Zoom Lessons

Since the start of lockdown, Zoom has become a great tool for online music lessons – enabling students to continue lessons in a safe environment. Southampton Woodwind Academy is currently offering lessons online, via Zoom.

Below is a guide to get the best out of your Zoom music lessons. If you struggle with technology, please do get in touch as we are very happy to help.

Two settings which will greatly improve the sound quality are:
– Enable ‘original sound’. This preserves the real audio so you and your teacher will be able to hear the true sound of the instrument, as far as possible.
– Disable the automatic volume control. This will enable you to hear some dynamics.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get the best out of Zoom for your music lessons.

PC/Laptop

1. Download the Zoom app by clicking on the link. It is the top option: ‘Zoom Client for Meetings’.

2. Go to the Settings menu.

To access ‘Settings’ before the Zoom meeting: click on your profile picture or the cog at the top of your screen. Then click on ‘Settings’.

Or to access ‘Settings’ during the Zoom meeting: click on the up arrow, next to the Mute button.

3. Select ‘Audio’ and untick ‘Automatically adjust audio’.

4. Where it says ‘Suppress background noise’, select ‘Low’.

5. Click on ‘Advanced’ on the bottom right of the screen.

6. Tick ‘Show in-meeting option to “Enable Original Sound” from microphone’.

7. During your lesson, make sure that you have enabled original sound. If it is on, the bar at the top of your screen will be blue and will look like this:

(If it is grey and says ‘Turn on Original Sound’ just click on it and it will turn blue.)

8. Remember to turn on original sound before each lesson.