*25 Online Lesson Tips Below*

Voice Teacher & Teacher Friends:

I’ve been getting lots of requests for info about how I do online sessions. I thought I would share my top tips
here to help get the word out. There are so many misconceptions about online sessions and now
that I’m over 6000 sessions in (nearing year 5 in June) and have made more mistakes than I care
to admit - I want to share what I’ve learned that really works and what really matters to our clients
so you don’t have to make the same mistakes in this crazy time.

Note: I use Zoom. I HAVE tried every platform out there - specific to voice teaching and not - and it
is still my top choice. The most important thing I can say is focus on ease of use across the board
for you and your clients. Do not get caught up in the sound issues and delay. Those are old
outdated talking points that really can’t matter right now. The harder it is to use, the less
successful you will be. Zoom is cross platform (MAC / PC / Google / Android / etc) and is available
on various devices (Computer, Phone, Tablet) Not all of the others are. This important if for some
reason a client has poor internet, a cellular connection can be used to good results. Most of my tips
will still apply, but some of the features I mention are Zoom specific.

If you have more questions about online sessions, I will be available on Zoom today from 11 am -
12 pm CST for anyone who wants to chat or brainstorm through questions about online sessions.
Unlike others, I’m not going to try to sell you a course or a software. This is totally free, no strings
attached. I was working on an online teaching course, but I am holding that back until all of this
settles down. Teachers need to stick together and not capitalize on this challenging time for profit.
If you want to join my in Zoom, message me and I’ll send a link. If you can’t make it, feel free to
message me questions. I’ll do my best to answer what I can.

+++

Online Lessons - Tips & Tricks

1. Do not try to replicate the in person experience online. That will NEVER work. Instead, think of
this as a new medium to explore. Limitations are nothing more than chances to explore new
teaching approaches and see if you can teach under any circumstances. The best way to learn is to
teach, right?

2. If casting directors can accept self tapes from singers using online devices, we can do the same.
It’s great practice for college audition videos. See what your clients look like on video. It’s not
always what you think.

3. You have to plan ahead. Send out worksheets and new music electronically. Send out
accompaniment tracks. You don’t need to record them. Send YouTube links of tracks. Avoid having
the client find tracks on their own. If you send them, you are in control of the quality. Same with
sheet music. You can only use the sheet music if you both have the same version.

4. When working with minors, ask that they do their session in a “common space” - not their
bedroom with the door closed. Protect yourself and be conscious of online safety. If you allow
parents into your studio, invite them into the online session as well.

5. Don’t ask clients to buy special equipment. You’ll be able to hear just fine. You will be able to
hear resonance, intonation, etc. If you are working at a level that would need fancy equipment,
you’re probably working with a singer at the MET. Are you really working with a singer at the MET?
Be honest about your clients and your skills to hear even in person. 😉
6. This is a great time to hear what your singers’ voices sound like on a microphone. Especially
CCM and MT singers. If they are blowing out the mic on their device, they are singing too loud 🙂

7. It’s not about you being heard. That’s a BIG misconception. The client needs to be heard, but for
you it’s about being seen. Your basic computer mic will pick up your audio just fine. If you are
singing that much in your sessions, that a different topic. BUT if you are not well lit, sessions will be
horrible for your clients / students. 2 cheap inexpensive clamp lights from Walmart will do the trick.
Put one at a diagonal to your left and the other diagonal to the right (see pic) so you light both
sides of your face. Pointing the light straight on is very harsh and can create very distracting
shadows behind you. Try swapping out light bulbs with “daylight bulbs” - they look better on
screen. The normal bulbs can make you look yellow. Make sure that all lights in the cameras view
are the same color. If you have 2 daylight bulbs and one warm white, you will look yellow. Your
clients don’t need to worry about this, but you should. It helps you make their experience the best
it can be.

8. If you choose to use a mic, don’t place it directly on your piano. Put a buffer of a book or a piece
of foam in between. It will cut down on distorted sounds. Even a folded towel is good.

