Using a new modality in your teaching can be both daunting and rewarding.  Many music teachers faced a new challenge in teaching during the pandemic, learning how to teach online when that was the safest option.  Many have continued to include online lessons in their studios, whether it is a hybrid approach of online and in person or strictly online.  The following shares the benefits of integrating online lessons into your teaching practice.

1. Families appreciate the flexibility.  There are times when a doctor’s appointment or a parent/teacher conference at school throws a wrench into the family schedule.  Online lessons allow the student (and you) to maintain continuity in your lessons if a student can’t make it to the usual lesson time.
2. Teaching online allows for teachers and students in areas that don’t have access to high quality education or access to students to receive these resources.  It also helps to facilitate a smooth transition for students who move to a new area and don’t have a new teacher yet. They can continue working online with their current teacher until they find the right fit. 
3. The teacher or student is feeling slightly under the weather?  The responsible thing to do is stay home and not spread germs but what do you do when you still want to make progress with your students?  Meeting online allows for both!
4. Teaching online improves your communication skills.  As a teacher you will find that your communication skills increase exponentially when you are working through a screen and can’t necessarily point to the music or physically correct finger placement in a bow hold or piano hand frame. You will be more specific and direct with your instruction and that will cross over to your in person lessons as well. 
5. Teaching online gives the student/parent more responsibility for writing in their music or lesson note assignments.  This allows for greater engagement and learning.  
6. Teaching online can give those students who have difficulty leaving their home (due to disability, social difficulties, etc) access to a quality education that they might not otherwise have access to.  
7. Teaching online allows for more creativity in the lesson space.  Teachers have access to more resources by having the computer open and sharing their screens. There are many resources available (as well as fun games for students) online that aren’t typically used in an in-person lesson.  
8. Computer literacy.  Some teachers developed their teaching skills well before computers were used on a regular basis. Incorporating technology opens up opportunities for students and teachers to learn how it can help them stay organized as well as make music lessons fun for their students in different ways.  
9. Teachers have access to lessons at all times of the day and can tailor lessons better to their ideal work times.  Teach in all time zones or all over the world!

Teaching should allow for progress and growth for instructors just as learning does for students.  Ideally we are evolving in our teaching practice and consistently bringing in new ideas and resources to benefit our students.  Teaching online with a platform like Muze, designed specifically for music lessons is a great way to breathe new life into your teaching and bring excitement to your students.  Online lessons don’t need to be subpar if you have a platform that helps you and your students create lessons!  Muze is the kind of platform that teachers could have only dreamed of a decade ago.  It is an all in one platform that is ideal for music lessons as well as a practice space for students once the lesson is over and the practice begins. 

Muze offers a 21 day free trial where you can access all the tools to elevate your teaching game. Get yours at teachwithmuze.com!