A few years ago, I never imagined I would be teaching online music lessons to clarinet students across the country. With a few teaching tweaks, online lessons have become a great path to making lessons more accessible. Here are some key tips to set you and your students up for success!
Getting Started: Setting Up for Online Lessons with Zoom
When it comes to online teaching, having the right tools in place will make your life easier. My favorite platform for online music lessons is Zoom. Here’s how to set it up:
Install Zoom and Register for a Pro Account
While the basic version of Zoom works fine for short sessions, you’ll need to upgrade to a Pro account for lessons longer than 40 minutes. Right now, the Pro account offers additional features like extended meeting times, cloud recording, and lesson summaries, all of which are particularly useful for teaching.
Set Up Your Personal Meeting ID (PMI)
Once Zoom is installed, open the app and click on “New Meeting” to get started. Under the "Personal Meeting ID" section, click "copy invitation." This generates a unique link you can email to your students ahead of time. Using the same link for each lesson keeps things simple for your students.
Starting Your Lesson
When it’s time for your lesson, simply open the Zoom app and click “New Meeting.” Your student can then join via the link you’ve already provided. You’re all set to begin your online music lesson!
Zoom Audio Settings for the Best Sound
A crucial aspect of teaching music online is sound quality. If your students can't hear you clearly or you’re struggling to hear them, it will impact the value of the lesson. Here’s how I make sure my students get a great online lesson experience with the best Zoom audio settings:
Use a High-Quality Microphone
For the best sound, I recommend investing in a good external microphone. I currently use the Røde NT USB+ . For well under $200, this high-quality microphone ensures that your voice and instrument are heard clearly, helping your students to get the most out of the lesson. This mic also works well with my iPhone for recording video lessons and music.
Test Your Audio
Before you start your lesson, test your audio setup. Once you’ve opened a “New Meeting,” look at the lower left-hand corner of your Zoom window. Click the small arrow next to the microphone icon and scroll down to “Test Speaker and Microphone.” This will ensure everything is working properly, and that Zoom is using the correct microphone before your lesson starts.
Adjust Your Audio Settings for Music Lessons:
In the lower left-hand corner, find the microphone icon and select “Audio Settings.”
Scroll down to the “Audio Profile” section.
Select "Zoom Background Noise Removal."
Select background noise suppression to "Low."
This setting prevents Zoom from cutting out important sounds from your instrument while still minimizing any unwanted noise.
If you are still experiencing sound quality issues with your student, walk them through the last step with their computer. Sometimes, you will need to experiment with different settings, depending on their computer and equipment.
Tips for a Great Online Lesson
Lighting Matters
A clear, well-lit view of you is crucial for your students. Natural light is ideal, but we don’t all teach next to a window when the sun is shining. A ring light can work just as well to ensure you are well-lit and easy to see. Position the light in front of you to provide even lighting without harsh shadows. This makes it easier for students to see your face, instrument, and hand movements clearly, improving the learning experience. If you're looking for a great ring light, the Mackie mRing-10 is easy to use.
Online Lesson Prep
Preparation is key to keeping online lessons running smoothly. While you and your students should each have your own books and music, it is important to have everything else you might need easily accessible on your computer. I keep a variety of materials ready to screen share, such as PDFs of music, warm-ups, and technical exercises. If I am planning to use listening examples, accompaniments, or online games, I have them ready to share, too. This helps maintain lesson flow without any interruptions.
Build Personal Connections
Just because you're teaching online doesn’t mean you can’t make personal connections with your students. In fact, it's even more important to be intentional about this with online students. Take a few moments at the beginning of each lesson to check in with your student—ask them about their day or what they’re excited to play. I’m pretty sure I can tell you the names of each of my students’ pets. Taking a minute to build these connections helps students know that you care about them, even through a screen.
Teaching music lessons online IS different than teaching in person. Even if you are an experienced music teacher, there is definitely a learning curve to successfully teaching online.
If you are looking for more detailed guidance about growing an managing a thriving music studio, I invite you to check out Music Studio Kickstart. This digital mini-course is the exact roadmap I have used to grow my own private lesson studio.
In the meantime, sign up below and “stay tuned” for more teaching tips.
P.S. Thanks for reading! If you purchase from the links on this page, I do receive a small percentage of the sale. I promise I'm not getting rich, but I do love sharing my advice with you. Thanks, Amy
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