The Zoom Boom

As Covid-19 continues to spread and keep us physically apart, the need for human connection is greater than ever. Thanks to technology, we can remain connected with others even over those distances. 

Video calling is not a new technology and has been available for years, however the quality and the frequency of its use has increased drastically over the past year. Video conferencing is the new standard for individuals taking part in large meetings; they can consist of up hundreds of members, all in real time.

Now I'm sure many of you are familiar with Zoom at this point. Perhaps you use it frequently to check in with your family or friends. Maybe you spend much of your day on Zoom for your work. Or maybe you’ve used it for educational purposes either as a student or a teacher. I'll admit that the idea of moving entirely online was a bit of a shock at first. I initially resisted adopting this technology for the use of music lessons, but we didn’t have much of a choice. It was online or nothing. After spending the entire spring and summer in 2020 online it suddenly hit me: Zoom is not a replacement for in-person lessons, it’s merely an alternative. We now have a different, high quality, option that (thanks to its popularity) has been made available completely for free with the use of a computer or mobile device. 

There is a great deal of convenience with online lessons. You no longer have to travel to and from your lesson, which provides a lot more flexibility when it comes to scheduling. Gone are the days of rushing from one appointment to the next as your online lesson can happen directly from the comfort and safety of your own home.

With all these things in mind, here are some tips to help you have the best online lesson experience:

Technical Requirements for Online Lessons

Computer or mobile device capable of running Zoom with a built-in camera and microphone

Headphones to reduce echo and ensure high quality sound during a lesson

Stable Internet Connection

Optional (although certainly not required)

External microphone such as:

Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica AT2020USB, MAONO AU-903 (This is the Mic I use and I really like it)

I am in no way affiliated with any of these brands. An external mic will provide a higher quality sound so that the teacher can hear greater detail in the sound of your voice. This however is not essential as the sound quality from a mobile device, computer or set of headphones will be adequate for a lesson.

Optimize Your Audio Settings

In your Zoom App click on “Preferences” or “Settings” (depending on your device) and then Audio.

Uncheck “Automatically adjust microphone volume”

Set to Low “Suppress background noise”

Check “Show in-meeting option to Turn On Original Sound” from microphone”

Optional - Check “High-fidelity music mode if your internet connection is powerful enough

Once you are in a meeting click the box in the top left corner of the screen that says “Turn On Original Sound”

Once clicked it should display “Turn Off Original Sound”

There unfortunately are some limitations in online lessons. First of all there is a slight audio delay. You as a student might not notice this at first.  This is because your teacher is well aware of it and is compensating for the delay. Have you ever noticed that its difficult to sing or play something together with someone online? Thats because of the delay. As a teacher it requires me to lead more while I’m accompanying my students as it’s harder for me to adjust in the moment. The only other limitation is that we don't get to see each other in person. That being said, I've actually noticed things in online lessons that I may not have noticed in person due to the closeness of the camera. Things such as posture, vowel shapes, tongue position etc are very clear when a camera is directly in front of the students face. I also feel like there is a sense of safety in having an online lesson. Singing is an extremely vulnerable thing, especially when singing for someone you may have only just met for the first time. I think that zoom can provide a sort of virtual buffer between the student and the teacher.

I’d like to remind you all that I am in fact offering online lessons at this time!

 Online video platforms such as Zoom have allowed me to  continue working with my students when I otherwise couldn't due to safety concerns in regards to the Covid-19 Pandemic. I am incredibly grateful for the ability to connect with my students during this time. As I mentioned above, online lessons are not a replacement for in-person instruction. Instead they are an alternative and will remain a permanent option in my studio. Someone who lives further away may take an in-person lesson once a month while taking weekly lessons online.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. It means a lot to me. If you would like to hear more from me then I encourage you to subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on social media.

I look forward to seeing you in the studio and online

Sincerely,

Adam