Online Piano Lessons with Nick Marks via Skype
Nick Marks is a Melbourne pianist and composer currently based in NYC, USA. For a limited time he's offering a FREE Skype lesson to anyone interested in studying with him.
Learn piano from anywhere in the world with a highly regarded music educator and composer. Nick Marks has been performing, writing, arranging and teaching in Australia and internationally for more than 10 years. |
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About Skype Piano Lessons
For 3 years, I have studied with internationally acclaimed educators and artists via Skype: Dr Bat-sheva Rubinstein (who lives in Tel-Aviv, Israel) and Sam Yahel (who is based in New York City).
Dr Rubinstein has evolved a specialized pedagogy in ear training and its connection to composition and performance practice for over 50 years. Her pedagogy centers around hearing, identifying, singing and writing compositional elements as they are performed in real time (by her, or on recordings). On Skype, I am required to sing, or perform on the piano exactly what she plays or asks. This is a highly nuanced and thorough methodology. Having the technology to study with Dr Rubinstein on the other side of the world has provided the means through which I have been able to significantly, grow, progress and evolve as an artist. Her teaching has significantly influenced the way I work with students, of all ages and levels.
Sam Yahel is an award winning, highly acclaimed pianist based in New York, with multiple recordings as band leader and side man. I met Sam in New York where I studied with him in person for 1 month. After returning to Australia, we agreed to continue on Skype, and my development continued at a fantastic rate. I am able to see and hear Sam perform examples, excerpts and exercises with clarity, and vice versa, he is able to clearly see, hear and therefore accurately critique my performance during lessons. Sam’s teaching has also had a tremendous affect on my work with students.
Earlier in 2016, I was on tour for 10 weeks in London, New York and Los Angeles. During this time, I worked with 8 students based in Melbourne via Skype. The transition from in person lessons to technology was seamless. All students made significant progress, and spoke of how well the technology worked. Many of them were preparing for important events such as school recitals, VCE Exams, university auditions and concerts.
(2) Why Skype Lessons Work
The standard of cameras and audio equipment fitted out in basic laptops, tablets and even mobile devices has evolved to an incredibly high quality. The technology is perfectly capable of streaming and transferring information / video / images and dialogue in real time, so as to enable a real and meaningful connection between two (or more) people in the digital realm. The fact that I have been able to complete 3 years of study and make significant progress under her guidance via Skype is a testament to quality of the technology.
My Skype experience has been successful not only because of the technology, but mainly because of the people with whom I study. The technology provides the tools, the rest, as with anything, is dependent on the teacher / student relationship. Technology is an enabler, and provides a unique opportunity for people to connect and learn from artists and teachers anywhere in the world. Geographical limitations are no longer an issue with these means.
(3) Benefits of Skype Lessons
Students will be having lessons with me in my studio. The camera is set up in such a way that the student can clearly see and hear me perform along side them in real time. Students can record or video the lessons so they may refer to them afterwards. Generally with in home lessons, there is only one piano, and instructions are mainly given verbally or by swapping out with the student to make a demonstration. Using my own studio means the student has access to carefully watching the nuances in the physical components of playing, and can follow both verbal and visual instructions instantly.
(4) Who can take Skype lessons? What age / level is appropriate?
Answer: Anyone! Age / level is no barrier with technology, just as it isn’t with in person lessons. The technology is an enabler. The rest depends on the individual student, and their connection to the teacher. I have worked with children (as young as 6 years old), teenagers, adults, all of whom are at different levels (including beginners). Lessons via technology require the same commitment and dedication as in person lessons.
(4) How Skype Lessons Work
Setting up a time
We will arrange a time that works within our schedules
We can communicate via e-mail, or mobile phone (using one of Whatsapp, iMessage or FaceTime)
Camera/Setup
You will have your camera set up on the side of the piano, in a similar position to where I would be sitting if I was physically in the room. I will get a clear image of you from the side: your body position as well as the piano.
