Online Piano and Keyboard Tuition.
I returned to 100% online tuition as of 27.3.20 due to covid. As of February 2022, around 70% of pupils are face-to-face with 30% online. I am particularly comfortable with Skype, but am increasingly turning to zoom. I can also work with FaceTime and What's App.
ONLINE - THE ADVANTAGES: online tuition is not ideal, but is much better than no lessons at all and pupils admit that online teaching is more successful than they had anticipated. It also provides an incentive to practice: even some of the more committed pupils admit that their knowing that a lesson is only a few days away is a motivating factor that keeps them practising; otherwise, they tend to drift. However...
THE DISADVANTAGES: there are problems with online lessons: 1) the audio quality of devices which the pupils uses restricts the teacher's ability to assess how well the pupil is playing: ie if the pupil's tablet/mobile phone etc has a poor quality microphone. 2) Duets are almost impossible eg in lessons on my premises a pupil may play the right hand part and I play an accompaniment. This is not really practical online due to time lag. 3) Assessing the pupil's pedalling is very difficult [due to the quality of the pupil's microphone]. 4) Marking theory (written work) is so much easier if the pupil is on my premises.
Please go to www.online-pianoteacher.com/ for more information.
With the vast majority of pupils, I can check online that the notes they play, rhythms and legato/staccato/dynamics are fine. It also provides an incentive for the pupil to practice: even some of the more committed pupils admit that their knowing that a lesson is only a few days away is a motivating factor that keeps them practising; otherwise, they tend to drift. My best ever pupil result for an ABRSM exam was actually with a Skype pupil. I mention that to show how lessons being online doesn't stand in the road of progress; perhaps he did well despite having online lessons!
I use a Logitech C920 webcam for vertical shots of my piano as we teach in order to demonstrate more effectively.
ONLINE - THE ADVANTAGES: online tuition is not ideal, but is much better than no lessons at all and pupils admit that online teaching is more successful than they had anticipated. It also provides an incentive to practice: even some of the more committed pupils admit that their knowing that a lesson is only a few days away is a motivating factor that keeps them practising; otherwise, they tend to drift. However...
THE DISADVANTAGES: there are problems with online lessons: 1) the audio quality of devices which the pupils uses restricts the teacher's ability to assess how well the pupil is playing: ie if the pupil's tablet/mobile phone etc has a poor quality microphone. 2) Duets are almost impossible eg in lessons on my premises a pupil may play the right hand part and I play an accompaniment. This is not really practical online due to time lag. 3) Assessing the pupil's pedalling is very difficult [due to the quality of the pupil's microphone]. 4) Marking theory (written work) is so much easier if the pupil is on my premises.
Please go to www.online-pianoteacher.com/ for more information.
With the vast majority of pupils, I can check online that the notes they play, rhythms and legato/staccato/dynamics are fine. It also provides an incentive for the pupil to practice: even some of the more committed pupils admit that their knowing that a lesson is only a few days away is a motivating factor that keeps them practising; otherwise, they tend to drift. My best ever pupil result for an ABRSM exam was actually with a Skype pupil. I mention that to show how lessons being online doesn't stand in the road of progress; perhaps he did well despite having online lessons!
I use a Logitech C920 webcam for vertical shots of my piano as we teach in order to demonstrate more effectively.