Online Lessons: Cheaper, Easier and not even scary.

Cameron Weckerley
Apr 18, 2016
2 min read

Recently it became desirable for me to restart my music studio - my piano lesson and music studio from scratch in a new town. This is a difficult proposition because when you start a business such as that, one which is based on relationships and reputation, it's much easier when you start in a place where you are already known and have a decent reputation.

In a brand new place people don't know who you are. They don't know what kind of person you are or even that you exist. It is much harder. There's also the aspect of geographical location - in my previous situation I was in an advantageous geographical location where there were lots of potential and available students who could and we're willing to pay a reasonable fee for my services. In my new digs this is not so much the case although I'm in a much much larger town I find my studio to be located in a part of town where there is a limited clientele to draw on and this is even with the help of third-party recruiters I have found. So far, the best solution to this problem, the one that seems to be working, is to teach online. A lot of people are put off by this concept because they think it will be too difficult or too expensive.

Both of those things are not true and let me explain why...

What you need to take online lessons.

* A computer that is physically close to the instrument you are using, be it an acoustic piano or electronic keyboard. Most people nowadays own either a laptop or a tablet, you can even use your smartphone provided it has dual facing cameras, which many many models do.

If you don't already own something suitable, tablets run anywhere from $99.00 for an 8" Galaxy to well over $1000 for an iPad. As far as online lessons go there is no advantage to the pricier models other than a larger screen. But, as I already mentioned you can get by quite effectively with a smartphone provided it has cameras that switch directions.

* You will also need a headphone/microphone combo. This is the place you don't want to skimp because this device is how you will hear your instructor and how they will hear you. You can buy a set at Wal-Mart for less than $20.00, but your experience will be terrible and you will probably end up quitting. A nice set of wireless headphones with microphone for around $50-60 and it is well worth the price.

That is all there is to it!

In the next blog, we will cover how to find and evaluate the perfect instructor.