Bringing Music Home with Virtual Piano Lessons
This post is in collaboration with Building Brilliant Minds which provides creative arts education for homeschoolers and more.
Balancing core subjects with meaningful electives is one of the greatest juggling acts of homeschooling—especially when trying to introduce music without adding extra stress to your daily routine. Through her company, Building Brilliant Minds, registered Simply Music teacher Amy Gillispie (“Mrs. G”) offers private virtual piano lessons designed to fit your family’s rhythm and make music time a genuinely rewarding highlight. If you are looking for a creative outlet that actually fits your family’s rhythm, finding the right piano program can make all the difference. As a homeschool parent navigating meaningful electives, our experience with this piano program has been genuinely positive.
While experiencing the cognitive and creative benefits of music makes adding it an easy choice, finding a curriculum that keeps kids engaged without early frustration can be tricky. Traditional approaches often rely on notation reading early in the learning process, which can slow down progress for some students. For families exploring creative arts education for homeschoolers, a playing-based approach like Simply Music offers another option. Students can begin making music right away while developing their skills over time.
Our Experience with the Simply Music Method and Virtual Lessons
One common misconception is that a child needs natural talent or a strict traditional start to learn an instrument. The Simply Music method takes a different approach, using a playing-based method that lets students play real music from their very first lessons.
Doing live lessons online comes down to having a good teacher. Scheduling our sessions was straightforward, and working with Amy Gillispie (“Mrs. G”) has been wonderful. She typically teaches on Mondays from the Eastern time zone and is prompt with email communication and Zoom links. For beginners, she suggests 25-minute sessions, which work well for keeping young learners focused.
Virtual piano lessons require a bit of setup. Mrs. G uses an overhead keyboard view so students can clearly see her hands. A reliable internet connection is essential for virtual lessons. A top-down camera view helps Mrs. G see the student’s hands and provide effective guidance.
Setting Up for Successful Virtual Piano Lessons
To achieve a reliable overhead angle without breaking the bank, consider the following setup options:
- Flexible Overhead Phone/Tablet Mounts: A clamp-on gooseneck mount can position a phone or tablet above the keyboard. Attach it to a music stand or nearby shelf for an affordable, adjustable setup.
- USB Webcams with Tripods: A USB webcam on a boom arm or tall tripod can provide a clear top-down view. Position it beside the piano for the best angle.
- Good Lighting: Use a desk lamp or ring light to keep the keys and hands clearly visible. Good lighting also reduces shadows that can make fingering difficult to see.
Additionally, using Zoom’s “Original Sound” setting for musicians makes a noticeable difference. Standard video calls filter out background noise, which can muffle the sustain of a piano. Turning on this setting removes that filtering for cleaner, more natural audio during remote lessons.
Beyond the live sessions, Mrs. G sends an encouraging follow-up email after each lesson. She outlines specific assignments, such as mastering pieces like Dreams Come True. She also shares video resources and practice goals to help students stay motivated and on track throughout the week.
Moving Beyond Traditional Methods
Traditional piano lessons often rely heavily on standard method books and early note reading, which can sometimes lead to boredom. Simply Music focuses instead on shapes and patterns on the keyboard, keeping engagement high from the start while weaving in sheet music reading later on. (Advanced players should check with Mrs. G to see if it’s a good fit.)
Private lessons allow for customization based on each child’s learning style. With Mrs. G, students play contemporary, classical, blues, and ballad pieces right away, diving into accompaniment, improvisation, and composition to build well-rounded musical skills.
Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
- How do piano lessons support creative arts education for homeschoolers? Piano lessons fit naturally into homeschooling, allowing students to develop musical skills and creativity at their own pace. For families pursuing creative arts education for homeschoolers, piano offers a flexible way to include music in the homeschool day.
- How do I fit private piano lessons into a busy homeschool routine? Private lessons offer complete flexibility, allowing you to break practice time into short, manageable chunks throughout the week that easily weave around co-ops and core subjects.
- Does my child need prior experience or special musical talent? Not at all. The Simply Music method is designed specifically for beginners, allowing kids (and even grandparents looking for a creative outlet) to start playing songs right away regardless of background.
- What makes the Simply Music approach different from traditional piano lessons? Rather than imposing heavy reading barriers early on, it uses a playing-based approach centered on patterns and shapes, letting students play real pieces immediately.
- How long does the program take to complete? The Simply Music Foundation program features nine distinct levels, which students can realistically accomplish anywhere from a few months per level to a few years overall, depending on their individual pace.
If you’re curious about adding music to your own routine, you might consider reaching out to Mrs. G to chat about how it could fit your family. It certainly became a wonderful, creative anchor for our homeschool week.
HomeschoolingFinds.com Author
Aside from God, her family, homeschooling (and books!), Katherine’s love lies in stationeries. She and her husband manage growing stationery brands Forestmill®, Prevailed®, and FengShui Power® in the Philippines.