Performing Arts

Online Music Tuition

Music

Online Music Tuition

Tim Simpson
Music Tuition Coordinator

Online Music Tuition

Scott Loveday

Background information

Delivering Music Tuition online has become a reality with the current situation surrounding COVID-19. For students that have chosen to self isolate, or in the case that the College is directed to close, we are in a position to deliver your son’s music lessons remotely. For all essential purposes the school day for your son(s) will be the same at home, just in front of the computer or device rather than physically on site. This means they will need to follow some protocols. Protocols are detailed below.

Equipment & learning environment

All students will need a dedicated room / space with the required equipment set up:

  • their musical instrument
  • a music stand (not required for piano)
  • sheet music / print resources
  • a device with camera and audio enabled

Some boys have access to other devices which can enhance the lesson experience; they are welcome to use these, such as higher quality microphones, sound systems or reference speakers. Some boys may choose to use headphones to reduce the risk of feedback. It’s worth noting that a decent headphone extension cable is likely to be necessary to allow enough distance from the device to the playing position. Students or parents may have to check settings on their microphone and/or speakers for optimal conditions during their lesson.

Note: as for all other classes, boys must be wearing their Scotch sports uniform for the duration of their online lesson

Delivery software

All online lessons will be delivered through the video meeting functionality of Microsoft Teams, which is available on any platform or device.

Lesson procedure (students in Year 5 through 12)

Students are expected to attend their music lesson online at the same time as they would normally be scheduled to attend any lesson in person. Students and parents should refer to the lesson timetables by clicking on one of the timetable buttons available through this web page.

  1. During periods 1 through 4, students are to message their class teacher via chat to be excused from class to attend a scheduled music lesson. During periods 5 and 6, there are no classes running, so there is no need to be excused from a class.
  2. Music Tutors will send a message to the student through “Chat” in Teams asking if they are ready for a video meeting; boys are to respond to the message when ready to start their lesson.
  3. The tutor will initiate the video meeting through Teams
  4. The student will answer the video meeting request.
  5. The lesson will commence.
  6. At the conclusion of the lesson, the Music Tutor will end the lesson and close the video meeting.
  7. Boys will receive a reminder of their lesson time automatically through their calendars

Parents are invited to sit in on any lesson. Staff or students may choose to record the lesson if they desire.

Lesson procedure (students in Years Pre-K through Year 4)

Music lessons for boys in Pre-K through Year 4 will require a parent or guardian to provide the device for communication between the music tutor and the student. The parent or guardian must also remain present with the student for the duration of the lesson.

  1. If using a PC or Mac, a web browser (chrome or firefox) will suffice, but if using a tablet or smartphone, parents will require the Microsoft Teams app to be available on their device. Signing in or signing up is not necessary.
  2. Prior to online lessons commencing, music tutors will send parents an email containing a link to the video meeting which will remain active for the duration of online lessons. They will be invited to ‘Join as Guest’. We encourage this method for lessons.
  3. At the scheduled lesson time, the parent/guardian will click the link sent via email.
  4. The tutor will then initiate the video meeting through Teams
  5. The video meeting will connect.
  6. The lesson will commence. The Music Tutor may choose to record the lesson and will advise accordingly.
  7. At the conclusion of the lesson, the Music Tutor will end the lesson and close the video meeting.

Note: Only parents who request online music lessons for boys in Pre-K through 4 will be provided an online option. Please make contact with your son’s tutor to ascertain the provision of an online lesson. In lieu of parent contact, as a default position, music tutors will use scheduled lesson times to prepare packages of work for the boys to complete. Information concerning the packages of work will be emailed to parents at the conclusion of lesson time each week.

The value and benefit of music at this time

Despite this period of rapid and constant change, the Music Faculty encourages parents to support boys with their music tuition and regular practice as music-making has such a positive effect on mental health and well-being. This is incredibly important at this time. We envisage many boys having extra time on their hands. This is a wonderful opportunity for boys to spend some dedicated hours further developing their craft.

As a parent recently commented “Thank goodness we can make music at home and that can’t be taken away from us. Thank you for that gift.”

Key contact people

Ms Lynley Fudger – Administration Assistant (Music & Events): music@scotch.wa.edu.au

Mr Tim Simpson – Music Tuition Coordinator: tim.simpson@scotch.wa.edu.au

FAQs

What is required of me as a parent?

If you are a parent of a boy in Pre-K through Year 4, you (or a suitable guardian) will need to be present for your son’s lesson and set-up/provide the device for his lesson to be conducted through. This can be any form of computer, tablet or smartphone. Remember, if using a tablet or smartphone, you will need to have the Microsoft Teams app installed.

If you are a parent of a boy in Year 5 through 12, you don’t need to do anything for lessons, other than support your son to receive the best lesson delivery experience possible at home. Refer to the equipment and learning environment section above for detail.

What happens if my son is still attending the campus while online learning is in place?

Music lessons will occur as normal (in person) until the close of Week 9A. From Monday 30th March (week 10B), the following procedures will apply:

Middle & Senior School boys

Boys should bring their instrument to school as normal on their lesson day and attend their normal practice room at their lesson time with their usual equipment (including laptop/iPad) and instrument.

Junior School boys

The boy’s supervisor for the day will check in with him about his music lesson.

 

What happens if a music tutor is ill or unable to teach during the scheduled lesson time?

The music tutor will inform their students via Teams, and parents via email, that they are unable to teach that day. Their lesson will either be rescheduled for another day and time or the value of the lesson will be credited to the parent account for the following term.

If your son’s music tutor is unable to teach online in the event of a full school shutdown for any reason, the same policy will apply.

What happens if my son does not attend his online lesson?

If a student does not attend his scheduled online music lesson, the Music Tutor will make every effort to contact him via Teams (chat), Teams (video call) or email. Fifteen minutes after the lesson time commences, the Music Tutor will record the student as absent and then spend the remaining minutes of lesson time preparing material to upload to OneNote that can be accessed by the student for the following week’s practice. Missed lessons through general absence will not be rescheduled or credited.

Any missed lesson will be communicated with parents.

Can I ask the music tutor to teach my son privately during this time?

Our Child Protection policies do not allow staff to travel to private homes to deliver music lessons. Similarly, staff are not permitted to invite students to receive private tuition in person at their homes or home studios.

Will staff be on site at school or off site delivering lessons?

The majority of our staff will be on site, delivering lessons from the College campus. Some have personal circumstances that prevent them being on campus at this time, so these staff have been approved to deliver their online lessons from their home studios.

What is the cancellation policy for music tuition?

As it stands, the College cancellation policy requires families to give one full term’s notice for the cancellation of lessons. We are aware that some may feel apprehensive about receiving lessons online. Having trialled online lessons for individual students recently, music tutors and boys have reported the lessons being very successful. Each music tutor has worked extremely hard to prepare lesson material and delivery in this new environment. We’re confident that each boy will continue to progress successfully throughout this time.