Musical Musings

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Setting up for Zoom Lessons

Monday, August 16, 2021 by Paula Augustine | Parent Article

Zoom Lessons

In person lessons are my favorite, but I have found it is much better to offer online options than missing lessons! This has been a very positive outcome of quarantine efforts for Covid. Students in the studio have successfully had lessons through zoom not only for exposure quarantine, but also illness, family couldn't arrange transportation, vacations, and snow days. Continuing instruction over zoom has helped students move forward in musical growth.

There are a few easy guidelines which will make the zoom lesson much more successful.

Set-Up

  • Internet - High Speed internet is a basic requirement, but also make sure internet reaches the room where the piano is located, or where the instrumental student will be having the lesson.Bradley Sowash website image showing device position for online jazz piano lessons.jpg
  • Device - The larger the device the better. An ipad or larger tablet is a great option. Generally they are easier to place next to the student than a computer, but a computer works well too.
  • Battery Life - If an outlet is not available make sure the device is fully charged.
  • Zoom - Have zoom app installed on the device. https://zoom.us/download
  • Placement - As a teacher I will need to see the students hands on the instrument. Piano players will need to show their keyboard and wind instruments will need to show the length of their instrument


Logging In

  • Close Unnecessary programs on the device. Turn the device on airplane mode or other mode to prevent messages other badges from interrupting.
  • Log into your portal at www.paula-augustine.com Use your login information on the home screen the lesson should be on the top right and click on the down carrot to show more and click on the zoom icon. You can also access this on the calendar.
  • Please have others in the house avoid uneccesary streaming video or playing online games at the lesson time.
  • When a student logs in they will be placed in a waiting room until I let them in.
  • During the lesson I may ask the student to mute themselves when I play something for an example. Show the student how to mute and unmute. Zoom will cut out music as it hears it as background noise. This is reduced when only one person has their mic on. I will generally mute when a student is playing so I can catch all their playing.

After your first time setting up, everything will go much smoother. If you have any questions or need any more help getting set up, please don’t hesitate to reach out.