Studio Policies, Lesson Rates, and the MTNA Member Survey with Karen Thickstun

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast, I’m joined by Karen Thickstun, NCTM, MTNA past president and coordinator of MTNA Business Resources and MTNA Business Digest. Karen and I talk through some of the fascinating results from the 2024 MTNA Member Survey, including what independent music teachers are saying about studio size, student retention, lesson rates, rate increases, marketing, studio documents, payment methods, software, and legal considerations. We also talk about why this kind of survey matters so much for independent teachers. Many of us work alone, but the survey gives us a bigger picture of what is happening across the profession and helps us think more intentionally about how we run our studios. In this conversation, we discuss: ● What the MTNA Member Survey is and why it matters ● The biggest challenges independent music teachers are facing ● Why “livable income” is rising as a concern ● How often teachers are raising rates ● What the survey shows about average lesson rates ● Why studio policies and calendars still matter ● Marketing trends, including websites, referrals, Facebook, and Instagram ● The surprising number of teachers not using studio management tools ● General liability insurance, zoning, photo releases, and social media permissions ● How MTNA Business Resources can support teachers Karen and I will also be presenting an MTNA webinar on June 23, 2026, called "Communicating Value and Boundaries: Studio Policies That Serve and Protect." And if you want hands-on help outlining your studio policy and calendar, my final Policy Triangle Workshop is coming up on June 19th at noon Eastern. You can join us at: scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappysessions The workshop includes a policy audit from me, even if you need to watch the replay. *Links Mentioned* MTNA mtna.org Scrappy Piano Teacher Policy Triangle & Calendar Workshop scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappysessions *Next Episode* In two weeks, we’ll be talking all about communicating changes to your studio families, along with some fun tips and tricks to make that process smoother. Be sure to join and subscribe!