Online Lesson Guide

Online lessons make it possible to stay connected with your MacPhail teacher and keep learning and making progress when you can’t meet in the same room. Your faculty member will provide a link to meet via Zoom or another preferred meeting platform.

You don’t need a complicated setup to get started. A computer, tablet, or phone with a reliable internet connection is enough for most students. A few simple adjustments can help your teacher see and hear you more clearly and make your lesson run smoothly.

Curious about what an online music lesson looks like? See how MacPhail students and faculty connect, learn, and make music together online.

Choose a quiet place. 
Find a space with minimal background noise where you can focus. If possible, close the door and silence notifications on your device. 

Position your camera. 
Set up your device so your teacher can see you, your instrument, and your playing position clearly. An angled view is often better than placing the camera directly in front of you. 

Use good lighting. 
Face a window or light source so your face, hands, and instrument are easy to see. Avoid sitting with a bright window directly behind you. 

Check your internet connection. 
Stay near your Wi-Fi router for a stronger connection. If available, an Ethernet connection can provide an even more reliable connection.  

Think about your audio. 
Your device’s built-in microphone and speakers are enough to get started. If you use headphones, plug-in headphones generally work better for music lessons than Bluetooth earbuds, which can introduce delay or affect sound quality. An external microphone can also improve sound quality if you already have one, but it is not required. 

Your teacher may help you adjust your device position or audio setup once they can see and hear you. 

A few minutes of preparation means more time for making music. 

• Tune your instrument before the lesson, if appropriate.  

• Have your instrument, music books, sheet music, and other lesson materials ready.  

• Keep a pencil nearby for notes and reminders.  

• Number the measures in your sheet music when possible. This makes it easier for you and your teacher to find the same place quickly.  

• Have a metronome available. Because of the slight delay that occurs online, you and your teacher generally won’t be able to play or clap together in real time.  

• If a parent or grown-up will be helping during the lesson, make sure they can easily join you and be seen on camera when needed.  

• Practice finding the mute/unmute button in Zoom or another meeting platform. Your teacher may ask you to mute at certain times to make listening easier.  

If you’ll be playing or singing along with a backing track from YouTube, an MP3, or another source, keep the backing track volume low enough that your instrument or voice can be heard clearly over it. 

Your teacher can help you find the right balance during your lesson. 

Video meeting platforms are generally designed for conversation, which means their standard audio settings may filter out sustained notes, dynamics, or other sounds that are important in a music lesson. A few adjustments can help your teacher hear your instrument or voice more clearly.

Zoom

If these settings are available on your device:

1. Open Settings → Audio in Zoom.
2. Turn off Automatically adjust microphone volume.
3. Set Suppress background noise to Low.
4. Enable Original Sound for meetings.
5. Turn on High Fidelity Music Mode.
6. Leave Echo Cancellation off when using these recommended music settings.  

Google Meet

 Google Meet may require fewer adjustments, but you’ll want to make sure noise cancellation is turned off so the platform doesn’t filter out your instrument or voice.

If you see Noise Cancellation or Studio Sound in your audio settings, turn that setting off.

Depending on your Google account and version of Meet, you may find it by opening the audio settings or selecting the arrow next to the microphone icon. Paid Google accounts may have noise cancellation enabled by default, while the free version may not.

Using an Iphone or Ipad?

Your device itself may also apply voice processing, even if the meeting platform does not. During your call, open Control Center → Mic Mode and choose Standard rather than Voice Isolation. 

Every instrument, voice, student, and home setup is a little different. Don’t worry about making everything perfect before your first lesson. Your teacher can help you adjust your camera, sound, positioning, and other settings once you get started. 

Some instruments or lesson types may also require different setups. Your faculty member will provide any individualized instructions you need.