TC187: Noa Kageyama and Rob Knopper on Maximizing Results with Online Lessons

Are you a piano teacher and tech newbie trying to figure out how to maximize your results with online lessons? In this episode, I’m sharing audio from a webinar I conducted with Dr Noa Kageyama A.K.A. The Bulletproof Musician and Rob Knopper from the MET Opera Orchestra. 

You’ll get heaps of ideas to help you get started with your first online lesson or improve your current ones. We share tips for setting up your tech, teaching approaches to use, steps to becoming more effective as an online teacher, and so much more. 

We can all agree that for beginners in online teaching, it’s hard work at the start with a bit of a learning curve for some of us. But if you persevere to learn about using the right equipment and systems you need, your journey to online teaching will only start to go upwards from there.

Transcript of the Show

If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to jumpstart your online lessons:

• [05:18] The tech you need to get started with online lessons.
• [06:24] Working on your online teaching workflow.
• [10:05] Benefits of teaching online.
• [12:53] Examples of making online lessons better.
• [16:05] An effective way of teaching students.
• [18:33] Two approaches to teaching online.
• [22:50] Setting up your tech ahead of time.
• [27:00] Tips for taking notes and writing exercises during an online lesson.
• [31:35] Can you play together with your student during online lessons?
• [33:19] The best platforms and settings you can use.
• [37:15] Suggestions for teaching young students online.
• [38:28] Are online ensemble-based lessons or rehearsals possible?
• [39:40] Recommendations for tech equipment investments.
• [42:41] Marketing your piano lessons online.
• [44:14] Websites to check  when looking for piano teachers online.
• [44:48] Convincing skeptical parents to avail online piano lessons.
• [46:33] Teaching rates for online versus face-to-face.
• [47:29] Zoom vs Skype.
• [47:58] Microphone recommendations for piano students.
• [52:32] Using 2 cameras with Zoom.
• [53:56] Plugging in more USBs in your computer. 
• [54:10] The issue of using bluetooth headphones or microphones when going live.
• [54:39] Using headphones for students and teachers during lessons.

Resources and Apps in this Episode

• TopCast Episode 21: Performance Anxiety: Helping Students Cope – the Bulletproof Musician
• Internet Midi
• Logitech c900
• AudioTechnica 4040 Microphone
• ManyCam

Links Mentioned

• Noa Kageyama A.K.A The Bulletproof Musician Website
• Rob Knopper Website

About our Guests

Photo Credits for Noa Kageyama: Rosalie O’Connor Photography Instagram | Facebook

Noa Kageyama is a performance psychologist and a part of the faculty of The Juilliard School.

Rob Knopper plays percussion with the greatest orchestra on earth: the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He studied at Juilliard and was a fellow in the New World Symphony.

Thank you for tuning in!

In conclusion, there are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run.

Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons!

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