Hope everyone is doing well and that you had a nice Spring Break. I know some plans had to change.
Until the COVIV-19 threat has passed and schools reopen, I will be doing online lessons only. I have an 83 year old Mother-in-law in town (PLEASE don’t let her know I shared her age) and my sister, who lives with us, is a high-risk person due to her health issues. While this is a new thing for some music educators and school teachers I have taught online lessons and developed online educational tools since 1998. Teaching from my home office will give me access to more tools than I can carry with me at in-home lessons. It will just take all of us adapting to a change in process. We’re all going to be dealing with all sorts of change for a while.
ZOOM I will, starting next week, be using Zoom https://us04web.zoom.us/ for the lessons Some of you may utilize this tool at work for conferences. This works on; iPads, iPhones, Anrdroid phones and laptops. Please install this a day or two before the lesson so you, and your child, can get familiar with it.
Here’s some good information on joining a meeting; https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-How-Do-I-Join-A-Meeting- We will do video lessons. If you are accessing via a phone download the app. They should join via the app or a browser, not by calling in to a meeting. One thing to always check is that the audio is unmuted. Next week I will schedule a little extra time between lessons in case we need any troubleshooting.
You will receive an email or text with an invite to your meeting (or meetings for multiple students) please keep this information handy.
FINANCES The cost of lessons will remain the same. If your job is at risk and we need to make some temporary adjustments, please let me know. I will do my best to work with you. I would rather that students continue the continuity of lessons with all of the other disruptions going on in everyone's lives. On that same path, all of my public performances have been canceled for the near future. I have more availability to teach. If you know any; students or adults interested in; Piano, Synthesizer, Songwriting, Computer Music, Trumpet, Improvisation lessons please share my contact info with them. Any successful referrals will earn you a 5% discount on your lesson (or one lesson for multiple lessons) with a maximum discount of 15%.
Some of you may find that you prefer this approach to teaching. My gas tank would appreciate that if it works that way.
As always, contact me with any questions or technical issues. I’m glad to help.