ashley began using informances in her studioThe difference between a recital and an informanceHow informances help students share the learning processWays to prepare students to speak, demonstrate, and performHow to choose themes and repertoireHow to introduce the idea to students and familiesHow teachers can try a simple first version in their own studiosResources mentioned: Free Musical Informances Handout:https://musician-co.myflodesk.com/musical-informance-handout Musical Informance Planning Guide for Piano Teachers:https://learn.ashleydanyew.com/musical-informance-guide Penelope Roskell’s Essential Piano Technique Level 3, which includes Patchwork Polka:https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/essential-piano-technique-level-3-23115113.html Connect with Ashley Danyew:https://www.ashleydanyew.com Listen to Ashley’s podcast, Field Notes on Music Teaching & Learning:www.ashleydanyew.com/fieldnotesLearn more from The Scrappy Piano Teacher:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.co
Say It Clearly: Communicating Studio Changes
2026/06/22
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 exactly am I supposed to say?”In this episode, we are talking about how to communicate studio changes clearly, warmly, and professionally without burying the important information or over explaining your decisions.I share a story from my very short-lived door to door sales era, what it taught me about repetition and clarity, and how that applies to the way we communicate with studio parents.Because parents are busy. They are not living inside our studio teacher brains. They are not thinking about tuition models, flex weeks, makeup policies, and registration deadlines all day long.So if we want families to understand what is changing, why it is changing, and where to find the information later, we need to say it clearly, repeat it with grace, and make the details easy to find.In this episode, we talk about:• Why one email in August is usually not enough• How to announce studio changes without burying the information• Why bullets are your best friend in parent emails• How to explain the reason behind a change without writing a novel• Why you do not need to apologize for running your business• How to use newsletters, waiting areas, policies, registration forms, and portals to reinforce important information• Why repeated reminders are not annoying when they are helpful• How to prepare for follow up questions before they come in• Why you can have clear policies and still offer private grace when it truly fits the situationI also mention the marketing idea often called the Rule of 7. I do not treat it as a proven magic number, but the general idea is useful: people often need to hear or see information more than once before it sticks.As music teachers, we already know this. We do not teach a student one concept one time and expect it to be locked in forever. We come back to it. We explain it another way. We give reminders. Studio communication works the same way.If you want more specific wording examples for tuition changes, autopay, flex weeks, makeup lesson policies, even monthly billing, and newsletter reminders, I have a detailed blog post for you at: www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappynotesAnd if you missed the Policy Triangle and Calendar Workshop, the replay and workbook are available at: scrappypianoteacher.com/resourcesNext time, we are taking a little break from the admin heavy conversations and talking about something really fun: student informances with Ashley Danyew from Musician and Company.Thanks for listening, teacher friend. Have a fabulous teaching week!
Survey Says: Music Teacher Edition with Karen Thickstun
2026/06/08
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 legal considerations. This conversation is such a helpful reminder that while many of us teach independently, we are also part of a much bigger profession. The survey gives us a chance to see what other teachers are experiencing, what challenges are rising to the surface, and what we may want to think through more intentionally in our own studios. Karen and I will also be presenting an MTNA webinar on June 23, 2026, called Communicating Value and Boundaries: Studio Policies That Serve and Protect. And if you want hands-on help outlining your studio policy and calendar, my final Policy Triangle Workshop is coming up on June 19th at noon Eastern. You can join at scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappysessions. The workshop includes a policy audit from me, even if you need to watch the replay. Next episode: In two weeks, we’ll be talking all about communicating changes to your studio families, along with some fun tips and tricks. Be sure to follow and subscribe! Thanks for supporting this work to help all independent music teachers.
Tuition Pricing With Confidence
2026/05/26
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 clearer framework. This episode loosely applies ideas from How to Price Effectively by Utpal Dholakia to independent music teaching. The six pricing pieces discussed are: CostsWhat does it actually cost to run the studio and pay yourself sustainably?Customer ValueWhat are families receiving beyond lesson minutes?Reference PricesWhat expectations or comparison points might families already have, and why should those be treated as context rather than the deciding factor?Value PropositionWhy this studio, at this price?Price ExecutionHow will the price be communicated, rolled out, and implemented?EvaluationAfter the change, did the pricing decision actually support the studio?Jaci also talks about capacity as an important music-teacher-specific layer, because the number of students or teaching hours a teacher can realistically carry directly affects whether pricing is sustainable. The goal is not to find a magical number. The goal is to build a tuition number with a backbone, so you can communicate it clearly and actually follow through. Resources mentioned: Policy Triangle & Calendar Workshop: www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappysessions Music Studio Startup Tuition Calculator & Pricing Advice: www.musicstudiostartup.com/how-much-do-i-need-to-charge-for-music-lessons/ Piano Sensei Tuition Calculator:teachers.pianosensei.com/resources/tuition_calculators/ How to Price Effectively by Utpal Dholakia: https://amzn.to/4nRcucQAffiliate link Subscribe for Scrappy Snippets and teacher resources: www.scrappypianoteacher.com
Tuition Models and Real Talk with Eric Branner
2026/05/11
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 actual tuition models music teachers are using, why some pricing structures work better than others, and how teachers can think through raising rates without spiraling, apologizing, or guessing. We also talk about what it means to build a music teaching business that is professional, sustainable, personally fulfilling, and rooted in community. Basically, this episode is packed. It is a little longer than normal, but it is full of the kind of real talk independent teachers need when they are making big decisions about their studios. If you are planning for the next school year, reviewing your lesson rates, rethinking your studio policies, or wondering if your current tuition model still makes sense, this conversation is going to give you a lot to think about. ● Different tuition models for independent music teachers● Why “charging by the lesson” can create problems over time● How to think about raising your rates● Why teachers need to understand the value of their time● Building a studio model that supports your real life● The business side of teaching music● Why policies, pricing, and sustainability all connect● What teachers often misunderstand about getting paid● How music teachers can build stronger, more professional studios ● Listen to my episode with Eric Branner on The 440 Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jaclyn-mrozek-of-the-scrappy-piano-teacher/id1836525682?i=1000766496600 ● Check out Eric’s book, Lessons: A Modern Guide to the Business of Teaching Music:https://amzn.to/4uKR2IR ● Visit The Scrappy Piano Teacher website and join the email list for workshop updates:https://www.scrappypianoteacherpodcast.com I also shared a few summer opportunities coming up for teachers who are ready to start putting some of these ideas into action. Asynchronous Lesson WorkshopMay 29 at noon EasternA practical workshop for teachers who want simple, useful asynchronous lesson options for weather days, illness, travel weeks, summer flexibility, or those “now what?” moments when a regular live lesson does not make the most sense. Policy Triangle and Calendar WorkshopJune 19 at noon EasternThis workshop will help you connect your teaching philosophy, time and capacity, and financial needs so your studio policies actually support the studio you are trying to build. We will also look at your calendar, because policies only work when your calendar backs them up. Studio Reset CohortJuly 17, July 24, and July 31This summer cohort will be a focused three week version of the Studio Reset process. We will look at the bigger pieces of your studio, including philosophy, time, money, policies, calendar decisions, and systems, so you can move into the next school year with more clarity. Registration details will be sent to my email list and posted on the website. If the links are not live yet when this episode airs, head to the website and join the list so you do not miss them.
The Marketing Power of Recitals (Ep 83)
2026/04/27
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 retention. We’ll cover● Why recitals naturally create the best marketing moments● How to set up a Google Business Profile (no website required)● How to make it easy for families to leave reviews● What to capture during your recital and how to delegate it● How to reuse content for future marketing● What to do if your recital has already passed This episode is all about keeping things simple, practical, and sustainable so your studio can grow without burnout. Resources:Want a free Recital Budgeting Spreadsheet and more? www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/recital-budgeting-spreadsheet-timeline-prep-snapshotRecital Reflection for the AFTER moments of your recital?www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/recital-reflection-toolkitWant support with policies, photo releases, and studio systems?www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/calendar-policy-scrappy-session-toolkit-replay-workbook-templates If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and share it with a teacher who needs a scrappy, doable approach to marketing.
Working Genius for Music Teachers: Musicians & Students
2026/04/14
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 students feel unsettled when a piece is not finishedWhy others are ready to move on even if everything is not perfectHow the same teaching decision can lead to completely different reactionsHow to use this framework as a tool, not a label This is not about testing students or changing everything you do. It is about refining what you are already noticing and giving it language. Resources The 6 Types of Working Genius book:https://amzn.to/your-affiliate-link-here Working Genius Assessment:https://www.workinggenius.com/assessment Scrappy Piano Teacher website:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com Coda Piano Camp Bundle:https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/codas-piano-camp-bundle-camp-coda-the-mysteriously-moving-ball Next Step: Choose one student this week and make one small adjustment based on what energizes them.

