Are Virtual Lessons A Good Idea?
Here at Surf City Music School, we have been providing virtual online music lessons since the COVID pandemic began. It was our first time diving into the world of music education online but has opened so many new possibilities to make lessons even more engaging and enriching.
Clearly, there are some drawbacks to virtual music lessons because of the distance of the teacher from the student. It is not so easy to point out misplaced fingers or fix incorrect posture or technique. Some issues with the students playing are easier to overlook and not catch while listening to the student play over Zoom or Facetime.
However, the benefits do outweigh the drawbacks. One huge benefit we’ve found is that lessons can be so much more flexible. No longer do the student and teacher have to be in the same city or within the same area. In fact, the student and teacher can be on other sides of the world! If a student is feeling a bit under the weather and not wanting to share a cold with their teacher, virtual lessons are an easy alternative.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of virtual lessons is the amazing opportunities for enhanced lessons through technology. At Surf City Music School we do our virtual lessons through Zoom, with a fully customized student experience. Instead of seeing the teacher through a single webcam, the student sees multiple camera angles of the teacher and the instrument. In the case of piano lessons, the student not only sees the teacher but also sees a top-down view of exactly where the teacher’s hands are.
Students also get an interactive visual of what keys are being pressed by the teacher. For more advanced students, when multiple keys are pressed the visualizer automatically names the chord or interval being played. This creates a more interactive way for students to engage with their music lesson beyond just seeing the teacher through a webcam.
Before considering virtual lessons at Surf City Music School, consider some of these questions:
Equipment/Technology: You will need a decent internet connection and a computer or iPad to take lessons on. A phone can run zoom meetings, but the screen won’t be big enough to view the teacher and the custom visualizers to enhance lessons.
The Student’s Attentiveness and Age: Sometimes, virtual lessons for older students can be even more engaging than in-person lessons. However, with young students, it can be hard to concentrate without in-person eye contact from a teacher. If you think your child would have a hard time concentrating on virtual lessons for 30 minutes, we recommend beginning with in-person lessons.
If you’d like to learn more about our online lessons, click below.