6 Best Video Call Apps For Music Lessons
What’s the best video call app for music lessons?
Welcome to the next part of our guide to teaching music online, where today, we’ll cover the best video call apps for music lessons.
If you’re reading this, you’re likely trying to find the best video call app that will make your music lessons a lot easier, especially if you can’t make it to a face-2-face teaching lesson. You’ll likely want to know which video apps allow for recording, which options are the most reliable and which video call apps are free.
We’ve got you covered!
We’ll be looking at the big 6 players in the video conferencing world today, including Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams. These options are all great in their own way but some are more suitable than others for teaching music.
Before we begin our comparison, here are 3 tips to get you started.
- Do a test lesson beforehand
You don’t want to start teaching music on a platform you’re unfamiliar with, so make sure you test it out with some friends and family first. Look for reliability, as well as the quality of sound and image.
2. Call quality is important
Good call quality is important. If you want to make a good impression as a music teacher and increase your chances of retaining music students, you need to make sure your call is uninterrupted. So that means not downloading huge files in the background, or streaming Netflix at the same time. Make sure your internet connection is strong and you’re not going to drop out on calls. It happens, but just try and reduce the chances of a laggy call.
3. Be familiar with different video call apps
Not everyone will have the same app as you, so make sure you have installed and are familiar with at least 3 different options. Some students may not have an Apple device, so FaceTime isn’t an option for them. Some may prefer Zoom and others Microsoft Teams. So, we recommend downloading at least 3 different video calling apps for safety.
We’ve also covered the equipment you need to teach music online in our handy gear checklist with cameras and headphones etc. – worth reading beforehand.
Let’s get started!
6 Best Video Call Apps For Music Lessons – Pros and Cons
Again, some options are better suited to different people, but the best thing about all these apps is that they’re completely free! Here are the key differences, pros and cons.
Zoom – Pros And Cons For Music Teachers
Zoom is arguably one of the most popular video call apps for music teachers these days. Almost everyone now has Zoom, so it’s a good idea to download this one.
Zoom actually rolled out High Fidelity Music Mode as they know LOTS of music teachers are using it to create better remote lessons. Read that article HERE. This setting is not currently supported on smartphones though.
Pros:
- Most common video call format
- High Fidelity Music Mode Settings
- Very reliable Connection
- Available on computers, smartphones and tablets
- No account needed – students just receive a link to Zoom
Can you record video on Zoom?
Yes – you can record lessons so your students can watch them back. Find out how HERE
Cons:
- 40-minute call limit on group calls of 3 and above
Google Meet (previously Hangouts) – Pros And Cons For Music Teachers
Google Meet is another very popular option for video calls. It’s probably the easiest version to use as you can schedule calls by email and you don’t need an app – it’s all done through your Chrome browser.
Pros:
- No account needed – just send a video link
- Available on computers, smartphones and tablets
- Very reliable Connection
- You can have up to 25 people on group calls
- Great compatibility, scheduling and synchronisation with Gmail and Google Calendar
Can you record video on Google Meet?
Yes, you can record calls on Google Meet so students can watch them back. Find out how HERE.
Cons:
- You need a paid account (Enterprise or Education) to be able to record calls.
Skype – Pros And Cons For Music Teachers
I’ve included Skype because it’s the most famous video calling app ever. But admittedly, people are using it less and less in favour of Teams, Zoom and Google Meet.
Pros:
- Easily the most famous video call app out there – so adult students will likely have it
- Available on computers, smartphones and tablets
- Very reliable connection
- 50 people can be on the same call – perfect for group music lessons and classes
- 4-hour time limit on calls – 100 hour limit per month, so you should be good!
Can you record video on Skype?
Yes, you can record calls on Skype so your students can watch them back. Find out how HERE.
Cons:
- Students will need a skype account to use the service
FaceTime – Pros And Cons For Music Teachers
FaceTime has been incredibly useful in the past 2 years enabling people to stay connected and music teachers to keep teaching remotely. But is it suitable for teaching music online?
Pros:
- Reliable connection – although it can be laggy
- Available on Mac computers, Apple smartphones and tablets
- No account or link needed – just call your student
- Great video quality as it uses your device
Can you record video on FaceTime?
Yes, you can record calls through Facetime. Find out how HERE.
Cons:
- Only available for Apple users and Apple devices
- Not all students will have an apple device
WhatsApp – Pros And Cons For Music Teachers
Try and find someone who doesn’t have WhatsApp these days – we’ll wait. This messaging and video call app is everywhere, so you’re probably safe to use this for music lessons. It’s now also available on desktop – which is great for teachers who value video quality! That should be you…
Pros:
- Almost everyone will have this app
- Available on computers, smartphones and tablets
- No account or link needed – just call your student
- Great video quality as it uses your device
Can you record video on WhatsApp?
Yes, you can record calls and lessons on WhatsApp so your students can watch them back. Use the screen recorder as highlighted in the FaceTime section, or download a third-party app for Android devices.
Cons:
- Not always reliable – prone to service downtime
- Can be laggy
Microsoft Teams – Pros And Cons For Music Teachers
Microsoft Teams is probably the more “professional” of the video call apps we have here and it’s widely used across businesses due to its reliability. It’s a good idea to have this option downloaded.
Pros:
- Very reliable
- Available on computers, smartphones and tablets
- No account needed – just send a link and a student can join as a “guest”
- Great video quality
- Up to 1000 people on one call!
Can you record video on Microsoft Teams?
Yes, you can record calls on Microsoft Teams, but you need a paid account to do so. Find out more HERE.
Cons:
- The layout can be a little tricky to navigate
- Needs a paid account to record calls
Final Tips
Teaching online music lessons over video can be a really enjoyable experience for both teacher and student, and a particularly effective way of learning an instrument. But it’s not without its pitfalls.
Here are a few tips to help your calls and video music lessons run smoothly.
- Lighting is important! Make sure you can see your student they can see you
- Group lessons can be messy, so make sure students take turns to play, otherwise you won’t hear anything!
- Internet connection is key – make sure you have a reliable connection otherwise the lesson won’t work
- A good microphone and webcam will help you create better lessons, but it’s not essential.
- Use headphones – the echo and feedback can be really annoying if you’re using your built in mic
- Try and use the biggest screen possible to make the lesson easier
Have fun!
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About the author
Lee Glynn (linkedin.com/in/leerglynn/) is a digital content strategist, blog writer and has been playing the guitar for 3 decades. Along with creating content strategies for a wide range of industries, and writing for well-respected music blogs and retailers for nearly 20 years, he helps websites grow their traffic with his company Quarry Lake Content (quarrylakecontent.com), specialising in blog and content writing, YouTube SEO and Copywriting.He was also in the UK-based band Sound Of Guns and has played Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds and just about every stage and festival in the UK multiple times.
