Suggestions for Online Lessons

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We have found Skype to be both the best for sound quality for piano and the most reliable hook up particularly for Apple to PC transmissions. FaceTime for Apple to Apple transmissions is OK.

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https://www.themusicalblog.com/post/how-to-begin-with-online-lessons

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Platform Download

Skype: Here is a link to the Skype app, for laptop users only.

 

https://www.skype.com/en/get-skype/

 

For Skype on a tablet or cellphone, please visit the App Store to download Skype. 

 

FaceTime: this only works on Apple products and it’s already included as an app on these products. For PC users or non-Apple laptop and tablet users please download Skype.

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Set Up - General

Our studio is equipped with high resolution camera and Blue Yeti microphones.  We work off of an iMac, MacBook Pro, and iPad, with additional screen hook up.  Audio and Sound resolution is excellent.

 

At your home, for optimal sound quality, it is best to use a tablet (iPad) or laptop. Furthermore, most recent iPhone and Android phones also provide excellent A/V capacity, however the only drawback is the smaller screen. Please ensure that your device has been well charged before your lesson time.

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Also ensure that your software is up to date. 

 

Home Set Up - Important Points

 

1.   Place your device on a table or raised setting which is stable and approximately 4

      feet away from the piano, showing your right profile. It is important that the

      camera angle is slightly elevated above the keyboard and on a slight downward

      slope, so that the full keyboard and hand position can be clearly viewed on our end

     (If you have a tripod at home this can be of particular use in  achieving the correct

     angle).

 

2.   The points aforementioned are more then adequate. However for those who have at

      home microphones and/or speaker extensions to your interface, please do not place

      these close to your laptop, iPad or PC. They should be at least a foot away so that

      residual reverb through Skype/Facetime does not occur in real time during the

      lessons.

 

3.    Ensure that there is sufficient lighting near your piano.

 

4.   Please ensure that there’s no residual background noise such as televisions, phone

      conversations and the like during lesson time, as they can serve as distractions.  

 

5.   Have several sharpened pencils and erasers within easy access as well as a

      metronome. Highlighters would also be helpful to have on hand.

 

6.  Lesson notes: These will be typed or written by the teacher and emailed to the

     student as practice instructions for the week ahead.  

 

7.   To be courteous to the student whose lesson is proceeding in the time slot prior to

      yours, and to keep running as smoothly as possible, please allow the teacher to

      contact you when it is your scheduled lesson appointment.  

 

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