Can You Take Violin Lessons Online?

Many of you who have been following my latest blog posts have seen my articles about the value of violin lessons online and even the value of in person violin lessons in the first place. The focus of today's article is in regards to the feasibility of learning the violin online, since the very idea of this concept is so new to so many.

The short answer is that yes, you CAN take violin lessons online. Even before the COVID-19 Pandemic, violin teachers from all around the world were starting to push the boundaries of the traditional violin lesson, by offering their services on platforms, such as Skype, Facetime, and WhatsApp. Once March 2020 rolled around, Zoom became the preferred medium of communication for so many, particularly because of its better connectivity, less lag time, and superior audio in relation to the other aforementioned services.

Online Violin Lessons are not just limited to live lessons though. There are plenty of teachers who have made their own Free Violin Courses Online and the videos are often easy to find on Youtube or Google. For the novice who is not yet sure about his/her time commitment or general commitment, this is a great way to get started and dabble a bit. But beware - it's very easy to develop bad habits and learn incorrect technique if you do not have someone who is able to correct you in real time - so beware of the free stuff out there! Yet, the free violin videos online are often a great way to get to know a teacher's style and personality.

So let's delve into the topic of live violin lessons online. In order to make live violin lessons online a successful pursuit, you need 3 things:

A good setup

A teacher who can explain violin technique in a patient and methodical way

A quiet room with no distractions

Let's talk about each part of the list above.

A Good Setup

A good setup means that you have an internet connection that is fast enough, a good microphone, and the right settings on Zoom. Those of you who read my article called Are Online Violin Lessons Worth It might have seen the link to Susanna Klein's blog post on violinist.com that goes into more detail about this topic. Note that the technology is always changing and getting better, so it is entirely possible that by the time you read this article, the information may be out of date! We also talk about the pros and cons of online violin lessons in the former article of the two.

A Teacher Who Can Explain Violin Technique in a Patient and Methodical Way

I cannot state how crucial it is that your violin teacher is patient! Unlike in the private in-person lesson, you will not have the luxury of non-verbal communication. Your camera angle or your teacher's camera angle might also not be able to capture the "big picture", meaning that you will both sometimes have to make adjustments to show various techniques. On the bright side, doing so allows you and the instructor to really focus on the physical technique being shown.

A Quiet Room With No Distractions

If someone else in your house is vacuuming next door, you're going to find it very hard to have an online violin lessons. Furthermore, your microphone might pick up the noise. Just because you're at home doesn't mean that you can let your kids or child's siblings run around and disturb. You'll have to make sure that the environment is conducive to learning.

I hope that this article has been helpful to you. Happy practicing!

Daniel Broniatowski, D.M.A.
Maestro Musicians Academy
violincoursesonline.com