Effectiveness of video lessons

[hibbzzy]

Hi,
I was wondering what your opinions are on the effectiveness of video piano lessons. I personally learned off of them and am very biased towards them. Do you think they are more cost effective for students? Also, if teachers taught online do you think they would be able to capture the interest of enough students to make it profitable?

Thanks!

[musicluvr49]

Why'd you post the same thing in two different boards?
But... I have used youtube tutorials a couple times for techniques I was trying to understand, and it did help. I think a lot of people who don't have piano teachers would be intereted in this.

[opusmusic]

I am a piano teacher and have experimented with video piano lessons.  I think they are good for a routine music lesson, but there is something missing when not being there in person.  With a live lesson, teachers can more effectively correct student's posture, hand position, feet stance, etc.  Also, microphone does not accurately pick up nuances in music playing, like volume of sound, touch, quality of sound, etc.  I think it can be used for some lessons but not all.

[soitainly]

 I am only speculating but I can think that of course an in person lesson would be more effective in most cases but that's not always practical. Consider a video lesson from a good teacher vs. face to face lessons from an inadequate teacher. I would chose the former. Or maybe consider some kind of video "master class" as a supplement to a good teacher.

 On a related note, I have received immeasurable help from recorded video lessons like the "HotLicks" series on guitar. They present great video lessons from creative guitarists like Eric Johnson and Danny Gatton. No teacher would have been able to present the concepts as these players had in many cases invented new techniques and musical possibilities on their instruments. I don't think you would use these as a sole way of learning, but some of these tapes vastly increased my knowledge and skill.

 Maybe this is an avenue that hasn't been fully realized in classical piano lessons as of yet. There is a rich and effective history of piano pedogogy where as the "HotLicks" series is more focues on modern musical styles where there isn't such a vast body of knowledge that has been passed down for generations. I think an opporunity is there for both teachers and students alike to use modern technology for everyones benefit. Given that not everyone has access to a great teacher, and that there are some bad teachers out there, video lessons seem like  growing way that piano will be taught.

[sharmayelverton]

Video lessons can be fantastic in many circumstances, I personally scour the net for video lessons whenever I can. However one on one tuition is better when addressing the finer points of technique. It is really helpful to have teach to pick up on details  and refine your movements, eliminate mistakes and bad habits.

[keyboardclass]

I have a student I teach over Skype.  It works quite well - I only charge about half price.