Music teachers can use online platforms such as Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Skype to deliver lessons. Claire and I have published our own tips and advice about how to do so, here.
David Taylor, a music entrepreneur who founded the Yorkshire Young Sinfonia, has some extremely helpful advice about teaching online (and other subjects) and we’re pleased to bring you this interview with him.
David is a former jobbing cellist who works with globally-known orchestras and arts organisations, and with individuals. He is an expert in using digital technology to deliver arts and performance projects. He’s been described as an arts innovator and featured in a Forbes magazine 30-under-30 list.
Alongside my YMTS and communications work, I also present a weekly business and social enterprise programme on Sheffield Live, an FM radio station. I’ve wanted to interview David for a while. This episode of the Business Live show will be broadcast on FM radio on Friday 20 March but the podcast is available here already, since it is crammed with practical advice about how to teach through online platforms.
It’s a must-listen for self-employed teachers and it also covers livestreaming performances and building online businesses.
Which online platform should you use to teach? What are the pros and cons of each for giving music lessons? How do you teach effectively through a video-call? David is generous with his advice and tips.
We talk, too, about how to live-stream music performances and events. Again, there’s lots of practical knowledge here based on David’s experiences, covering platforms and techniques, from simple setups to multi-camera affairs.
The programme also includes ideas about how to generate or supplement your income through online business activities. And we cover increasing access to, and participation in, music.
Here’s the podcast. Click the large arrow to play, or hover over the media player and click on the icon on the bottom right corner to download it.
You can also access it in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, numerous other podcast apps or Spotify.
What next?
- David has written a detailed article about teaching online, which is here.
- We have published our own tips and advice which we hope you will find helpful, here.
- Listeners will already know that the coronavirus pandemic and the disease (Covid-19) it causes is having a dreadful impact on people’s lives and health. Many people have already been asked to work from home if they can. The measures we need to (and clearly must) put into place to protect people’s health, will also put jobs and livelihoods at risk.It seems likely that music teachers will, whether voluntarily or under direction, cease teaching face-to-face for some time. But this doesn’t mean they have to stop teaching altogether. Please listen to this interview with David for essential advice. And read our tips here.
- More interviews here on the YMTS website.
- Why not sign up to our email newsletter to hear about new interviews and advice, and all starting with our free 29 tips for a thriving music teaching business? We promise that our 29 ideas will give you things you can do immediately to boost your music teaching business. They’ll also make you smile.