Welcome! Sign up for your 1-time virtual lesson below.

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!

Please only sign up for a time at which a parent/guardian can be available to chat and help out. In some cases we will need extra help setting up Zoom to hear the instrument properly, and in all cases we want parents to be aware of what is going on with their student. You may be able to hang back as a casual observer for much of it, but it will be extremely helpful if you are there to help if needed.

After signing up below, you will be given an automated message with a confirmation of your lesson time and a link to the Zoom room that will be used for the lesson.

1 - Put it on your calendar. If you miss the lesson, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to reschedule. There are a lot of students entitled to this time, and the teachers will be moving into other phases of their job after the deadline.

2 - Prepare Zoom.

2.1 - You will need Zoom on a tablet or preferably a laptop/computer. Phones do not have the correct audio settings.

2.2 - Download the Zoom app on your device.

2.3 - In Zoom, you need to set up the audio to cooperate with instruments. Otherwise it will cut out the sound. Follow these prompts to get the correct settings

> Settings

> Audio

> Scroll down and select “Original Sound for Musicians”

This is usually enough to have Zoom ready for you. In some cases we’ll need to make adjustments together in the meeting.

3 - Prepare your setup.

3.1 - You will need to plan out the placement of the device, the music stand, and the student. We do not need to be able to see their music. We need to be able to see the student though. It does not need to be utterly perfect, but we should be able to see their face and their hands. For strings, we really need to be able to see both hands. For winds, it is helpful to be able to see hands and a good shot of the students face so we can asses their embouchure. For percussion, we need to be able to see their hands, and a full view of their eyes as well. Not too far away, please. You want to find that sweet spot where we are close enough to make assessments and catch fine details, but not to where you are too close that we are missing important things like student posture.

4 - Pick what you will play. The instructors don’t know you off the top of their head. There will be a quick introduction and then to get the most out of your time, we will start playing! Please have at least one song from the Tolbert Music method book that you feel really confident on to start with. The instructor will take it from there - they may ask easier songs, harder songs, and they may ask if you are working on anything outside of the book.

5 - Be ready!! You need to be 100% set up before the lesson begins or we will lose precious time. Once we are in, that will count as the one lesson you are entitled to, and we want you to get the most out of it.

We look forward to seeing you in the lesson!