Learn how you can make online teaching easier and more effective for you and your students. In this podcast episode, we dive deep into the unique teaching approach of Stephen Hughes who has been teaching piano online for a decade. He blends old and new methods of teaching with an emphasis on creativity and strategic practice. We’ll take a look today inside his virtual piano studio!

Stephen shares his teaching methods and tech stack to get you started with online teaching in no time. I, myself, learned something very interesting from this conversation. It just goes to say that whatever stage you’re at with online teaching, you’ll surely get valuable and simple tips, tricks, and advice in making your online lessons click.

Transcript of the Show

If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below.

In this episode, you’ll experience a look inside a successful virtual piano studio:

• [06:38] How Stephen started with online teaching.
• [08:56] His studio, classes and students today.
• [09:50] Recorded vs. Live lesson approaches
• [11:33] Advice for teachers who are new to online teaching.
• [14:12] Software and apps to use for beginners.
• [16:58] Tricks for using books and scores when teaching online.
• [17:57] Tips for setting up audio in Zoom.
• [19:39] Advice for teaching kids online.
• [23:25] Scheduling breaks when teaching.
• [24:58] Setting up your student’s camera the right way.
• [26:44] Correcting students & Demonstrating remotely
• [28:38] Score sharing with ForScore
• [31:29] Changing your approach with teaching scores online.
• [32:37] Key things to remember for online teaching
• [33:28] Methods he uses for teaching students online.
• [34:35] Stephen’s Tech Stack
• [39:22] Top Learnings from a decade teaching online

Links Mentioned

• • Virtual Music Room Facebook Page
  • Virtual Piano Studio Website
  • Virtual Piano Studio Facebook
  • Virtual Piano Studio YouTube
  • Virtual Piano Studio Instagram
  • Stephen Hughes Email
  • Software, Apps and Tech Mentioned
    • Zoom
    • Piano Safari
    • ForScore App
    • Pathways to Artistry Repertoire Book 1 – Rollin
    • Wirecast

About our Guest

Stephen Hughes is a professional pianist, online piano teaching specialist and music technology trainer. He started teaching online a decade ago and went full time in 2018. His online abode is called the Virtual Piano Studio where he teaches a growing community of students in all ages and skill levels. His students come from all over the world, particularly in the U.S., China and Australia. Stephen holds a National Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) designation which is the highest honour a private music instructor can receive in teaching.

Thank you for tuning in for a look inside this virtual piano studio!

In conclusion, there are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run.

Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons!

If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page.

Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally.

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live.