The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast

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 stumbled into them, why my students ac...

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 students and teachers on track. I also walk...

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 that feel sustainable and supportive o...

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 yourself filling every available time slo...

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 Jazz & Improvisation is written fo...

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 to do, what does not belong in it, and...

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, and the steps you can take to star...

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, level, mood, and theme, and why it’s ...

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 guilt and creating a sustainable s...

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 philosophy, discussing its significance...

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 and real-life solutions to help ...

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 Muzie that differentiate it from tradi...

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, and the essential questions musicia...

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 supporting teachers in their professiona...

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 lessons, effective lesson planning, a...

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 of creating a safe space for creativi...

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 techniques, and the joy of meeting fellow e...

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 refine their policies, pricing, and sy...

In this episode of the Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast, host Jaclyn Mrozek speaks with Andy Villemez and Annie Jeng about the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) 2025.

They discuss the unique aspects of the conference, including its focus on piano education, the upcoming Innovation Summit, and the diverse range of topics covered.

The conversation highlights the importance of networking, community building, and the qual...