Teaching Music Online – A Complete Guide

In an increasingly digital world, more music teachers are embracing the flexibility and reach of offering lessons online. Whether you're a pianist, vocalist, guitarist, or theory coach, virtual teaching allows you to connect with students far beyond your local area — while also streamlining your schedule and reducing overheads. Teaching music online doesn’t just mimic in-person lessons; it opens new possibilities. You can record demos, share annotated sheet music, and send tailored resources that students can revisit at their own pace. With careful planning, the right hardware, and a clear teaching structure, you can deliver highly effective, engaging, and interactive music tuition — all from the comfort of your own space.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make online music teaching work: choosing the right kit, selecting the best platform, organising your timetable, and designing lesson plans that hold your students’ interest. We'll also cover safeguarding, accessibility, and ways to grow your online teaching business. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your virtual setup, these practical tips will help you adapt and thrive as an online music educator.

Devices - For reliable lessons, use a laptop or desktop rather than a phone or tablet. Computers usually have better microphones, speakers, and the capacity to plug in external devices. The Musicians’ Union similarly recommends a laptop or desktop for stronger connection stability.

Headphones- Over-ear headphones are excellent for both teacher and student — they offer better sound quality and help to prevent feedback.

Microphones- A USB mic is a simple way to upgrade from your computer’s built-in mic. If you want even more clarity — perhaps because you're teaching jazz, classical, or detailed tonal work — an XLR mic plus an audio interface may be worth the investment. The improved sound will allow you to give more accurate feedback.

Additional Cameras - For demonstration-heavy instruments (piano, guitar etc.), consider using a second webcam. You can switch between a wide-angle shot (for your face/body) and a close-up (for hands/fretboard) to give students a clear view of technique.

There are plenty of reliable video-conferencing tools suitable for music lessons; some of the most popular are Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Skype. 

When choosing:

Check whether students need to create an account (for example, Zoom may allow link-based access without a student account). 

Consider call limits: free versions of some platforms restrict meeting length.

Use platforms that support recording — this is extremely useful for students to review lessons. 

Optimise audio settings: for example, on Zoom, enable “Original Sound” / “High Fidelity Music Mode” to preserve musical nuances, and be careful with echo cancellation settings, which may interfere with instrument sound. 

A stable internet connection is vital for seamless lessons:

Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to the router — this is more reliable than Wi-Fi. 

If a wired connection isn’t possible, reposition your router or use a Wi-Fi booster.

Close unnecessary apps (e.g., streaming services or browsers) to preserve bandwidth.

Ask others in your household to minimise heavy internet use during lesson times.

Ensure you have a tidy background: Aim for a neutral, uncluttered backdrop to minimise distraction.

Lighting: Natural daylight is ideal, but if you use lamps, ensure lighting is even to avoid harsh shadows.

Camera set-up: Position the camera to capture both your face and your instrument. If the student is younger (or needing support), ask them in advance how to set up their side too so you can monitor technique.

Safeguarding: Establish professional boundaries. The ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) recommends using a dedicated account for online teaching, rather than a personal one, and setting clear rules around recording and behaviour. 

Lesson Length: Be realistic about students’ attention spans, particularly for younger learners; shorter sessions may be more effective. Also allow extra time in your first lesson for troubleshooting. 

Scheduling: Use a booking system (e.g., 10to8) or calendar invites to reduce admin and keep things organised.

Block Bookings: Consider offering discounted blocks of lessons — this encourages commitment and reduces cancellation.

Reminders: Set automated reminders (e.g., 30 minutes before) to reduce no-shows.

Send sheet music, backing tracks or exercise files in advance, either via email or using shared cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive). 

Screen-share notation, chord charts, or theory diagrams during lessons.

Provide metronome or drone-tone tools to work on timing and intonation — the Dudamel Foundation suggests these help when connection latency is an issue. 

If you're following a curriculum (e.g., graded exams), ensure students have needed materials in ready form. Indeed.com recommends preparing a long-term teaching plan. 

Tuning: Spend time helping students tune their instruments properly — it's hard to correct pitch issues remotely if their instrument isn’t in tune. The Dudamel Foundation suggests tuning early so lessons aren't bogged down. 

Set Goals: Work with your student to set short- and long-term goals (e.g. “pass an exam,” “learn a song,” or “improve technique”).

Motivation: Especially for younger learners, you might use incentives like ending with a fun piece, or awarding progress based on achieving weekly goals.

Record lessons (with permission) so students can rewatch and reflect; this also helps you refine your teaching style. 

Share follow-up notes, annotated scores or practice plans. Use safe communication channels rather than messaging tools — the Musicians’ Union emphasises professional boundaries. 

Create opportunities for collaboration: for example, students could upload short recordings, which you or other students give feedback on, building a virtual learning community. 

Use a separate teaching account for online lessons. According to ISM guidance, avoid using personal social media or sharing personal contact details. 

Have a clear policy for recording: discuss consent, storage, and deletion of lesson recordings with students or parents. 

When teaching minors, ensure a parent or guardian is present (or nearby) and in control of the device, especially at the start of a lesson. 

Be professional: dress appropriately, maintain good behaviour, and treat online lessons with the same respect as in-person ones. 

Promote your services widely: there are no geographical limits online. Use social media, a website, or teaching directories to reach students. 

Offer a trial lesson and ask for testimonials (with permission) — recorded snippets of good lessons make excellent promotional content.

Use your spare teaching time (without commuting) to expand: take on more students, invest in your tech setup, or create pre-recorded courses for passive income.

After each lesson, reflect on what went well (or didn’t), and ask students for feedback. This helps you refine your approach.

Stay current with new tools: for example, FarPlay is a low-latency audio solution that can dramatically improve real-time musical interaction. 

Explore multimodal teaching methods — combining voice, video, notation, and gestural feedback — to engage different learning styles. 

As you're no longer always having to travel to schools, academies and students' houses, you'll hopefully find yourself with some spare cash and spare time on your hands.

Use the time to fit in more pupils and invest the money in your technical set up, lesson resources and musical equipment.

Or just treat yourself to a well-earned break.

Good luck!