How to observe the Netiquette in the PianoClass lessons

Avoid embarrassments and guarantee an efficient lesson.
 

What is Netiquette?

The blending of Network or Internet and Etiquette originated the word Netiquette, a series of social rules to facilitate interactions between different cultures meeting over the web.

Environment

Have your lessons wherever you want, just take the proper steps to optimize your visual and sound perception, and your teacher’s as well.

Image

Position your camera respecting your home’s privacy. Avoid showing underwear and hanging clothes, personal and private items, messy spots of your house, and other people passing by the scene. This way you assure a simple and fast way to play and to record for your teacher and your audience.

Good lighting on your face and on the keyboard will also optimize the communication and the lesson itself.

Sound

Be aware that a microphone set to capture the piano’s sound is also open to very clearly receiving every sound around it and even amplifying them. Therefore, before the starting of your lesson or recording

• ensure the room is silent
• turn off TVs and other sound devices
• remind everyone in your home that your teacher will hear anything they say during your lesson

This will optimize your concentration and your teacher’s, who is looking for all the little nuances in your performance.

During your lesson, don’t move, pass your finger over, and don’t scream near the microphone. The very loud sound may damage your teacher’s hearing.

Therefore, try to have a silent room during your lessons and your recordings. It will optimize both your and your teacher’s concentration as they aren’t used to working with interruptions and noises while looking for all the sound subtleties of your performance.

Try not to scream near the microphone. Your teacher is wearing earphones and the sound will probably be too loud, damaging their ears.
 

Preparations

Equipments

Charge your mobile devices in advance, like smartphone, tablet, and earphones and keep your computer plugged in.

Room and Materials

A few minutes before the lesson starts

• Close all the windows to avoid external noises
• Turn on all the necessary lights
• Let who ever need to know that your lesson is starting and they should remain silent until it is finished
• Drink water, go to the toilet, wash your hands, and do what ever more could interrupt the lesson if you didn’t do before
• Adjust the bench high and get your feet support, if you need it
• Get your sheet music and learning material (pencil, erasure, paper, tablet), including your earphones
• Turn off any extra devices, software and apps that may use your internet or affect your computer’s performance

Kids

During lessons for under 12 years old kids, a responsible adult should be available.

The teacher may need this adult in case of technical issues, to print new material, help in some activity, find lost material, or solve some behavior issue.

The adult may be present during the lesson and make notes to help the kid in their following practice sessions. It is important that the adult participates only when the teacher asks and that we have a direct way to communicate via WhatsApp with them.
 

Schedule

I’d suggest that you set two alarms:

• one 10min before the lesson for the preparations described above and revise the material
• another at the lesson time to enter the Zoom meeting

Before the lesson

Arrive by your piano about 10min before your lesson time. This will give you time to prepare and even practice a little.

Starting the lesson

At the precise time, get into the Zoom meeting. The link and info to do so are in the Google Calendar event, in the Zoom chat, and in the WhatsApp message you received at the beginning of your learning plan.
If you have any technical issues, write right away to your teacher via WhatsApp.

Being late

If you realize that you will be late, inform your teacher as soon as possible via WhatsApp.
Without a warning, they will wait until 10 min after the scheduled time to start.

End of the lesson

Your lesson will finish on time, respecting your schedule and your teacher’s.
If you need to solve something else with your teacher, do it at the beginning of the lesson, via WhatsApp at another time, or during an Office Hour.
 

Communication

Clear communication enssures better and faster results in your lesson.

Starting the lesson

Good morning/afternoon/evening is always welcome to be sure the sound is working properly before we start to actually play the piano.

Speech or gesture

We prefer that you speak to answer your teacher when possible. This is a more efficient way to communicate online. Just nodding or doing a hand gesture can not be seen by your teacher in case they are playing or writing at that time, or if you are out of the camera view.

Always use gentle words and don’t use slang or swearing to avoid embarrassment.

Absence and return

If for any reason you have to be out of the camera’s view during the lesson, first let your teacher know that you need to be away and announce yourself as soon as you come back. Your teacher may be playing or taking notes and not immediately realize that you are back. Even if they are playing, interrupt them. This is your lesson time and not a concert.
 

Questions

If you still have any questions after reading this page, write to us so we may answer you back and improve this page.