Online Music Teaching Limitations
While most people have been able to overcome the issues that COVID 19 brought to the world, some are not problems that are easily solved, instead most people have found other ways to teach.
For music teachers, these last few months have been extremely challenging, even more so when it comes to teaching how to play a new instrument, because not every method of teaching can be translated into an online format. This began to worry many music teachers around the world, and some even talk about the “lost generation of performers”.
According to an article by the sandiegouniontribune.com, it’s said that:
“Research has shown that an arts education improves school climate and culture, and increases student and parent engagement — ultimately contributing to improved academic achievement,”
But it all changes if there is no shared experience or school climate, and the fact that many of the music students out there don’t really have access to computers, internet or an instrument. It’s easy to say that we can overcome the difficulties of covid with the internet but there are two bumps on the road. First, as stated before, not everyone has access to stable internet in order to engage in a music lesson. Second, there is no way to replicate the experience that music students have in a class room, even with instruments, and perfect internet connection.
The lie is that everything can stay the same when in this conditions, and while we may come out of this soon completely, there is still the need for online lessons for now and the future, for many different reasons.
One of the good things we can take out of this experience is learning how to work with what we have when there is no possibility of going to music school.
“The mantra is: Let’s try. If we can make the best of this situation, we’ll all — students, teachers, parents — be better people when we come out of it.”
Motivated to Learn
While there are many aspects of the class itself that are lost during online sessions, there’s one thing that we usually say we don’t have enough of it, that is time.
Yes lessons won’t be as engaging because students can’t interact with the enviroment, friends, and teachers the same way, but there is enough space for students to find themselves as musicians or maybe just give up.
In normal circumstances, it doesn’t matter how much classes a student attends to, or how good the teacher is, if music is not his or her thing, there will always be a missing piece. This “piece” is what determines if music is the thing someone should pursue or if it’s just for fun. That can’t be taught, everyone must find out on their own.
Imagine a music student with too much free time, that doesn’t have an internet connection, or any kind of instrument, but loves music, chances are this young musician will find the way to get an instrument, or sing in order to practice.
The point is, there is no need to worry that much about that “lost generation of performers” if anything, it could be a filter when it comes to students who are in the world of music because the want to be, and students who are told to study music just like any other school class.
A Different Approach
It’s obvious that an online session is very different than being in a regular classroom but it’s not all bad.
A teacher could find an oportunity to encourage creativity and composition since students have a freedom that is not available in a traditional music class. Focus on the few benefits and there may be a whole new unexplored experience.
There is no need to worry, music is not going anywhere, and aspiring musicians will be more encouraged than ever to learn.
