Special to the Retailer

Improving Your Virtual Lessons 101

By Sam Reti

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, MI retailers were forced to change many aspects of their business, from sales and rentals to repairs and, no doubt, lesson programs. With a lot of lesson teachers being of older age, along with lessons typically taking place in confined rooms, retailers with lesson programs are still experiencing hesitancy around safety when it comes to returning to in-person lessons.

And while many programs have gone virtual during the last year, concerns surrounding the quality of the audio and video have abounded. Luckily, there are a few ways you, as a retailer, can help improve and streamline your teachers,’ students’ and parents’ experience. Let me break down a few easy ways to do this.

1. Be organized and consistent

It might sound simplistic, but good organization makes a huge difference in all aspects of life, including your lesson program. I’ve come across teachers using a variety of platforms to share documents and communicate with parents and students, and it can get very messy very quickly. Have your teachers send lesson reminders and assignments to students via one platform, whether that’s email, Google Docs or another solution. This makes it simple for the parents and students, so they don’t have to search multiple platforms to find what they are looking for. Plus, using one platform eliminates the hassle of having to remember a slew of passwords. To help streamline the teacher’s work, I strongly suggest building a content library that can be easily shared. Scan books and worksheets rather than giving out paper copies. Remember, digital is king.

2. Don’t be afraid to branch out and use external gear to improve quality

Provide your teachers with external mics, cameras and ring lights that will vastly improve the audio and video quality of your students’ lesson experience (if you can’t provide this equipment yourself, urge your teachers to get their own). Remember, student retention is key, and kids are more likely to quit — with parents more likely to not see the value in the lesson — if they are having a negative audio or video experience. While hearing every note of a students’ playing can be tricky with an online platform, this can be greatly improved when using the proper gear. And due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are now a slew of great options on the market when it comes to ring lights and external mics that won’t break the bank.

3. Use online lessons as an opportunity to grow your program

With in-person lessons, teachers are limited by time and amount of lesson studios at your store. With online lessons, teachers no longer have to share studio space and, if willing, can greatly increase the number of students they are teaching. In fact, teachers can take on larger groups of students at once. Where 10 students might not fit into one lesson room, there is certainly room for everyone in a virtual lesson room.

4. Consider making hybrid lessons a permanent offering

As pandemic restrictions begin to lift, the role that virtual conferencing plays in our lives has no doubt changed, and, most likely, it won’t be going anywhere any time soon. Online lessons are here to stay. Many students prefer the flexibility of being online, and so do their parents. Allowing students to pick their preferred method of learning will make your program more enticing. If your studio is offering online, in-person and hybrid lessons, students will be more likely to choose your program over another thanks to the flexibility you offer. You can also take advantage of technology to minimize makeup lessons and rescheduling by providing online or pre-recorded lessons when a student is unable to attend their regular lesson time. Personally, as a teacher myself, I don’t offer make-up lessons. I use the hybrid method and record a video of what we had planned to cover and send that to the student in place of the lesson. It works better for everyone’s schedule, and parents and students walk away feeling like both their time and money is valued.

5. Consider using technology specifically built for music lessons

There are a few software programs on the market developed particularly for lesson programs. While Zoom and Google Hangouts may be a good option for your average business meeting, software designed specifically for music lesson programs feature the proper audio connections to be able to hear each note and every nuance of a student’s or teacher’s playing. Plus, many of these software options store all essential tools teachers and students need in one place, from sheet music to practice materials. Some programs even feature practicing and dueting capabilities. All of these advanced features greatly improve the lesson experience.

While virtual lessons may not seem ideal compared to their in-person counterparts, taking these steps are sure to improve the virtual experience, increase student retention and allow you to potentially grow your lesson program.

Sam Reti is the founder of Muzie.Live, a virtual music studio for online, hybrid and in-person lessons.