Living with a global pandemic has plagued us and affected a lot of our activities over the past 2+ years. In this time, we have to accept that self-isolation procedures and other precautions will inevitably prevent students 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, and ultimately, our Musical Learning journeys to continue.
Nothing can truly replace a face-to-face lesson with your teacher, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most out of them and continue your learning through Online Lessons!
Here are some tips for learners we have gathered from our Rockschool Community that we hope will be helpful for your next Online Lesson.
Get Familiar with the Video Conferencing Platform you will be using
- Make sure you have the app ready on your chosen device. On your first online lesson, your teacher can guide you through and help you with setting up the correct audio features to get the best sound for your lessons. You can always call in a tech savvy family member to help out too.
Prepare the Right Equipment & Devices you will need for your Lessons
- Even the most basic of setups will work. Although you can use a mobile phone and WiFi connection, the small screen size may be limiting as it will be difficult to see your teacher’s demonstrations, and without headphones, hearing your teacher may be difficult as well. A laptop or tablet might be a better choice for your online classes.
- If you want to get the best possible sound quality for your lessons, you can also consider investing in a good pair of speakers (or headphones) and a microphone so your teacher can hear you and your playing better.
- A good internet connection is a must for a smooth online lesson experience. Try to make sure no one is watching movies or playing games on your wifi during your lesson, unless you have a super fast connection of 100mbps or higher. Also remember, the further away you are from your router, the weaker the WiFi signal may be, so do consider this when choosing a designated spot for your online lessons. If you can, use ethernet for the best connection.
Using a device with a larger screen, and using headphones will allow you to see and communicate with your teacher more easily in your online lessons.
Make Sure your Teacher has a Clear View of you and/or your Instrument
Getting the right lighting and angle will help your teacher see you better and enable them to guide you and make any necessary corrections to help you get the best out of your playing.
- Make sure the room you are using is bright enough for your teacher to see you clearly. Natural light from a window is great, or make use of a lamp if having your lesson near a natural light source is not possible (especially if your lesson is in the evening, and also for larger instruments like Piano or Drum Kit).
- Our teacher friends share the following tips on getting the best angle for your particular instrument:
- “various instruments require different angles. Piano prefers a top-down angle, guitar prefers a slanted front angle and drum prefers an over the shoulder angle. So the most basic requirement for video music lessons is perhaps a good stand to hold your device.”*
Try to make your Lesson Environment as Conducive as possible
- Have all your books, sheet music, backing tracks and other learning materials, along with your pencil and eraser ready for your lesson. You may also want to keep your device plugged into a charger as Video Lessons use up a lot of battery life. This way you can avoid the need to run out mid-lesson to grab your charger when your device warns you that it’s at 5%!
- Try to find a quiet place in your home for lessons where you will not get distracted by other family members moving around the home.
- For younger learners, Parents try to be present for the whole session. Not only will you be able to help your child with handling the devices being used for the class, you will also get to keep track of your child’s progress.
Approach your Online Lesson with the same Seriousness and Dedication as you would In-Person Lessons
- Learning Music via online lessons can be challenging. If you approach online music lessons with less seriousness and dedication than you would with your in-person lessons, you won’t get the results you’re looking for. By practicing regularly and preparing yourself well for each lesson, you give yourself the tools and experience you need to advance your learning.
- If you have a specific goal in mind, whether you want to start writing your own music, or want to learn a specific song to surprise your dad for his upcoming birthday, let your teacher know. Depending on what you share with you teacher, they can then create a lesson plan to help you achieve your goal and use your lessons in the most productive way.
We hope these tips help you with your next online lesson, or if you’re trying them for the first time, we hope these tips help you get the best out of your experience.
Resources & Additional Reading:
* https://www.vinnieclassroom.com/2020/03/28/video-conferencing-for-music-lessons/
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