From my end, I will have the camera setup in a similar position on my piano. This is one of the advantages of Skype: You will be able to see, hear and watch me play. We will also play a number of aural exercises and games which involve improvising, and call and response where you imitate or respond to what I play.
Lesson preparation
I will send through any preparatory material via email. This could take the form of exercises, scores or excerpts from books. As in any normal lesson, these are provided for you.
Having the lesson
Lessons are conducted as usual. During the lesson, I will be making notes for you on what materials were covered, and how these materials need to be practiced over the course of the week (with specific instruction on what to do, how to do it, how long to do it for).
If, during the lesson, I ask you to prepare something that involves you writing or composing, I will ask you to either show me on the camera, or, take a photo and send it to me via email so I can see. The quality of the images is more than adequate for me to clearly see the work.
After the lesson
I will send you an overview email with the notes written in the lesson. If you have any further questions, you are very welcome to contact me via email or phone. If the matter can be dealt with simply by email, I will write the response. If it needs a further explanation, we can schedule a call.
I write this to assure students that I am be available at all times for you, as I would be if we are in the same city. Where required, I will send you any additional materials via email, which are to be practiced. I provide all materials for lessons. Where necessary, I will direct you to the relevant resources whereby you can obtain the information required for lessons / practice.
(5) Being in Contact and Arranging Lessons
You will have my US Cel number, Australian Mobile and email address.
With mobile communication, we can use any of the following means to text or phone call: Whatsapp, FaceTime, Skype or other communication means that uses a WiFi connection.
(6) In the event of any technology bugs:
The time of the lesson only commences once the technology is clearly up and running.
If there is an issue with connection at the start, we work through until the connection is up and running.
Unexpected things with technology can happen during a lesson – a drop out, a cut out in dialogue, a delay or lag in communication – we will work around this. In the event the call drops out, we both persist to call each other until we re-connect. Once this is online, the lesson then resumes.
(7) Interested? Take a Free Lesson
I offer anyone interested in studying with me a free lesson by Skype. This is in order for you to get a feel for how the lessons work via technology, as well as my teaching principles and philosophy. You will have the opportunity to ask any further questions about the process and how it all works, and we can address any concerns you may have. Adjusting to working via Skype is very simple and easy. From the above, you will see how the transition of all administrative aspects in organizing lesson times, preparing / having the lesson, and practice are seamless.
Dr Rubinstein has evolved a specialized pedagogy in ear training and its connection to composition and performance practice for over 50 years. Her pedagogy centers around hearing, identifying, singing and writing compositional elements as they are performed in real time (by her, or on recordings). On Skype, I am required to sing, or perform on the piano exactly what she plays or asks. This is a highly nuanced and thorough methodology. Having the technology to study with Dr Rubinstein on the other side of the world has provided the means through which I have been able to significantly, grow, progress and evolve as an artist. Her teaching has significantly influenced the way I work with students, of all ages and levels.
Sam Yahel is an award winning, highly acclaimed pianist based in New York, with multiple recordings as band leader and side man. I met Sam in New York where I studied with him in person for 1 month. After returning to Australia, we agreed to continue on Skype, and my development continued at a fantastic rate. I am able to see and hear Sam perform examples, excerpts and exercises with clarity, and vice versa, he is able to clearly see, hear and therefore accurately critique my performance during lessons. Sam’s teaching has also had a tremendous affect on my work with students.
Earlier in 2016, I was on tour for 10 weeks in London, New York and Los Angeles. During this time, I worked with 8 students based in Melbourne via Skype. The transition from in person lessons to technology was seamless. All students made significant progress, and spoke of how well the technology worked. Many of them were preparing for important events such as school recitals, VCE Exams, university auditions and concerts.
(2) Why Skype Lessons Work
The standard of cameras and audio equipment fitted out in basic laptops, tablets and even mobile devices has evolved to an incredibly high quality. The technology is perfectly capable of streaming and transferring information / video / images and dialogue in real time, so as to enable a real and meaningful connection between two (or more) people in the digital realm. The fact that I have been able to complete 3 years of study and make significant progress under her guidance via Skype is a testament to quality of the technology.
