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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Music lessons

33 replies

BloggersNetwork · 22/03/2020 17:08

I really want to support mu kids' music teachers during the lockdown. What do people here think? Can music lessons via skype be somewhat successful? Specifically talking about guitar and violin.

Thanks

OP posts:
woodencoffeetable · 22/03/2020 17:10

my dc are having lessons via skype.
it's ok. not ideal but a lot better than nothing.
they can't play together due to the delays.

Fennelandlovage · 22/03/2020 17:19

Singing lessons via FaceTime here - worked well.

WhereShallWeGo · 22/03/2020 18:11

Zoom worked well for us.

FixItUpChappie · 22/03/2020 18:27

Our usual piano lessons were by Skype yesterday and I helped out - not ideal but what is.

Speminalium · 22/03/2020 18:32

We had two harp lessons via messenger video this week and it worked although grainy but I largely attribute that to living in the middle of nowhere! Would Skype /Zoom etc be better do we think?

GinnyStrupac · 22/03/2020 18:33

Zoom

avocadoze · 22/03/2020 18:33

Mine will be continuing music lessons via FaceTime

horseymum · 25/03/2020 16:26

Ours are continuing via zoom, first one a big success, some sense of normal routine. He emailed through the notes to go in their practice diary, I had scanned the pages they were working on so he could see them and he had even suggested we experiment with the acapella app to do some duets. Hope you find a solution. Extra time to practice and music is a good stress relief. Also look at the blitz your theory music books if they need to cover that, answer sheets are available online if you are not that musical.

GinnyStrupac · 27/03/2020 18:45

Sod's Law, ours didn't go ahead this week for various reasons. I see that Zoom is in the news today - not read the articles yet, but looking in to the safety of it given the sudden upturn in use.

ellesbellesxxx · 31/03/2020 08:19

I have been teaching online and actually was surprised at how well it went! My pupils were still all able to make progress and actually their parents could help write things on music and see what they actually do in lessons!

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 02/04/2020 22:06

We've done singing and piano via FaceTime and drama and auditions via Zoom.

All gone well - singing is easier if you have backing tracks as the time lag can be a bit odd otherwise.

Ilovearcticroll · 04/04/2020 21:19

Ours all did piano lessons via zoom. These worked well, with me staying in room to point things out and write in practice note books. Dd found cello more stressful and I'm not sure the sound quality worked well enough-teacher sounded out of tune at times. We'll give it another go. Singing lesson hasn't happened yet. The others were lessons already paid for and I think singing teacher has two lessons left of term. It's difficult-music hub wants us to sign up for Skype lessons without me knowing if it works for older dd. I can't commit £165 plus at the moment without knowing.

parrotonmyshoulder · 04/04/2020 21:21

WhatsApp video is working fine for DD and my piano lessons.

midwesteaster · 04/04/2020 21:44

We have one dc on zoom and one on Skype, not perfect but definitely better than nothing and a nice part of normal life continuing.

BlueChampagne · 06/04/2020 16:39

Like midwesteaster we have one having Zoom violin lessons and the other having Skype guitar lessons. Also considering a 'concert in the garden' when the weather's nicer, for nearest neighbours.

Purpletomato · 06/04/2020 16:45

We're having individual brass lessons by Google Meet and dance classes (ballet, tap and modern) by Zoom. Both are better than we anticipated and the DC are enjoying the semblance of normality it brings. DC rated the brass lesson as 'pretty much the same as normal.'

Ilovearcticroll · 08/04/2020 10:38

How are you all finding the sound quality? Have you got any special equipment? All fine for piano, but found it harder for cello.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 09/04/2020 11:23

Sound quality is not too bad, possibly better on FaceTime than on Zoom - where it falls down is if the teacher tries to play the piano for a singing lesson. We've switched to using a backing track, or the teacher records and then whatsapps me the piano part in advance of the lesson. Does mean using multiple devices for each lesson.

Ilovearcticroll · 09/04/2020 14:18

It's tricky when teacher talking about tuning. He sounds a little off on our iPad so I would imagine the same might be true the other end. And cello is all about the tuning. Well, other things too, but much more than with piano, of course!

rjebgf · 09/04/2020 14:20

Mine are all continuing via whatsapp facetime.
Seems a good solution.
it depends on whether you dc are old enough to listen to video instructions though or whether they are at a really early stage and need the instrument adjusting in their hands or similar.

Devlesko · 09/04/2020 14:32

It works if you both have a good set up. Mine are using a pro mic and it's working well except for flute. This is for lessons and teaching.
You'll both need to mess around with sound but you can get there.

WorriedDaughter1 · 09/04/2020 14:38

My DC are having music lessons on Skype, one on the piano and the other on the violin. It's been working well so far.

Ilovearcticroll · 10/04/2020 17:03

Phew. Second cello lesson via zoom and no tears! Much better. We set up a bit earlier and she was just so much happier. 🙂

Kingswoodsurreymusic · 15/04/2020 17:14

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twotrumpets · 19/04/2020 16:07

Mine just have council music service lessons at school, there was a brief mention that these might happen over Skype or something after easter... I'm hoping they will as DD2 especially is really missing having the lessons.