Preparing for Online Zoom Lessons

  • Use a laptop/computer, if possible, over a phone/tablet or similar.
  • Check that you have the latest version of Zoom installed on your computer (they update it very frequently, so check before each lesson).
  • Click here and scroll down to ‘Adjust audio settings’ to see how to set up Zoom for the best quality online music lesson (essentially this prevents Zoom from overprocessing what it hears, which makes life easier for the teacher).
  • If possible, connect to your router via an ethernet cable instead of relying on Wi-Fi. This isn’t always practical, but if your home has particularly thick walls or the Wi-Fi signal is weak, it is definitely worth investing in a cable. (You can buy a 10m cable for £5 – or a 70m cable for £20! – on Amazon.)
  • For theory/aural lessons, using wired headphones will further optimise the learning experience, although for piano/clarinet lessons, depending on your setup, this can be slightly trickier to get right.
  • Assuming you have applied the above audio settings, each time we start a new lesson, simply click the Turn on Original Sound button at the top of your screen.
  • For piano lessons, it is almost essential that the camera is pointing at the pupil’s hands on the keyboard, so a raised side-on view is best. Whilst it’s lovely to be able to see a pupil’s face when teaching them, it’s far more beneficial to be able to check fingering and posture.
  • Login details for Zoom lessons are included on invoices, along with a link to the terms and conditions for taking online lessons with Jack.