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PODCAST

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, formerly The Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast Love teaching but maybe not everything else about running a studio? You’re not alone. I’m Jaclyn Mrozek, a piano teacher, homeschool mom, and studio owner with 27+ years of experience. This podcast is your go-to space for honest conversations, practical systems, and scrappy strategies that help independent music teachers build sustainable, joyful studios. Expect real talk, relatable stories, and biweekly episodes full

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All Episodes

00:04:37

Scrappy Snippet: Music Studio Policy Check In (Ep 63)

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/11/17

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, exceptions, morale, and the importance of leading your studio with confidence. Think of it like wiping

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00:21:06

How I Teach Partner Piano Lessons (Ep 62)

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/11/10

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 balance between group and private piano lessons, or how to bring collaboration into your studio without

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00:05:21

Scrappy Snippet: Is Your Music Studio the Grumpy...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/11/03

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 feels. This one’s for every independent music teacher who’s ever walked into a lesson burned out,

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00:14:11

How To Be Seen (And Found) As A Music Teacher (Ep 60)

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/10/27

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 now and get simple, no-fluff ways to make your studio stand out without feeling salesy.We’ll talk about:●

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00:12:15

Scrappy Snippet: Preparing Students for Recital...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/10/20

Scrappy Snippet: Performance Prep for Piano Recitalswith guest Dr. Molly GebrianIt’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 stay calm, confident, and ready for the stage, from testing “performance readiness” and planning backward

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00:28:56

Your Brain on Music: Piano Practice Strategies That...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/10/13

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 professional violist and cognitive neuroscientist who teaches at the New England Conservatory. She’s the author of

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00:14:48

Can We Really Control Piano Practice? (Ep 57)

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/09/29

Can We Really Control Piano Practice? Reflections from My Studio WorkshopIn 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 is one of the hardest parts of piano teaching. In this episode you will hear how I approached practice

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00:14:19

Asynchronous Lessons Explained for Your Music Studio...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/09/15

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 actually preferred them over online lessons, and the two main ways I

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00:14:32

Makeup Lesson Madness: Finding What Works for You (Ep...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/09/01

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 through popular approaches teachers use for makeup lessons like

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00:14:52

When Volunteering Fits Your Season (Ep 54)

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/08/18

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 of your own teaching journey. Sometimes it is as simple as sharing a

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00:15:58

Your Studio, Your Limits: Rethinking Student Numbers...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/08/04

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 slot, feeling like more students equals more success, or wondering how

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00:27:43

Jazz for the Non-Jazz Teacher (Ep. 52)

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/07/21

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 for real teachers who want to normalize improvisation and make jazz

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00:20:27

What A Studio Policy Really Is (Ep.51)

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/07/07

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 why short and clear usually works better than long and formal. I

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00:20:08

Episode 50: How Profit First Gave Me Control

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/06/23

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 start simplifying your finances too.● Includes my Profit First Cheat

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00:24:37

Episode 049: The Database That Changed Repertoire...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/06/09

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 quickly becoming a favorite resource in both private studios and

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00:21:02

Episode 048: The Raise You Didn't Know You Needed

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/05/26

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 studio model that supports both teachers and students.Visit

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00:18:34

Episode 047: Teaching Philosophy 101: Put Your Why...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/05/12

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 in shaping studio culture, communication with students and parents,

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00:05:47

Trailer: The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/05/05

About The Scrappy Piano Teacher PodcastHosted by Jaci MrozekFormerly The Music Teacher Mastermind PodcastThis 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 you run a sustainable music studio without burning out.Every other Monday,

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00:29:19

Episode 046: Using Muzie.live with Sam Reti

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/04/28

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 traditional platforms like Zoom, including tailored audio quality for

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00:33:02

Episode 045: Summer Gigs for Music Teachers with...

The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast ·

2025/04/21

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 musicians should ask clients. They also delve into the financial aspects of

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