I love human connections and hearing music live, so I have never planned to deliver music lessons online prior to the pandemic. However, ever since I started teaching online in March 2020, I discovered a lot of advantages to online lessons.
- It is much easier for me to demonstrate on the piano to show the gesture/ technique that produced the corresponding sound (we don’t even have to “switch seats”!)
- I can see and hear the instrument that the student is practising on (and provide feedback on the posture/ adjustments needed)
- Students are more independent and feel more accountable to organize their work and notes
- Technology like sharing screen/ sound/ virtual white board/ screen recording/ google classroom to hand in assignments/ virtual sticker chart make our lessons run more effectively and efficiently
- No more worrying about snow days or forgetting your books
- Remote exams offered by RCM has a very flexible schedule (no more waiting until the next exam session) so students can take exams as soon as they are ready
Until things return to “normal”, continuing your lessons online is the best alternative, but I do wish to SEE you (for real) soon!
Catherine Shum's Piano Studio 