This article is for Teachers. Placing a student at a Level happens in the lesson, not in a setting. Owners and Admins: there's no "starting level" configuration in Musician Quest - teachers simply begin starting skills at the right Level for each student.

Every student starts their Quest at a Level you choose.

It's a one-time decision at enrollment (or at rollout for current students), and there are two good ways to make it.

Option A: Place them at their current Level

Assess the student in the first lesson and start them at the Level that matches their existing proficiency. Best for students focused on moving forward - they're immediately working on skills at their edge.

Option B: Start from Level 1

Experienced students may choose to start at Level 1 anyway, moving quickly through earlier skills and earning every reward along the way. Best for students who want the full Quest experience or the complete reward collection.

Both options are valid - and Option B is genuinely encouraged, not a consolation. A student who blazes through three Levels in two months gets three reward moments, three sets of celebration emails home, and a visible momentum streak. For some students, that early cascade of wins is exactly what locks in the habit.

How to have the conversation

For a transfer student or returning player, put the choice in their hands: "You could start at Level 4, where your playing is now - or start at Level 1 and collect everything on the way up. Which sounds more fun?" Students tend to know which motivates them.

If you place them wrong

Don't agonize over the assessment. If a student turns out to be misplaced, the skills will tell you quickly - and starting slightly low just means early wins, while starting slightly high is a conversation with your studio owner about adjusting. Progress over perfection applies to placement too.