classical piano teacher

6 quick solutions to Zoom FAQs for piano

March 1, 2023
[lwptoc]

How to beat your rhythm problems?

Rhythm problems can be caused by many issues. Using Dalcroze Euryhthmics approach to music study can give you a quick resolution.

Below are six quick solutions to Zoom FAQs that will improve your online piano lesson. Perhaps you have experienced difficulties in one of these areas: your computer dies in the middle of an important meeting, you hear strange sound feedback or distortion, your lighting is too dark or the wireless signal on your device is weak. How frustrating!

Charge  device

Make sure that your devices are 100% charged (it's an easy mistake to make), and keep it plugged in. A video session consumes much more power than your average computer session. Be prepared, and you'll avoid complete disruption of our time together for your piano lesson.

Echo & feedback

Audio feedback is the ringing noise (often described as squealing, screeching, etc) sometimes present in sound systems. It is caused by a "looped signal," that is, a signal which travels in a continuous loop.

How to avoid feedback?

One way to avoid feedback from your computer is to turn on "Use Original Sound." I ask all my students to do this.

Distortion

Even a quiet speaker nearby may end up heard in the lesson. If the kitchen is next to the piano room, the software may focus on the sound of water running and oven doors opening and closing rather than the student. Software can also alter the volume of one voice (i.e., the piano student) if it perceives another “participant” speaking (i.e., children running).

Internal microphone

The microphone or sound source, like a computer, can overload with sound. For example, the microphone can't handle the volume level which it's detecting and thus distorts the sound that it's sending into the sound system.

External microphone

If these external sounds are impossible to control, perhaps you can use an external USB microphone to better control the direction of the intake. Headphones can also prevent this from happening, and even improve the quality of the music from both ends. But remember we still need to hear each other’s voices.

Lights

Sensors in many cameras pick up visual ‘noise.’ Too little or too much light can affect the image quality more drastically and in ways you don’t expect.

Camera

Check out your setup a few minutes before a lesson. Try to reposition your camera to avoid these issues. Lots of grain means more light. If the keyboard is solid white, your shot is overexposed.


Router

What is the distance between the lesson area, your device and your Internet signal? If you are across the house from your router, the connection speed will likely be rocky, regardless of your speed. Perhaps try to experiment with the location of your laptop/tablet or with the location of your router. Small changes in either could make more of a difference than you think.

Can't get a signal?

What else can interfere with your signal? How about a microwave that uses the same frequency or an electrical panel that is nearby. Plus, a less recent model device and/or older technology cannot be ignored.

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