Online Piano Lessons | Optimizing Video
In this second installment of the Online Piano Lessons blogpost series, I’ll go over equipment that will help you optimize the visual elements of your setup.
(If you missed the first post on optimizing audio in your Online Piano Lessons, click here.)
When it comes to video there is really one big priority before you concern yourself with what camera you’re using, and that is - LIGHTING! Your phone or a budget camera will look significantly better with the use of proper lighting.
I recommend this set of two lights by emart, which comes with dimmable bulbs and a pair of remotes. One of the lights should be at roughly a 45 degree angle from you, while the second light and be be angled from above as a hair light giving you more depth and dimension on camera.
EMART Softbox Lights
an excellent set of lights for online piano lessons
Once you have your lights set up, you can think about the cameras you’ll use. I say “cameras” plural, because one awesome advantage of online piano lessons is that you can broadcast multiple angles at ones. I myself use two: the primary side angle and an overhead angle that displays my fingers on the keyboard.
I started using the built-in webcam on my laptop, but recently I’ve upgrading to using an old DSLR camera that my family had lying around. Companies such as Canon or Sony have a downloadable webcam utility available on their websites that allows you to use a DSLR as a webcam.
For the overhead view, I use the Logitech C920 hooked up to a microphone stand through the use of an adaptor.
Logitech C920
an excellent webcam for an overhead view during online piano lessons
That about wraps it up for optimizing the video for Online Piano Lessons.
The online space is exciting and relatively new ground for the future of music lessons. With reliable internet and the optimal equipment (available at a variety of budgets), online lessons offer a robust alternative to traditional in-person lessons.
Stay tuned for future posts exploring various aspects of Online Piano Lessons.