Are Online music lessons for me?

The prevalence of technology and the recent pandemic has opened many new opportunities for online music learning. In an increasingly globalized world where the use of technology is growing rapidly, some of our students have chosen to prioritize the flexibility of learning music through both online and physical forms.  

Image in the middle: Louvré museum in France, Image on the right: Marina Bay front in Singapore  (Source from FreePik)

​Catherine Pua, who started in-person guitar lessons for the initial 2-3 months at Learn 2 Play Music Academy, had to switch to online lessons due to her work commitment in France. 

We have invited her to share with us her learning experience at our school, “I had to travel to France and be away from Singapore for 4 months, but I did not want to miss any lessons during this period. The school was really flexible in arranging and ensuring that this virtual learning could take place despite the 7 hours of time difference between Singapore and France. I must also give credit to the guitar teacher who not only enabled meaningful learning to take place, but he has also challenged me intellectually to always go the extra mile after each lesson to improve on new techniques and knowledge. This remains an important aspect in sustaining my interest in the guitar and in music.” 

Although Catherine was in France, she was able to learn the guitar from one of our teachers at Learn 2 Play Music Academy, who taught from Singapore through online platforms. 

​What exactly is online learning?

Online learning involves the use of digital platforms to enable students to attend lessons remotely through the use of the internet. In the context of a music lesson, teachers will conduct lessons through a video conferencing application. ​

​How is this different from traditional learning?

Traditional learning is in-person learning where it involves the physical face-to-face interaction between the teacher and the student. ​

What is hybrid learning?

Hybrid learning is a mixture of in-person and online learning but it occurs when online lessons are used to replace some face-to-face classes. The purpose of hybrid learning is to accommodate students who may be living in a different location and are unable to attend classes physically for a temporary period of time.

​Image from FreePik

What are the benefits of online music learning?

Convenience
Attending music lessons online will save you the time and hassle of travelling. Online music lessons are especially helpful for students who might need to travel to another country or a further location temporarily. 

Comfort
Having a lesson in the comfort of your own home will give you the flexibility of finding the most suitable environment where you can learn with maximum productivity. Attending lessons from home will also give you additional time to prepare and warm up before the lesson begins.
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More effective learning
Online lessons will give you the flexibility to practice immediately after the lesson has ended. This will encourage more effective learning as you will be able to promptly apply what you have learned during your lesson. 

​What are the drawbacks of online music lessons?

During an online lesson, your teacher cannot physically assist you to adjust your fingers to correct your technique on the instrument. Hence, you have to be very focused and attentive during your lessons. 
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Online  lessons can also be disruptive  if you shift your focus  to do other things on your device during your lesson. “Face-to-face lessons will encounter lesser external interference when a student is facing the instructor. With online lessons, I am sometimes tempted to read and reply to some emails that come in during the lesson,” Catherine added. There may also be distractions at your home that could hinder your ability to concentrate.

What should I consider before signing up for online music lessons?

To join an online music lesson, you will need a location with a good internet connection to ensure clear communication with your teacher. In addition, you will need a device with a working camera and microphone, and this could be your computer or smartphone. Furthermore, it is important that the device you are using enables your teacher to be able to see and hear you play on your instrument clearly. 

​How do I sign up for online/hybrid music lessons?

Learn 2 Play Music Academy welcomes passionate and enthusiastic students like Catherine, who embraces life with a positive and courageous mentality. “Live life, love life, have a passion for learning, and take the time to hone and perfect skills,” she said. 
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About 8 years ago, Catherine also overcame the fear of water, and she now enjoys swimming in both breaststroke and in free-style. Catherine also learned French and wrote  a thesis in French for her Masters Degree in Sociology. 

Catherine has shared some of her thoughts about our school. “I will definitely recommend the school to anyone who wants to pick up the guitar, at any stage of learning and at any age,” she said. 

So, what are you waiting for? If you are interested in exploring your learning styles, you can register your interest with us here right away!