Online music lessons for kids: what works and what does not

Online music lessons work for many children, with two conditions. The child can stay on task for the length of the lesson, and an adult handles the setup. They are harder for young beginners, who need a teacher to move a hand or fix a posture. A parent in the room helps close that gap. Many families use a mix: lessons in person most weeks, and online when travel, weather, or illness gets in the way.

What works well online

• Lessons for children of about eight and up who already have some basics
• Piano, where the teacher can see both hands from one camera
• Theory lessons and exam preparation
• A specialist teacher who lives far away, such as a harp or bassoon teacher
• Weeks when your child is well enough to play but should stay home
• Keeping lessons going on a long trip

What is harder online

Posture and hand shape. In person, a teacher can move a wrist or a bow arm. Online, the teacher has to describe it, and a parent may need to do the moving.

Playing together. Video calls have a short delay. Teacher and student cannot play a duet or clap in time with each other. Teachers work around this with recordings for the student to play along with.

Sound quality. A laptop speaker changes the tone. The teacher hears the notes and the rhythm well, and the fine points of tone less well.

Tuning. A young violin or cello student cannot tune alone. A parent has to learn to do it before the lesson.

Attention. Many young children find it harder to focus on a screen than on a person in the room.

How to set up the camera

Piano. Put the device to one side of the keyboard, at about the height of the keys. The teacher needs to see the hands, the arms, and how your child sits.

Violin and viola. Stand the device a few steps away. The teacher needs to see from the knees to above the head, with the whole bow in the picture.

Cello. Place the device a few steps away, a little to the bow side, so the bow arm and left hand both show.

Wind and brass. Show the head, the hands, and the upper body from the front, turned a little to one side.

Use a stand or a stack of books. A device in a parent’s hand shakes.

How to set up the sound

• Choose a quiet room and close the door
• Turn off fans and other noise in the room
• Use a wired internet connection, or sit close to the router
• Close other apps and stop other streaming in the house during the lesson
• Look in the video app’s audio settings for a music mode. It may be called “original sound.” It stops the app from cutting off long or quiet notes.
• Skip headphones for the student on acoustic instruments, so both ears hear the playing

The parent’s job

For a child under eight or nine, plan to sit in.

Before the lesson. Set up the device, tune the instrument, and lay out the books, a pencil, and the assignment notebook.

During the lesson. Be the teacher’s hands. Move the camera when asked. Point to the bar the teacher names. Write down the assignment.

After the lesson. Ask your child to tell you the three things to practice this week.

Questions to ask an online teacher

• Have you taught children this age online before?
• How long is the lesson for a beginner?
• Do you send notes or a recording after the lesson?
• How do you handle tuning and posture?
• What do I need to have in the room?
• May we record the lesson for practice at home?

A live teacher or an app?

A video course or an app can show notes and songs. It cannot see or hear your child. A live teacher can, and a beginner needs that feedback. Apps and videos work best as extra practice between lessons. Read piano apps for kids.

Signs online lessons are working

• Your child can say what to practice after each lesson
• The pieces improve from week to week
• The teacher corrects posture and sound, not only notes
• Your child stays on task for most of the lesson

If these are missing after a term, try shorter lessons, a parent in the room, or a teacher in person.

A checklist for lesson day

1. Charge the device and set it on its stand.
2. Tune the instrument.
3. Open the books to this week’s pieces.
4. Put a pencil and the notebook within reach.
5. Log in five minutes early.
6. Send siblings and pets to another room.

Next steps

For how to pick a teacher, read how to choose a music teacher. For the two lesson formats, see private vs group music lessons. Keep time between lessons with the metronome for kids and track the week on a weekly practice chart. For the wider picture, see the parent’s guide to music lessons.