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How To Get The MOST from Your ONLINE GUITAR & MUSIC LESSONS!

January 13, 2025by @dmin

This is for my online Guitar Students  (Bass, Uke, Dulcimer, Ableton, Zithers, etc) to get the most out of your lessons…

Its also to give ideas to other music teachers and music students who might find it helpful.

-I use Skype for most music lessons. New students: Please add me: bradleyfishmusic
–If you’re a Zoom person, or into recording/looping, please read, otherwise you can skip to Online Lesson Tips
Zoom lets you share audio, which is really cool. I’ve done remote mixing sessions with mix engineers halfway across the world-Amazing. However, due to having more audio options, more audio problems tend to occur, and Zoom is more complicated to troubleshoot than Skype.
For music, I find that Zoom is best for experienced computer users, and mainly for students/users who own an audio (recording) interface. Otherwise, I prefer to go Skype for simplicity.
Zoom-ers: Please set up a meeting and invite me (Free USA Zoom accounts are limited to 40minutes).
Online Lesson Tips:
-Its ideal (but not mandatory) to use a desktop or laptop computer w/an ethernet cable. Big and multiple screens are awesome, too.
-Wi-F is less ideal but usually works fine.
-A tablet is bigger than a phone, so at least thats a little nicer.
– If possible, please connect an ethernet cable from your modem/router to your computer – instead of using WiFi. You’ll get the best quality connection/experience. They’re like $6 and you probably have an ethernet cable in the closet. Just Do it!

(If you just have Wi-Fi, or just a phone, etc its ok for now, its OK – we’ll optimize over time.)

-Please test your webcam and audio/mic before the session – Go to the Skype Audio/Video Preferences for ‘Make a Free test call’ self-test.

-If you own a recording audio interface please use that w/a good mic. A USB Mic (i.e. Blue Yeti) is also a good option. Remember to select your audio interface or USB mic, and your camera in the Skype (Or Zoom, etc) preferences.

– I’ll call you at your lesson time. Sometimes sessions can run over a bit. If I’m 5 minutes late, PLEASE call me. If I don’t answer on Skype, please call me on 217-552-9407.
-Sometimes I may be traveling.

Things to have Handy (ideally):

–  A Tablet or Phone w/Metronome / Beats:
-On Android: ‘Beatz’; On iOS: ‘Garageband’. Both have: ‘Pro Metronome’

– A Way to play YouTube on your side so I can hear it through your mic. (i.e. same mobile device)

– Pencil or Pen & Paper – Old School – or open a Document on your computer

–Picks, strap, amp, capo, TUNER, stand, sheet music/Tabs you want to learn, etc.

-List of questions/requests – please start w/ questions /requests at the beginning!

-Please Tune up beforehand if possible

-Have some water, etc – Be comfortable.

– Remember to Press Record on Skype/Zoom. I’ll use Multi-Cam and fretboard animations —  and you can watch back later!
Thanks! Looking Forward!!!!
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