Space for Virtual Music Classes: A Practical Guide

A good space for virtual music classes has three things: front or side light, little noise and little echo, and a camera situated for the teacher to see what needs to be rectified. The latter is what most changes from instrument to instrument: piano matters both hands and pedal, violin, bow path, and singing, mandible, shoulders and breathing.

That guide goes step by step. If you have not decided the format yet, start with [home or virtual classes]](/blog/clases-de-musica-a-domicilio-o-virtuales).

To sum up

The light should come from front or back and a window at your back puts your hands in shade.
A room with bed, drapes and furniture sounds better at call than an empty room with tile floor.
He puts the camera as his teacher needs to see from your instrument, most often at the horizontal and at the height of his hands.
Put the screen close to the atril to see the teacher without turning his head or losing his score.
Do the complete test the day before: play two minutes with the same camera, light and audio of the class.

Choose the place: quiet, echo and space to move you

Before thinking about the camera, think about the room. Search for the most quiet place in the house, far from the kitchen, washing machine and window that gives to the street. In Bogotá, the noise of buses, motorcycles and alarms cuts easily, and the mike gets more from them than you think.

Then look at the echo. The spacious rooms with tile or wood and empty walls bounce the sound, and in the so-called instrument your instrument sounds far and confusing. A room with bed, curtains, cover or library absorbs those bounds. If you have only the room, a cover under you and closed curtains already help.

Finally, check the space required by your instrument:

Violin and Viola: free space to your right so that the arch goes through its length without framing with the wall or desk.
Violoncello and contraband: a flat with a pica and a chair with arms at the right height and with a pica and a anti-slip top.
Thrombon: free space at the front to extend the complete stick.
Guitar and bass: a chair without arms and, with classical guitar, a backrest or a backrest.
Batteries: the camera and the microphone far from the sauces and we'll tell you where later.

And if you can, put yourself close to the router or where a network cable arrives.

light: let the teacher see your hands

The main light source should be in front of you or at the end, never after. A window at your back turns your image into a silhouette.
If the only light is a light bulb on the roof, add a lamp directed at the instrument: piano and guitar avoid shadows on his fingers.
In Bogotá, about 6 p.m. most of the year and cloudy days are common. If your class is at the end of the afternoon, try light at that same hour, and at noon.
Turn off the TV or any screen lights after you: the camera sets the exposure to that glow and you get dark.
Also lights up the score. Reading in shade makes you lean and changes your posture just as the teacher's currently revising it.

Where to put the camera according to your instrument

The general rule: mobile or camera in horizontal, set onto a tripod or support, and at the height of what should be seen. Never in a person's hand or lying against a glass. Then, fix as an instrument:

Camera location by instrument
Instrumento	Where to place the camera	What to see
Piano or keyboard	To one side of the keyboard, something elevated and diagonal to the keys.	The two complete hands, the dolls, his back and, as we work pedal, his right foot.
Guitar and low	A little open to the mast at the height of his chest.	The two hands, the complete mast up to your head and how you support the instrument.
Violin and Violin	Fist and slightly to your right at the height of the instrument.	The arch's path (if it goes parallel to the bridge), his left hand and his shoulder.
Violonchelo	A few steps and lower than for the violin.	The complete instrument, from pint to pica, both hands and your posture in the chair.
Singing	From face to face, at eye height, at a distance that shows from head to waist.	Mailb, neck, shoulders and the movement of the ribs while breathing.
Vientos	Fold or light diagonal at face height.	The shortcut, both hands and posture, and with a cross flute, that will suit the whole tube.
Drums	Highlights and diagonal from the front, at one end of the set.	Both hands, foot of bulb and height of seat.

A single plane doesn't always reach. piano, for example, teacher can ask you to put the camera to his right hand to see the digitation of a passage, or to put it down to check his pedal. Let's leave the support easy to move and conduct that change before class.

Atril and screen: how to see the score and teacher

That's the problem that nearly nobody expects: if the camera's with you to show your hands, the screen's also on your side and you end up turning your head to see the teacher. That changes your posture just as he's watching her.

Put the atril at the height of your eyes, not flat on a table, so as to avoid touching with your neck bent.
Put the screen next to the atril or just above, so with a move of passing eyes from score to teacher.
If you use your cell phone as a side camera, consider a second device in front of you to see and listen to the teacher. The one that only makes a camera goes with an off mic and sound, to avoid echo.
Print or download the score before class. Read it on the same screen of the video call leave the teacher reduced to a tiny box.
On piano, the score goes into the instrument atril and the display can be above a vertical piano or onto a stand next to the atril.

Remember that online class works by shift: teacher explain, you play. Do not have to see them while you play but as soon as you end up, to get correction without moving from your position.

Noise and arrangements at home

Check at home your class time: No blender, vacuum cleaner and phone calls up close.
Close windows and doors. If there's a dog, I'll be out of the room.
Put your cell phone to avoid interfering. On some phones, an incoming call disrupts the video call.
He asks that nobody use heavy internet during class: downloads, online video games or high quality videos.
If you live in an apartment, care for class and practice hours and acoustic tools pass through walls and floors with ease.

With children, an adult should be close, especially at first classes. Here we have [how to accompany your child in virtual classes]](/blog/como-acompanar-a-tu-hijo-en-clases-virtuales-de-musica).

Checks list before you get connected

A tuning instrument. If you play strings, use the [online tuning machine]](/herramientas/afinador) before we get in.
A camera with a revised frame and with a horizontal frame.
Light light and window at your back covered.
Atril, score, pencil and notebook by hand.
Loading device or with full battery and silent notifications.
Water close, especially if you're singing or playing an instrument of wind.
Proven and audio connection of video call without noise filters.

The configuration of the audio, the microphone and the hearing aids we explain in detail what equipment you need for virtual classesand if you want to know how [online music classes] work](/clases-de-musica-online) with our teachers, there you find all information.

Frequently asked questions

How much space do I need for a virtual music class?

Except for what you think: the one necessary to play with comfort, and the place of the camera's support, about a foot or two from you. The important thing is that the bow, stick or arms do not hit with furniture or walls.

What do I do if there's a lot of echo at my place?

Choose the room with more furniture and fabrics, close the curtains and put a paddle under your chair. Fits a little with the instrument also reduces the amount of echo you get.

Do I need a special fund after me?

No. It's just that the bottom doesn't get distracted and that there's no window and no strong light at your back. A smooth wall or library works well.

Where do I put the camera if my piano's attached to the wall?

At one end of the keyboard, with a diagonal and something high and with his hands pointed. A tripod with an extensible arm helps gain height without his support interfering with his bench.

How to prepare your space for virtual music classes