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) discuss how hustle culture and social media pressure push music studio owners to equate busyness with success, often leading to burnout. They explore why student numbers aren’t the only growth metric and why adding programs should match your mission and life priorities.
In this episode:
- The evolution of...
In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) explore practical ways music instructors and school owners can use AI. When it comes to "busy work," AI can save time—polishing newsletters, analyzing data, automating spreadsheets, and creating instructor training materials—while keeping authenticity intact. So you can spend more time focused on...
In this episode, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) interviews Sam Reti, founder of Muzie.live. Sam discusses the full rebuild of Muzie, the online music lesson platform, and why his team rebuilt it from the ground up. He also shares how their innovative tech used to deliver live video music lessons online inspired Sam and his team to launch a completely new company called Hiyve.io and compete with the...
In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) explore what really makes a music lesson studio stand out beyond table-stakes features like qualified instructors and flexible scheduling. They discuss how specialized programming (bands, unique curricula), parent education, cohesive visuals, and authentic storytelling create emotional connections before a family ...
In this episode Mandy York (Music Time of Milford)shares a recent experience with a negative Google review and how she handled it, then she and John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) use that story to explore the broader effects reviews have on reputation and website SEO. We cover Google’s updated rules on review solicitation, what practices are now risky, and practical approaches (calm responses, su...
This episode is part 7 of the Building a Band Program series on the Rock School Proprietor podcast, hosted by John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com).
In this episode John shares insights on how to create memorable and effective band concert experiences that boost student retention and engagement. Learn practical tips on venue selection, student and staff preparation, audience experience, and additional tou...
Organic reach for Facebook business pages has collapsed, and this episode explains what that means for music studio owners and where to focus content creation instead.
In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) share insights on adapting strategies in a shifting digital landscape to maintain effective engagement and grow small businesses. They explore why ...
This episode is part 6 of the Building a Band Program series on the Rock School Proprietor podcast, hosted by John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com).
In this episode John shares strategies for managing student behavior during band rehearsals. He explains how to address poor behavior from band members when it comes up, and how to redirect and create a positive environment that promotes musical growth and st...
On this Q&A episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York respond to a listener whose long‑time instructor left, opened a competing studio, and poached students. Now a competitor, this instructor also reused photos and reviews from the original school. They unpack what options the studio owner has, explain how copyright and DMCA takedowns can help ...
Kids are busier than ever with travel sports, marching band, theater and other time-intensive activities, and it’s directly impacting private music lessons. In this episode John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) explore why these shifts are happening and share practical steps studio owners can take to retain student.
In this episode:
- How kids' increasing ac...
This episode is part 5 of the Building a Band Program series on the Rock School Proprietor podcast, hosted by John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com).
In this episode John shares how to plan, structure, and execute productive band rehearsals. From setting up expectations with students to creating a predictable routine that gets band members working together effectively, John share things to do as well as th...
On this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) explores a compelling story about a 13-year-old music student facing challenges and discovering new ways to connect with music. They highlights the importance of personalized teaching, understanding student strengths, and the power of flexibility in music education.
In this e...
This episode is part 4 of the Building a Band Program series on the Rock School Proprietor podcast, hosted by John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com).
In this episode John shares tips on how to select songs for band programs. He covers the importance of matching song difficulty to student ability, structuring songs predictably, and maintaining variety to keep students engaged and confident.
Included:
- H...
In this episode, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) interviews Tony Parlapiano, founder of popMATICS, about his innovative online piano curriculum that focuses on playing by ear, creativity, improvisation, and practical theory. Tony explains how he's built a strong online student community through popMATICS. He also discusses how storytelling and collecting 'musical souvenirs' deepens listening, and ho...
This episode is part 3 of the Building a Band Program series on the Rock School Proprietor podcast, hosted by John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com).
In this episode John shares strategies for effectively grouping students into bands in your music school. This includes using variables like age, ability level, and musical interests in conjunction to find the best fit for students to build an engaging group ...
On this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) tackle whether music instructors should be classified as employees or independent contractors and why that decision is important for every studio.
They break down the criteria the IRS uses to assess classification by behavioral control, financial control, and the relationship...
This episode is part 2 of the Building a Band Program series on the Rock School Proprietor podcast, hosted by John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com).
In this episode John offers insight on selecting the ideal instructor to lead band programs, emphasizing qualities like multi-instrumentalism, a producer-like perspective, and decision-making skills.
Included:
- Qualities of effective band instructors
- Impo...
In this episode, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) talks with Levi Clay—author, transcriber and online instructor—about balancing instant access to tabs, tutorials and AI with the human skills that make music meaningful. The two explore effective teaching strategies, the importance of foundational skills like ear training, and how modern technology influences guitar learning.
In this episo...
This episode is part of the Building a Band Program series on the Rock School Proprietor podcast, hosted by John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com).
In this episode, John shares his insights on how to structure a successful band program, covering planning, goal setting, and anticipating future growth.
Included:
- Planning your band season
- Setting achievable goals for students
- Creating a rehearsal t...
In this episode, John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) share two of their latest book recommendations for private music instructors and lesson studio owners. Mandy's pick: Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown, and as the extended title suggests, all the benefits of play-based learning.
John's pick: The I...
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