While we continue to live through and learn to live with COVID-19, which has plagued us and affected many businesses in the past 2+ years, it is inevitable that self-isolation procedures and other precautions will prevent students, or even teachers from being able to consistently follow through with weekly sessions (with a high possibility of having to miss 1 or more in-person lessons, depending on the situation).
Throughout this uncertain time, online lessons have become an invaluable tool for learners and teachers alike, allowing regular sessions to continue.
The online lesson format does have some limitations though, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of them and use them to your advantage! Here are some tips we have gathered from our Rockschool Community that we hope will be helpful to you the next time Online Lessons will be called for.
This post will focus on a few pointers to help Teachers with their online teaching ventures. Read on to find out how to rock your Online Classes!
Tips for Teachers:
Choose the Hardware/Equipment that Suits your Needs
- Phones and tablets are quick and easy to pick up and use and for teaching, but these can be limited to their built-in cameras and microphones, which can be basic, and the small screen size may also be an issue. Apps like Skype, FaceTime and more will work on phones and tablets, but user settings may be reduced on these mobile devices.
- A laptop or desktop computer may be a better alternative. These give the option to use an ethernet cable, which offers a more stable internet connection than WiFi. Laptops usually have a mic and camera built in, while desktop users may need to connect these externally. Both these options allow you to benefit from a larger screen or monitor.
A pair of headphones, or good speakers and a microphone can help to enhance the audio quality of your online lessons
- You may wish to invest in an external microphone. There are lots of options available from leading microphone companies for good quality USB microphones. As a bonus, if you already have a basic home studio setup, you can use your existing gear to enhance your online teaching! An audio interface synced up with your preferred video conferencing platform does wonders to improve the sound quality your student receives from your end and can help inspire them to play their own instruments. With an interface, you can mic up your own instrument separately, or plug in directly for a cleaner signal.
Your home recording setup can double as online teaching gear
- Your microphone and speakers will need to work together, so experiment with positioning and levels to avoid feedback. There are two audio settings to adjust – your computer’s basic input level and the app’s own settings. Headphones (you might consider Bluetooth to avoid being tethered by a cable) will eliminate feedback, but may affect how you hear your own instrument.
- Your students may only have access to a phone on WiFi, so if you can make your own set-up as stable as possible, this will help to improve the quality for both parties.
- If you don’t have access to a sophisticated set-up, use whatever you can. WhatsApp video, for example, may not be ideal, but it does the job within limits and is better than having no lesson at all!
Find a Video Conferencing App that Works for You
- Skype has been a tried and true platform for online lessons for many many years, and does offer good sound and picture.
- Zoom has become the platform of choice for many educators for one-on-one classes that, like Skype, offers good picture and sound, plus advanced sound features that allow you to tweak audio settings, as well as chat and screen sharing functions that makes sending sheet music or exercises easier.
- WhatsApp video and Facebook Messenger offer more basic functionality. Other apps that you could explore include Microsoft Teams, Adobe Connect, Discord, Google’s Hangout and Duo apps, Slack, and Viber. Over time your preference will become clear, informed by sound and picture quality, ease of use and reliability.
Arrange Your Schedule to Allow for Technical Fixes
- It’s a good idea to set aside time before your online classes to test your setup and ensure everything is working smoothly.
- Similarly, it would be a good idea to take 15 minutes before a class for any first-time online students to walk them through tweaking their audio settings for the best result. A tech savvy parent can assist if needed.
- With the above points in mind, try to space out your classes and avoid back-to-back scheduling to allow a little extra time to address technical issues that may arise on the fly, or to account for possible latency issues that would need you to stretch the lesson time a little longer to ensure your student gets the best experience.
Prepare Teaching Material Ahead of Time
Ensuring both you and your student have copies of the learning material makes communicating in the lesson smoother and more efficient
- Many publishers offer PDF versions of sheet music that can easily be shared with students or parents ahead of the lesson. These can be printed, or loaded onto separate devices like another laptop or a tablet so they can be viewed during the lesson. You can also make notes on the sheet music during the lesson and send a copy to your student afterwards.
- Instructional videos for particular exercises or rudiments can also be sent to students as a supplement to their lessons, for example RSL Fellow and drum legend Steve White’s YouTube channel has some amazing rudiments that you can set for your students to watch. You could also create and share playlists using apps like Spotify or Youtube for each student featuring sample recordings and recommended listening to help them better understand the pieces they are learning.
Explore Multiple Learning Tools & Platforms to Enhance Student Experience
User interface for Midi Instruments on the BandLab app – Mobile apps like BandLab, GarageBand and others can prove to be useful teaching tools for remote lessons
- Students now have more access to music apps than ever and integrating these into your teaching can prove to be a viable way to further engage and improve your student’s learning. For example, if you’re teaching Popular Music Theory, getting your student to try and recreate or apply the different concepts they are learning in an app like Garage Band, or Band Lab can help to cement their understanding of terms like “Backbeat Groove”, “Four on the Floor” and more, even if they don’t have access to a real instrument.
We hope these tips help you with conducting your next online lesson, or if you’re trying them out for the first time, we hope these tips help to point you in the right direction.
Resources & Additional Reading:
If you are looking for tips on preparing for your RSL Exam, check out our other Blog posts.
Do check in to www.rs-event.sg for updates and more information on the Events lined up for 2022. Here you can find the List of Dates and Fees for RSL Exams in Singapore, information on the RSL Exams, Performance Arts Awards Exams for Dance & Musical Theatre