The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, formerly The Music Teacher Mastermind Podcast, is a piano teacher podcast for independent piano teachers who love teaching but struggle with running a studio or need some encouragement.
I’m Jaclyn Mrozek, a piano teacher and studio owner with 28 plus years of experience, all while homeschooling and raising three kids, so yes, I get it. This podcast covers piano teaching, piano studio business systems, private and group lessons, burnout, and sustainable strategies to help piano teachers build joyful studios with clarity and confidence.
Teaching, Learning, and Staying Curious with Joy Morin
Joy Morin has been part of the online piano teaching world since the early days of teacher blogging. If you have ever searched for a piano teaching activity, worksheet, game, or pedagogical idea, there is a pretty good chance you have landed on her blog, www.colorinmypiano.com.
In this conversation, Joy and I talk about how her teaching has continued to evolve over the years and why reflection has been such an important part of that process.
We also take a pretty deep dive into Music Learning Theory. Joy shares how she first encountered Dr. Edwin E. Gordon while she was still in college, how his work changed the way she thinks about musicianship and learning, and what MLT can look like for piano teachers who are curious but may not be ready to completely overhaul the way they teach.
We also talk about her Keys at Play series, audiation, sight reading, rhythm development, giving students more freedom to explore music, and the way Joy continues to learn and experiment in her own studio.
And we get some exciting composing news! Joy shares about her work with Alfred Music, including The Lumbering Bear and her upcoming collection Starbound, an outer space inspired collection of 11 pieces for early to mid elementary pianists.
Resources mentioned:
Color In My Piano
https://colorinmypiano.com (https://colorinmypiano.com/)
Music Learning Theory
https://colorinmypiano.com/2018/01/15/music-learning-theory-exactly/ (https://colorinmypiano.com/2018/01/15/music-learning-theory-exactly/)
Joy’s First Encounter with Edwin Gordon
https://colorinmypiano.com/2024/07/23/my-first-encounter-with-dr-edwin-e-gordon-and-his-music-learning-theory-mlt/ (https://colorinmypiano.com/2024/07/23/my-first-encounter-with-dr-edwin-e-gordon-and-his-music-learning-theory-mlt/)
Audiation
https://colorinmypiano.com/2017/11/30/what-is-audiation-exactly/ (https://colorinmypiano.com/2017/11/30/what-is-audiation-exactly/)
Keys at Play
https://keysatplay.com/collections/all (https://keysatplay.com/collections/all)
Gordon Institute for Music Learning
https://giml.org (https://giml.org/)
The Lumbering Bear
https://www.alfred.com/products/the-lumbering-bear-00-ps-0017771 (https://www.alfred.com/products/the-lumbering-bear-00-ps-0017771)
Joy Morin at Alfred Music
https://www.alfred.com/collections/joy-morin-sheet-music (https://www.alfred.com/collections/joy-morin-sheet-music)
Notion for Music Teachers with Joy Morin + Amy Chaplin
https://pianopantry.com/notion (https://pianopantry.com/notion)
Scrappy Circle with Molly Gebrian
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle (http://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle)
Coda Musical Storybooks
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda (http://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/coda)
21 Sept 2026
Two Opportunities for Better Practice This Fall with Leila Viss
Two Opportunities for Better Practice This Fall with Leila Viss
Surprise! I have a bonus episode for you.
Leila Viss recently reached out to me after hearing about my upcoming Scrappy Circle with Molly Gebrian, author of Learn Faster, Perform Better. The timing was perfect because Leila has been incorporating many of Molly’s ideas and research into her own 2026 Practice Streak.
What was supposed to be a quick ten minute conversation turned into a much bigger discussion about effective practice, helping students become more intentional, and why teachers might need a little practice accountability too.
We talk about how Leila’s Practice Streak works, how teachers and students can participate, some of her favorite practice strategies, and how Molly’s research has influenced what she is doing in her studio.
We also talk about the October 23 Scrappy Circle, where Molly Gebrian will join us live on Zoom for a 90 minute session about the brain, learning, and practice, including an open question and answer time.
If practice has been on your mind this fall, come join us for one or both.
ABOUT LEILA
Leila Viss is a pianist, composer, author, and longtime independent piano teacher who helps teachers and students approach music with more curiosity and creativity. Through LeilaViss.com and her Space to Create community, she develops practical resources that make practicing, improvising, and composing more effective and more enjoyable.
LINKS
Leila’s 2026 Practice Streak:
https://www.leilaviss.com/september-2026-practice-streak-signup (https://www.leilaviss.com/september-2026-practice-streak-signup)
How to Practice Piano Effectively:
https://www.leilaviss.com/blog/how-to-practice-piano-effectively (https://www.leilaviss.com/blog/how-to-practice-piano-effectively)
Leila’s practice cards and Guide for Caregivers of Budding Musicians:
https://www.leilaviss.com/store-home/guide-for-caregivers-of-budding-musicians (https://www.leilaviss.com/store-home/guide-for-caregivers-of-budding-musicians)
Leila Viss:
https://www.leilaviss.com (https://www.leilaviss.com/)
October 23 Scrappy Circle with Molly Gebrian:
https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle (https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle)
Learn Faster, Perform Better by Molly Gebrian:
https://amzn.to/3V7m5lu (https://amzn.to/3V7m5lu)
This is an affiliate link. I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
My Piano Practice Workshop:
https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/practice-workshop (https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/practice-workshop)
2026 Practice Workshop Blog Post:
https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappynotes/practiceworkshop2026 (https://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappynotes/practiceworkshop2026)
14 Sept 2026
Jazz Band, Improv & Beyond with Quentin Walston
Jazz can feel intimidating when it is not the language you grew up playing, but it does not have to stay that way.
Jazz pianist, composer, and educator Quentin Walston is back on the podcast, and this time we are talking about jazz band, improvisation, authentic jazz playing, and how piano teachers can help students without feeling like they need to suddenly become jazz experts themselves.
We start with one of the situations many teachers eventually encounter: a student walks into a lesson with a giant jazz band folder and asks for help. Quentin shares his own experience joining jazz band as a teenager and walks us through how teachers can look at those parts strategically. We talk about what actually needs to be learned, what can sometimes be simplified or left out, how to recognize the most important sections, and how to help students understand what the arranger is really asking the pianist to do.
Then we talk about Quentin’s newest book, Jazz Piano Like a Pro. The collection includes 10 original intermediate piano compositions written using the techniques, textures, styles, and sounds of authentic jazz piano. Each piece also includes an optional solo section where students can experiment with improvisation using approachable guidelines.
If jazz is an area you would love to explore more with your students, this conversation is full of practical places to begin.
Find Quentin and his resources:
Jazz Piano Like a Pro
https://quentinwalston.com/store (https://quentinwalston.com/store)
How to Teach Jazz & Improvisation
https://quentinwalston.com/teach-jazz (https://quentinwalston.com/teach-jazz)
Both books are also available on Amazon.
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/quentinwalston (https://www.instagram.com/quentinwalston)
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@thisisjazzofficial (https://www.youtube.com/@thisisjazzofficial)
COMING UP IN THE SCRAPPY CIRCLE
Scrappy Session with Molly Gebrian
What Musicians Can Learn About Practicing from Current Brain Research
Join Molly Gebrian for a 90 minute live session exploring what current brain research can teach us about more effective practice. We will look at spaced practice, interleaving, mental practice, breaks, and other ways to help students practice more efficiently and meaningfully.
Friday, October 23, 2026
1:00 PM Eastern Time
90 minutes
Live online session plus Q and A
$20 per person
Register at:
www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle (http://www.scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappycircle)
Who has been a guest on The Music Teacher Master Mind
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Amy Chaplin
William Perry
Jaclyn Mrozek
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
19 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
81
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
Contact The Music Teacher Master Mind
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