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What to Expect from Online Piano Lessons and How to Prepare Your Young kids for them

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When it comes to learning new music and receiving guidance in how to practice, online piano classes will definitely be similar! But the conduct in which the teacher will sort these things out can look altered. The student will continue to refine existing pieces and learn new music just like before. But your teacher will be adapting how they teach concepts and introduce new materials.  The same creativity and resourcefulness they tap into for in-person lessons will still inspire their online lessons! It’s so important for students to have an artistic and expressive outlet during these uncertain times!

 

Now, we’re not saying that in-person piano lessons for beginners don’t have benefits, because they do. But there is no reason to believe that online lessons can’t be as effective as in-person lessons. As a matter of fact, online music lessons have some particular advantages:

 

  • The online lesson allows the teacher to see how the student interacts with their instrument at home.  The teacher also gets a glimpse into the space where the student is performing on a daily basis, and that can be very perceptive!
  • In more or less techniques, they can be enhanced! The online piano class requires that the teacher work together differently with the student.
  • When you learn to play the piano online you can actually rally a students’ level of accountability and therefore increase their development. Calling for them to make their own marks in their books will help the student recall their assignment better and practice more effectively from week to week.

What should I expect in my first few online lessons?

 

  • Be prepared to devote some time making sure that the camera or device is placed just the right way to help the teacher see the student’s hands and face. It’s most helpful if a parent can be in the room for at least the first 10 minutes of the online lesson to help position the camera.
  • It’s startling what the microphone on a phone will pick up, so if you have other children running through the room or another conversation going on the phone even in another room, this can be a big disturbance for the student.
  • Be flexible in these first few lessons and in particular, during the first few minutes of each lesson. There are always adjustments that have to be made, and flexibility is key.
  • Make sure all the books, assignment book, and a pencil are handy. The student will need to make marks in their own notebook and write down their assignments, so giving them what they need to do this is important. If you have a younger child or child that is easily distracted, it’s especially helpful if you can be present for the entire online lesson.
  • Remember that the sound on a phone or mobile device is delayed and will be somewhat distorted. Sometimes you can adjust this by not using a headset, or using one, or using a speakerphone, etc. But even with the best of devices, the sound will be a little delayed and may not be perfect.

The best age to start piano lessons is typically between the ages of 6 and 9-years-old. While older students may have an easier time learning to play, students as young as 6-years-old can also learn since the keys of the piano are easy to operate. Depending on the student, even very young children under the age of five can begin to explore the piano. Many children are drawn to the piano from a young age. At Furtados School of Music, our instructors teach thousands of students how to play the piano every day, and know a thing or two about determining when a student is ready. And while its true students of almost any age can learn to play piano, the best age to learn depends on factors unique to each student. 

 

In addition to the weekly lesson with your teacher, daily practice is also a routine that helps children and adults. It occupies their minds and gives them something for which they can set goals and see improvement. Plus, children need more than just parents to help assure them that things are going to be okay. Your piano lesson teacher is one of the most consistent people in your child’s life, especially considering that most kids have the same teacher year after year. Continuing lessons will not only help assure them that it’s going to be okay, but that will help them use it. Be ready to be flexible! Things won’t go perfectly in these first online lessons, but both you and the teacher will adapt and in a few weeks, you’ll adjust to the new normal.