Hi all! Zoom is an amazing tool for lessons and can be made even better once you learn the ins and outs!
In each lesson I employ various technologies to make it as easy as possible for the student to understand the information and instruction. For both piano and guitar I have a MIDI controlled display that shows exactly where on the keyboard and fretboard (respectively) the notes are being played, which is very easy for a student to see where. For string instruments I often employ multiple cameras to allow for different angles to display various techniques. The best part of all of this is everything can be recorded and referenced later!
About recording and zoom... You will want to make sure you are using a laptop with the Zoom desktop program installed (not the browser version) as this makes it very easy to record the meetings. The recordings can be easy found next to the meeting tab.
Setting up your audio and video. Very important.
WIFI Connection: Make sure you are close enough to a router and not using a laptop that is too far outdated in terms of bandwitdth capabilities (most computers made within the last 10 years fall within this category).
Video: I suggest using a laptop with a large screen. You may want to use an additional tablet if it makes it easy for the student to see me better or that material better. Simply log into the zoom meeting from the additional device. Following are the correct video positioning set up for each instrument for my viewing. A great webcam to use if your laptop's built-in camera is insufficient is the Logitech C290, which plugs in via USB, this displays in 1080p.
- Guitar - I simply need to see the entire guitar, as well as the student's general profile. Don't back too far from the camera.
- Violin/Viola - The student can be either sitting or standing, but I will need to see the entire instrument across most of the screen with the flat part of the instrument facing the camera (thus the scroll pointing to the left of the camera, not towards it.)
- Cello - Make sure everything from the a little under bridge upwards is in view. I need to see both the bow as well as the neck.
- Piano - A laptop positioned up and to the side of the instrument works very well. This gives the student a view of my screen as well as my view of the entire keyboard, which fingers the student is using, though usually I can hear most of what is going on.
Audio: First, wear headphones! Although computer speakers work, headphones will provide the most clarity.
I also highly recommend a USB microphone. These connect to your computer/ios or android device directly and can easily be selected within zoom as your default microphone. I use a Sennheiser MK4 digital, however there are many options online!
Also, folllow these steps to provide the best audio quality in meetings.
Step One - Open settings in the Zoom desktop client
Step Two - Click Audio in the left hand tabs
Step Three - Uncheck "Automatically Adjust Volume" under the microphone's volume
Step Four - Click the advanced button at the bottom of the screen
Step Five - Click show in-meeting option to "Enable Original Sound" from microphone
Step Six - Disable both "Suppress Persistent Background Noise" and "Suppress Intermittent Background Noise"