Curriculum and Assignments

Student Responsibilities

Melissa’s curriculum is customizable for students of all kinds, but will include the following requirements for all students:

Daily Practice: Students are expected to practice 6 days a week, for a minimum per day that is the same length of their lesson (i.e. students who take 30 minute lessons practice for at least 30 minutes a day, 45-minute lessons for 45 minutes, etc.). Some students, particularly those advanced students who take 60-minute lessons will need to practice more than the length of their lesson each day. Like any other worthwhile endeavor, the more time spent in concentrated practice, the faster the student’s progress. Students with three or more consecutive weeks of incomplete practice will receive a warning, and if immediate improvement is not made, lessons will be terminated.

Full Practice means completing each assignment daily as directed, including the specified number of times that Melissa requests. For example, you may be asked to practice an F scale five times perfectly each day, following the specific instructions given to you in your lesson. This may mean that your practice time will vary depending on how long it takes you to perfect certain assignments.

Guidelines to facilitate effective practicing:

  • Maintain practice time at a daily minimum decided by me. (Mrs. Malouf)
  • Give practice time the same priority as homework.
  • Schedule practice at a regular time every day.
  • When desired, break practicing into smaller sessions to help maintain concentration.
  • When practicing, avoid distractions such as television, pets, visitors, phones, or interruptions for chores.
  • Regularly review all assignments listed on the lesson sheet, as it serves as a guide to weekly practice, expectations, learning, and as a means to monitor progress.

Practice Records: Students should record their practice time each day so that they can report back to me in their lessons. Practice time also needs to be recorded before a student comes to the lesson. This daily activity helps students to become more proactive in their practicing, because it invites them to take responsibility for their progress.

Schedule of Assignments: Students should read their lesson schedule each day to ensure they are completing their assignments.

Attendance: Attendance is crucial to making progress at learning the piano. Please commit to attend your lessons each week (except in cases of emergency, sickness or vacation). Arrive on time, well-prepared, and with all your books materials. Because your tuition reserves a time slot, not a number of minutes, your lesson will be 10 minutes shorter if you arrive 10 minutes late. In order to maintain a lesson time for the following year, you should also attend a minimum of two lessons per month during July and August.

Performance: Melissa will provide multiple opportunities for students to perform during each year. All students will be expected to perform at recitals. Please plan to stay for the entire duration of the recital. Students and families who leave in the middle of another student’s performance will not receive credit for attending.

Grades

Students will receive a grade for each lesson based on recorded practice time, preparedness, performance and their ability to follow and complete all assignments.  If a student receives a grade 3 for an extended period of time (3 or more consecutive weeks), they will receive a warning, with possible future lesson termination if immediate improvement is not made in preparation and practice time.  This time is considered a probationary time for the student to sincerely show that they are serious about taking piano lessons. 

  • Grade 1:  Practice 5-6 days per week, followed and completed assignments listed on lesson sheet, makes a sincere effort to play all music assigned.
  • Grade 2:  Practices 3-4 days per week, has made a sincere effort to follow and complete assignments, but had a busy week and didn’t play up to performance standards.
  • Grade 3:  Practices 2 days or less.  All assignments will be a reflection of the preparation and the lesson time will be spent in helping the student practice and prepare for the following week’s lesson.

Parent Responsibilities

Encourage Good Practice: A student’s practice environment should be free of distractions, including family, friends, TV, computers or phones. It is important for students to have time set aside specifically for practice, and parents are especially important in making this happen.

Active Involvement: Parents of students up to age 12 need to be actively involved in their student’s practice. Students should regard their parent as the “at-home teacher.” My most successful students have a parent who is involved in their practice sessions and is available to answer their questions. It is encouraged for parents who are unable to attend a lesson to check their child’s notebook and assignment schedule so that they can still help their student.

Progress Updates: Melissa encourages parents to listen to lessons in order to stay actively involved in their child’s progress. If you would like a verbal update on your student’s progress from Melissa, but are not able to come to the entire lesson, please ask for that update during the last 5 minutes of the lesson, not after the lesson is over. Out of respect for the next student, all updates need to occur during your student’s lesson time and not extend into the next lesson.

Nail Condition: Please make sure your child’s nails are trimmed twice a week, so they are short not only on the day of the lesson, but each time they practice.

Financial Responsibility: Pay tuition on time to avoid incurring late fees. Tuition schedule and rescheduling policies are available below and on the Tuition page.

Required Practice Materials: Students are expected to have a well-tuned piano with 88 weighted keys. If practice is executed correctly by using weighted keys, students will succeed at learning the piano and develop the necessary strength to play advanced literature.  Students who lack a piano with weighted keys are robbed of the opportunity to develop finger strength necessary for correct technique. In addition, it has been my experience that those students without an acoustic piano quickly lose interest in learning the piano. Electronic keyboards and organs are not sufficient.

Students should purchase any repertoire/method books that Melissa assigns.  This may also include note reading apps and or flash cards. 

Students should have either a physical metronome or metronome App on a smart-phone. This will be used to learn rhythm and will be necessary in collaboration rehearsals.

Parking & Driving Regulations: Please park only in the studio driveway, far to the right or left to allow multiple drivers to pick up & drop off students. Out of respect for City of Woodinville & HOA regulations, please do not park in front of any houses or in the cul de sac.

Please drive slowly through Melissa’s neighborhood. There are many small children who play in the street.  

Parents should pick up their child promptly at the end of their lesson. Parking is very limited and this will help make space in the driveway for the next arriving students.

Lesson Attendance: Parents are encouraged, but not required to come to lessons. However, if you are dropping your student off, please commit to do so each week and on time (except in cases of emergency, sickness or vacation). Because your tuition reserves a time slot, not a number of minutes, your lesson will be 10 minutes shorter if you arrive 10 minutes late. If your student is young or forgetful, please help them remember to bring their books. In order to maintain a lesson time for the following year, parents should also ensure that their student is able to attend a minimum of two lessons per month during July and August.

Recital Attendance: Please plan to stay for the entire duration of each biannual recital. Students and families who leave in the middle of another student’s performance will not receive credit for attending. Please mark your calendars for recital dates at the beginning of the year. All students are expected to attend and perform. 

Policy Knowledge: Making sure that you are updated on and familiar with studio policies is your responsibility. This will allow me to focus my energies on teaching your student, rather than needing to worry about repeatedly explaining policies. Your efforts here will help prevent misunderstandings and allow lesson scheduling to run smoothly. Studio policy is non-negotiable and you will be responsible if you or your student break a policy that you did not read. Studio policy is non-negotiable and is publicly available on this website.

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