All Change! How I adapted to the online world during a global pandemic.

It started with social distancing, then strict government restrictions resulting in a new strange locked down UK, none of which is conducive to business of a musician. I’ve spent the last ten years building up a successful diverse business focused on delivering lessons within schools, one to one private tuition & performing at a whole range of events. I felt very secure and a global pandemic was never quite on the list of things that I felt may impact my work.

Like many I found my hard work crumbling around me. School closures one day, gigs I had booked for over a year were cancelled & then clients were hesitant to book face to face private tuition. In a matter of days it was almost all gone.

However, my students were still keen to learn and began to enquire if I would continue to teach online? It was something that had been on my radar for a good while but I’d never given it a go. I was keen to get stuck in, and quickly began a world of Zoom invites and the unmistakeable Skype call tone. Within a day I’d found my feet and discovered the many positive benefits of online tuition.

“One beneficial outcome was discovering I could teach students who were out of reach for geographical or time constraints. I’ve reconnected with an old pupil in London who has a busy schedule and began teaching ukulele to a student in Buckinghamshire.”

The lesson dynamic was very different but I found students focused more, soaking up what was being said, some of my younger students even yielded better results. Students have become more self-sufficient, their guitars now tuned before the lesson & music ready to go. I completely changed my approach to teaching for the better with more planning in advance, preparing bespoke PDF’s, making sure teaching materials could be screen shared and referenced in real time. I found myself spending time after lessons sending the student’s videos, reviewing certain aspects I’d like them to work on or perhaps giving a tutorial on a passage they found difficult.

As many teachers across the UK changed their method of delivering lessons exams boards are also beginning to follow suit. RSL (Rockschool) now offer a fully online exam process for students studying grades: Debut to Grade 5. This is a really positive move, a lot of my students can find exams stressful and the timeframe of only three exam sessions a year not helpful.

It’s worth saying, online lessons aren’t always perfect. You can’t play along or accompany a student in real time and you are very much at the mercy of a decent broadband connection. Despite this, online lessons aren’t better or worse, they’re just different.

I’m really pleased I’ve been able to support my students in this lockdown, giving structure, goals & focus where for many individuals that has gone out the window. I'm looking forward to the time when its safe to go back to face to face lessons but until then I'll see you all online!

David