How Parents Can Support Their Child In Remote/Online Guitar Lessons
When it comes to Skype/Zoom guitar lessons there are a few ways a parent (or guardian, adult) can help their child to succeed with learning the guitar.
Below I’ll share some advice about how a parent can support their child physically and emotionally while beginning to learn the guitar online.
PHYSICAL SUPPORT
PROVIDE A CONSISTENT QUIET SPACE TO LEARN AND PRACTICE
It’s best to provide a quiet space that the child can call their own. A place where they can enjoy playing and learning the guitar, a place where they’ll spend their time practising guitar and having their 1-on-1 online lesson with their Skype guitar instructor.
SUPPLY THEM WITH A PROPER SETUP FOR ONLINE GUITAR LESSONS
A classical guitar, armless chair and a footstool are essential items needed to have a successful practice and also a successful online guitar lesson. One trick that may prove useful, as a reminder to practice, is to have a guitar on a guitar stand. This will act as a visual queue near the child's practice space.
As an option, a music stand can be used for practice time if the student is not using the computer to view their music notes.
EQUIP THEM WITH A COMPUTER STATION AND WEBCAM
Having a devoted computer station can be useful for remote guitar lessons and practice time. My recommendation is that this station remains in the same place.
Students will need a webcam with a tripod or an extension boom arm to have the ability to move the camera around for the teacher to check different angles of guitar technique, for example: perfect guitar position, right hand home position, and so on.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
ASK YOUR CHILD TO SHARE WHAT THEY’RE LEARNING WITH YOU
This is probably the most important point to make here. Sharing what we’re learning, and especially if we’re sharing music with others, is very rewarding and at the same time very vulnerable. It brings a sense of belonging for the child. It takes courage to share, remind your child how courageous they’re to share their music with others.
REMIND YOUR CHILD THAT LEARNING MUSIC IS LEARNING PATIENCE
At times your child may show frustration with a guitar technique or a music concept. This is the perfect time to remind them of the fact that anything worth learning takes time and patience.
BE YOUR CHILD’S CHEERLEADER
A parent can be a cheerleader and really encourage and reward positive aspects like: the child beginning a practice session on their own. Or, when they’ve finally learned a concept or a certain song they really wanted to learn. Parents can then celebrate this accomplishment with their child.
All in all, by providing your child with the proper physical and emotional support you’ll enable them to develop the mental skills they need for learning the guitar and music (skills that require hand-eye coordination, understanding musical components like: rhythm, melody, harmony, dynamics and tone colour).
With your valuable support, your child can flourish into having an amazing love for the guitar and music which will serve them for the rest of their life.
