How To Teach Music Online
While it’s getting more common to use the internet as a way to connect with students in many areas, it can still be a bit strange for teachers that are not used to doing online sessions, even more so if it’s a music lesson, due to the fact that there is a lot of techniques and sounds to deal with.
There are a few things to remember before starting to teach online that will make everything an experience worthwhile.
Connection
One of the most obvious things to have in mind is a stable internet connection, this will be the base of good comunication and a good class.
A good connection can change due to the places, type of connection, (Wi Fi, LAN, Mobile Data) and traffic, so it’s important for both the teacher and the students to keep these things in order.
Sound
Being music lessons, the second most important thing is the sound quality. It’s important to be able to hear each sound as clear as possible in order to maintain a good line of comunication. If the sound quality is not terrible but it’s not as good it can bring confusion and sometimes boredom to the experience.
Time Zone
Time zones is also an important aspect that can be overlooked sometimes, but the fact is that online lessons were made to work internationally, and as such, dealing with this is a must.
Good comunication and schedule managament can help with this issue, there are many platforms and apps out there that can help students and teachers organize despite the time difference.
Video Quality and Visuals
While sound is the most important aspect of a music lesson, visual support is also very important, not just for music reading, but also as a way to keep students engaged in the lesson.
According to chronicle.com:
You don’t have to be a graphic designer to enhance course appearance. A little attention to presentation goes a long way. Do you have a lot of written lecture notes or instructions? Break up long chunks of text with subheads and space between paragraphs. Embed relevant images. Include thumbnail videos that you’ve either created or sourced from YouTube, news sites, or library resources. Aim for attractive yet appropriate
From Presence to Online Connection
Every teacher has techniques, and ways to approach their students, in a way there is a sort of performance that takes place in the classroom, where a specific attitude is taken, however the “digital enviroment” may not work so well with the same performances as it would in a classroom.
That’s why there is an important process of adaptation when it comes to bringing the experience of teaching to an online lesson.
The solution, by the way, is not to post a video of yourself delivering a standard lecture in a classroom. The physical energy gets lost in that medium, too. Instead, capture your personality and your passion in ways that are different from what you might do in person, yet authentic.
Another thing to bear in mind is that it’s more difficult to know if the students are following the class.
In a physical classroom, you can pick up on nonverbal cues. When students are taking class at home, you can’t observe when you’ve lost their attention or when your instructions aren’t clear.
It’s always a good idea to get some clues about jumping into the whole internet education business, because while it may seem easy, there are many details that could turn the session into a disaster, but as most things, with practice comes perfection, and there is no better time than today to explore this fairly new way to teach and learn.
