Online Lessons vs In-Person Lessons: Honest Pros and Cons for Music Teachers

Teaching can feel like you are running two jobs at once, musician and logistics manager. Choosing between online lessons and in-person lessons (or trying to do both) can add a whole new layer.

I have yet to meet a teacher who feels like they have found a perfect setup. The goal is not perfect. It is a setup that fits your students, your energy, and your schedule.

Online vs in-person matters because it affects everything: your cancellation policy, your pricing, your studio space, your teaching tools, and even which students stick with lessons long term.

What actually changes when you teach online

Online lessons change the teaching problems you solve. Some get easier. Some get harder.

Online tends to work well when:

A student already practices somewhat consistently and needs coaching, accountability, and musical direction.
The family has a busy schedule, multiple kids, or long commutes.
You teach teens or adults who can adjust their camera, follow instructions, and self-correct.

Online tends to feel rough when:

A 6 or 7-year-old needs constant physical setup help (hand position, instrument angle, bow hold, posture, page turns).
The student has unreliable internet or shares one device with siblings.
You rely on duets, real-time harmony work, or subtle tone matching.

The biggest online shift: you teach more with words

In person, you can point, tap a music stand, adjust a wrist angle (with permission), or model a sound right next to them.

Online, you explain more. You ask better questions. You use short demonstrations, then you watch carefully.

A practical example: when a 7-year-old struggles with curved fingers, in person you might gently guide the hand shape. Online, you might say:

“Show me your hand like you are holding a bubble.”
“Freeze. Turn your hand sideways to the camera.”
“Now play just the first two notes and stop.”

That can work, but it takes patience and a parent or older sibling nearby sometimes.

The honest pros and cons of in-person lessons

In-person teaching still has a lot going for it, especially for younger students and hands-on instruments.

Pros of in-person

Faster corrections. You can spot posture and tension quickly.
Easier for young beginners. You can manage materials, setup, and attention.
Better sound and timing. You hear tone, articulation, and dynamics without compression and lag.
Studio culture. Recitals, group classes, and hallway high fives build momentum.

Cons of in-person

Commute and transitions. Your day can become “teach, reset, greet, repeat.”
Illness and cancellations. One sick week can knock out half your schedule.
Space limitations. You can only teach as many students as your room and your energy allow.
Family logistics. Some families quit because they cannot handle the driving.

If you teach from home, there is also the personal boundary piece. Some teachers love the community feel. Others feel drained by having people in their space all afternoon.

The honest pros and cons of online lessons

Online teaching can be surprisingly effective, and also surprisingly tiring.

Pros of online

More consistent attendance. Students can log in from anywhere. Weather matters less.
Wider reach. You can teach students who live 30 minutes away, or three states away.
Flexible scheduling. You can stack lessons tightly without “door time.”
Easy screen sharing. You can pull up a backing track, a rhythm app, or a theory worksheet fast.

A real studio example: if you charge $60/hour and you lose two lessons a week to weather or transportation issues, online options can protect your income. Even if only some families choose it, it can steady your month.

Cons of online

Audio lag. You cannot truly play together in real time.
Sound quality limits. Tone and dynamics can be harder to judge.
Tech stress. Cameras, microphones, updates, and “Can you hear me?” eat minutes.
More screen fatigue. You watch harder, listen harder, and troubleshoot more.

This will not work for everyone, but many teachers find online works best when they tighten the lesson structure. Shorter activities. Clear goals. More student talk-back.

A practical way to choose: match the format to the student

You do not have to pick one format forever. You can make decisions student by student.

Here are a few patterns that show up in real studios.

Online tends to fit well for

Teens with packed schedules. They can practice between sports and homework.
Adults. They often like the convenience and feel less self-conscious at home.
Intermediate students. They can handle detailed feedback and self-correct.
Students who travel. Consistency matters more than location.

In-person tends to fit well for

Very young beginners. Especially when attention and setup need support.
Students with special learning needs. Many do better with in-room cues and routine.
Instruments with complex setup. Some instruments need hands-on help early on.
Students working on tone production. In-person sound feedback can speed progress.

Watch out for the “online beginner trap”

A beginner can succeed online, but usually only when:

A parent sits in for the first month.
You keep assignments simple and repeatable.
You use clear camera angles (hands, face, instrument).

If a parent cannot be present and the student is young, online can become a weekly battle. That is not a teaching failure. It is a format mismatch.

Policies and pricing that keep things fair

This is where teachers get stuck, because policies can feel personal. They do not have to.

Decide how you will handle format switches

Some studios allow families to switch formats week to week. Others keep students in one format per semester.

Options that work in real life:

One primary format per student. Families can request a temporary switch for travel or illness.
Weather and illness rule. If someone is sick or roads are bad, the lesson goes online.
Hybrid package. For example, 3 in-person lessons and 1 online lesson each month.

Consistency helps you plan, and it helps families know what to expect.

Pricing: you can charge the same, but explain why

Many teachers charge the same rate for online and in-person because:

Your expertise stays the same.
Your prep time stays the same.
The lesson time stays the same.

Some teachers charge slightly less online. Some charge the same but offer shorter online check-ins as an add-on.

If you charge $60/hour in person, you might keep $60/hour online and add a clear tech expectation, like “Student must have a device with a stable camera and a quiet space.”

This will not work for everyone, but clarity prevents resentment on both sides.

Build a simple tech checklist

You do not need a complicated setup. You do need consistency.

A basic checklist to send families:

Device on a stand or stable surface (not handheld)
Camera shows hands and face (or embouchure, bow arm, sticking, depending on instrument)
Headphones optional, but helpful for backing tracks
Good lighting from the front
Metronome and music ready before the call

If you teach online often, consider a second camera angle. Even a cheap webcam can help you see hands clearly.

Practical takeaway: what to try this week

Pick one small experiment instead of redesigning your whole studio.

Try a “weather goes online” policy for the rest of the season. Write the exact wording and send it to families.
Choose two students to test hybrid lessons for one month, one beginner and one intermediate. Track what improves and what frustrates you.
Create a one-page online lesson setup guide with photos of camera angles for your instrument. Send it before the next online lesson.
Tighten your online lesson plan into three parts: warm-up (5 minutes), main goal (20 minutes), performance run and assignment (5 minutes). Adjust for your lesson length.
Ask one question after each lesson: “Did the format help today, or get in the way?” Write the answer down.

Online and in-person both work. They just ask different things from you and your students. If you build a format that matches the student in front of you, you will feel less drained, and your studio will feel more stable.