Piano teachers, community music schools, and university music departments worldwide have been providing piano lessons online in the past year. Online piano lessons are as effective as in-person lessons.
Online piano lessons give you the convenience of receiving piano lessons in the comfort of your home without having to worry about transportation. Also, when you take piano lessons online, you are practicing social distancing to reduce the risk of contracting COVID.
Online piano lessons work equally well because:
Most importantly, setting up your equipment for online piano lessons is EASY!
These are the things you will need for online lessons:
Here is how I set up my equipment for online lessons:
Online piano lessons give you the convenience of receiving piano lessons in the comfort of your home without having to worry about transportation. Also, when you take piano lessons online, you are practicing social distancing to reduce the risk of contracting COVID.
Online piano lessons work equally well because:
- They are still one-to-one instructional sessions, allowing the teacher to care for every step of the student’s learning. One-to-one instruction is indispensable in piano learning.
- Piano lessons are a combination of visual and aural experiences. When properly set up, online piano lessons provide the same visual and aural experiences as in-person lessons do.
Most importantly, setting up your equipment for online piano lessons is EASY!
These are the things you will need for online lessons:
- An acoustic piano or 88-key weighted keyboard
- A computer/laptop with a video communication app: Zoom (preferred), FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, Google Meet, etc.
- Reliable internet connection
- A table or a piece of furniture where you can place the laptop/computer at an appropriate height, angle and distance from the piano and the student
Here is how I set up my equipment for online lessons:
Notice the angle, distance, and height of the laptop camera:
And here is what my students see from their side – notice that they should be able to see the keyboard and my fingers, arms, body, and face when the camera is at the appropriate angle, height, and distance:
On the student’s side, a tablet or an iPad with a tripod can be an alternative to a computer/laptop and a table. However, cell phones are NOT recommended because their screens are typically too small. The students need to be able to see my visual demonstration on the piano as well as music pages and written notes I show them. In order for the lesson to be effective, computers/laptops or tablets/iPads with screens 7” or bigger.
An important suggestion: keep your device plugged in to power through the duration of the lesson to avoid interruption due to the device running out of battery.
Of course, do not forget to have a pencil handy during the lesson so you could write your own notes!
An important suggestion: keep your device plugged in to power through the duration of the lesson to avoid interruption due to the device running out of battery.
Of course, do not forget to have a pencil handy during the lesson so you could write your own notes!
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In providing online piano lessons, I use a two-camera set up*. In addition to the computer you see above, I also set up a camera on top of the piano:
In providing online piano lessons, I use a two-camera set up*. In addition to the computer you see above, I also set up a camera on top of the piano:
Whenever needed, I can switch to this camera during the lesson so that students can see my hand positions on the keyboard. This is especially helpful to beginning and elementary students when learning different positions on the piano:
I use this set up on my side to facilitate teaching – you will not need to do the same on your side.
*The two-camera set up is possible only when using Zoom for lessons.
Before we begin lessons, we will schedule a meeting online so we will get to know a little about each other. Most importantly, I will guide you through setting up your equipment. On your lesson day, set up your equipment a few minutes before your lesson time, so we will be ready to go.
Contact me (yeungspianotime@gmail.com or 817-380-9659) now to schedule your next online piano lesson!
*The two-camera set up is possible only when using Zoom for lessons.
Before we begin lessons, we will schedule a meeting online so we will get to know a little about each other. Most importantly, I will guide you through setting up your equipment. On your lesson day, set up your equipment a few minutes before your lesson time, so we will be ready to go.
Contact me (yeungspianotime@gmail.com or 817-380-9659) now to schedule your next online piano lesson!
