Navigating the Challenges of Online Flute Lessons
Online flute lessons are rising in popularity, particularly since the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. People are shifting to online flute lessons to reduce the risk of illness spread, but they’re also finding that there are some real benefits to virtual flute lessons. Some of these benefits include access to higher-caliber teachers, reduced transportation costs and time, and more flexible time slots for teachers and students to find a good time to come together. However, with every great thing comes challenges. In this article, we will discuss the different challenges that come with learning the flute online and how we can overcome those challenges in order to have a great flute-learning experience.
Can Flute Be Learned Online?
Absolutely! Learning flute online has never been easier. With the internet, you have access to tons of teachers and great resources to help build your skills as a flutist.
Embracing Technology
Technology is key to a great online flute lesson experience. It’s important to make sure that you have a computer or tablet that’s up to snuff. If your computer is not equipped for seamless video chatting and streaming, then you may want to consider an upgrade before beginning lessons. Make sure that your computer has at least 2 GB of RAM and a quad-core processor, but realistically, 8 GB is more likely to get you the results you want. It’s also critical that your internet connection is strong and quick. If you have multiple people in the house, ask them to refrain from streaming movies or video chatting during your lesson so that your connection doesn’t get bogged down. Most video chatting software requires a minimum of 2 Mbps up and 2 Mbps down for seamless video lessons. Most online flute teachers, however, maintain higher than that to ensure no problems.
While a microphone is not required, it does help the process, especially if you’re using a phone or tablet for your lessons. This will help your teacher be able to hear you adequately and give you great feedback. That said, even without a microphone, you should still be in great shape. You can check out tech options and my recommendations here. You will also want to wear headphones. This will make for a better experience for all so that you don’t get feedback loops (loud squealing when the sounds of your computer feed back into your microphone).
Be sure to have a suitable, quiet area for your lessons - one that’s clear of distractions and gets good WiFi connection (or has an ethernet port nearby). Optimize your computer and connection for video calls by turning off bandwidth hogs (such as movie streaming or background tasks such as WiFi enabled lights, robot vacuums, etc.). Make sure your computer is completely up to date. It’s also important to be sure that the application you’re using is up-to-date. Making sure that both are up-to-date will ensure no last-minute hiccups with your connection.
Establishing Effective Communication
It’s so important to establish clear communication between you and your teacher, not only during lessons, but outside of lessons. Online flute lessons, especially, due to the simple fact that you’re not in-person, requires good communication between both parties. So, be sure you’re comfortable asking questions as you go along if you don’t understand something that your teacher is telling you.
It’s also important to follow your teacher’s instructions when using the prescribed platform for lessons. For instance, Zoom requires some extra optimization (Original Sound turned ON) for the best experience. So, when your teacher sends you instructions, make sure you’re following them for the best experience.
To enhance the quality of verbal and visual feedback during online flute lessons, you can employ various effective strategies. Positioning the camera appropriately is essential to allow the teacher to observe hand positions, embouchure, and posture accurately is important. You should plan to actively participate by asking questions, requesting demonstrations, or seeking clarification aids in effective communication and understanding between the student and teacher. Additionally, employing visual aids, such as hand-drawn diagrams or virtual whiteboards, can facilitate clearer explanations and promote visual learning. Finally, recording and reviewing lessons can be highly beneficial, allowing you to analyze your own performance and gauge your progress effectively. Try these out - you’ll find that these are super helpful!
Overcoming Physical Limitations
It’s important to acknowledge that not having a teacher physically present for guidance can present challenges for both you AND your teacher. So, it’s important to watch when your teacher demonstrates something new and pay attention to what they’re telling you, writing notes and taking screenshots of important concepts.
Once your lesson is over and you’re in the practice room alone, bring out these notes and screenshots and try mimicking your teacher in the mirror, watching your embouchure, fingers, and posture. Make notes during your practice on what changes you’re making in order to mimic your teacher’s advice so that you can know what to continue adjusting in the future.
