The concept of online consulting for Piano playing is a new concept. Certainly
it could not have existed before the Internet, but even now, most teachers would
frown on the concept of teaching in any way except the traditional one-on-one, in-person
method.
So, how, and why does it work?
I call this “consulting” rather than “teaching”.
The assumption is that the student can already play the piano, and that he/she
is looking for a solution to specific issues. If there is a technical problem
in the performance of a composition, or a musical interpretation issue, this is
a great way to resolve these issues without the huge time and expense commitments
associated with long-time study. The student can be very comfortable in his/her
home, while the teacher can listen in his studio and provide educated instruction.
If the student wishes to take lessons for a while, of course, he/she would be very welcomed.
Here are the basic requirements for online consultation:
As a long-time teacher, I know that the
best methods for beginners are usually the one-on-one, in-person methods.
A web cam is placed near the piano, so the teacher can see the
student play. This is necessary to resolve technical issues,
and helps in general communications. A good, FREE option for
web cam communication is
SightSpeed
, which can be found
here.
The web cam is connected to a computer, which will send the picture
and sound over the Internet, and be received at the teacher’s studio.
A broadband connection is recommended, as the connections over
phone lines tend to be slow and choppy.
If you wish to hear demonstrations by the teacher, the computer
should have speakers, connected directly or indirectly.
Payments will be made through
Paypal
– the student need not have a Paypal account. Until technical
issues are resolved with Paypal, checks will be the only form of payment.
Initial contact is made through the
Contact page
of this website.
At this time, scheduling is made using email. An online scheduling
system is expected soon.