How to Get the Most Out of the MMS Portal
My Music Staff is the system we use to keep everything about your lessons organised in one safe place.
Parents can see schedules, payments, and resources.
Students can take responsibility for practice and lesson notes.
Teachers can stay connected without relying on emails or paper.
This guide explains not just how to use My Music Staff, but also why each step is useful for you.
Logging In
Logging in is the first step to access everything—lessons, practice notes, payments, and communication.
Go to: melodymakers.uk/student-login (the grey button in the top righthand corner)
Enter your email and password.
If you don’t have an account yet, email Claire (claire@westonshaw.com). Claire will set it up and send you a welcome email with your password.
Forgotten your password? Click “Forgot Password” and follow the link to reset it.
Multiple parent accounts can be added. This means both parents, grandparents, or carers can each log in with their own details, so no one misses updates.
Attending Virtual Lessons (Zoom)
You don’t have to search through emails for Zoom links—everything is built into your account.
Here’s how it works on the day of your lesson:
Log in at mymusicstaff.com about 5 minutes before your lesson.
On the Home screen, look at the top right-hand side. You’ll see a box called Your Next Event with your upcoming lesson.
Next to the lesson, click the small Zoom camera icon.
Zoom will automatically open.
Click Start Video in the bottom left corner so your teacher can see you.
Some teachers may give you a password. If so, they’ll send it to you directly.
If something goes wrong:
If Zoom doesn’t open, check that you have the Zoom app installed and updated.
If you can’t find the Zoom icon, refresh your page—sometimes it appears a minute or two before the lesson.
The Home Screen
The Home screen is like your dashboard. It brings together everything you need in one place.
On the Home screen you’ll see:
Recent Practice → Tracks what has been logged. This helps students (and parents!) stay on top of practice habits.
Make-Up Credits → If you’ve cancelled a lesson, the replacement credit will appear here.
Upcoming Events → Your next lessons and studio activities.
Lesson Notes & Announcements → Written feedback from teachers and news from the studio.
Check your details: In the top right corner, click your name and make sure your profile info (name, address, phone, emergency contact) is correct. If this isn’t updated, reminders and communication may go to the wrong place.
Student Profiles
Student logins give children a safe way to take responsibility for their music journey.
Students can:
Open lesson notes directly from their teacher.
Download sheet music or recordings added by the teacher.
Record how long they’ve practised each day.
Book make-up lessons if they’ve missed one.
Important: Student logins do not include financial details. Parents remain in full control of invoices and payments.
Lesson Reminders
Reminders reduce missed lessons and help busy families stay organised.
You can receive a reminder by email or text before each lesson. (we don’t do texts as standard but if you would like them let us know)
If you prefer not to receive them, you can:
Click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of a reminder email, or
Go to Profile Settings (top right under your name) and turn them off.
The Calendar
The calendar keeps track of term dates and any changes. You’ll always know when lessons are happening.
We run a 39-week academic year based on Merton Council term dates, plus 3 extra make-up days each term.
How to use it:
Log in and click Calendar in the menu.
You can switch between Day, Week, or Month view.
Use the dropdown to choose:
Everything (all events, including open make-up sessions), or
Student Name (just your own schedule).
Tip: You can also sync this calendar to your Google, Apple, or Outlook calendar—so lessons show up on the same calendar as school events and family plans.
Cancelling a Lesson
Cancelling correctly ensures your teacher is notified, your calendar is updated, and your make-up credit is issued automatically.
Two ways to cancel:
From the Home screen → Click on your lesson → Cancel
From the Calendar → Click the date → Select the lesson → Cancel Attendance
When you cancel this way:
Your teacher gets an automatic notification.
The lesson disappears from both your calendar and the teacher’s.
You receive a make-up credit.
You may also message Claire (WhatsApp/text/email), but verbal cancellations can be forgotten—so always cancel through the portal first.
Booking a Make-Up Lesson
Make-up lessons keep students progressing, even if they miss a week.
Each cancelled lesson gives you a Make-Up Credit.
These appear on your Home screen and under Contact Info.
Teachers offer 3 extra days per term for make-ups.
Cancelled lessons are returned to the calendar as open sessions for anyone to book.
For details (such as how far in advance to book), see the full Make-Up Lesson Policy.
Other Helpful Menus
Contact → Studio contact info + make-up credit balance.
News Feed → All studio announcements in one place.
Accounts & Invoices → Check charges, payments, and download invoices for your records.
Attendance → Track how many lessons you’ve attended and read past notes.
Lending Library → See which books or resources you’ve borrowed.
Online Resources → Download policies, sheet music, and teacher materials.
Practice Log → Start a practice timer or enter practice manually. You can also upload recordings to share with your teacher.
Repertoire → Track your current and completed pieces/books—like a musical progress diary.
Email History → See all system-generated emails (direct teacher emails still go to your normal inbox).
Contact
If you’re ever unsure or need help, Claire is your first point of contact: Contacts
With these tools, you’ll always know when lessons are happening, how practice is going, and what resources are available—so students can focus on learning, not logistics!