Your cart is currently empty!
Do Online Singing Lessons Work?
Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links. The Tutor Resource is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program as well as other affiliate programs. These are designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites at no extra cost to you. Please see our full disclosure for more details.
If you’re thinking about offering singing lessons online, you might be wondering if they’re worth your time and effort.
Can people really learn to sing online? The answer is yes—online singing lessons work and can absolutely help students improve their singing voice.
In fact, many students who take online singing lessons find that their voices improve much faster than they would if they were taking traditional in-person singing lessons.
This blog post will cover just a few of the reasons why online lessons can be just as effective as traditional in-person lessons when it comes to singing classes.
Reasons Online Singing Lessons Work
Have you ever wished you could teach singing lessons but couldn’t commit to traveling to and from a physical location for each session? Or maybe you live in a remote area and don’t have many student options nearby.
Whatever the case may be, let’s discuss why online singing lessons offer a viable solution.
It’s Convenient
One of the major reasons that online singing lessons work is that they’re convenient. You can offer them from anywhere in the world and at any time of day or night. That means no more spending hours in traffic, which can save you time and money.
Nor do you have to worry about downtime between lessons. All you need is a computer or mobile device and an internet connection, and you’re good to go. You can do other chores at home in between your teaching sessions.
Plus, if you have a busy schedule, you can schedule your lessons around your other commitments, such as work or child care.
So you can usually find a time that works for you and your student—even if it means teaching your lessons at 2:00 AM to students in other global time zones.
Singing Lesson Time Won’t Be Wasted on Warming Up
If you teach singing lessons in person, oftentimes your students won’t properly warm up because they’re too focused on their commute. Once they arrive, you then have to spend up to 15 minutes warming them up.
Warm-ups are non-negotiable when it comes to teaching vocals. If your student is a beginner, or if you are teaching a new technique, always make the time to warm up with your student.
It can be helpful to create a targeted warm-up program for each student. It’s also important to make sure your students know how to properly warm up since this will determine how effectively they perform during their practice sessions.
You may also be sure that your pupils receive the greatest benefit from the warm-up since it teaches them the method by which they will sing their repertoire.
In instances where the student is completely comfortable with the song and the method, online lessons have a huge benefit. With an online singing lesson, your students can go through their warmup on their own before your lesson starts.
They’ll be prepared to jump into singing at the start of your lesson. And you’ll have more time to work on the actual songs with your voice student during your lesson time.
You Can Give One-on-One Attention
With online singing lessons, you’ll usually be able to give more one-on-one attention than you would in a traditional classroom setting.
That’s because most online instructors only take on a few students at a time so that they can give each one the individualized attention they deserve.
And since it’s just you and your student, there’s no need to worry about competition between the rest of the class. Each student can move at their own pace.
This is ideal for beginners or those who feel they need a little extra help.
There are Fewer Distractions
In brick-and-mortar classrooms, there are all sorts of distractions that can make it difficult to focus on your lesson. But when you’re offering lessons online, there are far fewer distractions to contend with. Online singing lessons work to keep distractions to a minimum.
That means you can really focus on your students improving their singing voice without worrying about the surrounding noise level or who’s making faces at you (or them) from across the room.
Plus, if your student is having trouble understanding a concept, you can always go back and review it again—something that’s not always possible in a traditional classroom setting.
You Can Use Technology to Your Advantage
When you’re teaching online, you can take advantage of all sorts of technology that can make your lessons more fun and engaging.
For example, you can use video calling to give your students a closer look at your facial expressions and hand gestures. This can help them understand what you’re trying to convey more easily.
You can also take advantage of online tools like whiteboards and screen-sharing to make your lessons more interactive. And if you’re teaching a group lesson, you can use a platform like Skype to give each student a turn to sing without having to worry about travel time.
There are also tons of great online resources—such as apps, games, and websites—that can help your students learn more about singing.
These can be a great supplement to your lessons, and they’ll give your students something to do in between lessons.
You Can Teach Students from Anywhere in the World
Another reason online singing lessons work is that you have a wider selection of students to whom you can market your services.
When you’re not limited to local students, you can find more students to fill your schedule and who want to specialize in the type of singing you offer, whether it’s classical, jazz, or pop.
And since you can offer your lessons from anywhere in the world, you’re not limited by geography. That means you can market your services to a global audience and reach students who might not otherwise have access to quality singing instruction.
Plus, if you’re looking for a more diverse group of students, online lessons are a great option. You can find students from all sorts of backgrounds and with all sorts of different learning styles.
Affordable
Finally, online singing lessons work because they are often more affordable than private lessons with a physical instructor. Many times online instructors offer pay-as-you-go options, so students only pay for the lessons they want or need.
This gives you scheduling flexibility instead of always adhering to a set schedule.
But if you want a set schedule, you can offer package deals to students who sign up for multiple classes upfront. This can help you save money on things like travel costs and studio rental fees.
Plus, since you’re not limited by geography, you can find online students from all over the world—which can help you offset the costs of living in a high-cost area.
Students Will Learn in the Same Place They Practice
Research has shown that learning information in the same place that it’s applied increases a student’s ability to retain that information.
