How to Get the Most Out of Your Online Lessons

Now that online lessons have become our new normal, at least temporarily, here are some ways to make sure you’re getting the most out of the experience!

1. Aim to view this as a new opportunity for different kinds of learning! If you approach this as a new idea to explore rather than an inconvenience, it will help your child be in a better mindset to be attentive and focused on the lesson. 
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2. Make sure you’re prepared. It’s a good idea to set up the lesson supplies (tuned instrument, notebook, music books, etc), but also to make sure your device is ready to go - do you need to find the iPad stand or something tall enough to set your phone on? The better the teacher can see and hear your child in the lesson, the better the advice they can give! 

3. Minimizing other bandwidth-heavy internet usage like online gaming or HD streaming during the lesson time can help with connection and sound quality issues. 

4. Attend the lesson with your child, when possible. I know that many families are working from home with no child care currently, so there may be extra scheduling challenges. However, your child will learn and retain so much more if you’re there to assist with adjustments and note taking. 

Especially for younger students, don’t worry if they’re more prone to wandering off, talking about unrelated topics, or other less focused behaviors. They have learned to focus well in the specific setting of an in-person lesson, and it’s natural for there to be an adjustment period. Calmly redirecting their bodies or attention back to the lesson will help them learn this new skill!
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As we all adjust to this temporary speed bump, I hope these ideas serve to make the transition smoother and help us work through these new challenges together!