Getting started with online piano lessons isn’t difficult or expensive. In fact, you probably already have most of what you will need to become a piano student with Dr. Lory. Here is a brief rundown of getting set up for online piano lessons.
Piano
For online piano lessons, you will need either an in-tune acoustic piano or an electronic keyboard with 88-weighted keys. If you have an electronic keyboard, the instrument should be touch-sensitive which lets you change volume by varying the pressure on the keys. It will also need a sustain pedal and an una corda pedal.
Computer or Tablet
You will need a computer or a tablet with a camera. I do not recommend you take piano lessons using your phone. The screen will be too small and you will miss a lot of the details. Most modern computers and tablets will work fine for your lessons, but let’s discuss what you have might need when we meet prior to your first lesson.
Web Camera
The camera included with a laptop or device will work fine. You may want to consider using an external camera so that you can position the camera in a way that I can see both you and your piano. The place where you take piano lessons in your home should be well-lit and have some additional camera-specific lighting so that I can see you and your piano clearly.
Internet Speed
Streaming video back and forth requires a solid internet connection. Before starting piano lessons, you will need to check your provider’s Internet speed. The Zoom support site, publishes minimum upload and download speeds:
- For 720p HD video – 1.2Mbps (up/down)
- For 1080p HD video – 3.8Mbps up /3.0Mbps down
We will be streaming at 1080p. Despite the minimum upload and download speeds published by Zoom, faster Internet speeds are always better, providing you with a smoother online piano lesson experience. There’s an easy way to find out how fast your Internet speed is. Visit the Speedtest.net website and click the big Go button. You will get both your download (video from me) and your upload (video from you) speeds. Then, you can compare them to the recommended Zoom specifications.