A study performed at Iowa State University demonstrated the effectiveness of learning and applying knowledge in a familiar environment. It aids the memory of information learned in a class when a student studies in the same location where they practice.
It also allows you, as a teacher, to assist your pupils in setting up their practice area. This is impossible to accomplish in-person classes.
When your students have established a focused and committed atmosphere for their online singing lessons, they’ve also provided a focused place for practice between sessions.
They’ll benefit from having a clear learning environment and a concentrated location to regurgitate what they’ve learned.
Record Lessons for Extra Practice
In-between lessons, it can be helpful to have recorded videos to remind you of how to implement certain techniques. Face-to-face students could also record their lessons, but the increased temptation to veer off task makes it less likely that they will.
Online lesson recordings provide an easy way for students to reference back to high-quality content from the lesson with just a click of a button. They can be used as a supplement to at-home practice or as a way to stay sharp when live lessons are not an option.
There are a few different ways you can go about recording your online singing lessons. You could use a screen recorder like Camtasia, Quicktime, Zoom, or Classin.
If you want to get a little fancier, you could use a digital audio workstation like Logic or Pro Tools.
No matter what method you use, make sure the audio and video quality are high enough that your students can hear and see everything clearly.
Immediate Post-Class Practice
Students who participate in distance learning often practice while the lesson is still fresh in their minds, right after the class ends.
On the other hand, in-person students have a more difficult time accessing this opportunity. They have to commute home and before they know it, other day-to-day tasks take over.
Sometimes they don’t end up practicing until days later. Even worse, they might wait until right before next week’s lesson.
Note: Research has shown that those who practice regularly improve at a faster rate than those who don’t.
And if a student is able to practice directly after lessons, it acts as an easily won bonus session!
Things You’ll Need to Make Online Singing Lessons Work
Teaching online isn’t as easy as opening your laptop and singing a song. There are a few items and concepts to address first.
Internet Connection
You and your student will both need access to a strong internet connection. A poor internet connection can result in choppy audio, fuzzy video, and long delays.
This makes it difficult to hear and see each other, which can make it hard to give and receive feedback. A good rule of thumb is that if you can watch a YouTube video without any buffering, your connection is good enough for an online singing lesson.
If you’re unsure about your connection, you can always test it out with a short video call before the lesson.
Distraction-Free Workspace
In order for online singing lessons to be effective, both you and your student need to be in a distraction-free environment. Setting up a home office is ideal for this.
This means no background noise and no other people or animals in the room. It can be tempting to try to multitask during a lesson, but this will only serve as a distraction.
It’s important to be present and focused during the lesson so that you can give your full attention to your student.
The best way to achieve this is to find a quiet room where you can close the door and not be interrupted. If you live with other people, try to schedule your lessons at a time when they will be out of the house.
Webcam
A webcam is essential for online singing lessons. It allows your student to see you and for you to see them.
This is important because, as we mentioned before, a lot of the feedback in singing comes from watching the body and mouth.
You’ll want to be able to see your student’s facial expressions and mouth shape so you can give them the best possible advice.
👉There are a few different types of webcams you could use, but we recommend using an HD webcam like the Logitech C920.
Student Skill Level
Before you start teaching online, it’s important to make sure your student is at the right skill level.
Teaching beginners can be challenging in person, but it’s even more challenging online. This is because beginners often need more physical feedback and guidance than intermediate and advanced students.
If you’re not sure whether or not your student is ready for online lessons, we recommend starting with a few in-person lessons first.
This will give you a chance to assess their skill level and see if they would be a good fit for online lessons.
If you decide to move forward with online lessons, we recommend starting with a few short, 10-15 minute sessions. This will give you both a chance to get comfortable with the format and make sure it’s working well for both of you.
Microphone
You and your student will both need a microphone for online singing lessons. This is important because, without a microphone, it will be difficult to hear each other.
There are a few different types of microphones you could use, but we recommend using a USB condenser microphone like the Blue Yeti. We talk more about microphones for online teaching here.
Headphones
You and your student will both need headphones for online singing lessons. This is important because they allow you to hear each other without any feedback or echo.
There are a few different types of headphones you could use, but we recommend using noise-canceling headphones. You can read more about headphone options for teaching online here.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
A digital audio workstation (DAW) is a software program that allows you to record, edit, and produce audio files.
You can use a DAW like QCon Pro to record your online singing lessons.
This would allow you to go back and listen to the lessons, or even share them with your students. You could also use a DAW to produce practice tracks for your students. This would give them a professional-sounding track to practice with at home.
If you plan on using a DAW for your online singing lessons, we recommend using QCon Pro. It’s a powerful yet user-friendly program that’s perfect for beginners.
Conclusion: Do Online Singing Lessons Work?
If you’re considering offering singing lessons but aren’t sure if it’s right for you, consider the convenience of online lessons.
By offering online singing lessons, you can enjoy a number of benefits over traditional in-person instruction. These advantages include increased flexibility, more affordable lessons, and the ability to teach students from anywhere in the world.
So, if you’re looking for an easy and convenient way to offer singing lessons, online instruction is a great option. You can use the power of technology to your advantage and reach a wider audience of students than you ever thought possible.
With the right approach, you can build a successful online singing teaching business that lets you do what you love—and helps your students reach their musical goals.
