​You can view the curriculum books on Amazon here and reach out to us if you have any additional questions: info@scmusiclessons.com

These comprehensive flashcards include all notes, symbols, and terms needed for the first two years of study on any musical instrument. Cards are color-coded by category and are numbered on the back. We feel these are a great option for independent learners!

These resources came recommended from one of our SC Music Lessons' parents, Ashley. She has incorporated these books into her homeschool curriculum and has been seeing a big improvement in her daughters' note reading abilities! 

Zoom: $0 - $14.99 (Free for 40 minute sessions) - this is what I most often use!

• This platform works across many PC, Apple, and Android devices! 
• You can record video calls so you can give your student a recording of their lesson (receive their permission first).
• Zoom's screen share is a great option (I use this often for referring to a PDF of music, sharing a YouTube video, or drawing on a digital whiteboard)
  
  

FaceTime: Free!

• FaceTime is available for all Apple devices (iPhone, iPad or computer). It's a great, easy-to-use free resource; however, if you want to teach through it, your student must have an Apple device too. The fact it is pre-installed is helpful though, nothing has to be downloaded!
  
  

Skype: Free!

• It works on PCs and Macs (Your students will need to have downloaded and installed it too, and create a Skype account.)
• You can record sessions and screen share, too!
• You can schedule calls in advance within the software.
  
  

Google Meet: $0 - $7.99 / month

• I haven't tried this platform yet; however, David Taylor has great advice about this within this article.
  
  

Rock Out Loud: $0 - $13.95 / month

• Created specifically for music teachers with built in teaching resources!
• Audio quality is higher with less lag time; however, both the instructor and student must wear headphones during the session in order to not experience feedback.

Your Device: I've found teaching from a computer provides the best experience for my students. Many platforms offer more capabilities when being accessed from a computer.

Camera Angle: If you only have one camera (as most of us do), I recommend placing your computer at a height that is eye-level and allows the student to see all of your instrument. I've gotten pretty creative with a stool and stack of books ☺

Access to Student's Music: When teaching virtually, it's best to have a copy of the students music. If I already own the book, great! If not, I either purchase a copy or ask the student to email me photos / scans the music they are currently studying. In a pinch, I ask the student to hold their music in front of their camera and I can take a screenshot of the music to refer to! 

Communication: Be cognizant of the rate of your speech. When teaching virtually, I try to speak slightly slower than I do in person. 

Distractions: Students can be easily distracted (and more so in a virtual learning setting!) Try to eliminate all potential distractions and teach in a well-lit, tidy space. 

There are many online resources and blog posts for virtual instruction. Here are some of my favorites!
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• Ashley Danyew: 22 Creative Ideas for Teaching Music Online
• Private Music Studio: 10 Tips to Make Virtual Learning FUN!
• National Piano Foundation: Games Make Learning Fun
• Lessons In Your Home: 10 Things You Can Do Today In Your Online Music Lesson (<- Practical ways to structure the time!)

I also screen-share and use the online free game of "Name That Note"!

As a perfectionist I don't want to begin something unless I know how to do everything exactly "right." I've learned that it's more than okay to start with a simple approach and improve little by little over time. It's likely both you and your student are new to virtual lessons so you'll be able to learn together! :)

Happy teaching and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

​Holly Slice
Owner, SC Music Lessons

Dr. Anita Collins, a researcher on brain development and music learning stated, “Playing music is the brain’s equivalent to a full-body workout.” Practically speaking, as a child I believe my… 

• Literacy skills were accelerated through singing lyrics
• Mathematical skills were reinforced through studying rhythms
• Comprehension and retention skills were enhanced through studying and memorizing music 
• Gross and fine motor skills were strengthened through holding picks, playing foot pedals, and using all 10 fingers independently to play a song
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Learning music also taught me discipline and time management skills from a young age. I played my instrument almost everyday, even when I did not want to (thank you Mom and Dad)! With practice, I saw consistent improvement and I learned that if I put my mind to do something and set aside the time, I could accomplish it. 
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​We have entered a new era of communication! More can be done in less time, communication is quicker and more efficient, and tasks can be completed from home. SC Music Lessons gives the option for students to be virtual and because of that, the opportunities to learn the arts are endless!

