Virtual Experiences in Studio Courses
Facilitators: Dr. Musonda Kapatamoyo, Mass Communications and Dr. Marc Schapman, Music
Team Members: Dr. Emily Truckenbrod, Music, Kristin Best, Theatre and Dance, and Cory Byers, Mass Communications
OBJECTIVE: Discuss best strategies to teach courses online that have relied on physical presence of students in studios, performance spaces and labs
Reflections on Spring 2020 studio remote teaching:
1. Trying to sync audio together doesn’t really work, but there are ways to improve this! 2. The pacing of your our lessons probably needs to change a little to account for the online connection. Let a little more space elapse between you and the student so you don’t talk over each other. 3. Make sure you’re on WiFi, and that your student is as well! 4. Have them get as close as possible to the WiFi source in their house (same for you also). Consider a wired connection for best results. 5. Be consistent. Be as visually present and available as is reasonably possible. Be flexible where and when appropriate.
TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS
DIGITAL PIANO
A quality digital piano can assist with reduction of latency and interfaces easily with several platforms and software. Utilizing a digital piano helps overloading of the mic as well. You can view an assortment of digital pianos at Sweetwater.
Additionally, SIUE has an agreement with Kuwai which offers discounted options.
For cheaper options you could also consider utilizing a controller. Sending MIDI signals to a DAW or software for audio signals through a monitor or headphones.
YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT TO IPADS with the right adapters.
Video tutorial on making MIDI and USB connections to your computer.
HEADPHONES
Using the built-in speaker and the built-in microphone for your device causes all kinds of strange background noise. Putting on headphones will clean up a lot of that. iPhone headphones or equivalent with mic – These work surprisingly well considering how flimsy they seem. The biggest issue with using these is how short the cord is. Unless you’re doing vocal lessons, these probably won’t work.
AirPods or equivalent Bluetooth headphones – These will work much better than the built-in speaker, and there’s no worry about being tethered to a short cord. Just make sure you charge up before the lesson or you may find yourself draining the battery.
Audio Technica MX50 – Excellent headphones for podcasting, recording, listening to music, and teaching online lessons. They come with three different cords, and the coiled cord works particularly well when teaching on larger instruments. The earpieces swivel, so you can easily wear them on your neck or have just one headphone on to be able to hear your student and yourself. Very comfortable.
MICROPHONES
Getting a microphone will dramatically improve your audio. Microphones get really expensive really fast, but even a $25-50 USB mic will help improve your audio. One big thing to keep in mind: professional microphones use an XLR connection, while cheaper consumer microphones may use USB or 1/8” jack connections.
If you are using a laptop or desktop? Get a USB mic.
Using an iOS device? Get a Lightning mic. The Apogee MiC gets great audio for iOS devices.
Using an Android device? Check your inputs – you may be able to use either an 1/8 “ mic or a USB-C mic depending on your device.
AVOID wireless if possible to reduce latency!
For voice lessons consider a microphone with a Herz frequency response rate of 20,000+. The Blue Yeti Microphone w/ pop screen is an excellent option for voice teaching.
REMOTE PLATORMS FOR TEACHING
ZOOM
We have all become extremely familiar with Zoom for lessons and other virtual meetings. One additional bonus is the ability to record and save the lesson or meeting and share with the attendees or students. Consider uploading to YouTube to use for future reference as well.
SKYPE
Another free platform and accessible on most devices. Skype has been in existence for a long time, so students may be quite familiar or already have accounts. Similar features to Zoom, but not able to record.
FACETIME
FaceTime is only available on Apple products. If you and your student are both Mac, iPhone, or iPad users, connecting with FaceTime is a breeze.
MESSENGER
Quality of sound has improved over the years, but a disadvantage of connecting via social media. Other options
COLLABRA
Collabra is a remote learning and practice management platform for K-16 music and performing arts education. Collabra's asynchronous video platform enables efficient split-screen scaling of lessons, adds accountability and affirmation to the process of practice, and empowers timed- assessments, blind auditions, and district-wide remote collaborations. Cost: $3 per student/month. Instructor account is free. University license is available to purchase. Application for Theatre, Dance, and Art and Design.
VOICE LESSONS
Cost: $19.95/mo. + per student fee Upload accompaniments, exercises, easily transpose exercises as you vocalize. Record lessons and allow students easy access to feedback throughout the week.
Watch a free Webinar
Voicelessons.com microphone selection guide
CLEANFEED
Only one party needs a Cleanfeed account; just send a URL. Anyone can connect from Mac, Windows, Linux or Android. Send your audio without unwanted processing. Access the best codecs, high bitrates and stereo audio; on wired, wireless, 3G or 4G networks. No limit on time or number of connections.
