In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, it seems like everything that used to be in person has moved online or to a virtual format. I’m a big fan of online voice lessons, but I know that this format can still be unwieldy for students and teachers who aren’t used to it.
Online lessons offer a ton of personalization and flexibility, but there are logistical hiccups that can occur. Here are 5 ways to Maximize your Zoom Lesson, with a printable FAQ sheet to share with your colleagues and student:
1. Prepare your sheet music
Since you can’t be in the same room as your teacher, they can’t use the physical copies of sheet music you might usually bring to lessons. Help keep the lesson moving smoothly by sending your teacher PDFs of your song. It can also be helpful to name the file something easy to search; I would suggest including the song title and your name (“7759wnjf986201nmfkd.pdf” can be difficult to locate).
Mark your music every 8 measures with a timestamp of where that part of the music is in the accompaniment track (see more about accompaniment tracks next). This will help you navigate to the right part of the song quickly. If you share this marked copy with your teacher as well, they will be able to choose convenient places in the music to start, minimizing downtime in finding your place in the music. Below is an example of how to do this in the song “When I Leave the World Behind” which is also a free sample song on Appcompanist.
2. Prepare your Accompaniment Tracks
Good accompaniment tracks are the key to a good online voice lesson. Appcompanist and PianoTrax are two services that have nice piano tracks for singers.
Before your lesson, make sure that the piano track you want to use is in the same key and at an appropriate tempo (the same goes for choosing sheet music, but that’s a post for another day). Listen through the entire track to make sure it lines up with the version/edition of the sheet music that you have; some tracks have made cuts or adjustments, so you may need to make note of this.
If using Appcompanist, confirm the key and tempo, but also know that you can change these easily in the app. If you’re using this app, play around with some of the advanced features like key changes, tempo changes, melody line, and the fermata button so that you’re comfortable with them before your lesson.
3. Get the Right Technology
Of all the video conferencing software, Zoom has the most robust audio settings, which makes it the best for taking online voice lessons. Zoom is available on your phone, tablet, or laptop, but it really works best with a laptop. If at all possible, use a laptop for your online voice lessons to get the best audio quality.
Noise cancelling over-ear headphones are not recommended, because they hinder your ability to monitor your own singing. It’s fine to just use the speakers on your laptop, but if you want to use headphones you should try using a wireless earbud in one ear (leaving the other ear free).
For accompaniment tracks, use a speaker other than your computer or headphones. A small bluetooth speaker like the Tribit XSound Go will work well, and your phone's built-in speaker will work in a pinch (if it isn’t loud enough, you can always try putting your phone in an empty ceramic coffee mug).
4. Setup your space for success
Laptop placement is key. You want to make sure that the screen is at eye level (when you are standing) so that you don’t have to compromise your alignment in order to see your teacher.
If possible, give yourself some room to move around (especially if movement work is a typical part of your lessons with your teacher).
If you have a music stand, place it nearby so you can see the music and the laptop at the same time. If using a portable speaker, place the speaker near you, but not too close to the laptop or the accompaniment will drown out your voice.
5. Get the most out of Zoom settings
Zoom is pretty powerful software, and the creators built in features to make the audio smoother for most people using the service for work. This includes minimizing echo sounds from the room and noises like the tapping of your keyboard as you type. Unfortunately, when these settings are enabled in a voice lesson, we lose some of the intricacies of the singing voice and sometimes can’t hear the singer at all! Luckily, Zoom has ways to disable these settings, which will allow your teacher to hear you more clearly:
1. In Zoom, click the up arrow next to the microphone button and click on Audio Settings.
2. While in Audio Settings, make sure that the box next to Automatically Adjust Microphone Volume in NOT checked.
3. While in Audio Settings, click on Advanced.
4. Make sure that the box next to Show in-meeting option to “Enable Original Sound” IS checked
By knowing a few of these tips and tricks, you can minimize downtime and maximize efficiency in your next online voice lesson. Best of luck, and happy singing!
FAQ SHEET
Take a look at this FAQ sheet where walk through the answers to your questions step-by-step.
