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Online Lessons for Piano – A Guide for Parents and Students

How neat is it that technology lets us have online lessons for piano?! Thanks for doing your part to help us all stay healthy! This is a guide for parents and students to get the most out of their online lessons..

THE SETUP

For online lessons to be successful, you need a smart phone or tablet, with some way to prop it up. My students have been creative here–one has used a drinking glass to pop his phone into (the camera has to be above the rim). Another one straps their phone to a music stand beside the piano. Someone else has propped it up on a desk/shelf beside the piano using cans to hold it in place! If you have a piano, you can wedge it onto the corner ledge of the piano. Test out your setup by taking a selfie! I should be able to see the student’s side profile and their hands on the piano keys–you’ll have to play with the angles.

THE SOFTWARE

If you have an apple device, it is really easy! You send me your phone number, or the e-mail address that you have associated with your apple product and I will add you to my contact list. We would use Facetime (built into the device).

Anyone with a SKYPE account? My Skype address is elenafortinonline. The profile picture is a drawing of a grand piano!

If you do not have either of these, or if you are in my group classes, we will be using Zoom! I will send a link to a Zoom meeting. You just click on the link and you will be in my class. If it’s your first time using Zoom, when you click on the link, it will download the programme to your computer or smart phone. (It’s a very quick download, but to save time please do that before the class starts. Their website is https://zoom.us ).

These are the three software platforms that I use for online lessons. I am always doing research about what works best. I think these three are the easiest to get going.

TAKING AN ONLINE LESSON

Surprisingly, online classes are very similar to in-person lessons. In fact, most things stay the same! It’s like I am right beside you teaching you at your regular lesson. I can hear you play, and we can talk about things. Some things that are different: you have to really listen, because we can’t talk at the same time! I won’t be able to play at the same time as you because of the audio delay. But we can still do a lot of fun things and learn together.

If you are one of my younger piano students, a parent or older sibling needs to sit with you during your lesson. This assistant will help me if you have trouble understanding my directions. And they can help you get set up before your lesson.

BEFORE THE CLASS

Get ready with all your piano books, a pencil and an eraser. Have your phone charged and ready to go! Wait until I call YOU! I have some students that are back to back, so I need to make sure that everyone’s lesson time is uninterrupted. Be ready to go 5 – 10 minutes before your lesson. You can play through your songs while you are waiting for me!

Let’s have some fun!

Elena

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