My Distance Learning (e-Learning) Setup

My distance learning (e-learning) setup allows me to get to what I need quickly and produce videos I am happy with. I can have virtual meetings if I want to while feeling confident that I am getting my job done well. It helps that I enjoy new tech, but absolutely is not necessary to be successful!

One more time: I love technology. Really, I do! I’ve used an iPad for reading sheet music for years (and sometimes forget it is not a never-ending book of music), use a Bluetooth pedal to turn pages, and live on social media to a fault. But being “in the spotlight” is not exactly my forte. My high schoolers love to take Instagram photos and make TikTok videos. But I’m a perfectionist and would drive myself crazy trying to get the "right shot."

So in order to be “live” for VIPkid (see this post for more on that), I had to quickly learn what works and doesn’t work in live, digital production. I adapted some of those techniques into my digital music classroom.

Full disclaimer: I am not an expert! Not even a YouTube influencer. This is what works for me in my home, digital workspace.

Welcome to my space!

I typically work from a small office space in my house for blogging and computer work because there is a desk. This is not that space. When we bought our new home, the intent was to give in person piano lessons in this space. You can see how that plan has a flaw, now! But for distance learning in music, I need my instruments. Pianist = not mobile. (I’m envious of you instrument carrying folks).

The instrument situation.

My little music corner.

☑️ Guitar

☑️ Uke

☑️ Recorder

☑️ Piano

❌ Xylophone (nope, didn’t bring it home)

My acoustic guitar got left at school. It is a $10 garage sale find and has iffy sound in person on a good day. The electric guitar sounds better. I only use instruments in distance learning videos that have a good sound. I don’t record my acoustic piano because it needs tuned and I want my students to get used to appropriate tuning. I have used my uke because I can hold it close enough to a sound receiver (my phone’s audio or headphone mic) to get a good sound.

Let me say it again: I only record instruments that I can get a good sound from. The digital piano can be inputted through Garage Band, but that’s an extra step for me. I turn the volume up only as loud as it needs to be. Using Voice Memos on my iPhone, I can see when the sound waves spike and my volume is too loud. The recorder… I use it sparingly. Like almost not at all. My kids didn’t get to take theirs home anyway. Pro tip about recorders: point them away from the recording source.

The video situation.

With digital piano lessons, this is really easy. I Skype or Zoom in with a student, make sure they can see my hands in case I need to demonstrate, and have my copy of their music handy for following along and making notes.

Front recording phone: I can see what's happening!

The ideal situation is to have my iPad (full of music, remember?) in front of me and use my phone to listen and watch them play.

With digital classroom lessons, I am not synchronous. Nobody is making me be synchronous, and my administration gives me a lot of freedom (thank you!). I open up to a wider angle when possible and include whatever instrument I want. Turn the phone on its side and I have a whole room! Note that I do not show dances right now. You saw the room, where would I dance? And with whom? I also don’t think my kids would follow along with me. Know your audience. ☑️

The lighting situation.

What my piano students can see, minus me.

Did I mention I love technology? What about that I am a perfectionist? I don’t want to record something if it looks like it is done in my basement and the camera angle adds 30 pounds. PSA: Don't hold your camera in your lap. That’s my preference. In an ideal world, I back-light my camera as much as possible and minimize lighting behind me. As you can see from above, there is no back light, but side light. The light from this window seems to do a good job for me right now. I’ve used a standard lamp to backlight the camera before. Use your camera's light adjustment settings. I click around on the screen until the lighting is just about right, and then try to not move around too much.

The distraction situation.

Right now, my house is mine to work in during "working hours." That being said, my cat wants attention if I’m talking to the camera.

Here's the "cat tax."

She’s pretty needy and confused why I’m home talking to “myself” a lot. My friends want to chat because most are working at home or waiting for instructions from home, so I get texts and messages. Work still sends me emails. What I’m getting at is that the distractions are life. In my classroom, people come in and out and we acknowledge them and move on. I take the same practice with my virtual classroom. My cat comes in, I acknowledge her, and move on. Phone buzzes and I’m recording on it, I swipe it away and move on. People know how technology and life works. It’s humanizing.

What situations are you dealing with in your distance learning classroom? Are you teaching from your living room, the kids' toy room, you refrigerator (kidding, that's just me constantly wanting snacks)? Let’s normalize some of the situations together and get comfortable in this distance learning environment while it is our reality!

Be well.