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Private music teachers embrace digital lessons

When the COVID-19 shutdown put a halt to in-person music lessons, teachers from the Richmond branch of the British Columbia Registered Music Teachers Association (BCRMTA) acted quickly to ensure uninterrupted learning.
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The music teachers offer virtual classes to provide consistent education for their students.

When the COVID-19 shutdown put a halt to in-person music lessons, teachers from the Richmond branch of the British Columbia Registered Music Teachers Association (BCRMTA) acted quickly to ensure uninterrupted learning.

The music teachers pivoted to online lessons, offering virtual classes to provide consistent education for their students.

“With online lessons, there is a familiarity because students are still sitting with the teacher that they know and because it’s visual, they can see the instrument and the space they’re familiar with,” says Victoria Warfield, president of the Richmond branch of the BCRMTA.

“It creates a sense of normalcy even though there is a distance.”

The BCRMTA is a non-profit association committed to excellence in musical education. Members are only eligible to join if they hold a music degree from a recognized music school, as well as a minimum number of years of teaching experience.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, online music lessons were available, but they weren’t widely used. Now the desire for remote education is taking off, and BCRMTA teachers are answering the call.

“I find it amazing that the teachers have stepped up so quickly to set up their students and carry on with their lessons. The learning curve was steep and hard, but I’ve been really impressed by how students and teachers are not only doing it, but doing it well,” Warfield says.

One of the benefits of online music lessons is that it has created some flexibility in terms of scheduling. Since students are able to practice right from their homes, lessons no longer need to be at a time when their parents can arrange transportation for them. Since everyone is at home, there are more hours in the day to accommodate instruction.

Warfield encourages anyone interested in music lessons to visit the BCRMTA website to fill out an easy contact form to be matched with a teacher. They take into consideration your instrument, location, level and goals and provide you with a list of teachers who are taking on new students.

“Every person who you are connected with, you can be assured of their qualifications,” Warfield says.

To learn more and get connected with a local music teacher, visit www.bcrmta.com.