Rock School Proprietor Podcast
Visit http://RockSchoolPropietor.com for FREE resources! Teaching you the secrets of running a successful rock band program, or just how to create an inspiring community centered on making music in your music lesson business. Host John Kozicki played in punk rock bands and went to school for business, while co-host Mandy York studied vocal performance and sang classical music. With vastly different background, these friends both run successful music lessons businesses and decided to record their conversations. From philosophy and culture to teaching and business strategy, each week John and Mandy turn their experiences into practical advice you can use to improve your music lesson business.
Episodes
In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) explain how to use surveys to develop new programs, evaluate instructors, and measure overall client satisfaction in your music studio.
They cover what to ask (and what to avoid), how often to survey without causing fatigue, tips on platforms and question wording, and how to use feedback to improve scheduling, eve...
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...
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 ...
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 v...
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...
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 f...
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
- s...
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 coverag...
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 t...
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, cu...
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 i...
In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) Kelly Bennett, co-owner of Valencia School of Music, about taking a group of teenagers from her music school on tour. They discuss all the challenges and successes involved in organizing this huge project. Kelly shares insights on how to create a supportive community for young musicians and the importance of perfo...
In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) speaks with Brady Davies, the founder of One Music Schools. Brady shares his family's journey of opening a single piano lesson studio (The Piano Place), expanding to multiple locations, and now leading a company that purchase music schools.
Join us as Brady delves into the intricacies of acquiring music schools, what he looks for in potential buys, and...
On this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast host John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) has a fascinating conversation with Eric Bourassa (UnlimitedGuitar.com), the former owner of the Fort Worth Music Academy. Eric shares why he chose to sell his thriving music business and the personal insights he gained afterward. This episode unveils the intricacies of selling a business, the emotional journe...
Join hosts John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) as they celebrate a year of conversations on the Rock School Proprietor Podcast. In this special episode, they reflect on their journey of over 50 episodes, sharing their top takeaways from conversations and listener interactions.
Mandy and John both share their top 3 most insightful episodes and why.
In this enlightening episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) are joined by Nicole Kovar, founder of Piano and More. They discuss the ins and outs of operating a mobile music lessons school that only offers in-home private lessons. Discover how Nicole breaks geographic barriers by sending instructors to students' home...
Join us on an extraordinary episode of Rock School Proprietor Podcast as host John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) welcomes back Mike Grande, owner of three music schools and founder of the Rock Out Loud Live online lesson platform.
On Episode 24 Mike joined us to share how he was using TikTok Shop to sell his Card Chords product, and how it ultimately launched him into the top 4% of US sellers on TikTok...
In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) discuss hosting memorable events that do more than just showcase musical talent. Explore how well-run events can bolster community bonds, enhance your studio's reputation, and create lasting memories for students and families alike. All leading to greater retention and ...
In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, host John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) delves into effective teaching strategies for neurodiverse students with guest Becki Laurent (The Music Studio - Lubbock, TX, Simply Piano), a respected music studio owner and educator. Becky shares her unique insights into teaching neurodivergent children by embracing her own ADHD as an advantage in the clas...
Join John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) on the this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast as they introduce John's new book, "Complete Guitar Strumming." This episode delves into John's journey of writing a book that concentrates on building rhythm and timing skills for beginner to intermediate guitar players.
Discover the inspiration behind the book as Jo...
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