Online lessons are nothing new, but in these unprecedented times they have become the new normal. Teaching a handful of online lessons in addition to a full schedule of in person instruction can be a nice change of pace. Curating the type, age, level and style of online lessons can make things work exceptionally well in this format. But, what happens when you have to move 20, 30 or more students online? Here are some of my thoughts and tips.
The three platforms I use for online lessons are FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom. I’m not in love with any of these options. But, to be fair, the resources needed to interact online are terribly taxed these days so that’s definitely making these platforms work extra hard just to keep up. However, despite this, they are not all created equal.
FaceTime is the worst of them all. But, it’s such a staple for people and kids in general that it’s unavoidable. I tend to go with whatever platform the student feels comfortable with so invariably FaceTime gets used half the time. It is very easy to use but it has the worst sound, the worst picture, and the worst screen. It doesn’t help that students who use FaceTime always use a phone for lessons. I understand that FaceTime wasn’t necessarily intended for this particular use so I don’t want to beat up on the app too much. But I’ll just reiterate that it is the worst.
Skype has traditionally been my platform of choice for online lessons. Like FaceTime, Skype is easy to use and has a format that is familiar for first time users. It’s easier to test settings for sound and video and also has an Echo Sound Test feature that is essentially a number that you call/Skype that makes sure everything is hunky-dory with sound on your end. It has a few other features that help enhance the look and sound of things that FaceTime does not, and it also has a monetary/pay feature integrated. But I haven’t used that personally. Skype looks and sounds better than FaceTime by a long shot even without tweaking any of the preferences and is definitely an improvement.
Zoom has been around for some time but I just started using it. One of the things that makes Zoom great is also what makes it tricky to use: it’s the most feature packed of these three options. Zoom was designed more for online meetings between more than one person but I don’t currently use it that way. Therefore, much of what it has to offer is lost on me. It is hands down the best looking and sounding platform and offers several features to get the most out of your online videos. My favorite feature is the ability to schedule reoccurring meetings (ie, lessons) that will already be set to go at a predetermined day/time every week. For me this really helps to not only schedule lessons, but also to stay on track while teaching. Students don’t need a program if using a computer, you just send a copy of the invite and they follow it to the meeting room. Easy! Well, not always. The depth of this platform makes things harder for some students but for the most part you can get it streamlined fairly quickly. If the student uses a phone or tablet then an app is necessary. But from my experience my students have handled that easily. I haven’t yet done any group lessons but I think that Zoom would certainly do a great job. Zoom is free to use for one on one lessons but group meetings of 3 or more are limited to 40 minutes unless the user pays for an upgrade.
Whichever platform is used both the student and teacher have a responsibility to ensure that everything looks and sounds the best it can. The number one thing that will improve the overall experience and functionality of the online connection is to skip the wifi and plug directly into your router/modem. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH! The teacher should be prepared to function as tech support in order to get the student’s end of things running correctly. I joke that I know what the ceilings in all my student’s homes look like because it’s inevitable that at some point during the lesson a phone or tablet will fall over, or a room change will be necessary for internet improvement and we will “walk” through the house with the student’s camera pointing up. I’ve managed calls between two computers, platforms, and cell phones just to pinpoint where an audio or visual problem may be. “Jack and Jill of all Trades” for online lessons is the name of the game.
So what can the student do? First off, as an instructor I test and experiment with my camera and mic and the student should do the same. The student should make sure the angle of the camera catches both the left and the right hand and is in landscape view. The camera should be secure and stable. The student should be sitting ON A FIRM CHAIR (yes, pet peeve) and should have their music up on a stand and out of the way of the camera. Privacy is important. No siblings walking around, no pets, no TVs on somewhere within earshot. If possible set up in a room where the door can be closed and locked. Oh, and this is for both teacher and student, make sure the student can get themselves in tune on their own. Tuner apps are free!
Teachers also need to consider how they look on screen. Not so much your clean shirt (but that is important!) but the student’s ability to see both your hands as well as your face. I think this is important when communicating. Never use your phone if it can be avoided. I use a laptop and a second monitor so I can pull music up as needed without compromising the view or wasting time flipping around windows. Learn a little bit about lighting as the placement of lights can make a huge difference in the visual effectiveness of your screen. It is probably a good idea to purchase a camera and mic that are better than whatever came with your device. This is a very cheap way to make things look and sound better and even more importantly it gives far greater control over the angle of the video. Headphones, even cheap ones that come with phones, for both student and teacher can make communication much much better. Remember, presenting as professional is key to making this work. Performers know the rule that performers should dress better than the audience. I think a similar ratio should be used here in general. Instructors should rightly come across as better prepared and more experienced in this method of instruction and the student should feel confidant in that.
The main drawback of online instruction is that it is extremely difficult for the teacher and student to play together. To overcome this, the instructor must capitalize on other techniques. For me, this means the students play alone far more when teaching online than in person. Ironically, this is better for the student in many ways so it’s not really a drawback. But it takes preparation. When I teach in the studio I can draw upon my vast collection of lesson material both digitally and via hard copy. I am at my improvising best when working with a student’s needs in the moment. If a student comes to the lesson having mastered whatever they were working on then I can quickly and easily get something ready. Not so much online. Some students can quickly open a PDF file that I send during a lesson but it’s not practical and it’s not something everybody can do. Therefore, I always take notes during the lesson and send along a PDF of whatever I think the student may need next. That way it’s ready and waiting on their end when we need it.
The first week I taught a full load online I set my schedule up in the same way I do at the studio: back to back half hour lessons without a break. This is the way I’ve always done it and it works for me. I can quickly use the rest room while students change over and I really feed off the momentum. For years I taught 14 lessons in a row on Saturdays! I thought it would be easier online to do this but I was wrong. Technical difficulties occur often and issues with the connection can slow things down. To solve this problem I started scheduling 45 minute blocks and still only teaching 30 minute lessons. This is similar to my home lessons where I book and hour and teach 45 minute lessons. This works quite well too.
One last thing: billing and payment should be consistent and easy for students. Online options for payment are ideal. I use Venmo and PayPal but prefer Venmo. I bill monthly, for prepayment, and use an invoice template that I can change every month. I also send a text when it goes out. But there are many options. Just make sure it’s professional and easy to understand.
Online teaching is a great way to connect with students that are a long distance away or locked in their homes due to a quarantine. But, it’s not the same as having the kids talk to grandma on the ipad. It takes a specific skill set to make sure the experience is just as good as in person, one on one, private lessons. Make sure you do your best to look professional!
Nick Schillace