Tips for online lessons, and why you should keep singing!

During this time apart, I have been amazed at the way my students continue to grow and enjoy music even though we can't meet in person! I'm so proud of the way they continue to pursue this skill with joy through all the changes and inconvenience. Even so, having lessons online has presented some new challenges. Here are some tips and a little inspiration to keep you going in your online lessons.

1) Settings

Let's get the boring technical part out of the way first. There are a couple of quick changes to your advanced settings in Zoom that can make it much easier for both of us to hear. These video calls are set up to mute background noise, which can be helpful in a conversation. However, as any of my students could tell you, we make funny noises in lessons sometimes! Zoom can confuse these for background noise, and try to filter them out. Luckily there are settings that can be adjusted to help.

• Make sure you have an up-to-date version of the desktop app (I don't think this setting is available on the mobile version).

• Click on the gear in the top right corner to get to your settings.

• From there click the Audio tab on the menu down the left side of the screen.

• Select Advanced from the bottom right corner.

• Now, select "disable" from the drop-downs for "Suppress Persistent Background Noise" and "Suppress Intermittent Background Noise."

2) Positioning your device

Find a place within reach of your piano or keyboard if you have one. Try to set up in a stable spot (don't drop me!) where the camera can show your head and torso, and you can see the screen without looking down. This will help your posture, sort of like having your music stand at the right height.

3) Ask Questions!

Now that we've got that out of the way, this is the fun part! Some things are more difficult when we can't be in the room together. It's harder to hear, delays make it more difficult to play along with you... We can work around those things. We already have been! However, that makes this the perfect moment to explore other things you've always wanted to know! Curious about how the voice works? Why do we keep using that funny exercise? Want to improve your music theory? What about exploring a different style? Now is the time to ask and explore things you wouldn't think to bring up in an in-person lesson!

4) Be gracious with yourself

Just because we are still having a lesson, doesn't mean you are coming in the same way you always would. We are all facing different losses, stresses, and situations we never planned. It's okay if you're having a rough week, or you haven't practiced even though you were stuck at home. We've all had those weeks! The rest of your life affects your mind and your body, and they affect your voice. Be gracious with yourself, and don't give up. 5) Keep Singing No matter what you are going through in this pandemic, now is not the time to stop singing. Maybe you just sing for a different reason. Maybe you sing because it makes you feel happy or calm. Maybe you sing to vent sadness or frustration. (I've always liked to say that singing is a socially acceptable version of screaming. It can be a wonderful release of tension and emotion.) Maybe you sing to worship. Maybe you are singing happy birthday to your grandparents on a video call or singing your kids to sleep. Maybe you sing because you're just plain bored! Whatever it looks like right now, remember your reasons to sing and keep it up!