Rock School Proprietor Podcast

John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) each share the three technologies they rely on to run their music studios more smoothly. The cover platforms from project management and scheduling to email marketing and team communication. They discuss tools like Trello, ActiveCampaign, Acuity/Squarespace scheduling, Slack, ClickSend, Canva, and payment processors, plus tips on choosing the right features and avoiding shiny-object overload.
Many of these platforms offer free or low-cost options that work well for most studios, and the episode focuses on practical integrations that save time and reduce admin work so teachers can focus on teaching and growing their studios.
 
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Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 

On this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) reacts to Dave Simon's podcast about the three P's of music lesson success—pleasure, practice, progress—and proposes a fourth P: purpose.
He argues that understanding why a student is taking lessons changes how we weight practice and progress, and can improve retention.
The episode explores how emphasizing practice without knowing a family’s goals can push students to quit, offers practical thinking for teachers, and points to resources for redefining what counts as practice and aligning lessons with student purpose.
Additional suggested listening:
Music Lessons & Marketing: The 3 Metrics Parents Use to Define Music Lesson Success | EP268
Ep. 29: Dave Simon | Revisiting the 'Practice Problem'
Ep. 30: Inside Look at Why Parents Pull Kids from Music Lessons
Ep. 4: What "Counts" as Practice? Redefining Practice in Music Lessons
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Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 

Your website might be doing a great job explaining what you offer but is it helping parents feel confident about choosing you? On this episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) are joined by Demitris Maddox (Provide Impact) to talk about the strategic use of video on your music school's website. Most schools still aren’t using video on their sites in the right way, and it is such low-hanging fruit to boost conversions and grow your studio.
Demitris explains three easy to create videos to add visitor value to your website, and how strategic placement of those videos can go a long way to making better connections with prospective students and families.
What Happens at The First/Intro Lesson?
The 7 Top Questions Parents Ask Us
What Happens When I Fill Out This Form?
Demetrius explains how well-placed videos answer parents' questions, address their concerns, and build trust before they even reach out. The videos he recommends require very little effort and can be shot on your phone — this isn’t about fancy production, it’s about using video strategically to turn website visitors into enrolled students and build your music school.
 
To access the BONUS video mentioned in the episode, visit http://provideimpact.com/videofour
To hear Demitris Maddox on a previous episode of the show: 40: Demitris Maddox | Designing Music School Websites That Attract & Convert
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Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Visit the Resources section of our website to get FREE guides to help grow your music school, improve retention, and more.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 

On this Q&A quick-fire episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) answer three listener questions studio owners are asking:
Investing in a licensed curriculum for group classes. What to consider, questions to ask, and where to start?
Which studio management software is best? Core features like automatic billing and payment, schedule features, and add-ons.
How to market your lessons when the concept of marketing seems overwhelming?
John and Mandy offer practical advice to help you make choices that have the biggest positive impact on your studio.
Additional resources mentioned in this episode:
Episode 16: Unlocking the Secrets of Licensed Curriculum for Music Studios
Episode 6: Mastering Music School Marketing with Adam Wilson - Part 1: Building your Brand
Episode 7: Mastering Music School Marketing with Adam Wilson - Part 2: Your Marketing Plan
 
Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 

John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) discuss the fear and insecurity that arise when a new music studio opens nearby, sharing a personal story about feeling threatened and how that led to mistakes. They explore how to shift from reactive competition to a healthier, more constructive mindset.
Practical takeaways from the discussion:
compete with yourself
learn from others
stay true to your core values
maintain an abundance mindset
protect your mental health
consider collaboration to strengthen your local music community.
 
Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 
Episode Transcript:

Studio owner Darvin Lau (BayRidge School of Music) found his concerts costing more than they earned — until Mike Grande (Rock Out Loud Live) helped him change the playbook. On this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com), with help from Mike and Darvin, walk through concrete steps that transformed Darvin's costly concerts into profitable events.
Tips to make it happen:
negotiating venue deals
selling VIP tickets
bundling registrations and tickets
creating band slots instead of solos
hiring photographers
selling merch
leveraging scheduling to retain students
Hosts share practical examples, pricing tips and timing strategies you can use to make your recitals pay for themselves while improving the experience for students, families and staff.
BONUS: download the FREE guide with all the tips form this episode, "How to Turn Student Concerts Into Profitable Events." Get it at https://rockschoolproprietor.com/resources/
 
Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 
Episode Transcript:

On this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) teach music school owners how to get free publicity. Newspapers, magazines, online outlets, and even TV news are regularly LOOKING for stories to cover. Knowing how to craft newsworthy stories, write effective press releases, build relationships with journalists, and use photos can increase your chances of coverage.
We also explain why publicity can be more valuable than paid ads for long-term credibility and visibility. And the best part is that it doesn't cost you a cent!
 
Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 
Episode Transcript:

In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) discuss why being selective about students and families helps you build the studio culture you want. They share real examples and practical strategies for setting expectations, protecting staff time, and aligning families with your lesson studio philosophy.
Key takeaways include:
Choosing the right students is crucial for studio culture.
Building community among families enhances the studio experience.
Clear communication of policies helps set expectations.
Parents' expectations for practice should align with studio philosophy.
Creating a positive environment for instructors is essential.
Setting boundaries is necessary for studio management.
Understanding family dynamics can aid in student selection.
Regular feedback from families can improve studio offerings.
A strong community attracts like-minded families.
 
Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 
Episode Transcript:

On this Q&A episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) tackle a messy situation: a talented instructor with persistent communication and scheduling problems who has started teaching elsewhere and even picked up former students privately. They walk through how to decide whether to keep or cut ties, how to open a calm, curiosity-driven conversation, and practical steps to tighten communication and set clear expectations.
Do you have a problem in your studio you think we could help with? Send us a message and we could do a Q & A episode discussing your problem.  Click here to send a message to Mandy and John.
 
Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 
Episode Transcript:

John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) talk with Kristen Blanchard, 2024 Michigan Band Director of the Year. A middle school band director (Muir Middle School) of nearly 30 years, she shares how music education has evolved and how her methods have also changed over the course of her career.  Kristin highlights why creating a fun, engaging environment is so important in her band room. 
They discuss practical approaches to practice, the value of performance traditions, and how private instructors and school programs can work together to grow lifelong musicians and music lovers.
 
Your ratings and reviews on Apple Podcast and Spotify are always appreciated!
Join our private Facebook group, "The Modern Music School," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.
Looking for a simple and effective guitar curriculum that includes FREE instructor training and support? Consider John's book, Complete Guitar Strumming. 
 
Episode Transcript: