📝 Episode Summary:

In this solo episode, Monica reflects on how 25 years of teaching music has reshaped her philosophy—especially when it comes to students who don’t practice between lessons. Instead of shaming or scolding, she shares how she’s created an environment that inspires growth, even when life gets in the way.

You’ll hear how she uses gamification, seasonal events, and imaginative experiences (like musical elves from the North Pole!) to keep students engaged. From evolving her practice rewards program to designing lessons that work within a student’s lifestyle, Monica walks you through how she balances flexibility with meaningful progress.

Whether you’re a teacher navigating similar challenges, or a parent wondering what to expect in a music lesson, this episode offers insight, encouragement, and some creative ideas to keep the music alive.

🎙 Episode 1 – Creating Value in Private Lessons

Welcome to Season 2 of Within the Musician! After a long pause since Season 1 (which launched during the pandemic), I’m excited to return with a fresh perspective—and a mix of solo episodes and interviews exploring what it really means to live and work within the identity of a musician.

In this short solo episode, I’m diving into one of the most common questions music teachers ask each other: How do you structure your studio to avoid burnout, protect your time, and still offer value to students?

I walk you through how I set up my lesson calendar using a flat-rate monthly tuition system—and why it’s been a game changer for both my students and my own sustainability as a creative professional. This includes:

• My full-year calendar layout (45 lessons + 10+ events)
• Why I don’t offer traditional makeups—and what I do instead
• How events like recitals, open mics, and workshops serve as built-in value (and makeups!)
• Transparent pricing: how families understand what they’re paying for
• The swap list and virtual options that keep everything flexible
• A reminder that protecting your energy as a teacher helps you stay inspired and connected

If you’re a music educator trying to move away from the “makeup lesson trap” or just need a little validation for creating better work-life balance, this episode is for you.

✨ Stay tuned—up next is a short “Favorite Things” episode where I’ll share some of the tools, books, and ideas that are currently bringing joy and ease to my teaching studio.

Importance of music for young and old minds!
Today Stephan Betz and I  are going to talk about the intricacy of the brain, and how music can affect the development. How music can actually help students experiencing challenges in academics. We’ll talk about why it might be easier to start as an earlier student, but also how it can really benefit starting as an adult. We are also going to talk about what music therapy is, how it’s helpful and who it’s helpful too.

About Stephan Betz:  he is a A board-certified music therapist as well as an award-winning composer in jazz musician. He plays many instruments, with over 36 years of experience. He also has a PhD in community education. He is also one of the teaching artist at Contra Costa music guild, A collective of teachers we started early in the pandemic.

To learn more about Stephan Betz and schedule a trial lesson with him visit: www.contracostamusicguild.com