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Ok this is a tricky one. I tend to use my phone or compact camera to film my playing but I have to sit it on a phone holder/mini tripod that is set up at the far end of the piano, looking along the keyboard, but doing that you can't really see the finger placement. Ideally I'd want the phone/camera looking straight down but I'm not sure how to achieve this. Would a strong clip that has a tripod bush on the other end work, having it clipped onto the music stand, thus allowing the camera to look down? Is there such a device? I don't want to see the whole room in shot, just my hands which helps for receiving feedback etc.

There is a specific type of tripod for this, I don’t know exactly how it’s called in English but would be translated to „gallow tripod“.

It has a an arm with a counterweight that can be made fully horizontal, something like this:

Walimex Pro WT-501 Galgenstativ (max. Höhe ca. 175 cm und Belastbarkeit ca. 5 kg) https://www.amazon.de/dp/B000LWA8ZE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EvFxFb4ASVZR8

No that is far too big for where the piano is. There's not a lot of room on the floor as it is, so it needs to be something small attached to the piano I think.

this is a tricky one, I was looking at this problem recently for my switch to online lessons.

That's great if you have a grand. Mine is digital, in the kitchen

Then I would look for something with a flexible neck, that can be clipped to the piano. Though I doubt you will get enough distance so you can see the whole keyboard, unless the camera is really wide:

LONZOTH Handyhalter, Handy Halterung Schwanenhals Halter Universal Ständer für iPhone Samsung Huawei Smartphone Handy Tablet 360° Drehen (Weiß) https://www.amazon.de/dp/B06XZK9XKL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jOFxFbYWB6XCF

I use a regular (full-sized) camera tripod and a phone clamp. There are tons of options but here’s the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VXJMMQ3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I set up the tripod up on the floor, behind my right shoulder, try to get it up as high as possible, angled down, and the rotate the phone clamp.

The result looks like this:

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwOFBgE36So&feature=youtu.be

The last time I recorded I didn’t have it up as high and got this result:

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMcsoj4S3eI&feature=youtu.be

The next time I do it I’m going to try to get a better angle, but I think it’s ok as I did it before...

ETA links bc it doesn’t look like the videos embedded right...

A mic stand with boom, and a phone-holding adapter?

A teacher would be sitting to your side, not looking down on you. What about a tripod at head height where a teacher would be sitting? Not as good as above, but as good as a teacher would see.

Sam

Re camera issues for online lessons:

I am currently taking lessons online and here's what I do. First, put a foldable tv tray table next to the piano. I set it a little bit back (pretty much where a teacher would sit). Then on top of the table I add two good sized cardboard boxes for height. I put my laptop on top of the boxes and I don't open the cover (monitor) all the way, so it's maybe at a 70-60 degree angle or so. Since the web cam is on the top of the frame around the screen, this angle means the web cam is now pointing at the keyboard. Before my lesson, I start a test meeting with myself to make sure both of my hands can be seen.

This works pretty good and my teacher says he can see both of my hands etc.

earlofmar, maybe this would work for you?

Re the video you posted, I didn't listen to her explanations but I flipped through to look at her gear and placement.... I'm surprised that for all of her options, she's setting the tripod up on the piano itself... If you're recording, and want to have the lid up, it would be harder to place the tripod and the piano might shake. I wonder why she didn't try one variation with the tripod behind her (like I do)?

Did you actually watch the video? She discusses various other budget set ups and even demonstrates on her digital, which is against the wall.

We got a webcam, originally so my son can do Teams if he needs to do schoolwork at home, but I can hook it up to a tablet and mount it on a mini tripod to the side of the piano. No room in there for a big tripod