About

Lessons

Lessons will take place in the music room on the ground level of the studio. Parents are welcome to stay and watch the lesson, wait outside, or leave and then come back. Lessons will start when the student arrives and finish 30 minutes (or 60 minutes) later. It would be appreciated if every effort is made to arrive at lessons on time. Please ensure your child arrives at each lesson with their instrument (if applicable), diary and books. As a rule, there will be no lessons on public holidays or during school holidays unless requested by the student.

Flute, recorder and keyboard lessons will usually follow the pattern of a warm-up with scales, some sight-reading, presentation of studied works, introduction to new works and aural test practice.
Theory lessons will concentrate on one or two aspects of musical theory that will usually be determined by the student.
Japanese lessons will incorporate aspects of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills appropriate to the age and ability level of the student.

Practice

As with most things in life, significant improvement will not be made unless regular, structured practice or study is a part of your daily routine. Students should endeavor to practice a minimum of 5 minutes a day, six days a week. It is my belief that a small amount of practice every day is more important and beneficial than practicing once a week or not at all. Of course, the older and more experienced the student, the more practice will be required. It is recommended that music students purchase a Student Music Diary for $8.00 where they can record the amount of practice they do each week. If possible, students should aim to practice at the same time (or times) each day. If practicing for an hour or more at a time, it is important to take a short break, including a drink of water, every 20 minutes. Please discuss any concerns about practice with Melissa as soon as possible.

Fees

Fees for tuition from January 2015 will be as listed below. Fees should be paid per term in the form of cash, cheque or direct deposit. Please make cheques payable to Melissa Kurosawa. Please note that if a lesson is cancelled by the student, the full fee will be payable unless at least 24 hours notice is given. The only exceptions will be in the case of life threatening or unforeseeable circumstances (e.g. car breaks down). If the teacher cancels a lesson, no fee will be charged.

Flute, recorder, keyboard, theory or Japanese: half hour = $30.00* ($27.00)
Flute, recorder, keyboard, theory or Japanese: full hour = $60.00* ($54.00)

*A discount of 10% will apply for fees paid up front per term.

Melissa Kurosawa

Our Founder

Melissa Kurosawa (nee Thomson) was born in Townsville in 1977 then moved to Cairns at the age of six. Melissa started playing the flute at Freshwater Primary School in 1987. After participating in the Peninsula Region Junior (1989) and Senior (1991) Orchestras, a trip to Japan as a member of a Japanese-singing choir in August 1992 and participating in the 1993 MOST (Musically Outstanding Students) program, Melissa started teaching the flute at her home in Cairns in 1994. After finishing year 12, Melissa spent a year as an exchange student in Japan after receiving an AFS/ DFS fully funded study scholarship. On returning to Australia in 1996, Melissa moved to Brisbane to study Music at the Queensland Conservatorium and then Education at the University of Queensland. Melissa teaches music and Japanese to students of all ages and ability levels, from young beginners to adults.

We’d love to hear from you!

Everton Hills | Brisbane, QLD | 4053 | AUSTRALIA

Tel: 07-3855-2316 | Mob: 0422-103-811