With the current global situation, much of our weekly routine has become virtual. From grocery shopping to work and school, and even birthday parties and other social gatherings, our rapidly changing world has forced us to quickly adapt to living on the worldwide web. Music lessons are another activity traditionally done in-person, but are quickly finding their place online. While many believe that music lessons are best done in-person, there are several benefits that only virtual lessons can offer.
1. Convenience
Gone are the days of having to scramble to get your child’s music and instrument packed, load your child (and sometimes another child or two) into the car, and then spend the next hour on a venture down to the studio for a 30 minute lesson. Virtual lessons are as simple as a click of a button, and don’t even require students to change out of their pajamas!
2. Schedule Flexibility
Going along with the convenience of lessons in the comfort of your home, is the newfound flexibility of scheduling that comes with virtual lessons. With students studying from home, and parents working remotely, suddenly much more of the day becomes available for a lesson time. Want a lesson at 10 A.M.? Not a problem. 2:00 P.M.? Sure! Say, “good-bye” to inconvenient dinner-time lessons, and, “Hello,” to family dinners and some evening R&R.
3. Extended Creativity and Student Engagement
With normal means of communication and instruction unavailable, virtual lessons challenge students and teachers alike to think outside the box. Teachers have to rethink how to teach the same material in a way that is exciting and engaging to a student on a screen. This often means that students are being encouraged to use more of their own creativity with games and activities in order to stay focused. Additionally, students are also required to be more engaged in their lessons, as they bear the responsibility of writing in any notes the teacher may want to include in their music.
4. Tech-savvy Students
One of the most surprising things I have learned since switching to virtual lessons is how technologically literate my students are! Students can maneuver video applications like Skype and FaceTime with ease, and are taught how to use cloud computing applications, like Google Suite, at school. Virtual lessons use the younger generation’s technical prowess to their advantage, which means that very little effort is required from parents. What a relief!
5. Any Teacher, Anywhere
Perhaps one of the best benefits of virtual lessons is that you are no longer bound to just the teachers in your location. This is especially great news for students who live in more rural areas, or who have to move frequently.
Overall, virtual music lessons have potential to be just as effective and enjoyable as traditional, in-person lessons. With the right teacher, set-up, and student/parent attitude, virtual music lessons can be a positive experience for all involved.
These are just a few of the main benefits that I’ve experienced through the past few months of teaching virtually. Comment below if you think there are any important points I’ve missed!
Laura Lopez 