2020 has been a year of transformation in many ways. In the world of music education, learning to learn online has been a huge adjustment that teachers and students alike have made. Even when the pandemic recedes, my bet is that we will continue to learn online. Why not? We’ve discovered an incredibly convenient tool for learning that makes scheduling easier and geographic barriers weaker. While apps like Zoom (which I use in lessons) have made this transition a lot easier than it would have been even a few years ago, there are still a few things students can do to make the online learning environment a pleasant one for them and their teachers. Here’s a list of a few things you can do to make online lessons work for you from the get-go!
Use a laptop if possible
I’ve found that laptops have been the best device for conducting lessons online. Of course, with a solid internet connection, you can use a phone or tablet as well. But laptops allow you to access more clearly the gallery feature feature of Zoom which, in the case of a piano lesson, would allow you to see both your teacher’s face and a second camera pointed at the instrument. In general, the larger screen of a laptop makes the experience far more satisfying than squinting into a tiny phone screen. I personally like to ‘screen share’ (showing my laptop screen where I have access to a whiteboard, music notation software and more) and students who try to following along over a phone often struggle to see what I’m showing.
Using a phone and tablet has its perks. With a device-appropriate mount/holder, you can place a phone in many locations to provide your teacher with a solid view of you and your instrument, often in ways not possible with a heavy, bulky laptop. Also, it’s worth noting that you can use your phone in conjunction with your laptop/tablet as a second camera, opening another set of possibilities. If you do use a mobile device, make sure it’s plugged in, connected to WiFi and all nonessential apps are closed! If you’d prefer to use a laptop but want to have flexibility with placement and angles, for less than $50 you can purchase a laptop stand.
Position your camera well
As a teacher, I want to see my student hands from an elevated position. If at all possible, the best angle to place your device would be somewhere where I can have a clear view of your keyboard. This is going to mean an elevated space. Preferably, the camera is giving me a view of the keyboard straight-on so I’m seeing the keyboard like the student is or as is if I were standing slightly behind the student and to one side or another. If you’re using a laptop for your web camera, your best bet is going to be a shelf, window sill, dresser or other sturdy piece of furniture that is on the taller side. If you are using a phone or tablet, you can use a clip/holder to attach it to the music stand of your piano or keyboard, a mic stand, a lamp or any tall and thin stand. It’s not a great angle, but positioning your phone on either side of a piano can also work. Of course, you must do what is best for the space you’re in!
That said, I’ve taught lessons to students where I cannot see the keys at all and that’s worked out fine too. A lot depends on the level of the student – I need to see a beginner’s hands a lot more than an advanced students’.
Check your internet connection!
A frequent issue I have with students is a poor internet connection. Let me just say that an hour piano lesson with consistent internet outages is not going to be a great experience! If there’s one investment I’d encourage students to make, it would be in a reliable broadband connection, with speeds in 25MBPS+ range (test here). If you are using a laptop and are able, try plugging an ethernet cord directly into your router.
Zoom tips and tricks
If you do use Zoom and you are on a laptop, you actually have quite a bit of control over your sound, both in what you hear and how the sound from your microphone is being transmitted. As a teacher, I find that I can help my students better when I can hear them better.
First things first, please ensure your environment is quiet. With a ton of background noise, any chance of a successful lesson is severely diminished! Assuming your room is quiet, here’s a few things to do in the Zoom settings to improve your audio quality:
- Go to the Zoom app, open the settings (the gear icon at the top right), and click on the audio tab.
- Adjust your microphone input volume so that your teacher can hear you.
- Put suppress background noise to ‘low’ (If you don’t, Zoom will suppress your piano all the time!)
- Click “Show in-meeting option to ‘enable original sound’ from microphone in the advanced section and “enable original sound” when in meeting. This gives me your audio from your piano without Zoom’s filtering which kills the quality of your piano sound.
- Try “High fidelity music mode” – it can make your connection lag if your internet speed isn’t great but can also greatly enhance audio.
- Unclick ‘Automatically adjust microphone volume’.
Other applications offer similar features though it is worth noting that Facetime, among others, do NOT, making the sound-quality of lessons inferior. It is worth noting that these features are only adjustable on the desktop version of Zoom. There you go, another reason to use that laptop!
Find a quiet, well-lit room
While the piano tends to be fixed in it’s location, if you’re taking lessons on a keyboard and have the option, try looking for a quiet room to have lessons in or schedule lessons for a less busy/noisy time. A lot of background noise can really decrease the quality of the lesson and distract you and your teacher! And please make sure the lights are on and bright enough for your teacher to see the keys clearly.
These little tips and tricks should help you have great Zoom lessons with your teacher and feel like you are having a worthwhile experience! The great thing is that once you have figured everything out, you will not have to think about these things much more!
-Alex
Alex Clough's Blog 