In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, host John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) is joined by the Mike Grande, owner of three music schools and founder of the Rock Out Loud Live online lesson platform. Mike shares his some of his many strategies to diversifiy in the music lesson and related businesses including:

Mike's strategies reveal how to transform creative ideas into profitable ventures. Tune in for inspiring advice and practical tips on achieving financial freedom and successfully diversifying your music lesson business.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

Episode Transcript:

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) talk about goal setting for the new year. They share insightful strategies and templates that studio owners and instructors can use to set and achieve their objectives for 2025.

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John and Mandy also discuss the power of visualization, setting specific targets, and staying accountable. They share practical advice on how to break down big goals into manageable steps and the value of prioritizing objectives. Tune in for actionable tips and tricks to ensure your 2025 goals are not just set but accomplished. Plus, find out how a strategic approach can help balance both professional and personal aspirations.

Download your 2025 Studio Goal Planning Guide here!

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) delve into one of the most daunting tasks for music studio owners: hiring instructors and staff.

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John and Mandy share personal experiences and ways to ease the hiring burden. They explore how to handle the complexities of hiring, including understanding what to look for in a candidate and how to develop a successful onboarding process. This episode offers valuable advice to help you build a strong, cohesive team for your music lesson studio.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) answer a question from a fellow studio owner: how to successfully shift from offering mostly private lessons to offering and filling group classes.

Fellow studio owner, Alex, has found it difficult to fill group classes in his primarily private lesson environment. Mandy and John share insights and strategies to shift to a more group-oriented model, and highlight some of the unique benefits of group learning that are often overlooked.

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Mandy offers valuable advice from her experience running a group-based music studio, and John provides a detailed analysis of Alex's situation to offer practical solutions and encouragement for other studio owners facing similar challenges.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford), speak with Rob Spampinato of Rob's School of Music in Suffern, NY. In addition to Rob's brick-and-mortar lesson studio, he also has a very successful YouTube channel, Instragram account, and book -- This Book Shreds. Rob delves into how he skillfully juggles his various roles while maintaining a successful hybrid business model, effectively merging his brick-and-mortar music school with his expansive online reach.

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Join hosts John Kozicki and Mandy York as they discuss with Rob Spampinato the importance of adaptation and consistency in the music education industry, exploring the dynamic interplay between personal passion and professional growth.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

On this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) discuss how our own expectations of students aren't always their expectations.  Reflecting on their own experiences as "weird" students, they challenge the assumption that every student learns the same way, and how most students do NOT think about private lessons like we (instructors) did as students ourselves.

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John and Mandy explore the importance of understanding diverse student motivations and how varied expectations can impact both teaching and learning. Through engaging dialogue, they discuss why aligning expectations among students, parents, and instructors is crucial and share effective strategies to motivate and enrich every student's progress in learning music.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) delve into the pressing issue of why music lessons are often overshadowed by sports. They discuss the common reasons students leave music lessons for sports and the unique benefits sports offer, such as teamwork, social skills, and physical health.

John and Mandy explore the challenges music instructors face in retaining students and propose innovative solutions to counteract these issues. They emphasize the importance of creating a sense of community and collaboration in music programs, akin to the team spirit in sports, to enhance student engagement and retention.

Join the conversation as they share personal experiences, insights, and practical strategies to make music lessons more appealing and resilient against the lure of sports, ensuring that the joy and benefits of music remain a vibrant part of students' lives.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

In this episode Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) are joined by Sam Reddy, founder of Muzie.live, to explore the transformative potential of AI in music education. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of music lessons, examining whether AI could eventually replace traditional instructors or serve as a powerful assistant.

Sam shares insights into how AI can enhance teaching platforms like Muzie.live, offering features such as high-fidelity online lessons, hybrid teaching capabilities, and AI-driven note-taking. The discussion touches on the progression from guitar tabs to YouTube tutorials, and how AI could be the next step in making music education more accessible and personalized.

The episode also explores the role of AI as a tool for teachers, helping them adapt to technological advancements while maintaining the human connection essential in music education. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the balance between embracing AI innovations and preserving the essence of music instruction.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

In this enlightening episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and co-host Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) dive deep into the world of licensed curriculum for music studios. Mandy shares her extensive experience, having built her entire studio around a licensed program, and offers valuable insights on everything from costs and training to marketing assets.

Join the discussion as John and Mandy explore the pros and cons of adopting a licensed curriculum, the importance of brand identity, and the benefits of having a supportive network. They address common concerns like fee structures, instructor training, and the balance between using provided materials and adding a personal touch.

In this episode:

John and Mandy’s individual experiences with licensed curriculum.  John with Kidz Rock and Mandy with Music Together.

Analyzing the fee structure of licensed curriculums

The important and nuanced element of training included with licensed curriculums

Marketing assets, resources, and strategies

Whether you're considering implementing a licensed curriculum or just curious about how it could enhance your studio, this episode is packed with tips and advice to guide your decision-making process. Discover how to leverage licensed programs to solve common challenges and elevate your music education offerings.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and co-host Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) discuss the topic of offering free trial lessons or demo classes. They explore whether this strategy is beneficial for music studios and examine it from both the studio owner and the parent/student perspectives.

The episode kicks off with a discussion on the primary reasons studios might consider offering free trials: as a tactic to attract more students and fill up schedules. John and Mandy weigh the pros and cons of this approach and share personal experiences from their own studios.

From the parent's viewpoint, they discuss the appeal of free trials as a way to lower the risk of committing to lessons, particularly for those unsure if their child will enjoy music lessons. However, John argues that a free trial lesson may simply delay the risk instead of truly informing the parent about the child's interest and commitment.

The hosts also offer alternative strategies to free trials, such as offering studio tours, discounted rates for longer commitments, and integrating new students into established classes to give them a sense of the studio's culture and community.

Finally, John and Mandy emphasize the importance of evaluating whether a free trial strategy aligns with a studio's goals and suggest ways to make it work effectively for both the studio and the prospective students.

Join our private Facebook group, "Performance-Based Music Programs and Rock Schools," a community for like-minded professionals to connect and share insights.

Episode Transcript: