Online lessons are a great option for any student. Far from being a ‘second best’ way of learning – which is what many fear – online recorder lessons can in many ways help you not just become a better player, but a more independent learner.
Who would benefit from online recorder lessons?
There are particular reasons why some people would find online lessons particularly useful:
- you live in a remote area or don’t have any teachers nearby;
- you need to fit lessons into a busy schedule;
- you have trouble with transport;
- you prefer for health reasons not to travel or be in close contact with others.
If you fit into any of these categories, online recorder lessons are the perfect way to learn.
What are online recorder lessons like?
In many ways, they are no different to in-person lessons, except you are in your own home! We will still work on pieces; I will still give you advice on tonguing, articulation, fingering, phrasing, and interpretation. Rather than finishing the lesson by playing duets, I will record duet parts for you, so that you can practise playing with the backing track. It isn’t quite the same as playing live, but it comes a very close second!
The experience of myself and my students is that online recorder lessons really work. In my experience, I am sometimes better able to pick up on breathing and articulation issues as a result of the screen. I can also record lessons and send you the files, if you feel that would help your learning.
I’ve been teaching Alexander Technique lessons online for years now, so I am very experienced in using the technology to help you to achieve your goals.
What equipment will I need?
To have online recorder lessons successfully, you will need:
- A desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone
- A decent internet connection
- Either Skype or Zoom installed on your device. I use Zoom for preference, because the sound quality tends to be better. Zoom also has the capability of screen sharing, so I can even display music for you, and annotate it.
Try to set up the camera on your device so that I can see you clearly – a light source from in front is a good idea. I will need to be able to see your fingers on your recorder, and be able to see what your upper body and head/mouth are doing. That way I can give you better feedback on breathing and articulation.
How much do lessons cost?
A 30 minute lesson with me costs £20.
Some of my students prefer a more in-depth lesson experience and decide to have 45 minute lessons – £28. In my experience, this is a great option for a more experienced student, or for someone who is keen to work in detail.
I typically don’t recommend any longer than 45 minutes for an online lesson – Zoom fatigue is a real thing, and my experience is that the degree of concentration called upon for an online lesson is such that most students don’t experience increased returns for the extra 15 minutes in an hour-long lesson. However, if you’re an intermediate or upwards player and you’re used to online working, you are likely to find the hour-long lesson just fine.