Hooray! We’ve completed two months of online lessons. I’m very proud of my students for their hard work, effort, and ability to adapt to the conditions imposed by Covid-19. They worked diligently on their Sonatas and Sonatinas for the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Sonata Festival. They focused on their technique requirements for Achievement Day. In addition to weekly private lessons, we had two online class lessons—-one in April to celebrate Beethoven and get acquainted with some of his most famous music (built into a jeopardy game), and another in May to practice with lead sheets and some bass accompaniments and some rhythm work. We divided into breakout rooms for some practice performances for the Sonata Festival. Soon, my students will present their recital pieces in an online recital. Additionally, three young students (ages 8, 8, and 9) will complete Solo Piano Recitals (online) by mid-June.
I miss having students come to my door. It is easier to teach in person and I’m able to give them sight-reading projects more easily. But with online lessons, I feel that the students have been a little more independent in writing comments in their music (fingerings and dynamics etc.). They must follow my directions carefully to find the measures we need to work on and they are learning to play the specific measures I ask for so that we can use our time effectively during the lesson. It’s also easier to demonstrate and have them play back to me. Plus, my lesson notes are 100% legible since I’m typing the lesson assignments. I’m grateful I’ve been able to continue seeing them regularly during these unusual months.
The first photo below was taken during the high school student’s class lesson. They are each working independently on a lead sheet project which they shared after a few minutes of independent work.
The second photo is the intermediate group.
