Alan began working with pianists on Skype and Zoom long before Covid-19, because it is simply not possible to give regular live lessons when he has students in cities like Sydney, Tokyo, Rio, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Munich, Milan, and many others around the globe.
Our initial scepticism soon passed when we saw just how effective a Skype lesson can be. As long as Alan can see what is going on technically, his eagle eye and vast knowledge of physical organization allow him to zero in on the best strategies to improve your pianism and musicianship.
All that's needed for a Zoom or Skype session is adequate bandwidth, a microphone (external is better but an internal computer mike will do), and an external webcam or your laptop camera pointed at the keyboard. We have even had students take a session with their phone propped at one end of the keyboard.
Your lesson is recorded and sent to you privately so that with repeated viewing you get maximum benefit.
Alan Fraser feels that in some ways, working online has actually improved his teaching. In a live lesson, he might simply take the student's arm and guide it through a precise movement that mirrors the inflection of the phrase, that gives rise to specific expressive content. To do something similar online, words must communicate the intention. It's like the difference between a Feldenkrais private Functional Integration lesson and a group Awareness Through Movement lesson. The verbal directions must be crystal clear.
Ensuring that the communication is perfectly understood, that the idea has been fully transmitted, demands exceptional clarity of thought, an exceptional rigour of perception and intervention. In meeting that challenge, Alan has honed his teaching to new levels of effectivenes.
Moshe Feldenkrais said, "If you know what you're doing, you can do what you want." Here, the teacher must know what he is doing.
Feldenkrais defined health as being able to fulfill one's unavowed dreams... an intriguing definition indeed. Alan Fraser has retired from his university position, and is cutting back on travel to have more time to devote to several book projects – and also to do more of his teaching online. Many are hesitant to try an online lesson, but Alan is completely open to working with you, whether you are young or old, amateur or pro. Why don't you make that step towards greater pianistic health? Why not fulfill your unavowed dream? Purchase your online lesson with Alan Fraser today.
If you are interested but are not sure that this is for you, why not discuss it with Alan? As 2022 draws to a close, we are offering an end-of-year special: a short Zoom or Skype meeting with Alan Fraser to consult, to express your concerns, to give him an idea of your piano skills, and to ascertain whether indeed you could benefit from a lesson. Write us here to book your free consultation... Covid hit many of us harder than we realize. This could be your way back to full creativity.
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