Virtual Piano Lessons

Welcome To Virtual Lessons!

The need for creative music making and further learning never stops, even for an incurable virus.  As of March 2020, all piano lessons have moved to an online format and my students have thrived!   

we've discovered many benefits of online lessons!

  • Students are becoming much more independent and have practiced assignments faithfully.
  • Students are becoming more self-aware of what is on the page of music.
  • The student’s inner ear is being better developed as they need to listen to their playing.  I ask them to critique their own playing by listening to it.  
  • We’re discovering new joy in learning to do improvisation and composition! 
  • Students remember notes about individual songs because they write on their score themselves.  Copying the notes themselves is an important tool for learning.
  • Lesson assignments can’t be lost since they are on a computer.  I email weekly assignments.
  • Lessons can be recorded at request of parents for further review.  
  • Students are not hampered by minor colds or other illnesses; they can still take a regular online lesson if not feeling 100%.
  • Parents are becoming more hands-on and are learning/reviewing piano themselves!
  • Students are playing in the comfort of their own home, on their own instrument that they practice on.
  • No commute!  
  • No more sharing ‘regular’ colds and flu bugs in the studio! 

VIRTUAL LESSONS ARE CONDUCTED VIA ZOOM

follow these instructions FOR SUCCESSFUL ZOOM Lessons

Turning on “Original Sound” in Zoom. How to do it on desktop and mobile:

Desktop (Windows and macOS):

Enable in Settings:

  1. Open the Zoom desktop client.
  2. Click the settings gear icon.
  3. Go to the “Audio” tab.
  4. In the “Audio Profile” section, ensure that the “Original sound for musicians” option is enabled.

 Turn On During a Meeting:

  1. Start or join a Zoom meeting.
  2. In the top-left corner of the meeting window, you should see an “Original Sound” button. Click it to toggle it on or off.
  3. You may also click the down arrow next to the “Original Sound” button to choose which microphone to use with the original sound setting.

Mobile (iOS and Android):

Enable in Settings:

  1. Open the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap “Settings.”
  3. Tap “Meetings.”
  4. Toggle “Use Original Audio” on.

 Turn On During a Meeting:

  1. Start or join a Zoom meeting.
  2. Tap “More” (the three dots).
  3. Tap “Enable Original Sound.” To turn it off, follow the same steps and tap “Disable Original Sound.”

You may have to do this for better sound, to be determined at the lesson:

in ZOOM settings:

  1. Go to Advanced Audio
  2. Disable or lower
    • Suppress Persistent Background Noise
    • Suppress Intermittent Background Noise

KEY INFORMATION

  • “Original Sound” disables Zoom’s noise suppression and audio enhancement features.
    This is ideal for situations where you want to capture the true, unedited sound from your microphone.
  • Keep in mind that when using original sound, background noises will be more noticeable.
  • You may need an outside mic.  Laptop mics are notorious for not picking up piano sounds.  If this happens during lesson, please have a cell phone near to complete lessons with cell phone sound & ZOOM visual (Zoom audio needs to be muted.)

Tips for a successful virtual lesson

  1. You can use a laptop, tablet, or phone.  Make sure it is fully charged before your lesson or plugged into a power source.
  2. To find the right position for the camera you might need to experiment a bit. It’s good to have a side view of the student, with a view of the keyboard in line.  A laptop or mobile device needs to be at a good height and this can be done through the use of tables, books, etc.
  3. Lighting: it helps to have it behind the camera source.  Sunlight can be too bright and curtains/blinds may need to be shut.
  4. Have all books ready at the piano.  Please have a pencil and highlighter handy, too.
  5. Please have Zoom open 5 minutes before your lesson is supposed to start.  This helps me maintain my schedule when I have back-to-back lessons.