So you wanted to learn music and never had the time? You even bought a violin, or a guitar, and let it lie in a corner of your apartment, gathering dust? And now, thanks to the “lockdown”, you are working from home and without the hassle of commuting to and from office, you are suddenly saving up to two hours every day !  But alas, now that you have the time, you can’t really travel to a music school, or to a teacher for classes….is there a way out?

Yes, there is! Can you stay at home and still learn music? Yes, you can!  Enter the new world of online music lessons.  

What do you need to really make the best use of these opportunities to learn music from the comforts of your home?

Firstly, and most importantly, you need an excellent teacher. That is the most important piece of this project.  There are many online platforms, and even within them, there are a few that are run by, and staffed by qualified musicians and teachers. You know the instrument you want to learn, so check the pedigree of the teacher you will learn from.   

Secondly,  make sure you have a good quality internet connection/ broadband.  You will need to run a video call for an hour, so you should have make sure that your router is properly set up.  Connect over 5 Mz band if possible for the best speed, and check your connection using sites like www.speedtest.net The space between your location (where you plan to sit for the classes) and the router is not blocked by walls.

Thirdly, check for lighting.  Candle-lit dining rooms are meant for romantic dinners, not learning music over a video call.  Ensure your place is well lit and the light is falling on you (and not placed behind you, falling directly in the camera).  You want your teacher to get a very clear view of you posture, finger positions, etc. 

Fourthly, make sure you have the right equipment – typically a laptop.  Place it at the correct angle to help the teacher to get a good view of your posture and instrument.  Do a trial call with a cousin or friend to make sure your set-up is correct.  Mot laptops have very weak microphones.  For best results, you should wear an USB microphone (or something similar) – the better the microphone, the better the quality of sound that the teacher can hear. 

I have been continuing my music lessons over Skype and Teams for the past few weeks with  Maestro Michael Makhal, including a special course on “The Theory of Music” with Maestro OP Roy through the online platform www.musiclesson.in  .  It has been a very fulfilling experience- more so because both are professional musicians with a lifetime of experience, and experienced teachers and instructors. 

Author – Suvabrata Sinha

Director, Cyber Security & Identity and Access Management at NXP Semiconductors

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