Online classes have obvious advantages. They
- are available at your fingertips from any place of the world;
- save commute and waiting time;
- combine the convenience of in-home learning with the price of in-studio classes;
- can be easily re-scheduled at very short notice
- last but not least, are safe against any respiratory disease.
From the very onset of the COVID pandemic, I started offering online classes for my students. I re-arranged my studio, adding three cameras for different types of lessons. This works very well, especially for elder students. For younger students, parents’ guidance is necessary during the lesson. The outcome was very encouraging. All my students who had regular RCM demonstrated exceptional results, which were even better than those demonstrated through the ordinary semesters in the pre-COVID era. I also started offering my classes to students in other countries, anywhere in the world. It is amazing to watch how technologies can change our routines established from the Stone Age.
Please watch two short video extracts of my Skype lessons to become confident in this method’s efficiency.
And here are the practical results: both pieces were learnt exclusively online from scratch:
This is what my students and their parents say:
I would like to thank Anna very much for offering her piano classes via Skype. After returning from a vacation abroad we were forced into self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and there was no way that Anna could have held a piano class for our son at our place. Having no classes for another 2 weeks would have been too much of an interruption of our son’s progress.
For the Skype class, we mounted my smartphone on a tripod, which allowed us to adjust the position and view exactly as Anna needed it. It also allowed Anna and my son to communicate effectively throughout the lesson.
The class went extremely well for both the theory and the practice part. During the practice part, Anna was able to identify all flaws in my son’s playing including proper fingering, timing, dynamic and accuracy. This allowed them to work through passages of any complexity and make this session very productive.
Anna’s Skype classes could also be a great tool for additional check-ins in between regular classes.
We will continue with Anna’s Skype classes throughout the entire COVID-19 crisis and plan to use them afterwards whenever convenient, e.g make up classes.
Dietmar Schultz, parent
Yes, these classes do work, they are efficient and easy to use. These online classes are basically the same as a regular class and in certain aspects are even better because this is safer now.
Alice Qi, student
I really liked this class. This is my first time having piano class online and I am very interested in that. Actually, I feel excited to have the piano course online because I can learn many new things in different ways.
Annie Gui, student
Thank you so much for thinking about the safety of my family (and yours) during this COVID-19 pandemic, and offering us a Skype class, instead of coming to your home.
I talked to my daughter after the Skype class, and these are her comments, “The audio quality was good, and we were able to communicate without any trouble. It was just like a regular class, but with the added convenience of it being at home. Skype classes are a good alternative right now.”
Dina Mitnik, parent
The Skype class is a good alternative, both the theory and the practice parts. Ms. Anna asks for pictures of my kid’s completed theory homework before the class and asks her to correct the mistakes and take notes during the class. In terms of piano songs, we put a webcam aiming at the piano keyboard and I guess both the visual and Ms. Anna’s ears help identify any mistakes made, which got corrected right away. We are pretty glad that we have this quality alternative during this unusual time. We thank Ms. Anna for making this happen.
Michelle Guan, parent
Remote classes with Miss Anna are definitely worth a try. We have had a good experience so far.
Ann Wang, parent
We’re very grateful that Anna could provide the option of having online classes through Skype during the outbreak of COVID-19. And the even greater news is that the online classes actually worked really effectively for both our kids.
We submit the theory homework by sending pictures on Skype, and Anna would walk through the homework and correct any mistakes as she does in in-person classes. During the music playing session, Anna gives instructions and corrects mistakes by listening and looking at the webcam aiming at the piano.
It’s a difficult time for all of us, but we’re so happy that Anna could continue teaching our kids without compromising the quality of the class.
Parents of Alex and Colin Xia