Tips for Successful Remote Music Lessons

In this time of online private lessons and group classes, there are some strategies we would like to share that hopefully will lead to the best possible experience for the student, teacher, and parental helper. Remote lessons are the most difficult for the youngest students, but even kids who have been studying for years and are fairly serious about their music study can easily get sloppy about completing assignments and staying aware of technical issues. We have some simple suggestions - please use any that seem like they would be helpful in your situation.

1. Be organized

Have all of your materials ready before the lesson is scheduled to begin, including your music books, the notebook for assignments, a pencil, your metronome if you use one, and your piano booster and footstool if you need them. If your instrument needs to be taken out of a case and tuned, do that before your lesson is supposed to start. Also, have your electronic device charged and ready to go and be online so that you can connect at just the right time. It would be good to set an alarm for 10 minutes before the lesson so you can be really ready before it begins. Please text your teacher a picture of last week’s assignment page from your child’s notebook and any completed theory pages before the lesson begins.

2. Be Fully Present

Since we are all in our homes, the music lessons can blend in with whatever else is going on and lose focus. We teachers have some very funny stories that we share about the antics of siblings and pets who invade the lesson and steal the show. It’s fine for that to happen once in a while, but a student can’t be expected to learn much in the middle of a circus. We also have instances of students just walking away from the screen and not really engaging in the lesson. Young students need a parent who is physically present, paying attention, and able to help maintain the focus on the lesson. Try to schedule the lesson at a time when disruptions can be minimized. Be ready to help: we may need you to examine hand position, help shoulders relax, or play a few notes of a new piece if you can. If you don’t have the musical knowledge to help learn new pieces, no problem, we still need you to cheer your student on!

3. Make It Special

All of us are tired of being on screens. We are yearning for the human connection that makes playing music so rewarding. Try to come up with some new ideas that will make the lessons and practices exciting. A practice chart, a new game, a full length mirror so the child can see his/her posture while playing, a YouTube video of another student the same age playing the same piece, or an ice cream cone for a good week of practice will all help build some enthusiasm. For an older student, concrete goals can be set and celebrated when reached, like memorize this piece by next week or finish your sight-reading book by the end of the month. Mostly, your child needs to feel that this is important, worthy of your time and attention as well as his or hers.

4. Look for Ways to Connect With Other Musicians

Group class, our special zoom concerts and projects, and the outdoor concerts we are planning as long as the weather allows, will all be welcome additions to the current music experiences. There are also some online music classes and camps that you could explore. Just ask us for more information if you’re interested.