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 Eastern
A 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 Eastern
This 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 31
This 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.

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.

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.

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 yourself if something feels draining instead of forcing yourself to “just be better.”

We’re talking about:

● Why some parts of teaching feel natural and others feel exhausting● How to structure your studio around your strengths● What to do when something is low (and draining)● What to embrace when something is high● How to stop comparing yourself to teachers who are wired differently than you

This is not about fixing yourself. It’s about understanding how you work so you can build something that actually lasts.

● What parts of my studio give me energy● What parts drain me the fastest● Where am I forcing myself into something that doesn’t fit

Working Genius Assessment
www.workinggenius.com/about/assessment

Jaci’s Resources
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources

Coda Books + Camp
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda

New episodes weekly. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the next one in this series.

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 framework helps explain why some parts of that work feel natural, while others feel draining.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

● A simple explanation of the 6 types of Working Genius● How each type shows up in a music studio● Why different types of work feel easier or harder● How this connects to burnout and energy

As you listen, consider:

● Which types feel most natural to you● Which ones feel draining● Where you may be working against your natural energy

This episode is designed to help you better understand how you work, so you can begin making more intentional decisions in your studio.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Working Genius Assessment
www.workinggenius.com/about/assessment

Jaci’s Resources
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources

Coda Books + Free Sample
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda

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 structure our studios.

If you’ve ever felt like you struggle to finish things, avoid certain tasks, or feel drained even when you love teaching, this conversation will likely resonate.

Before the next episode, take a moment to notice your energy throughout your teaching day:

● What gave you energy● What drained you

We’ll use that as a starting point next week.

Subscribe for email updates at www.scrappypianoteacher.com

If you’d like to try one of my beginner piano pieces with your students, you can grab a free sample at:

www.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda

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 interactive music experiences that keep students engaged while reinforcing important musical skills.

You will hear practical ideas for structuring camps, themes that capture students’ attention, and ways to make camps work for a small independent studio.

If summer programming has ever felt overwhelming, this conversation will give you inspiration and concrete ideas you can adapt for your own students.

You can also download the full resource list and spreadsheet of camps mentioned during the meetup.

Replay and Camp Resource List
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/summer-camp-ideas-for-piano-teachers-camp-resource-list-teacher-meetup-replay

Resources mentioned in the conversation:

Jennifer Foxx
Music Educator Resources
Coupon code SUMMERCAMP26 available through March 31
musiceducatorresources.com/shop

Kay Lowry
Piano Music for Kids
www.pianomusicforkids.com/store/camps-and-group-lessons

Cori Belle
www.coribelle.com/piano-teacher-resources

Elizabeth Swift
Pixels to Piano Lab Game Inspired Piano Camp
www.elizabethswiftpiano.com/music/p/pixels-to-piano-lab-game-inspired-piano-camp

Jaclyn Mrozek
Coda Storybooks
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda

To stay connected and receive future resources for music teachers, join the email list at
www.scrappypianoteacher.com

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 looks like to balance creativity with sustainability.

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation between two teachers who care deeply about the craft and the business of teaching.

Learn more about Dr. Jason Sifford:
https://www.jasonsifford.com

Join the free Summer Camp Meet Up:
https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle

Join the Scrappy Piano Teacher email list:
https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com