Distance teaching - how do you do it?

[andrew_s]

I have colleagues that have been forced to start teaching their college level piano students remotely because of the recent campus restrictions and I am also myself considering this for my private students.

I have tried once, giving one single lesson via Skype during the summer break and it served it purpose to keep in touch and give a few practice tips. But for more regular teaching, are there any software tools that can be helpful?
Does anyone have experience from doing this?

[wkmt]

Hi Andrew,

Absolutely! You need to explore SKYPE and ZOOM

[keypeg]

Hi Andrew,

Absolutely! You need to explore SKYPE and ZOOM

What is your experience with the two and how do they compare, per your experience?

[wkmt]

Hello Keypeg,

You should read our last material.

A complete guide on how to deliver online piano lessons
https://www.i-am-a-spammer.com/post/online-lessons-teaching-guide-for-wkmt-teachers

Let me know your thoughts.

[keypeg]

Hello Keypeg,

You should read our last material.

A complete guide on how to deliver online piano lessons
https://www.i-am-a-spammer.com/post/online-lessons-teaching-guide-for-wkmt-teachers

Let me know your thoughts.

I think I did in your other posts. 

In my post here I asked what your experience was with Skype and Zoom.  You haven't answered, but you did state in your article that Skype is preferable.  I would tend to disagree with this.
In fact, in one of the last lessons using Skype before we switched, Skype was clipping every sustained sound so that a note played with pedal lasting two beats came out staccato.  So my teacher had to ask me, "How long did that note last?" - clearly an impossibility in live lessons.

Your reasoning in favour of Skype is screen sharing.   That, and more, can be done on Zoom.

[andrew_s]

I have now tried out both Zoom and Skype briefly.
I find that sound and video quality can vary a lot in both services. It is to early to say if any of them is better. I think it depends entirely on the wifi connection you and your students have at their end.
Zoom have surely a more professional appearence, not least the feature schedule and invite your students to the lesson "meeting".

wkmt, how do you schedule your lessons and invite students to the call. Do you use a software for this or just e-mail?

[keypeg]

I have now tried out both Zoom and Skype briefly.
I find that sound and video quality can vary a lot in both services. It is to early to say if any of them is better. I think it depends entirely on the wifi connection you and your students have at their end.

Andrew, have you tested out sustained notes?  When we used Skype, it cut them into staccato.  Zoom has a setting choice specifically to cut out the feature meant for speech that causes this.   Wifi plays a role, of course.

[kathywe]

Duo also works well for distance teaching.  You don’t need WiFi if you have a smart phone. 

[kathywe]

Duo also works well for distance teaching.  You don’t need WiFi for this app.

[wkmt]

I think I did in your other posts. 

In my post here I asked what your experience was with Skype and Zoom.  You haven't answered, but you did state in your article that Skype is preferable.  I would tend to disagree with this.
In fact, in one of the last lessons using Skype before we switched, Skype was clipping every sustained sound so that a note played with pedal lasting two beats came out staccato.  So my teacher had to ask me, "How long did that note last?" - clearly an impossibility in live lessons.

Your reasoning in favour of Skype is screen sharing.   That, and more, can be done on Zoom.

Hi Keypeg,
I've answered you in the other thread

[keypeg]

Hi Keypeg,
I've answered you in the other thread

And so you did.