Online Music Lessons: What Makes Them Worth Paying For?
Are online music lessons really worth it, or are they just a lesser version of in-person lessons?
Music lessons have traditionally required you to be in the same room as your teacher. Technology has changed what is possible by giving us access to teachers all over the world, not just those in driving distance. That access is what makes online music lessons so potentially valuable. So what makes online music lessons worth the time and money, and are there possible benefits to online music lessons that in-person lessons can’t offer?
What Actually Makes Online Lessons Worth It
The number one thing that makes online lessons worth it is the opportunity to work with teachers who offer specialized lessons around niche genres and techniques. It is incredibly common to find guitar teachers who can teach Classic Rock, or piano teachers who can teach Classical repertoire. If however, you want to find lessons on genres like Jazz, Flamenco, or Hip Hop, that can be either difficult or impossible depending on where you live. That’s true for Hip Hop bass instruction, for example, it’s rarely taught in traditional programs. Working with online teachers allows you to find the most qualified and specialized instructor that fits your exact interests and skill level.
Access to specialization alone isn’t enough to make a teacher worth your time or money. What really makes online music lessons worth it is when the teacher actually offers an in-depth and structured system. Instead of learning random disconnected lessons and musical techniques the best teachers take you through a step by step journey. This way learners always know what to study next, and leave with real world skills not isolated academic knowledge.
A distinct advantage to learning online is the ease of recording each and every lesson you have. The ability to document and reference lessons afterward is a real benefit. Lessons are often fast paced and can be dense in terms of concepts, vocabulary, and techniques. Being able to rewatch the lesson, instead of relying only on notes or memory, is what makes this genuinely useful. Taking notes is also encouraged, but can be a distraction in real time, and working from memory alone makes learning challenging.
Another advantage online music lessons have, is the flexibility and comfort to learn from home. This allows students to stay relaxed and be more attuned during the learning process. Instead of being in an unfamiliar environment they can study in the same space they practice in. Staying at home also reduces the stress and cost of travel. Lessons are easier to attend and don’t require packing up instruments and materials. The classic problem of “I forgot my sheet music” becomes almost irrelevant when studying from home. These are examples of the reduced friction between lessons and practices that online music lessons offer.
Online vs In-Person Learning, Which is Better?
These advantages don’t mean online music lessons are inherently better than in-person lessons. Online lessons rely heavily on technology, which is not always dependable. Also, younger students may need more engagement and accountability than what remote lessons offer. The truth is no system of learning is perfect or infallible. The real test of any education approach is the system that it offers. So online music lessons excel at giving you diverse options for finding that teacher who offers what you need.
Opportunities For Homeschool Students
Learning music is a great addition to any curriculum, and online lessons offer unique opportunities to homeschool students. Public schools offer great instruction and skilled educators. The gap is that they have to offer programs to serve a broad population. It’s less likely that they offer one-on-one instruction, or that they can teach every genre or instrument a student is interested in. Online lessons offer solutions for these problems with the added benefit of simplified access. This allows a more inclusive take on what music lessons are and who they are for.
The flexibility of homeschooling is especially interesting, in that lessons can be scheduled around other coursework. This allows music instruction to become a meaningful part of the student’s broader education. For homeschool families, online music lessons aren’t simply a convenient alternative to traditional music classes. They can provide access to individualized instruction and specialized areas of music that may not otherwise be available.
For Families Building Their Own Curriculum
Online music lessons for homeschoolers solve a few specific problems traditional classes can’t.
Scheduling around your day, not a school bell. Lessons can slot into a mid-morning break or after a co-op day instead of competing with a fixed class period.
A documented record for portfolios or transcripts. Because lessons happen on video, families can save session recordings, which are useful for annual reviews or high school transcripts that require an arts credit.
No waiting list for a specific instrument or style. Homeschool co-ops and local group classes are often limited to whatever instrument or genre a nearby teacher already offers; online lessons are open to specialized instruction without geographic limits.
One-on-one pacing. A homeschool student who’s ahead or behind grade-level peers isn’t held to the pace of a classroom, online lessons accommodate the student’s speed.
Curious whether online lessons are the right fit for your family or your own learning goals?
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