9. Do NOT where headphones, air pods, ear buds. It will impact your work to much and limit what
you can do. You will lose your personal resonance and talk / sing too loud which distort your clients
experience.

10. I find it easier to put my device to my left or right side on the top of my piano - I put it to the
side where my clients are when they are in person. It helps me with muscle memory AND gives
them an almost identical perspective of me.

11. Keep your device plugged into the power source and suggest the same to your clients. Nothing
is more frustrating than someone’s battery dying during a session. Check that they have it at the
beginning of the session. It will save you time.

12. Use the screen share feature! Have PDFs of the sheet music or workbooks you want your
clients to look at. Then use the annotate function to show what you want. You can do the same by
connecting a phone or a tablet and using it as a document cam. This is great for looking at books.

13. Have clients use the annotate feature on their side of the screen to answer workbook
questions. Kids LOVE this! I even use coloring pages that match note types or pitches with certain
colors - these are a big hit and fun to do. You’ll find them on Pinterest.

14. NEVER imply that the online session experience is “less than” or “limiting” or “frustrating.” If
you approach it with that attitude, your clients will as well. Sessions will not be as productive. Stay
positive the whole time.

15. Call and response style exercises are more effective online than trying to sing at the same
time. When playing exercises, only play the melody. Chording underneath can distort on some
clients devices and then they don’t hear the pitch. This is a great time to check pitch accuracy and
ear training - have them sing accapella for their exercises where you just give them the starting
note.

16. Have clients play the audio on their side of the call for accompaniment tracks. They can not
play them on the same device as the call. It will distort. Play the audio from a phone or another
device. If it’s not loud enough and they don’t have a speaker, have them stick their phone in an
empty ceramic coffee mug. It will amplify it plenty.

17. Rather than tilting the screen when a singer stands, have them just step back. You won’t see
up their nose, you’ll see their whole body, and you’ll hear better too as their sound will be less
direct to the computer and will use more of the acoustics of the space.

18. Never show your technology on screen - no added microphones, speakers, pop blockers, etc.
That implies that you aren’t able to hear them correctly or that they need all of that equipment for
their session to be “worth while.” Keep it as much the same of a set up as their in person session
as you can.

19. In fact, the more equipment you add to a setup the more things will go wrong. Feedback issues
show up more and more with each piece of tech you add. If you hear feedback or have bad delays,
start taking out added tech.

20. If you have an echo in your space, hang a blanket on the wall across from you. It will dampen
the bounce back.

21. Try to keep the wall behind you as clear as possible. The more decorated it is, the more
distracting it is - especially for younger clients.
22. Be conscious of what you wear. Check fabric patterns on screen before you start working.
Some fabrics create “flashing” which can be distracting and can even cause headaches. Avoid low
necklines - especially if your camera angle has to be slightly above you. Just like on a car mirror:
Your neck line may be lower than it appears. Fun Fact: This is why I wear the same T Shirt and
Hoodie every day. It saves me time thinking about this.

23. The little mini version of you on the screen is not a mirror. If you watch yourself the whole time,
you lose one of the most important tools a teacher has: Eye Contact. Look at them or the camera.
If you really need to make an important point, look at the camera, not their eyes. Looking at them
will look like you are looking down. Looking at the camera, looks like you are looking in their eyes.
You can drag that mini screen arou if you need to. Also - I suggest using a view that makes them as
big as possible. You don’t see yourself in person, you don’t need to see yourself online.

24. Watch how fast you move and how much you move. The slower and more relaxed your motions
are, the more natural you will seem. The camera heightens everything, so if you are an animated
person who talks with their hands a lot - really slow down. It will help you seem like your normal
self. On camera acting 101.

25. Enjoy it! Have fun! Online sessions are an adventure. They test what you know and how you
teach it. You will find new ways of teaching things because of this. Maybe even better ways of
teaching concepts. Be open to this - not as an emergency precaution, but as a viable method of
instruction. It really has endless possibilities if you let it.