On the move? Can’t find the right teacher?
Now you can take violin and viola lessons with Laurel from anywhere!
In early 2009 I began considering an online lessons option for my teaching studio. First and foremost, I wanted to provide in-person students with a way to still connect when making their lesson was impossible for whatever reason. Secondly, there is a strong military and foreign presence in Monterey, CA, where I have my lessons studio, with the Defense Language Institute, Naval Post Graduate School, and Monterey Institute of International Studies here in town. I’ve had many students, both children and adults, who were only here
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Testimonials for live online violin and viola lessons with Laurel:
"We have been SO pleased with our violin lessons via Skype with Laurel Thomsen. When we moved internationally and could not find suitable violin instruction for our son we began searching for a teacher who’d be willing to do this. Laurel was quick to answer my inquiry and set up a time that worked for both of us to do a "trial run". After she had a chance to meet our son and get a feel for his ability, we determined that this could be a good fit for us and began weekly lessons. We have had almost no trouble with the connection speed, and the sound quality and video have been great. Laurel’s explanations are very clear, so she is able to fine-tune our son's technique even without being able to physically help him. She is extremely patient, very upbeat, and has had lots of good ideas to hone our son's violin skills and keep him interested and motivated. She has also recorded sound recordings for him to aid in his practice and has always been very prompt in replying to any questions. In-person lessons are obviously best, but when in-person lessons are impossible, lessons with Laurel Thomsen via Skype are a very close second and a great option for anyone."
~Mary,
mother of an international violin student
"Laurel's not strict, gives you time to practice and fix up what you're working on, and finds new ways to make her style of teaching fun."
~Skyler,
international violin student
“Skype has given us the freedom to still have Hana's violin lesson when we are unable to make the trip to Laurel Thomsen’s home studio. We have used Skype during my surgical recovery, and when Hana has been a little under the weather. Hana likes it because it’s fun, different, and introduces a new element to her lessons. She enjoyed taking the laptop camera on a tour of her bedroom to share her room with Laurel. Getting set-up was inexpensive and extremely easy. We will continue to use Skype for violin lessons whenever necessary, and maybe just because we want to!
~Cathi,
mother of a violin student
for a year or two before moving elsewhere, often internationally. Many of the students I kept in contact with unfortunately quit playing shortly after their moves because they either couldn’t find a violin/viola teacher in their area, or any that were a good fit for them.
I taught my first lesson via Skype in early June 2009. It’s been three months now and so far I have been very happy with the results I’ve had teaching via Skype. Technology really has come a long way! It’s really like having the student in the room with me, yet I might be seeing and talking to them on the other side of the world. Many of my in-person students have taken advantage of the Skype option when they can’t make the lesson in person, or when it is just less stressful to jump online rather than in the car. I have also taught purely out of area students in other states and internationally with great results. Managing time-zones/daylight savings time with international students has taking some figuring out (www.timeanddate.com is great!!), but so far we’ve always been able to find something that will work even if daytimes/night times are nearly opposite!
A couple bonuses I’m discovering so far:
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• Since a large portion of my income comes from my teaching studio, I am very excited about the possibility of opportunities to travel more while taking my work with me.
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• I can’t catch the flu over the internet!
Update 6/17/2010:
It’s been a year since I launched the online violin and viola lessons portion of my studio and I’m happy to report that I’m still enjoying this way to teach non-local students. With students now in other states and internationally I’m thrilled to be connecting with awesome individuals who otherwise would have few to no options for lessons where they live. For those who have caught on, it has been helpful for managing the lessons of my in person students as well. I’ve been able to continue teaching several students while they were on extended vacations and otherwise still connect at regular lesson times with many who couldn’t make it in person for one reason or another.
Besides the Skype platform, I’ve recently experimented with iChat for Mac users. As a Mac user, one frustration I’ve found with Skype for Mac is that the sound is only half duplex - unlike a telephone, we can’t interrupt. We’ve found ways to make that side of things work, but if you’re a Mac user as well, iChat offers the possibility of full duplex. I’ve been looking into the possibility of installing Windows on my Mac and running Skype for Windows when connecting with other Windows users as it is full duplex.
Live Online Violin, Viola or Fiddle lessons via Skype or iChat
Q & A:
What are the set-up costs?
Skype is completely free to download. Just go to www.skype.com
Many newer computers and laptops have built in cameras and microphones, otherwise, a webcam/mic can run as little as $20, and upwards from there. I have a MacBook laptop and use the built in camera and an external mic, though the built-in mic is totally adequate.
You’ll of course need internet connection and a high quality broadband connection is best for video calls.
If you are a Mac user, iChat (as well as built in cameras and mic’s!) comes with your computer and will simply need to be setup.
Is there latency?
I haven’t experienced much latency at all. In fact, even if the video freezes momentarily, which does happen from time to time, the sound most always continues on in real time. I’m still working on the ability to play duets with students online, but the issue I’ve been experiencing has not been related to latency.
Can you really correct a student when you’re not there in person?
I hasn’t been any more challenging to identify playing problems and help students fix them with online lessons than with in-person lessons. Since I can’t move around the student to look for problems with instrument or bow hold, I may need to ask a student to reposition his/her body so that I can see the positioning in question. Though at first this might break the flow of the lesson, in my experience, students quickly get used to having to move and turn occasionally and instruction becomes seamless, just like in-person.
What are the cost of lessons with Laurel via Skype?
The same as for in-person lessons - $30/half hour, $45/45minutes, $60/hour.
You may send a check or money order, or pay with PayPal. For PayPal payments I charge an additional fee per transaction as determined by your country of residence. View my Teaching page for more information about my teaching philosophy and lessons with me in general.
Can lessons via Skype work for kids?
Though Skype may not be ideal for very young students, so far I’ve taught lessons via Skype to students as young as 6 with no issues. The fact is, most kids these days are skilled computer users and enjoy being on it. Sometimes they actually seem more focused online than in-person!
Can lessons via Skype work for a beginner?
Though I have not taught a strict beginner via Skype yet, I see no reason why it couldn’t work. One exception might be with a young beginning student where sight just isn’t enough and a teacher really would need to be there to manually adjust instrument positioning, bow hold, etc..
What support do you offer students outside of lessons?
Like with my in person students, I am always available to answer questions by phone, or email. As needed or requested I will make practice recordings. Also, check out my podcast for more help with technique and ear training.
