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Are you considering taking or giving lessons via the web? The virtual world is ever-increasing, but what are the benefits for you?
Online and remote music lessons are cost-effective and convenient – both for the teacher and student. They also provide more choice and security. But you may wonder if Skype or Zoom is better for music lessons, or if you should use another platform entirely.
In this article, we’ll explain what each site has to offer, as well as explaining some of the pros and cons of using the web for this purpose.
Best platform for online music lessons
Taking lessons online is slightly different than it is face to face. But whether it be learning an instrument or singing, tools like screen sharing enable a high-end remote experience that’s as close to the real thing as you’ll get. No more travelling to sessions, or being limited by home and caring commitments. The internet is your oyster and you can advance your career without having to step beyond your front door.
Can you take singing lessons online?
Yes, with thousands of different teachers, the choice is huge. You can either take one to one lessons where a teacher visits your house or have lessons via a video link. If you don’t have the budget for coaching , don’t worry, you can still learn to sing without paying for lessons. There are tons of fantastic resources. Check out the many instructional videos on YouTube, for everyone including brand new beginners and experienced musicians.
Do online music lessons work?
Absolutely, but knowing which software or website to use to run these sessions can be confusing. We’ve saved you the time and effort of doing Google research, by compiling a list of the best on offer today. So let’s have a look at the specifics of some of these platforms and how they can help you find and carry out your sessions. Here are some of the best platforms for online singing and music lessons.
Is Skype or Zoom better for music lessons?
We believe that when it comes to freedom and functionality, these are the best video link sites on the market today. But which is most suited to the individual, will vary from person to person, as each has its own pros and cons. Read on to narrow down which site you might find the most helpful.
Skype singing lessons
This is the original platform for video calling and is still a fantastic option, especially for those who want to retain full control and autonomy. It has great features and hardly any limitations.
Video calls are subject to a fair usage limit of 100 hours per month with no more than 10 hours per day and a limit of 4 hours per individual video call, but with most lessons lasting a maximum of one hour, this should be far more than you’ll ever need. As there are no fees for using the service at this level it’s arguably the best option financially.
Zoom for music lessons
Zoom operates much like Skype and offers screen sharing, which is especially useful (perhaps necessary) if you plan on including music theory and sheet music in your sessions. But its main drawback is a 40 minute limit on calls. You can access longer call times, but you’ll need to sign up for a pro account at a fee. Teachers using Skype or Zoom should also have their own website. This way you can make online payments, read about packages, watch videos and check out testimonials.
The big downside of these two though is that you have to arrange payments separately, rather than via an integrated platform payment collection. You can get around this by using an official online payment service, such as PayPal. There’s no application process or requirements to start. You just need a computer with inbuilt mic and camera and a good internet connection.
Choosing the best platform for online music lessons
Are you considering tutoring, or are you already doing it and you’re now looking for a site through which to run sessions? You may be overwhelmed by the choices available to you. But if you know the differences and specialities of the main contenders, it’s easier to pick the best teaching platform for online singing and music lessons – one that’ll work for you and your students.
Giving music tuition and singing lessons is a great way to earn money, either as a side income to supplement gigs or as a full-time endeavour. Online teaching is even better, as it provides resilience – you’re not dependent on getting to a location and can work from the comfort of your own home.
I want to teach music online
Teaching students who are relatively local also means you can build professional relationships than could continue offline. There may be times when they’d also need some face to face lessons, so if you’ve been working together online for a while, this won’t be difficult to arrange.
While in theory, you don’t have to use a UK platform, it can be much easier to do so. If you offer grades and a syllabus, this will match up with the national standard. And there will be far fewer problems and confusion as relates to payments, as you’ll all be dealing in the same currency, with no need for conversions.
More of the best platforms for teaching online music lessons
If you don’t fancy Skype or Zoom there are plenty of dedicated teaching platforms. These are a better choice if you don’t want to host a separate website, need help to find students, or are a student seeking a teacher and are unsure where to start.
Music Tutors
Over 800 other UK tutors and 10,000 students use Music Tutors – all for music lessons, as opposed to generic tutoring platforms for all subjects. This will make you a small fish in a big pool. There’s lots of competition from other tutors, but lots of students on the site too, all wanting to learn music. You must fill in an application form to be considered and have a related degree or significant industry experience.
The site has a choice of set class fees you can choose from and payment is automatic via E-PAY – students can take advantage of a 50% off trial class. Students pay a platform fee, in addition to your tutor fee.
Tutorful
Covering over 300 subjects, Tutorful allows you to teach as little or often as you wish, at whatever price. Setting up a profile is free, so you have nothing to lose, provided your application is accepted. The platform takes a commission of between 20% (once you’ve taught 250 hours) and 25% (up to 250 hours taught) of the lesson cost.
Be sure to set your rate taking this into account and Tutorful can help advise what this should be if you’re unsure. You can find students passively – via your profile, or proactively – by checking the platform’s job board. This is a particularly useful site if you want to teach other subjects too, as it’s not music-specific.
Superprof
Over 1500 people teach music on Superprof , with more than 11,000000 tutors overall in 22 countries across nine languages. It’s great if you need fast, easy, free access to a platform. There’s no delay while applications and processed, in fact, setting up takes less than 10 minutes.
Buying a Professional Pass will give your ads are higher visibility for one month at a rate of £9 or for one year at a rate of £69. Students pay a monthly fee for access to the site and while there’s no commission, neither does Superprof handle your payments. So it really is just an online teaching advertising platform.
Once you’ve delivered some sessions, you can send students a review/recommendation link. Testimonials will help you gain more work.
Your Space Music Lessons
This is slightly unusual, as to gain access and use the platform, you must bring 30 students with you. As such it suits those who wish to take their current face to face teaching online – or transfer from one platform to another. Your Space is a Scottish based group and is much smaller than the other sites we’ve mentioned, so is more personal and a kind of cooperative. This makes you a big fish in a smaller pool than most of the other sites.
My Tutor
Only one in seven applicants are accepted for My Tutor. You’ll need to be a graduate or student at one of their accepted universities and be teaching in accordance with the UK syllabus. At the time of writing the site is full in terms of tutors, but that’s an ever-changing situation, so keep checking.
How to advertise music lessons
If you offer face to face tuition and are looking to simply advertise online, rather than run classes over the web, there are different sites to consider using including Music Teachers.
These websites provide links to teachers across the country, so students can search in a geographical area and check out who is offering tutoring near them. It really depends on how often you want to teach and how much time you’d like to invest in it.
Having lessons online will also help familiarise you with the technology. This is a very useful skill, as performing online and recording videos is becoming more and more important in the industry. So embrace the internet and see how it can change and improve you as a musician.
Related Questions
- How much do online music lessons cost?
YouTube lessons are completely free, but they aren’t personalised. The cost of one to one tutoring will vary enormously but can start from as little as £15 per hour. Expect in most cases to pay £20-£30 and more for in-demand coaches.
- Can you play music in Zoom?
Yes, you can share video and audio clips with those in your ‘meeting’. Click on ‘share computer sound’ to activate this function. You can also perform a whole concert or gig over Zoom – just remember the 40-minute limit if you’re not a paid user.
- Are singing lessons worth it?
Yes, provided you have a good teacher who knows their stuff. Do a google search, ask around and read reviews and testimonials. Check if your local recording studio offers vocal coaching or can recommend anyone. Take a look at online tutoring sites and see who has great credentials.
Are you a teacher who uses Skype or Zoom? What have you found to be the best platform for online and remote music lessons? Let us know how you do it in the comments below.