Our tips for having THE best online music lesson experience
Ready to take the leap into online music lessons?
Whether you’re learning how to sing or play guitar, having an optimal set up for online lessons can enhance your learning experience and ensure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck. Thankfully, setting up for online lessons isn’t difficult, and you certainly don’t need a fancy microphone or computer to enjoy the benefits of online music lessons. Check out the guidelines below for tips on how to make your experience with lessons a pleasurable one!
The basics (aka things that everyone should keep in mind!):
Choosing the best device
Using a laptop or desktop device is always preferable when it comes to online music lessons, since those devices have built in microphones and sound settings that aren’t accessible on a tablet or phone. However, if you don’t have access to a laptop/desktop, that certainly doesn’t exclude you from having a good lesson experience.
Using the right app
Veronica Rose Music currently uses Zoom for students using a laptop/desktop. For students using an iPhone or iPad, FaceTime is the preferred app. No matter which device/app you’re using, make sure that the app is installed on your device, and that the app is up to date on the latest software. For students using Zoom, simply using Zoom on your web browser is not enough, since there are specific sound settings (that we use for lessons) accessible on the Zoom app that aren’t available on your web browser.
Choosing the best sound settings
For students using Zoom, the app has a feature called "Original Sound" that preserves the original audio quality of your voice/instrument, and enables your instructor to hear you more clearly. To enable this feature, please visit this page for a step by step guide. Your instructor may also walk through setting up this feature during your first lesson.
Stable internet connection
A strong and stable internet connection is crucial for smooth online voice lessons. Ensure that you are connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network, and consider using a wired Ethernet connection if possible to minimize lag or interruptions during your lessons.
Selecting your lesson environment
The great thing about online music lessons is that you can meet with your instructor anywhere—from the comfort of your home, your car, your Airbnb, anywhere! However, it’s useful to choose a space where you (hopefully) won’t be disturbed. This could be your car, your bedroom, living room, wherever. The places we definitely don’t recommend having your lesson at include: the grocery store, PetSmart (yes, a student once signed on for their lesson at PetSmart!), or any other place where you might feel restricted when it comes to the sounds you can make.
Having an additional device
For voice students, having an additional device on hand (such as a phone or tablet) for playing warm up tracks or karaoke tracks is recommended!
The extra stuff (aka things that you don’t need, but if you want to take your lesson experience to the next level…):
Choosing an external microphone
If you want to enhance your online music lesson experience even more, you may want to look at investing in an external microphone. Microphones don’t have to be expensive; this USB microphone plugs right into your computer and is less than $30! Of course, there’s always the Blue Yeti microphone—the USB version plugs right into your computer, though if you want a fancier microphone, be sure to ask your instructor for recommendations.
…and that’s it! It may seem like a lot of setup is involved in online music lessons, but we promise that all of these things take less than 5 minutes to set up. By optimizing your sound settings and ensuring the best audio quality, you can make the most of your online lessons, refine your skills, and continue your journey towards musical excellence. So, invest in the right equipment, fine-tune your settings, and embrace the future of online music training!
