Music teacher keeps students in tune with online lessons

How do you teach piano while everyone is riding out a pandemic and locked down in their homes?

This was the question UQ graduate Mary Chalaby (Bachelor of Music (Honours)’18) had to grapple with as she looked to stop her music school becoming another business lost to the COVID-19 crisis.

Chalaby tells Contact magazine how she moved Mary’s Menuet Music Studio completely online, and why she thinks there is no better time than now to bring your inner musician out of isolation.

Q: As the COVID-19 lockdowns escalated and small businesses all around you were shutting up shop, was there a time when you considered closing the school?

A: It was never an option for me to close. I didn’t even consider it. Whenever I've had a tough time in my life, I always go back to music to help me through it. Music has this amazing power of healing – it’s a therapeutic source. So, I thought now, more than ever, I need to be helping my community of students. To be there for everybody.

Q: How did you prepare at short notice?

A: A positive thing for Australia was that COVID-19 didn’t hit us first, and we had the time to get ready. That extra time meant I could move everybody online slowly and help them get used it. Two weeks before the larger restrictions came in, I made everyone do a free, obligatory video call session.

My students all have their own instruments at home, so they didn’t need any special equipment. I helped them set up Zoom, check the sound, and get the camera in the right position for the piano. And that was it! It helped them to see the lessons could work perfectly well, so that when the lockdowns happened it was seamless.

Watch Mary's introductory video about online piano lessons.

Q: Did you have the necessary equipment to teach your students remotely?

A: When I started, all I had was a laptop and Zoom. But, I wanted to do more to make the student experience better.

I then got myself a webcam, so now I can quickly switch views from where the students can see my face, to showing them how my hands move. That really helped. At first, I would have to move the camera to point down at the piano and ask, "Can you see that guys?" Now, it is pretty much like they are here with me.

The first few lessons showed me there was going to be a lot more talking and explaining than I was used to. I thought to myself, "I might lose my voice if I keep on like this." So, I got a microphone, which also improved the audio a lot.

An image of UQ graduate Mary Chalaby performing online music lessons.

Q: Have you found you have to be even more organised for lessons, and have you had to learn new technology?

A: Moving online meant I have had to use new technology. In the past, when a student was here in my studio, I could photocopy a page of music or any material for them easily, because my whole library of music is here. Now, I have everything prepared, loaded to a device and ready to send before the lesson.

I have tried several apps to help me with this. They can help keep track of my students’ progress, send lesson notes, and things like that. Some have other really cool features – the student can click ‘I’m practising’, the app will hear them practising and give them points. Then I can send them their stickers and other fun things to motivate them.

It also allows them to message me through the app, which they like.

Q: How are you making the lessons extra fun during these tough times?

A: Normally, I only do one-on-one teaching but, during the school holidays, I group my students together – according to their age, ability level and personality – for a group play date. I will be doing more of these sessions now because everyone is in isolation and needs a bit more human interaction.

In the group sessions, we just do fun games. One day, for example, we were all sitting on the floor playing rhythm games. Then we talked about travel and listened to different kinds of world music. I’ve seen more excitement with musical playgroup than you see most of the time because the students are starving for interaction with other kids.

Q: Many people are spending a lot more time at home than usual. Is now the perfect time to learn an instrument?

A: You have every reason to get started now. One of the excuses I hear a lot for not learning an instrument is that "I have too many activities already". A lot of those activities aren’t happening now, and people may be struggling with being home alone. Others may even be feeling helpless. Music is the perfect antidote for that.

Imagine if you could come out of this with a new hobby. I think there will be a lot of good coming out of this hard time.

Q: Do you believe this new world of digital learning could help your students in the post-COVID-19 future?

A: Often a parent will call me and say, "Oh my goodness, my car has broken down" or "Oh no, I have an unexpected meeting at work." Many things that can happen that mean they can’t bring their child to their lesson. But their child is still at home. In those situations, it will become a lot easier for everyone because we can just jump on Zoom.

I can see the change already: some people starting classes on Zoom with me right now are further away from me than normal – some even more than an hour away. They normally wouldn’t have come because it’s too far. After this is over, I think I will still be using Zoom in these instances.

Visit the Mary’s Menuet Music Studio website to learn more.

UQ graduate Mary Chalaby conducting a virtual group play date.