Using Cleanfeed with Zoom
FLIPGRID
Educators create Grids and add Topics. These are similar to discussion boards on Blackboard, but video responses can often time be more engaging and allow the student to feel more connected. Grids are the meeting place for your classroom, your school, your department or any learning community to discuss your Topics. Available application download allows for easy mobile access.
ACAPELLA
Acapella is an excellent music maker and you can collaborate with any musician around the world. Whether you’re a musician and you play the piano, guitar, flute, drums etc or love to sing a cover song or simply jam and record music - you can use Acapella singing app as a multitrack tool to create multi frame music videos.
BAND
BAND will help you eliminate those long email threads, after-hours phone calls and texts, all with one group post. Free with accessible mobile application.
AUDACITY
Free, open source, cross-platform audio software. Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. Developed by a group of volunteers as open source. User friendly software to edit audio tracks of performance ensembles.
SOUNDJACK
Advanced option for reducing latency and creating collaborative performances. See website for tutorials. High learning curve, requires wired ethernet connections, audio interface suggested to help reduce latency.
JITSI MEET Secure, fully featured, and completely free video conferencing. Excellent compatible feature with soundjack software.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
LIGHTING
Position yourself in front of a window, and put your phone/laptop between you and the window. Set yourself up next to a window or lamp, positioning the camera between you and the light source. If there’s no convenient window, turn on some lights behind your phone or laptop, and make sure that there aren’t any bright sources of light directly behind you. This will cause all sorts of strange shadows to appear and will make it hard for your student to see you.
Make sure the light source isn’t behind you–this will make it hard for your students to see you
CAMERA PLACEMENT
If you’re using a laptop, put it on your desk and move back enough so that you are in frame with your instrument. If you’re using a phone or tablet and happen to have a camera tripod for it you can mount the phone on the tripod and get yourself in frame.
ACCOMPANIST CONCERNS
Appcompanist (iOS and ANDROID) – Access to vocal repertoire accompaniments (classical and Musical Theatre), plus vocal exercises. Ability to change musical elements easily.
Pocketstra (iOS and Android) – From classical to crossover genres, Pockestra provides various types of scores and accompaniments. Experience numerous scores produced by musical professionals.
Piano Trax – Piano Trax gives you access to download thousands of tracks which are compatible for any music player. You can also stream your tracks online and access them on any device or computer instantly.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ARTICLES
OPERA EDUCATION IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/_article.html/What_s_New/OPERA_EDUCATION_IN_THE_ TIME_OF_COVID-19
Official NATS YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialNATS
RESONANCE Singer's Mask with disposable biofilters https://www.mymusicfolders.com/product/resonance-singers-mask-with-disposable-biofilters/
Safer Singing During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: What We Know and What We Don't https://www.jvoice.org/article/S0892-1997(20)30245-9/fulltext
Optimizing Audio for Online Music Lessons https://bulletproofmusician.com/optimizing-audio/
Best Practices for High Quality, Technology-Enabled, Applied Music Teaching https://www.ianhowellcountertenor.com/technology-enabled-music-lessons
SoundJack: The Unofficial Guide to Low Latency Online Music Making https://www.ianhowellcountertenor.com/soundjack-real-time-online-music
Musician’s Guide for Video Conferencing https://www.lowdownpublishing.com/post/musicians-guide-for-video-conferencing
TN Tech COVID-19 Document https://www.dropbox.com/s/s5zld4kr5zb55l4/TN%20Tech%20COVID- 19%20Document.pdf?dl=0
The Singer’s Mask https://www.broadwayreliefproject.com/singersmask
KANOPY (SIUE Subscription Available via Lovejoy Library) Provide students convenient access to the films that move people. Kanopy offers access to a large, curated catalog of educational, entertaining, and enriching films.
Optimize Zoom Audio Settings for a Remote Music Lesson https://networkphil.com/2020/03/23/optimize-zoom-audio-settings-for-a-remote-music-lesson/
How to Connect a MIDI Keyboard to a Computer https://www.musicrepo.com/how-to-connect-midi-keyboard-to-computer/
Shop Apple Power, Cables and Adapters https://www.apple.com/shop/accessories/all-accessories/power-cables?fh=459d%2B45b0
Best USB Microphones for Vocals and Instruments https://www.gearank.com/guides/usb-microphones
Upper Level Studio Art (Non-Digital) https://wp.stolaf.edu/cila/upper-level-studio-art/