So it looks like for one reason or another you are wanting to start teaching lessons via Skype. Why else would you have clicked into this blog post?? (well maybe you just want to support me in my first ever blog post… Hi Mom!) Anyways, I am writing this in the midst of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) scare. Many of my colleagues have been asking for help on how to transition their piano studios to allow for online lessons. I think it might be a good idea to write a short blog post to help everyone get up and running as quickly as possible! Below are 5 things you can do to get online lessons running right away!
1. Choose a Device
You will need some kind of electronic device that can access your home internet/Wi-Fi to teach online. Below are some options with pros and cons of each.
Smartphone- Phones can work perfectly fine if you don’t have another device available. They are super mobile meaning you can change your camera angle quickly. Need to switch the view to show your other hand? Just prop your phone on the other side of the keyboard. Unfortunately, the very small screen makes it difficult to see details of student’s video
iPad/Tablet- It’s just as portable as a smartphone but with the bigger screen size, you can easily see what is going on in your student’s video. The best part? Long battery life!
Laptop- Ideal screen size to be able to see student’s playing. Not as portable as a smaller device meaning once you set it up, you probably won’t be moving it around to get different angles.
Desktop Computer- Same pros as the laptop but more difficult to set up in an ideal location.
2. Choose a Platform
Now that you have chosen which device you’ll use for your online lessons, let’s talk about what kind of software is available. There are many programs out there to choose from, but we’ll just look at the two most popular to get you started as quickly as possible.
Skype- Free to use. Available on all devices and very easy to install.
Facetime- Free to use but only available on Apple devices. So if your student does not have access to an iPhone or iPad, they won’t be able to join the lesson.
3. Set Up Your Space
Check Your Lighting- When you teach in-person lessons at your studio, you make sure there is enough lighting to see the keys and music. Lighting for video is also important. In addition to the keys being lit up while you are demonstrating, students also need to see your face clearly so they can easily read your reactions throughout the lesson. Window lighting is your best friend during the day time but lamps can work great once the sun starts to get lower.
Check Your Sound- Microphones sometimes pickup the strangest bits of background noise. Make sure you don’t have an AC vent directed at the microphone that will make the student feel like they are in a wind tunnel!
Check Your Placement- I’ve seen some VERY fancy set ups by veteran online teachers where they have professional lighting and multiple cameras on expensive stands. But for those who are just starting, do not be intimidated by this! The camera just needs to be at either end of the keyboard and high enough to see both your hands when in position. The great thing about teaching through a camera is that you have full control of what the student can and can’t see. That means you can use WHATEVER you want to get the right height and the student never knows any different. So feel free to use that laundry basket turned upside down on your coffee table. Just make sure it’s stable. Finally, make sure you are by an outlet in case your power starts to drain.
Check Your Surroundings- Is there a chance someone who lives in your house is going to accidentally make a cameo in the background of your Skype lesson while wearing their jammies? If I have to angle my camera with my back towards the main part of the house, I make sure to stay conscious of who is passing behind me. If someone suddenly starts sweeping right behind me, I lean a little to the side to block the view until they have moved to another area. If you don’t want to be constantly thinking about this, just set yourself up so that no one would walk behind you.
4. Lesson Plan
I remember when I first started teaching piano lessons back in college, I would set up super elaborate lesson plans for each lesson. As a new teacher, this helped me to feel more in control. As I became a seasoned teacher, my planning shifted to revolve around general researching and arming myself with tips, tricks, and ideas to implement on the fly with students as challenges arose. However, since exclusively teaching online lessons this week, I have found it crucial to lesson plan before a Skype lesson to feel comfortable and confident that I had enough material to fill the time.
Collect Necessary Materials- It is much easier to teach online when I have the sheet music in front of me. I have a library in my studio with most of the books I assign to students. If I don’t have something on hand, I ask the parent to take a picture/scan the piece to me so that I can follow along. Same goes for any technique and completed theory pages.
Outline a Plan- No need for a super detailed lesson plan. This is more for you to make sure you feel confident teaching in this new environment. Your natural teaching instincts will kick in as things get going and you may not even use the lesson plan to the end.
5. remember
Technical Difficulties Exist- Don’t let it frazzle you too much when the call drops, the internet disconnects, or the students device dies. No one will be upset that the lesson has a glitch or two because that’s the nature of technology.
All Students Are Different- Online lessons will not work for everyone because, as you already know, everyone has different learning styles. If live, online lessons don’t work for a particular student but you still want to help them progress without in-person lessons, you can also try a phone call and hear their pieces through the phone. Or better yet, have the student send you an audio/video recording of their piece and you can email back comments.
You Are Growing- New things always make me a little nervous and I know I’m not the only one who can say this. No one wants to let their students down because we don’t feel prepared enough in this new teaching space. But the best thing about trying Skype/Facetime/online lessons with your student is that it’s probably new to them too and they are just as self conscious as you are. Be proud of the fact that you are expanding your teaching capabilities! The more you do it, the easier it will feel.
There Are More Resources Out There- If you are craving more information about teaching online and can’t wait until my next blog post comes out, I’d suggest checking out these articles by some top piano teachers and educators in the online community. Nicola Cantan released an incredibly in-depth guide for starting online teaching. Wendy Stevens has include detailed information about phone lessons on her blog. Finally, if you are looking for activities that transfer well to online lessons, Teach Piano Today suggests trying these out to improve ear training skills.
I hope you now feel a little more comfortable about jumping into online lessons. If you have any questions, comment below and I (or anyone else in the community) will gladly help you out. And if you want to try out a mock Facetime lesson with me first, I’m all yours!