You will need a high-speed Internet connection.  We can connect over Skype or Zoom (you can simply download to attend meetings, but getting an account will allow you to pre-set some important options for optimizing sound for lessons). I prefer Skype for people with only one external camera.  However, the Zoom option to participate in a meeting with multiple devices has allowed us to get more views with less time wasted.  It is good to have a backup.  Updates of all platforms occasionally make online lessons more difficult, and all platforms break down occasionally.

Obviously, you will also need a webcam, and it’s best if you have a laptop computer. An Ethernet cable that allows you to attach your computer directly to your router may improve our audio and video quality to a surprising degree.

A webcam that you can connect through a USB port is ideal. It allows you to attach your webcam to a tripod that you can move around so I can see your hand and arm from many angles. At the same time, you can position your laptop in front of you, on your music rack on your grand piano, or on the top of your upright piano. With the computer in front of you, you can see my demonstrations easily. You may need to attach your webcam by rubber band to your tripod, although webcam manufacturers are beginning to include a tripod thread in some products. This is not as handy as I thought it would be – now that I have that option, I do not use it.  Attaching with rubber band allows me to quickly move the webcam to show my students different views.  I do not recommend a webcam with three or four feet, because it is difficult to secure to a tripod.

As of this writing, I use a Logitech C920 webcam. All my students who have this model are happy with it. You don’t have to have a Logitech C920, but do check out reviews carefully before buying any webcam. The previous model, C910, is also fine.  The newer model, C930, has features that are not necessary for lessons but works as well as C920. For our lessons, there are enormous drawbacks to using the webcam embedded in your computer.  Turning to see my demonstrations can cause you neck pain, you will not know when I am trying to get your attention, and you cannot move the camera around so I can see what I need to see.  A good webcam and a tripod will be your allies!  If you want to take your first lesson with the embedded camera so you can determine if the format is productive for you, I understand.  Just bear in mind that you are not getting the full experience, and plan to purchase an external webcam if you decide to continue.

Use the tallest tripod you can find. It’s important for me to be able to see your hands and arms from above. Another option that works tolerably is a Joby “Gorillapod.” It has short, flexible legs that allow people to secure it to many locations. I can usually see hands and arms adequately from above when students use the Gorillapod, but a tall tripod is better.

You can see my setup in the picture above.  I can push my music rack far enough away so I can rest my laptop on the music rack and the case.  My webcam is connected to a tripod, and plugged into a USB port on my computer.  Some of my students rest their laptops on the side of their music racks or on the top of their upright piano case. 

All that said, options and creative solutions have multiplied since music teachers moved online because of COVID-19.  Audio booms, devices for holding phones or tablets, and music stands stacked on chairs have all been pressed into service.  It has been heartwarming to see the determination and creativity music teachers have brought to the crisis in the attempt to provide a sense of normalcy to students without adding to the stress of parents who find themselves working at home while homeschooling, and heartwarming to see how many people stepped up during that busy time to help others with their setup.  Tech companies have also rushed in to provide equipment to a world full of online workers.  Less heartwarming behavior resulted in the $69 c920 webcam being available only for $350 for a time.  As of this writing, it seems to have settled at a cost of around $130 for delivery within a couple of weeks, although B&H lists it as backordered at $69.

If you would like to improve your online lesson experience, you can find many helpful pages about much more equipment than I have listed here.  Hugh Sung created two helpful pages that include equipment recommendations and instructions for optimizing lesson quality over Zoom: How to teach online piano lessons and Cheaper ways to teach piano online.  Here you can see a helpful page about three optional setups David Barach recommends for his students.  Some of those suggestions may work for you.

RECORDING YOUR LESSONS
My students who record their lessons progress faster than others — often much faster. Please try to find a way to record your lessons that will be convenient for you to listen to or watch after the lesson. Some of my students use a simple audio device, and others use a separate video camera. Skype and Zoom have their own call recorders, which can work fine if your upload and download speeds support it.  If not, the audio and video quality may be affected.

Some of my students only make recordings after they have understood something fully in a lesson. This is helpful in two ways: first, describing the new skill helps them understand it even better; second, they end up with only a few minutes of recording per lesson – making it easier to review the recordings afterwards.

FEES
The first lesson is free of charge.  When you schedule your second lesson, I’ll send you a link to a web page through which you can pay for lessons through PayPal.

Fees for online lessons:
1½ hours (90 minutes): $155.  Plan on this length for the first two lessons and decide if you want to maintain that or scale back to 1-hour lessons afterwards.
1 hour (60 minutes): $105. The standard length.
½ hour (30 minutes): $55 Useful only for quick checks and for students of my students whose teachers are present.

ONLINE LESSON POLICIES

• Lesson fees are not refundable.
• Payment is due within 24 hours of the lesson.

An unusual cancellation policy.

• If for some reason I run late, or have to miss a lesson, of course I will make up that time.
• I understand very occasional cancellations. I do not need to charge for them, if you cancel before our start time.
• If cancelling lessons becomes a habit, I will let you know that you need to pay for the previous cancelled lesson before we schedule another lesson.
• If you cancel more lessons than you take, I will stop scheduling lessons with you.

When the technology breaks down.

• I do not make up time lost because the student’s set-up takes longer than expected.
• If we establish within ten minutes of our start time that we will not be able to work because Skype or one of our internet connections is down, we will just reschedule.
• If we lose more than ten minutes trying to make it work, we share the pain. If we lose 20 minutes, I make up 10 minutes. If we lose 40 minutes, I make up 20 minutes, etc.

If you choose to pursue work with The Well-Balanced Pianist teachers or participate in a Well-Balanced Pianist program, it is important that you make any suggested changes mindfully and with the goal of learning easy, happy, lively movement at the piano. Changing things changes things, and teachers are always making choices about what to address. It is crucial for you to tell your teacher if you experience pain or discomfort during lessons.

Because the outcome of any training depends not only upon the teacher but also upon the quality of mindfulness, attention, and perspective the student brings to the work, we cannot guarantee any outcome, result, or improvement from participation in The Well-Balanced Pianist lessons or programs. For the same reasons, The Well-Balanced Pianist is not responsible for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, or other damages, including, but not limited to economic loss, injury, or illness, that may result from participating in The Well-Balanced Pianist lessons or programs.

The information contained in or made available through this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Please plan on taking two 90-minute lessons to get started – you will have many questions, but I still want you to get a good idea of something important during that first lessons. Your first lesson is free of charge. This is to establish that our technology is set up well and that you learn effectively in an online lesson (people who need the kinesthetic experience of the teacher moving their hands and arms may not find online lessons effective). While we will likely exchange important information during this time, please do not expect to answer all your questions in the first 90-minute session.

Some people prefer 1½ hour lessons for the long term too, although most people cut back to one hour after the first two lessons.

If you would like to schedule a trial lesson, please start by filling out the form below.