Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum about using multi-cams for Skype or Facetime piano lessons

this might be helpful for those starting up a web-based studio.
I discovered how to use more than one web cam by downloading
manycam and installing for FREE. This blog names the cams and displays various keyboard views, including panoramic, up close, overhead, and pedal close-up.
https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/multi-cam-views-during-skype-or-facetime-piano-lessons/

Colleges which offer Distance Learning have used multi-camera setups for many years. These days, I would think the cost of the technology would be well within the reach of teachers with home studios.

I find the cams exceedingly helpful for distance learning.. very pleased with the views attained with Logitech technology.

It is an improvement for the student to be able to see various angles of the teacher. What about the teacher seeing the student?

I am pleased with my students' panoramic view of keyboard, which I see on full screen. No problem with that. I have a view embedded in the blog of my UK pupil. Another is blown up even more. Alexander Peskanov has a Mastering piano on Skype on Facebook group that is very valuable.. you just request membership. He has lots of demos.

What do you mean by "panoramic view"? Since you write "students'" in the plural, does that mean all your students use the same view?

all provide me with a blown up surface view of the keyboard... .. On my end I have one view like this, and another is an overhead closeup---working now on a third view, but need another USB connector, so I'll have to get a mouse without a plug in. For pedaling I just take the overhead cam and put it down beside the pedal. One student needed a legato pedaling demo, while I played a few measures...These are individual, private students.

I use a Logitech camera, which is the one you also mentioned, and it is at "wide angle". This is the default setting. This may be what you mean. Are you able to see different aspects of your students - say their pedal action, or posture and physical motion? I have a mouse pad on the piano with the mouse, and I am able to have some control remotely over panning in and out, and some left, right, up, down while sitting at the piano.

Years ago when my son was still studying music (classroom environment) they hooked up with Pinchas Zuckerman. The camera could be controlled remotely by Zuckerman, so that he could point the camera at whatever he wanted to see as teacher. If that kind of technology became affordable, it would be ideal.

yes, I'm interested in a remote... haven't figured out as yet..but I now control views with a mouse click. As for pedaling, I can hear the results of a student's pedaling. I have ample view of my webcam students

To add a third camera, be aware that you will need to upgrade to the paid version of Manycam Pro.

hasn't happened...and I added third one...
but will see what plays out

Perhaps you have an older version of the program. ( current version is, 4.0.44) This version allows a max of 2 cams, and trying to add another, brings up the 'buy me' screen.

It may be wise to ignore any update messages

FWIW, my setup allows up to six analog cams ( I currently use three), with a hand held remote to easily switch between cams, and remotes for zooming. Quality is as good as, or better than, computer webcams, and I don't need to use a mouse to click in and out of screens to change the view

I know it can be heard, and I already took this into account. There is also the physical side - how the foot is lifted.

sounds fantastic!

that's why I demonstrate with a pedal closeup of my foot, placing webcam by pedal with floodlighting

I just downloaded CALL RECORDER for Skype.. meaning I can instantly record lessons without a hassle, and get the split screen I want and having the three cam views I've set up.

here's the test of multi-cams with split screen.. Now I know what's up.. but this was my first experience with Call record
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z96_U0SGf6w&feature=youtu.be

I have seriously been thinking about doing online lessons with my busy adults and my student who have moved away for college.

This is was very helpful. Thank you so much!

You may have figured out by now what was going on with the mirror image issue. Your Skype setting for mirror image or not controls what you will see - not what you are sending. The same would be true if a student of yours saw your transmission in mirror image - then the student would have to adjust his settings, not you.

yes, it turned out that the student saw the right image, and I, the mirror.

The call recorder file goes instantly into mov. and then you drag/drop in you tube upload space. Student saw correct image while I saw mirror.
http://youtu.be/oLcu-islngo