Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Thoughts on virtual lessons?

I have decided that I've reached the point where, if I really want to progress and become proficient at piano, I need to move beyond self-learning and computer lessons to a live teacher.

I recently discovered that there are live piano teachers that conduct sessions online with a video chat via Skype. This allows them to listen to the playing, visually observe the technique, and provide immediate feedback.

There are a number of attractive benefits to going this route, and I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with this sort of arrangement and what sort of feedback you might have about it.

Thanks!
Brian

Due to COVID-19, many of us who used to have in-person lessons are now doing online lessons. Many of us use Zoom as the platform.

Many will chime in but here's my personal view regarding online lessons:

1) It's not a direct substitute for in-person lessons. I'd say it's a 75-80% substitute. There are certain things that cannot be done, like physical adjustments. And depending on the quality of the technology the teacher and student are using (e.g., internet speed and reliability, mic or no mic, etc.), sometimes audio and/or video can be lacking. This is to be expected.
2) Online lessons are wonderful now, because it means we can still have regular feedback from our teacher even though we cannot go see him/her.
3) For those who can't find a good teacher in their area, I think online lessons are great.

I'd say go for it! I think online lessons are second only to in-person lessons.

This. Nothing beats an in-person, one-on-one interaction, where there are no restrictions due to camera angles, mic positioning, latency, bandwidth, etc. But most people do find it is adequate, especially given that no one is doing in person lessons right now and likely won't be for some time.

There's also the fact that you might have more options when looking for a good teacher if you can't find one where you live. The online route opens some possibilities in that regard...
Without a good technical setup though (on both sides) and definitely fast internet, this probably wouldn't work very well.

ArtistWorks has been spamming my inbox with promotionals this week, I think it was $100 for a year's subscription. They forget I'm already subscribed for violin. Maybe you can have a look-see there. Hugh Sung is one of the piano teachers there as I recall.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I think I'm going to give it a shot. At the worst, it's a good interim until I can find a face-to-face teacher, and at best, it may suit me fine for a long-term solution.

Hugh Sung has several videos about setting up for video lessons. One has high- cost suggestio ns, the other has low- cost suggestions.ns

They may be referenced on the Cunningham Pianos website.

$100 for a year would be a good deal! I just looked and in the jazz piano course, it was $105 for three months.

I have really been wanting to learn more jazz stuff... one of these days.

I signed up, maybe they'll spam me with that kind of promotion!

I kind of prefer my Face Time music lessons. There are a couple of drawbacks but a big plus is I don't have to drive to and from my lesson.

Anyone have suggestions on a good place to find reputable on-line teachers? I've been looking at https://pianoteachersconnect.com/

It's true that your online teacher could be _anywhere_.

If I were looking for a teacher, in normal times, I'd ask about the faculty at local community college music departments. If one of them was happy to do on-line lessons, that might be a good place to start.

I can put in a good word - actually, much MORE than a good word - for Morodiene here on Piano World. I'm a student (not a very good one - my fault) but she is an excellent teacher. And the Zoom lessons work well; I just use my Macbook Air positioned on a table at the treble end of the piano.

That would be my suggestion. Price, alone should dictate that to you.

They are very fairly priced.

Good Luck

I'm in adult group class at a local conservatory. There are 6 in the group. Since March, the conservatory has been shut so the administration got the teacher to hook up with the students through Zoom. The teacher normally has a room at the conservatory for teaching group sessions and privately. She was caught completely unprepared for using Zoom. Her husband got her computer setup with a webcam so that she can continue with the Winter-Spring session until the end of May.

Last week the teacher's computer webcam didn't work so she connected to Zoom with her phone. She couldn't see us but we could see her. The administrator stayed for the entire lesson to give indications if the students wanted to ask questions.

Once the C-19 pandemic dies down, the conservatory will be open again so the teacher & students will have physical contact. Guess after the last few months, our teacher who normally teaches in-person will be more willing to conduct online classes.

Will see...

Otherwise the name that comes up on YouTube is: Piano Lessons On The Web. Tim takes students online.

...agree, but the teacher may still charge 100% of their normal fee.

Yes, that’s true but I have no issues with that because we are all in extraordinary times right now and my teacher is really nice. If I can afford to help her, and so far I’m able to, I will. I also send her one-off questions during the week (something I’m stuck on, for example) and she really takes the time to answer me so I really appreciate her.

Yes, because the online lessons take 100% of the teaching time and then some. The expert's time is what you're paying for.

I agree that remote lessons are far better than no lessons. I would not "shop" for them just based on price, though, any more than I would for in-person lessons.