With virtual lessons, neither you nor the instructor needs to consider travel time. Additionally, if you have children, you will not need childcare while you do your lessons. Going virtual allows more time flexibility and enables you to having an engaging lesson from the comfort of your home. 

A lesson that required you to block an hour and a half of your day now only requires 30 minutes of productive effort!

With the busyness of the school year coming to an end, you might be starting to make plans for the summer. Are your music lessons a part of those plans?

While you might think this would be a good time to pause your musical endeavors, it is actually the best time to continue! Although there are many advantages to learning during the summer, below we have shared the top 3 reasons many of our students choose to stay enrolled.

Now that school and academic activities have adjourned, there is more time to better your musical skills at your own pace! This is the time to continue building what you have worked so hard for during the year, as well as sharpen and discover parts of yourself you never knew as a rising musician.

Many students have found that continuing music lessons is easier to manage than taking a long break and rebuilding what they have lost. Continuing lessons during the summer will keeps students on track for musical success.

​It is also not as hard as you may think to incorporate lessons into your summer plans unlike the school year where you have to bounce from place to place and work lessons into your schedule. You can still enjoy your summer, have relaxing beach days, and continue lessons as you normally would!

With any activity, stopping for a period will digress the progress you have worked so hard for during the year. What students typically experience with this gap is known as learning loss which refers to "any specific or general loss of knowledge and skills or to reversals in academic progress, most commonly due to extended gaps or discontinuities in a student’s education” (Education Reform, 2013).

For students, seeing progress is a way to measure the effort they are putting in and if they are consistent in their lessons, they will see more desirable results each week! Stopping for the summer halts that continual growth and it begins to backtrack to the results they had months before.

Simply put, if a student continues June through August, they will be 3 months ahead. If a student pauses June through August, they may return in September and be 6 months behind, playing at the level which they played back in March.  

Our instructors' availability is limited due to the rising demands in music education. If you have seen progress and built a strong connection, continuing lessons guarantees that will work with your same instructor. If your instructor's schedule fills during the summer, you could potentially lose the opportunity to work with them during the fall. 

Instructors are typically able to be very flexible during the summer months, with options including:

✓ Temporary morning vs. afternoon lesson times
✓ Extended lesson times to make-up for a missed week
✓ Meeting virtually instead of in-person, as needed
✓ ... and more!
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We understand that there is a lot to think about when making this decision. That is why we are here to help! We want you to grow and succeed in your musical goals. If you have any questions, please contact us!

- Adelaide Lovelady -
​Client Services Coordinator

Did you know "percussion" is actually a plural term?

It not only includes drum set but also rudimental snare, timpani, keyboard percussion (e.g., marimba, xylophone, vibes, glockenspiel), and orchestral auxiliary instruments (e.g., triangle, tambourine, concert bass drum, crash cymbals), and more!

​Drummers are a type of percussionist who can choose different areas of focus:

• Drum Set
  (Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, and more)
  
• Rudimental Snare Drum
  (Marching Band, Drum Corp International, Winter Guest International)
• Orchestral Percussion
  (All-state / All-Region / All-County)
• General Percussion (all of the above)

Any drummer will need to invest in having their own drum set and accessories for practice during the week. Without applying the information learned at the lesson during the week, progress will be stunted. Drummers who practice progress more quickly!

When searching for drums, we know the options can become overwhelming! We also recognize that the quality of the instrument needed may change as a student progresses; therefore, we have shared multiple options at a variety of price points.

Our percussion instructor, Kyle, who has his masters degree in percussion performance, has shared his expertise and recommendations below in order to help you make the right decision for your needs!

To note, this post contains affiliate links for items that we recommend and use. We may earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost to you. 

Acoustic instruments make sound without the use of electricity or amplification.

Pros

• Sound: Acoustic instruments have the best natural sound and the most responsive touch for articulation and expression.
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• Flexibility: Acoustic drums have the ability to use brushes and other implements. 

Cons

• Volume: Acoustic drums can be quite loud and may not be the best fit if you live close to your neighbors.
  
  
• Space: Acoustic drums can take up more space than electric drums.