How to Improve Your Online Music Lesson Experience
Devices
All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a camera and microphone connected to the internet. Set it off to the side of your piano so we can see your face and hands.
Plug in
Video conferencing can really drain your battery. Plug in your device or have it fully charged when you are using it.
Headphones
Headphones can work well but Air pods do not work well. Echoes are easily avoided by wearing headphones and/or turning your mic volume down.
Check Your Connections
Streaming video is very demanding on your Internet connection. If you are on Wi-Fi, the closer you are to the router, the better. A direct Ethernet connection is usually more reliable than Wi-Fi.
Reduce Demand
Encourage those around you who are on the same connection to take a break from the internet or, at least, refrain from downloading large files or streaming video (this includes Netflix and Video Gaming)
Close Unnecessary Programs
Close down all software, apps and browser tabs on your device, except what you need to view the lesson.
Tweak Your Microphone
Microphones in most devices have noise cancellation built in to optimize the human voice.
Unfortunately, it considers piano music to be noise and tries to filter it out. Go into your audio settings, under the tool wheel to “turn on your original sound”. If you are on a laptop, you can go to audio advanced settings for more options such as suppressing background noise.
Covid Cleaning Tips for Music Students
At Imagine Music Lessons, we are trying to address the new “normal” – how to teach effectively under the Covid-19 conditions.
In keeping with “Safe Music Lesson Habits”. I have asked all teachers to wash or sanitize their hands before teaching. This applies to lessons that are in a teachers’ studio or our client’s home. Studio teachers will be keeping their music spaces clean and sanitized. Studio teacher’s will also be asking their students to wash their hands before playing their instruments especially if it’s a shared instrument such as piano. I have also given the teachers effective teaching methods that include social distancing techniques.
Our goal is to always keep our lessons fun and engaging while at the same time, keeping our students safe as they learn!
As the situation is constantly changing, anyone with concerns or questions regarding your lessons, please contact me. I would love to hear from you as always!
Jennifer’s Instrument Cleaning Tips:
I love playing on a clean, non-sticky piano. This is what I do to keep my instrument in top condition:
Lightly spray a cloth with a mixture of 50% vinegar to 50% water.
Then wipe every key, black and white from the top to the bottom – this gets the dirt off.
Just remember – don’t use too much liquid. You don’t want to soak the wood as that may hurt the instrument.
Jennifer’s Deep Cleaning Tips:
For a super deep cleaning I lightly spray a cloth with Lysol cleaner (the kinds that kills bacteria) and do the same thing as above.
Wipe every key, black and white from the top to the bottom.
Just remember – don’t use too much liquid. You don’t want to soak the wood as that may hurt the instrument.
Then lastly, wipe off the chemical with a slightly damp cloth, just to get off any chemical that may harm the wood.
