Video taping lessons?

[Petter]

Would you mind this as a teacher? I think it would be really helpful for me as a student. Lots of the things my teacher show me is things I tend to forget fast and then I fall back into my usual bad habits when I´m alone. Do you have any students who insists on it or do you feel it would violate your integrity? I´m going to suggest it to her anyway, just interested to hear what you think. 

[Bob]

I think it's a good thing.  As a teacher, it shows the student is interested.  As a student, I want to get all the information out of the lesson as possible.

I've heard several teachers say they would agree but the recording is only for the student.  Esp with the internet, you might have a student tape a teacher and then if the teacher demonstrates something to the student and it isn't perfect, then there might a recording of So-and-So floating around on the internet where they sound bad.  The material is taken out of context that way.

[m19834]

I don't have anybody recording their lessons with me by any means.  And, I have maybe literally once recorded a piano lesson, but not video taped it.  For whatever reason, with voice lessons I have never had one with any teacher where I wasn't expected to record it (though, again, I have never video taped it).  It can be a useful tool, but out of all of the hundreds of lessons that I have recorded, I have only used a handful of those recordings after the lessons (not that they aren't usable).  I do respect it though if a teacher does not wish to be recorded.

[Bob]

I wish I recorded more.  Years later you can go back and get more ideas or understand what they meant better.  In the short term, it's good for going back and pulling all the ideas out of the lesson.  But eventually those ideas can fade away. 

[giannalinda]

Would you mind this as a teacher? I think it would be really helpful for me as a student. Lots of the things my teacher show me is things I tend to forget fast and then I fall back into my usual bad habits when I´m alone. Do you have any students who insists on it or do you feel it would violate your integrity? I´m going to suggest it to her anyway, just interested to hear what you think. 

oh my mother videotapes my lessons cause i forget the stuff too.  its so helpful to go back and watch before you practice...and my teacher has been sooo pleased with my piano playing recently cause i remembered everything...i highly reccommend video taping in a lesson. Best wishes

[williamhhay]

If my students suggest it then I am very keen for them to video or at least record lessons. I try to record all my students regularly anyway to keep a track of their progress and be able to hear improvements.

I have had a couple of students who wanted to learn specific piano pieces in a 'faking it' fashion without actually learning general piano technique and reading music. For them, recording the lesson was indispensable as the only way they were able to learn the piece and remember what to do was by repeatedly watching the video.

I don't recommend that approach to students in general though!

[simon_horsey]

This is a great idea. I actively encourage my students to video parts of lessons, demonstrations etc., with the understanding that it is for their use only. I often video them playing once they have mastered the correct technique. My students often find this more helpful since they can remember how it felt to play that technique as they watch. They play slowly using the techniques to see them broken down.

I sometimes make videos of myself or students playing and slow the video down using quicktime or similar to enable them to break a technique down and see how it works on a micro level. I also encourage students to make use of mobile phones for videoing short sections when practising. The quality isn't great - but it is easy to put the mobile at either end of the keyboard and record. Students are constantly surprised at how this simple technique can inform them about their technique and habits when playing.

The thing to watch out for is that you are not listening or concentrating properly in the lesson because you think you will be watching the video back later. It is a supporting technique, not something to replace concentrating hard in the lesson.

I understand some teachers are cautious about having students video them - but I think as long as the student understands it is only for personal use you should be fine. I have my students and parents sign an agreement before starting lessons detailing things like this and (half) jokingly tell my students I will sue them and retire if they post anything without my permission! 

[mcdiddy1]

My first professor in college would record our lessons on cds and they were extreamly benefital .....my second piano perfoessor would want me to have record my playing and bring it so we would could lsten to it together. Recording your playing is one of the most benefial things you can do to you playing and is very valuable to hear what it sounds like from an audiene point of view ... I was litterlaly shocked many times by what I hear. You do have to becare ful of recording other students and teachers because of internet so i suggest if you do record ...you should record for only yourself and if you do record someone eles you usually have to ask for permission expecially if you intend on sharing with other people