Teaching Music Online During Lock-down
20th June 2020
With every challenge we face, no matter how stressful, there are opportunities to learn. At the beginning of the Coronavirus crisis lockdown (23rd March 2020), I had to consider how, (indeed 'if') I could find a way to teach my pupils from a distance.
Moreover.... some of my pupils were complete beginners (young) and had only had THREE lessons! I thought I'd reflect on the experiences of the last 3 months and share with you all as learning online may be something we all do more in the future.
Initially; I really doubted that anyone would want to have their instrumental lessons online. To be honest... I felt pretty deflated at the thought of teaching via Skype - especially just 3 months into me beginning to teach privately in the area. To my surprise, every pupil, and their parents, wanted to give it a go! I was touched that even after a handful of lessons, my pupils wanted to carry on, even virtually! With trepidation (and excitement) we transferred our weekly lessons to online sessions....
Social Interaction:
It was quite a sad time - and of course a worrying, when we first experienced being in lock-down. Many of us adults were completely out of our routines, children too (but I think it was mostly adults who didn't know which day it was!) I found that scheduled lessons on Skype helped me to structure my days and weeks and I absolutely loved seeing my students and their families. online tutoring provides me with much needed interaction and exercises my brain. It has been really easy to arrange lessons through texts, WhatsApp and emails. Skype allows me to 'Schedule a call' so each week I send this to the students and we are alerted to the next lesson. Communicating has been easy to maintain and I have been touched by the consideration and encouragement from all the parents-
thank you. The first week, we all had to experiment with where to place laptops/i pads etc so that I could best see pupils play. Everyone soon got into a routine; I always giggle at the start of one lesson each week where I am greeted by a moving plant!
Time lag issue:
I soon realised that instrumental teaching online has a few limitations; this is unique to music and needs careful consideration. I think every other academic subject has no such issue when taught online. When I'm in person - I just take it for granted that I can use my own musicianship skills right there and then, instantly! When teaching via Skye (or Zoom) this is not possible due to the time delay - I cannot be the human metronome for a pupil! Normally, I naturally sing along or tap the beat, or say the French time names when a pupil plays; it is second nature to me, intuitive.... I have had to bite my lip and sit on my hands as this would not help the pupils at all when we have a time lag! However.... I have recently realised that I can make a 'video message' on Skype to demonstrate something as a reminder, or even send recordings of aural tests. This is a good thing - a pupil can see and hear how something is played and watch it as many times as they need. Useful - something I will definitely use even when we get back to normal.
The limitations for me actually had some positives in my teaching, and for students. Not being able to sing, tap, count, speak or play alongside a youngster means that they HAVE to count themselves in, they HAVE to work the rhythms out for themselves and I am delighted that even my two youngest students (ages 6 & 7) have developed brilliant habits in terms of playing in time, counting in and being very independent about this - good habits to foster early on.
Preparation for Lessons:
Teaching an instrument online does require more preparation for the instrumental tutor. I find it useful to type up notes on a word doc before, during and after each lesson. This means I can send instructions and information on Skype using the 'conversation box' - I copy everything each pupil needs to do from the word doc and paste it into the chat area. This planning on my part provides useful notes to assist each musician as they practise in the week. On average, I have spent as much time preparing for the lesson as the lesson itself.
I often want to share pieces, theoretical aspects or even things from the internet with pupils during a lesson so I have to get them all ready but then it is brilliant to 'Share Screen' on Skype - knowing that each pupil can see what I'm trying to put across -exactly as it appears on my screen. I have really enjoyed using my bank of Power Point slides, especially for teaching about note lengths, notes across the Great Stave, harmony, notation ruler, tones, semitones, tetrachords, scales, key signatures, intervals.... Having my own computer has been brilliant for this type of teaching, everything at my finger tips and it is very well presented. But it does need preparation so that the lesson doesn't have lots of interruptions. I spend time after each lesson making notes about what we need to cover next time.
Safeguarding:
Sadly, not everyone uses the internet with integrity and all children, parents and teachers need to know how to be safe. As an educational professional, I have a responsibility to ensure the safety of pupils. Working online brings different problems for a tutor. I have had to consider how best to conduct online tuition and found information from the ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) very helpful. I am an approved member of the ISM and they have published useful documents throughout the Covid19 crisis; they kindly provided me with the appropriate legal advice over the phone. I also found information from the NSPCC very useful; concurring with the ISM advice. The challenges of the lock-down made me think carefully about how to be safe online and when I visit to teach in person. I researched and though it out then made adjustments to my 'Terms of Agreement'. https://www.tiptoptutoring.co.uk/music-terms-of-agreement
Another example of how a challenge brings about opportunities to learn and grow.
Pros and Cons:
Teaching in person is the most natural, and the most musical way of working for me. I love to be there to instantly make music WITH the young musician. The youngest beginners can learn with a tutor online but their parents must be fully involved, there at all times and need to intervene to help the tutor when the child is finding something difficult. I have been bowled over with the commitment of parents of my little ones - one Mum will have a go at playing something herself to check they have understood what I'm asking. The older children (aged 10+), and the more experience musicians have done VERY well online! They are highly motivated, punctual, mature and they have engaged fully in each lesson with little help from parents.
For students studying at more advanced levels (grade 5 onward) I think online tuition is even easier for them and the tutor - this is because the pupil has enough musical skill and competence so they rely less on intervention from the tutor on the basics (timing, reading, technical skills). I do like using Skype to record video messages to demonstrate things and remind pupils. This is great for all ages and abilities and this is something I will happily do for pupils even when we are back to lessons in person. I will also do all my Tip Top Tutoring admin online, such as sending documents, worksheets and invoices. Less paper and less ink is good!
Teaching Music Theory works BRILLIANTLY
online - I would not hesitate to offer this in the future. My grade 5 theory student has learned most of the exam syllabus during the lock-down and she is well on track to taking her exam in the autumn term. It is easy to send all the relevant worksheets required and links to clips or websites. I learned new skills so that I could receive work completed by the student in jpeg form and write on comments and tips to feedback. Sharing the screen for theoretical purposes is definitely an advantage - I simply can't carry that quantity of information with me in person by car!
To conclude....
I have enjoyed the online tutoring far more than I thought - I have acquired new skills, new technical knowledge and students have been able to continue to learn - every single pupil has made progress.
It's amazing what is possible and I intend to incorporate my new online tutoring skills when we return to in person lessons. God willing, we will all be safe and well to do this in September.
Julie Csorba
P.S.
I am looking forward to our first online mini-concert! Sunday 12th July 3pm. Yet another learning opportunity on the horizon - keep practising. x
