Finding Online Music Lessons

I’m a music teacher, teaching at my own home studio and I feel strongly that the best way to learn an instrument is by taking lessons from an appropriate instrumental teacher.  This can be an expensive undertaking, so practice between lessons is essential to make the most of lesson time.  Not much progress will be made if practice time is lesson time!  Interest is lost on both sides and frustration sets in.  But practice is a huge and separate issue, which I will tackle in my next blog.  My point in this blog is that face-to-face is best, as lessons can be tailored to individuals.

Sometimes however, private lessons are not possible.  It may be that there is an issue reaching a teacher, a disability or lack of money.  This is when online tuition courses come into their own.  For this reason I have looked into these online courses to see what is on offer, and to see if it was worthwhile  creating a course myself.  Much to my surprise, I found there was a huge demand for these courses, and unfortunately for me a startling amount of sites that do it rather well. There are even review sites which compare courses and rate them.  I have no intention of trying to duplicate this work, but intend to look briefly at a few that caught my eye, and which I now recommend on my site.  I don’t think children would follow online courses for long.  They require too much self-discipline.  Perhaps for a certain child, working together with an enthusiastic adult, such as a parent, it just might work, but all these courses are aimed at adults, young or old, though children of course are not precluded.

1.  Keyboard or Piano courses are very popular.  Here you are in luck, as there are many.  Two caught my eye. Piano For All I found particularly appealing.  Music is learned through playing in various easy-to-pick-up styles, which makes it possible to play satisfying music right from the start.  Yet skills are built up quickly and thoroughly.  There are 10 books and a series of videos and audios accessed through the books.  There is lots of interesting material and I felt by the time I had worked through them, I would certainly know a lot about music, and would also have the roots for playing by ear in different styles, a real plus in a piano course.  My second choice is Rocket Piano, another excellent course.   This one rates very highly in reviews and it is certainly well done.  Again it is very thorough with good progression.  The approach is more traditional, the way I would teach in my studio.  It is very good, again with well-written material, including videos which give the necessary practical help.  There are also links to free helpful programs.  I liked the more hands-on, quick progress approach of Piano For All but if you want traditional teaching this may be your best bet.  Need to look at both and see which you would prefer.

2.  Guitar lessons must surely be up there near the top in the popularity stakes.  Again there is such a spread of wants and teaching approaches.   Again I liked two with very different approaches.  Jamorama is an acoustical guitar approach, though could be used for any guitar.  It rates well and has a good structured approach.  I was attracted to Crash Course Beginners Guitar Lessons for its play first, then learn approach.  I feel if I was an adult wanting to have some fun, this would be the way! The approach seems back to front if you like.  But for many people, this is what we would like to do, isn’t it – pick up a guitar and instantly play some tunes?  How exciting!!  We are taught where to put fingers, for instance to play an Elvis song, which we have then mastered by the end of the lesson.  While we are doing this, we are learning about strings – just in case you thought it was too easy.

3.  Drumming lessons….Drumming is a personal passion of mine!  Am I a drummer (no)!  Do I play at all (no, not really)! …. So why is it a passion?  I love the ’60s beat; I love the way drumming is therapeutic – 10 minutes a day can lift the mood;  and I love the way the sense of rhythm is trained, essential for every musician.  Drumming is amazingly difficult but Jim McCarthy makes it so accessible in Begin Drumming.  There may be better courses, I have to admit I didn’t look far as I looked at this one and decided it was the one for me.  So I’m now indulging in drum lessons and thoroughly enjoying it!

So if you are curious about online tuition check out the links.  Or look for reviews and find what you are really after.  Good luck!