Piano and violin lessons via Skype

[dandelionsticks]

Hi there, looking for some advice.

Our piano is currently self isolating and we've been offered our lessons via Skype instead. We'd like DD to continue lessons but I'm sceptical about Skype lessons. She's 8 and is G3 and in most lessons he's helping her with her hand and finger positions. The alternative is that we can reschedule the lessons but, as we don't know how long the situation is likely to go on for, when we can make these up. Teacher only teachers one day a week and has a full schedule. Out of interest, has anyone else had Skype lessons with a child student and how has this worked? I can see it might work for a more advanced or intermediate player, but I'm less convinced for a younger child. We're also having to do violin lessons via Skype but having to go ahead with that as we don't have the option to reschedule.

Thanks in advance!

I've been teaching violin and piano to one of my students via Skype for the past 3 years.

They were around your child's age and grade 3 on both instruments when we had to switch from physical lessons to Skype.

So far it has worked well - it keeps them motivated and so far we can cover the majority of technique just through demonstrating via video with me getting them to mimic what I am doing until it is right.

Obviously physical lessons are better, but as a workaround Skype can work well with the right student and the right teacher. Student needs to concentrate more and be well-behaved - it wont work unless your child is keen to listen to the teacher!

Thanks vm. In this case, it will be the first time either student or teacher has used Skype to teach/be taught! It's good to know that you've made it work. Perhaps we'll give one lesson a go and take it from there.

The ABRSM teacher forum has lots of sceptical teachers trying this for the first time. The vast majority are surprised by how well it is going.

My kids have had their first skype piano lessons and I am positively surprised at how well it went. Obviously it is less ideal than a proper lesson (scope for child to ignore teacher's instructions ) but the greatest value of it was contact with someone from outside the family, a bit of normality and a kick up the backside to get on with their practice!