There are exercises and practice tips that can help compensate for the lack of tactile feedback. One effective exercise is to focus on developing finger strength and dexterity. Practicing scales, arpeggios, etc. daily can help in building that strength and dexterity. Using a metronome during practice can help establish a consistent rhythm and develop a sense of timing. Another helpful tip is to record yourself playing and listen back for areas that need improvement. This allows you to self-assess your playing and make necessary adjustments. Engaging in regular sight-reading practice can improve your ability to read music accurately and efficiently. By incorporating these exercises and practice tips, you can overcome the lack of tactile feedback and continue progressing in your flute playing journey, even during online lessons.
Internet Connectivity Issues
Technology issues can be the most frustrating of all when it comes to online flute lessons. An unreliable internet connection is the number one culprit for a bad online flute lesson experience. So, how do we overcome this?
First and foremost, make sure you log in to your lesson early, this way you have plenty of time to tweak your settings and diagnose any issues that show up. Sometimes, it’s easier to switch devices than to continue to troubleshoot on one computer, so if you have another device handy (like your phone or a tablet), give that a try. If that still isn’t working, try restarting your router/modem or connecting via an ethernet port. Ask everyone else in the house to discontinue internet use for the time during your lesson.
Finally, if nothing is working, contact your teacher. Let them know that you’re unable to establish a good connection and ask if they have an alternative plan. Some teachers have alternative lesson methods (such as recorded video) or they may be willing to reschedule for another day when your connection is in better shape, giving you time to continue to troubleshoot. Be sure to communicate this as early as possible to your teacher.
Maintaining Motivation and Discipline
Much like online schooling in general, there is a level of accountability that doesn’t exist in an online learning environment. It’s important that you’re able to stay self-motivated and keep a good practice routine. Most online teachers do allow for email support throughout the week, so take advantage of that.
Set goals regularly and check in with them often. It’s also important to create a practice schedule and try to adhere to it as much as possible. Again, you won’t have a teacher in-person to create these things for you - the majority of your time during your lessons will be spent on flute technique, not so much on practice logs or anything of the like.
Self-discipline and accountability are of utmost importance. Unlike traditional classrooms, where face-to-face interactions and direct supervision can help keep students on track, online learning relies heavily on individual motivation and responsibility. Without self-discipline, the ease of accessing distracting websites or succumbing to procrastination becomes a real threat. Accountability, on the other hand, encourages you to take ownership of your learning journey by being transparent about your progress, seeking help when needed, and actively participating in online lessons. By cultivating self-discipline and practicing accountability, you can maximize the potential of your online learning experience and achieve your flute goals.
Seeking Support and Supplemental Resources
It’s so important that if your teacher offers email support between lessons that you take advantage of it. If you run into issues, ask questions! Reach out and take advantage of your teacher’s expertise. They may be able to send you supplemental videos, articles, and activities above and beyond your regularly scheduled lessons in order to improve your experience and give you extra value.
Join online flute communities, forums, and social media groups for support. Check out my blog post about Flute Facebook Groups to get some ideas! Often, getting other perspectives from other players and teachers can help improve your learning experience. Other players may have pieces of guidance to offer from their own experiences. This is good advice for anyone taking lessons, regardless of the format.
You can also augment your flute lesson experience by taking to YouTube, Tonebase Flute, and other platforms for on-demand flute information. You can also discover new repertoire and have a great time playing with apps such as MuseScore and Tomplay for a more interactive experience with music. These are great for sightreading and diversifying your repertoire.
Conclusion
Flute can absolutely be learned online!
Technology can be a difficulty with online lessons.
Be sure to optimize your computer and internet connection for online lessons.
Communicate clearly with your teacher if you are having connectivity issues.
Mimic your teacher and learn to self-assess using recordings and practicing in the mirror.
Patience, adaptability, and perseverance are important in online learning.
Seek support and supplemental resources to augment your online learning experience.
Embrace the unique advantages of online flute lessons such as access to more teachers and more flexible scheduling.
