6 Easy Steps for Students & Parents Shifting to Online Piano Lessons
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If you find yourself suddenly having to switch from in studio lessons to online lessons, here are some simple steps you can take to prepare before lessons begin:
1. Download Zoom
Zoom wins when it comes to versatility and ease of use and so that’s what will be discussed here. Zoom is an app that allows people to meet face-to-face online with video and audio features. It’s free and safe! Zoom works on all devices: laptops, tablets and smartphones. It also works on all operating systems.
Zoom is safest when used with the “waiting room” feature. This means the teacher initiates the contact and you click to join, and must wait in the waiting room until admitted to the meeting. This protects you from Zoombombing. (the unwanted intrusion into a video conference call by an individual, causing disruption)
As with any online platform, having a strong steady internet is crucial. If possible, connect the modem directly with an ethernet cable.
Start by signing in to Zoom on your laptop or computer: https://zoom.us
Or, set up Zoom on the device you’ll be using in your lessons. You’ll get several prompts:
- “Please enter your name.” You’ll see this the first time only. Type your name in the field.
- “Zoom Would Like to Access the Camera.” Choose OK. This will allow your teacher to see your face, fingers and piano keys.
- “Join with Video.” Press the blue button.
- “Zoom Would Like to Access the Microphone.” Choose OK. This will allow you and your teacher to talk to each other and for your teacher to hear you play the piano.
- “Zoom Would Like to Send You Notifications.” Choose Allow. The notification will be sent to you when your lesson is about to begin.
- In “Advanced settings” on laptops choose “Enable original sound.” This means music will come through clearly without being suppressed as background noise.
2. A day or two before the lesson…
- Send your teacher a photo of your last assignment sheet. (Text or email)
- Confirm your Zoom meeting invite. Check that you have the proper date/time and the Zoom meeting link. Add the Zoom meeting invite to your calendar. (Google, Outlook, etc.)
3. One hour before the lesson…
- Be sure your device is fully charged.
- Find all of your music books and assignment book.
- Find a pencil and eraser and have them ready at the piano.
- Check that you’ve clipped your fingernails.
4. 10 minutes before the lesson…
- Make sure you’ve already used the washroom.
- Remind other members in your household that it’s time to limit their internet use. If someone in your home were streaming a movie, it would create a very poor connection for the online lesson.
- Be ready at your instrument. (Very young students will need their parent’s assistance.)
- Set up your device as suggested.
A tablet or laptop can be set to the side of the student’s piano. A simple set-up like a music stand, kitchen stool, or movable desk can work as a stand. If using a smartphone, experiment with landscape or portrait view for the best image showing the student’s hands and keyboard. Setting the phone directly on the piano can give a good view.
- Open your books to the pages you’ll be using.
- You’ll get a notification that the lesson is about to begin. You’ll be asked to wait in the “waiting room.”
You will see a prompt to join the lesson.
5. As the lesson begins…
- You’ll be invited to the meeting by your teacher. Join.
- Zoom will prompt: “To hear others please join audio.” Choose Call using Internet Audio.
- For better sound: Make sure to click on “Turn on original sound” in the upper left corner of your screen.
- Ask the student (or for young students, the parent) to write in the notes for this week’s assignment sheet.
6. To end the lesson…
- Confirm all lesson homework assignments and the next online lesson date/time with your teacher.
- On your screen you will see in red lettering, “Leave Meeting.” A pop-up prompt will ask you to confirm that you want to leave the meeting. After selecting “Leave Meeting” you will be disconnected.
*In case of technical problems…Any lesson that cannot be completed with the original device can be finished on a cell phone without video conferencing capability.