V.com weekend vote: Have you ever taken, or given, a violin lesson over the Internet?

June 21, 2013 at 5:08 PM

It's easy to get intimidated by all the new technology out there, but it feels more friendly, once we realize we can use it to do our bidding!

I was having thoughts such as these, when writing this week about Nathan Cole and his online violin program with ArtistWorks. It's so much easier to exchange videos, reach people from around the globe and see their faces. A teacher can go out of town and continue to teach his or her students via Skype, the whole time. You can take a lesson or two from an out-of-town teacher, or teach one to an out-of-town student. You can sign up for special programs like ArtistWorks. You can simply go to YouTube and find tutorials. You can make videos for your students to use in their practicing.

I was asking myself the question, have I taken lessons, or taught, via the Internet? I realized that the answer was yes: when I was doing a public school elementary program a few years back, I made a series of beginner videos to help my students practice at home, as they were not getting the one-on-one attention that they would get from private instruction.

So I have a two-part question for the Weekend Vote: Have you ever taken a lesson online? And have you ever taught one, and that includes making instructional videos that you've posted? Feel free to comment with your experiences, teaching and learning online, and to share links.

From Carry Perrier
Posted on June 21, 2013 at 6:47 PM

I have taken lessons online. My first instructor taught me via Skype. She is in TX and I am in Alberta, Canada. It worked very well. I am currently taking a break because of finances. In the meantime I am doing another sort of online lesson via a website and pre-recorded videos. I find it extremely helpful and I love that it fits around my schedule, even when it changes.

From Zlata Brouwer
Posted on June 24, 2013 at 7:06 AM

I like teaching via Skype very much. As my student and I can see and hear each other, it's as valuable and interactive as a 'normal' violin lesson.

Some time ago I posted a blog here about my experiences: http://www.violinist.com/blog/Zlata/20133/14484/

From Kim Vawter
Posted on June 24, 2013 at 11:31 PM

This is an easy one for me. No. Teaching someone to play a violin is something that has to be done in person. I'll admit that there are some really good Youtube and other on line helpful hints on different techniques but as you learn how to play it is very important to have someone see you play and diagnose your particular areas that need work.

From Peter Kent
Posted on June 26, 2013 at 2:08 PM

Closest I've come was via phone....had a tall gal viola player that just couldn't get the hang of wrist/finger vibrato...called a friend who studied with Tursi at Eastman, and he taught her the arm vibrato he'd learned and used there...crashing success..and done via speaker phone...internet might work....but let's not go off denigrating the value of in-person teaching....

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V.com weekend vote: Have you ever taken, or given, a violin lesson over the Internet?

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