EQUIPMENT
No need to get fancy–just use what you have! You can always improve things later if needed.
Our students use laptops, tablets, and/or smartphones with great success.
Make sure your device is fully charged or plugged in to power before your lesson.
internet speed and connection
You can test your internet speed by visiting www.speedtest.net to check your connection speed. Ideally, Zoom recommends that you have a minimum of 25 mbps download speed for video conferencing. Try to make sure that there is minimal internet usage from other family members during your lesson time.
If you are using a laptop, a wired network connection is the most stable option. Plug a network (ethernet) cable directly into your modem or router.
platforms for lessons
ZOOM
Our teachers use Zoom primarily to deliver their online lessons. Before your lesson, visit zoom.us to download the app to your device. You can also use the web version with a laptop if you prefer not to have an account. This works if your lesson is 30 minutes.
FACETIME
rIf you have an Apple device, ask your teacher if FaceTime is an option for you.
GOOGLE MEET
Your teacher can set up a weekly Google Meet in their google calendar. You will be given a private link for you to join.
joining your lesson
The day before your lesson, you will be e-mailed a lesson reminder. If you have decided on Zoom, your email will look something like this:
<teacher name> is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: <student name> – Wednesday 6:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/#########?pwd=xxxXx#xxX#ZZZ#z#zz
Meeting ID: ### #### ####
Passcode: ######
Click on the link, under “Join Zoom Meeting” to join your class! The link will start your zoom app. You can join 5 minutes earlier and use that time to adjust your audio and setup.
Alternatively, if you have the app, you can enter the Meeting ID number and the Passcode to get let into your class.
For FaceTime, your teacher will connect with you at your lesson time. You can save their FaceTime email or phone number as a new contact to make it easier to connect.
For GoogleMeet, you will receive a clickable link to attend your class.
Set-up with zoom
Since Zoom is primarily a conference app, we need to do some further set-up to make it work for music lessons. Go into your menu and find the audio settings. Make sure background suppression is set to LOW or turned off. If you have an option for original sound, make sure it is turned ON.
When you first log into Zoom on some devices you are given the option to test your speakers and microphone. Make sure you try it out with your instrument before your lesson.
camera positioning
Have your camera at the high end of your keyboard/piano, pointing at your right side when you are sitting at the bench. Make sure the camera shows your face and hands. Try to have your space well-lit. If at possible have a window or light source behind you or to your side–it won’t work well if your camera is pointed at a light source or window.
