On March 14th, after the schools had been closed, we made the decision to close our doors as well. We then spent March Break preparing to go virtual. Like any other road, this one has had its ups and downs, but on the whole, it has been a very rewarding experience.
The first few lessons, I have to admit, were a bit shaky. As a teacher, you are so used to just grabbing a teaching tool, or just showing the students how to do something, or where to look on the page. That’s not so easy over the computer, so we have had to get creative with the use of multiple devices and digitizing teaching tools. At the beginning of my very first on-line lesson, I remember having the sudden realization that I didn’t have the student’s homework book to write notes in … it was at home with them!
After having addressed all of the logistics of virtual lessons, the next big hurdle was quality of sound. Sometimes it cuts in and out, and you only know if they are doing the right thing if you keep counting and they come back in at the right place and time. We have also found that all of the little nuances we try to teach, like balance, dynamics, piano pedaling techniques, often get lost over the internet. We have even had to rethink some exam choices because of this issue.
On the other hand, though, there have been so many positive things that have come out of this experience. We still get to see our students and their families once a week. They are practicing more than ever, and are all making amazing progress in their studies. We have incorporated a lot more use of technology and on-line resources to enhance their lessons and engage them in learning. We are developing a whole series of interactive on-line courses, ranging from Early Childhood Music to Audio Production, that will become part of our regular curriculum.
The thing that I am most excited about, however, is our Year End Celebration. Since our students are missing so many of their milestone celebrations, we decided that we needed to offer some form of recital at the end of classes. We wanted to incorporate all of the things they usually do (solo performances, group rhythm ensembles, singing, dancing), and we also wanted to give them the opportunity to invite their relatives. So, we planned an interactive on-line event scheduled for our normal recital day, and told our families that they could invite guests. Much to our surprise and amazement, the world has decided to join our little school! We have guests from all across the country, from Vancouver to Halifax. We also have guests from around the world: India, South America, Asia, Europe, Mexico, Great Britain, Egypt, the US. The list is growing by the day.
We are so grateful for the support our students and their families have given us during this time, and look forward to seeing them again in person.