AKARSH SHEKHAR
Re-Tuned : Teaching Music
in a Post-COVID World
The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on everything we do . It has impacted students a lot too . Returning to school has been a touchy debate topic with voices on both sides making strong arguments . However , unlike maths or geography , which can depend on individual study , collective ensembles like bands , choirs and orchestras cannot . With social distancing measures in place , it will be very tough to get the members of a band or an orchestra in one place . Then there is the problem of touching and playing the instruments themselves , especially when it comes to wind instruments , where students literally have to blow air into the instrument to create music . Latency issues make online group rehearsals a challenge as well ( perhaps feasible for a three piece rock band , but it gets increasingly difficult as the number of members increases ). So how are music schools able to continue in times like these ? Turns out , with a lot of perseverance , innovation , and a strong will to adapt . Let ’ s find out more .
» Challenges
Nilesh Thomas of Mumbai based True School of Music pointed towards connectivity and lack of access to quality musical instruments as major challenges . As discussed earlier , getting students to practice together was going to be a major hurdle and Global Music Institute ’ s Charita Arora seconded that . Technical difficulties and lags have made online practice sessions somewhat unfeasible as well . KM Music Conservatory ’ s Adam J Greig spoke about the lack of real world one on one sessions as a major challenge . Surprisingly enough , Jason Zachariah of Bangalore ’ s Nathaniel School of Music said that the transition to an online model has been quite smooth , as long as students have a good internet connection at home .
» Solutions
“ We have been using a mixture of online learning platforms & videoconferencing tools such as Zoom or Google Meet or Skype along with a Learning Management System ( LMS )”, said Charita Arora . “ The pause we took , allowed us to reflect , review , and reimagine the way we would like to move forward so as to ensure we are able to create offerings for our community upholding the standards that GMI has always stood for ”, Arora added .
Speaking about his experience , Jason Zachariah talked about initial hiccups but smooth sailing soon thereafter . He said , “ Ever since the lockdown , we ' ve moved our entire flagship course , " Music Method " online . As the course is already a gradedcertificate course ( at different levels ) over
4 months , it was not a problem running our assignments and tests over online correspondence .”
True School of Music uses a customized LMS developed by Kadenze , a US based Edtech company . Nilesh Thomas added , “ We use Zoom for live interactions between students and faculty , while all course material , peer interactions and assessments are deployed via the LMS .”
The KM Music Conservatory took a mixed approach towards solving the problem . Speaking about his institute ’ s strategy , Adam J Greig said , “ During lockdown , we have opened our part time courses online , and have continued our full time programmes working on extra-curricular activities to keep students engaged without losing out on curricular activities on campus .”
» Response
Similar to how people react to anything new or drastically different , students and parents reacted with a trepid apprehension in the beginning . But since then , they have all warmed up to the idea of e-learning and have found a way to make the best of the situation . The flexibility of remote learning is something that students have come to appreciate over time . The time and money saved on commuting have been spent on practice and the purchase of better gear . Until things return to normal ( or whatever the new normal happens to be ), online classes are here to stay .
Charita Arora- Global Music Institute
Adam Greig- KMMC
Nilesh Thomas- True school of music
Jason Zac -Nathaniel school of Music
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