Online Piano Lessons

Wondering about online lessons and if they are a good choice for you or your piano kid? Whether you are a complete beginner, or an intermediate student looking to refine some skills & advance your playing level, online lessons can be a great option to consider.


I understand this may sound daunting to some (it sure did to me when I first heard professional peers talking about online lessons several years ago!) But not to worry! For students who would like to give this a try, I am more than happy to help you find the best camera set up for your space, get the necessary video software set up, and do trial mini sessions online so you can see how these lessons will work before you commit.
So here’s what you need to know: 

You will need:
  • 1 Piano
  • 1 motivated piano student
  • A tablet/computer with a camera, (phones are ok in a pinch, but larger screens are better)
  • Internet access
  • Zoom installed on your device.
Before your lesson you will: 
  1. Upload photos of any theory worksheets assigned. 
  2. Set up your camera & join the online Zoom studio waiting room. Use the few minutes until I call you to get in some last minute practice!

At your lesson time:
Within 10 minutes of your assigned lesson time I will let in you into the meeting from the virtual waiting room, and we will begin. Lessons formats will more or less follow the same plan as if I were sitting right there. We discuss any new concepts for that week, the student plays through an exercise or piece, I give notes, we play theory games, and we build your music together. After going through technic, method book & repertoire selections, we wrap up the lesson with music theory games, and set some  practice assignments for the following week.

Benefits of Online Lessons

  • You can take them from anywhere! - I taught for 12 years in Southern California, & then moved to a small town in Central Kansas. Many of my students have been able to continue their lessons online from the comfort of their own homes. No matter where in North America you are, you can do this too!
  • They're easy to schedule - We've all got busy calendars, this is a very hassle-free way to keep your lesson without having to schedule another activity.
  • Ear Training! Online lessons helps develop a student's musical ears and analytical listening skills to break down & interpret the music they're hearing.
  • Good Communication Skills - Technology has made telecommuting and online business boom the past several years, and the online dynamic relies on clear communication. This is great training in these life skills. 
  • Students are More Focused - This study revealed that online students engage in less off-task behavior and eye contact actually increased during online lessons vs. in-person lessons. 
  • Ownership of the Music - Since I can't point to specific spots on the sheet, students inevitably interact with the paper music MORE, and are responsible for looking at their music and making any necessary notations. 
  • Recorded Lessons can be re-watched! - If you are sick or unavailable at the time of your lesson time, I will send you a recorded lesson. These can be re-watched and used for practice purposes all week!  
  • They're Convenient! Whether you're halfway across the country, or you're home sick, or snowed in, online lessons are the perfect solution for scheduling conflicts

FAQ’s

But what about duets & improvisation?! 
  • These will still happen too! Because of inevitable internet lag time, the technology does not yet exist for us to play together in real time in a video chat. However, I will provide recordings of accompaniments for improvisation and duets for you to practice with and demonstrate to me at lesson time. (This is when a music player outside of your video chat device will come in handy.) 
How do we get lesson materials?
  • Lesson materials & books will all be included as a part of your studio tuition under the studio policy. When you need new books or materials, I will send them to you.
I understand that performance opportunities are really important, how will online students get to perform? 
  • I will be putting together online peer recitals so we'll be able to stream students performances from both California and Kansas so the whole studio community can tune in and enjoy each other’s accomplishments. I will also continue to encourage students to participate in talent shows, family events, home concerts, church performances etc and help them prepare appropriate pieces for the opportunities that present themselves.
I have a young, easily distracted student, are online lessons a good fit? 
  • I am happy to do trial online lessons with students to see if they will work well. Bear in mind that this lesson format will require initiative, self-motivation and good listening skills on the part of the student, so very young students may do better with a parent present to help them follow instructions. The online learning dynamic has been shown to actually increase eye contact and listening skills in music students. So it's worth a try!
And if you are interested in signing up for online piano lessons, or have any questions not covered here, please feel free to contact me!