Podcast reviews

Read The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast podcast reviews


5 out of 5
19 reviews
★★★★★
Prelude bach 2026/04/23
Keeping it real
I appreciate Jaci’s warm, friendly delivery with a dose of humor and sass. She generously shares her knowledge and resources and balances the business...
★★★★★
dearjule 2026/01/18
Fun and educational!
I really like this podcast because not only does it teach something but it’s not boring! I have a hard time keeping my attention on other value driven...
★★★★★
RaisingWildHearts 2025/11/12
Such great advice! 🎹
Jaci has amazing advice for piano teachers to grow and learn through the process of creating a business!
★★★★★
ChristinaWhitlock 2025/01/21
Doing Her Homework for Our Benefit
Jaci intentionally features a wide variety of guests, giving teachers a well-rounded perspective of resources to help us work our TeacherMagic. 🌟 I a...
★★★★★
Kay Lowry Piano 2024/12/16
I won’t miss an episode!
This is a fabulous positive podcast! Jackie makes us feel like we are part of her community and she definitely has a lot to offer! You won’t be disapp...
★★★★★
RebekahTrevelise 2024/10/21
So helpful and needed for the next generation of piano teachers!
Thank you for providing such a fabulous resource for music/piano teachers. Love hearing all of these inspiring stories, products and resources! ~Rebek...
★★★★★
Sfaudiation 2024/09/07
Piano Teacher Comfort Food
I love the way that Jaci welcomes us into her conversations with teachers. It’s cozy and comforting to hear her own real experiences, questions, and c...
★★★★★
Scout883 2024/09/02
Love this podcast!
I absolutely love the idea for this podcast! It’s so valuable to be able to gain insights from other piano teachers on common issues we face. And Jaci...
★★★★★
Jess Homewood 2024/08/13
Authentic & Engaging
I’ve been an avid podcast listener for years, & it’s no understatement to say I listen to HOURS of podcasts a week! So when I started listening to Jac...
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