Are Online Music Lessons As Good as Personal Lessons?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, online music lessons inspired many aspiring musicians during a very difficult time. Social distancing put personal lessons on hold, but video call software provided us with a way to stay connected with our students and keep teaching safely while social distancing. Now that we’re on the other side of the pandemic, online lessons still have a place in music lessons and we can adopt a hybrid approach to teaching.
Online lessons come with their pros and cons. It’s much more convenient for both teachers and students as they can learn and teach from the comfort of their homes. There’s no need to travel and commute. Lessons can be flexible around jobs and daily schedules. Yet video calls come with a delay and timing is pretty essential in music. Being just slightly out of sync can affect the lesson as the student and teacher can’t play in harmony. There’s also the physical aspect to learning an instrument. Music teachers need to help correct their student’s posture, hold and playing style, something that’s much easier when in person as the correct technique can be demonstrated in person.
While online lessons helped greatly when in-person lessons were impossible, the best way to learn how to play an instrument is in person. Let’s go into the differences and why we see the benefit in both.
What are the pros and cons for online lessons?
Online lessons can be perfect for the right subject matter. Convenient and easy to log in, learning can be easily fitted around your busy day-to-day life. Unfortunately, when it comes to music and learning an instrument, online lessons have drawbacks that impede the speed of learning. While you can learn how to play online, there are technical issues that make playing and practicing with a teacher more challenging. The hardware you use for the video call will impact how much you take out of the lesson. It’s not just based on your ability.
Pros
Convenient for people with busy schedules
No travel costs or worries about transport
Accessible for people with disabilities
Easy to have group lessons and webinars
Don’t have to transport large instruments
Cons
Camera and audio isn’t perfectly synchronized, so can’t play together in time
Can’t be trained physically in playing technique
Not good for slow internet connections
The teacher can’t get a clear view of your performance
More distractions and likelihood of interruptions
What are the pros and cons for in-person lessons?
You will, without a doubt, get more out of an in-person music lesson than with an online lesson. It’s a fact of practicality. You can’t play together while over a video stream as one of you is going to be either a second ahead or behind. Part of learning to play an instrument is learning how to play together. It’s not about being solo. Whatever instrument you are learning, you need to know how to play it properly. The best way is to have someone with you to correct your mistakes and adjust how you hold the instrument. For woodwind and brass instruments, your teacher will be able to see how you are breathing and mouthing as well as how you handle the keys. A camera can only show so much.
Pros
Teachers can play in accompaniment to their students
Students benefit from learning physical playing techniques and teachers can correct their playing
Teachers can get a full picture of their students playing style and posture
Teachers can hear their students performance clearly
Fewer distractions and lessons are more private
Cons
Travel and transport costs
Harder to fit around work schedules
Difficult to carry large instruments to and from lessons
Combining online lessons and in-person lessons
Many educators and businesses are embracing a hybrid way of working. Online lessons can still be a godsend to those who wish to learn to play music but can’t make it to lessons. During the pandemic, there was a huge boom of interest as people sought out learning an instrument as something to aspire towards. The accessibility of lessons brought in so many more enthusiasts. Online lessons still have their place and are great for adults who are looking to hone a new skill. Whether it’s learning to play the piano or guitar, beginners can definitely learn the basics online with a teacher.
Combining in-person and online lessons ensures that you can still squeeze in a lesson if you have a tight schedule. But when it comes to fine-tuning your technique and getting the most enjoyment out of your lessons, in-person lessons will be where the music comes to life.
Deciding which works best
When it comes to learning an instrument, much of the hard work happens through regular practice. We can show you the skills, but it’s down to you to build on them at home. Get in touch with us today, and we can embark on your musical journey together!
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