When we send our kids back to school, we load them up with a towering pile of supplies— three binders, five notebooks, two dozen pens and pencils, and a box of markers that will dry out in a week. Because of that, we get excited when kids start online lessons, thinking we can take the day off from supply shopping.
But just because your kids don’t have to leave the house to go to lessons doesn’t mean they don’t need supplies. Here’s the equipment for online piano lessons that you’ll need.
Piano
OK, so this one was pretty obvious. But since we don’t usually have to haul a piano to in-person lessons, it’s easy to forget that we need to supply our kids with their own set of keys.
Fortunately, you don’t have to stress about finding a particular type of piano for lessons. If you have an old upright piano that’s been in the family for generations, you can use that. If you have an electric keyboard that plays the Titanic theme when you hit the right button, that works too. Just make sure the piano is in a well-lit room with internet.
Computer or Tablet
Speaking of the internet, having a device that can access it is the second most important piece of equipment for online piano lessons. Both tablets and laptops work well for lessons as long as they have a working microphone and camera.
If not, you can always buy the accessories separately. Even if there is already a camera and microphone on your laptop or tablet, sometimes buying a separate accessory can help improve sound and video quality, depending on your device.
Charger
Nothing is more awkward than being halfway through your rendition of Gymnopédie only to have to leap off the piano bench because your tablet’s about to die. Even if you charged your device before your lesson started, it’s a good idea to keep it plugged in throughout. That way, you don’t have to worry about interruptions.
A Light
Remember what we said about putting your piano in a well-lit room? Even though music is primarily an auditory experience, your teacher still needs to see what you’re doing to help you improve. And it being light enough to see your sheet music doesn’t mean it’s light enough for your teacher to see you.
This isn’t to say you need to add a professional Youtuber-tier lighting setup to your list of necessary equipment for online piano lessons. Just make sure there is a light in front of your student and not behind. Otherwise, your student will look like an anonymous interviewee from a true-crime documentary, which won’t help them learn piano.
Ready to get started on the piano? We supply the best music lessons in Portland. Or you can try taking lessons online from anywhere.