My Skype experience has been successful not only because of the technology, but mainly because of the people with whom I study. The technology provides the tools, the rest, as with anything, is dependent on the teacher / student relationship. Technology is an enabler, and provides a unique opportunity for people to connect and learn from artists and teachers anywhere in the world. Geographical limitations are no longer an issue with these means.
(3) Benefits of Skype Lessons
Students will be having lessons with me in my studio. The camera is set up in such a way that the student can clearly see and hear me perform along side them in real time. Students can record or video the lessons so they may refer to them afterwards. Generally with in home lessons, there is only one piano, and instructions are mainly given verbally or by swapping out with the student to make a demonstration. Using my own studio means the student has access to carefully watching the nuances in the physical components of playing, and can follow both verbal and visual instructions instantly.
(4) Who can take Skype lessons? What age / level is appropriate?
Answer: Anyone! Age / level is no barrier with technology, just as it isn’t with in person lessons. The technology is an enabler. The rest depends on the individual student, and their connection to the teacher. I have worked with children (as young as 6 years old), teenagers, adults, all of whom are at different levels (including beginners). Lessons via technology require the same commitment and dedication as in person lessons.
(4) How Skype Lessons Work
Setting up a time
We will arrange a time that works within our schedules
We can communicate via e-mail, or mobile phone (using one of Whatsapp, iMessage or FaceTime)
Camera/Setup
You will have your camera set up on the side of the piano, in a similar position to where I would be sitting if I was physically in the room. I will get a clear image of you from the side: your body position as well as the piano.
From my end, I will have the camera setup in a similar position on my piano. This is one of the advantages of Skype: You will be able to see, hear and watch me play. We will also play a number of aural exercises and games which involve improvising, and call and response where you imitate or respond to what I play.
Lesson preparation
I will send through any preparatory material via email. This could take the form of exercises, scores or excerpts from books. As in any normal lesson, these are provided for you.
Having the lesson
Lessons are conducted as usual. During the lesson, I will be making notes for you on what materials were covered, and how these materials need to be practiced over the course of the week (with specific instruction on what to do, how to do it, how long to do it for).
If, during the lesson, I ask you to prepare something that involves you writing or composing, I will ask you to either show me on the camera, or, take a photo and send it to me via email so I can see. The quality of the images is more than adequate for me to clearly see the work.
After the lesson
I will send you an overview email with the notes written in the lesson. If you have any further questions, you are very welcome to contact me via email or phone. If the matter can be dealt with simply by email, I will write the response. If it needs a further explanation, we can schedule a call.
I write this to assure students that I am be available at all times for you, as I would be if we are in the same city. Where required, I will send you any additional materials via email, which are to be practiced. I provide all materials for lessons. Where necessary, I will direct you to the relevant resources whereby you can obtain the information required for lessons / practice.
(5) Being in Contact and Arranging Lessons
You will have my US Cel number, Australian Mobile and email address.
With mobile communication, we can use any of the following means to text or phone call: Whatsapp, FaceTime, Skype or other communication means that uses a WiFi connection.
(6) In the event of any technology bugs:
The time of the lesson only commences once the technology is clearly up and running.
If there is an issue with connection at the start, we work through until the connection is up and running.
Unexpected things with technology can happen during a lesson – a drop out, a cut out in dialogue, a delay or lag in communication – we will work around this. In the event the call drops out, we both persist to call each other until we re-connect. Once this is online, the lesson then resumes.
(7) Interested? Take a Free Lesson
I offer anyone interested in studying with me a free lesson by Skype. This is in order for you to get a feel for how the lessons work via technology, as well as my teaching principles and philosophy. You will have the opportunity to ask any further questions about the process and how it all works, and we can address any concerns you may have. Adjusting to working via Skype is very simple and easy. From the above, you will see how the transition of all administrative aspects in organizing lesson times, preparing / having the lesson, and practice are seamless.