Your Equipment Setup Guide
Online lessons sound and look as good as your setup allows. The good news: most students don't need to buy anything to start. Below is what's required, what's recommended, and what's optional — in plain English.
Required (you almost certainly already have these)
A Laptop, Tablet, or Phone
Anything with a working camera and microphone. Built-in is fine. Larger screens are easier but not essential.
Stable Internet
At least 10 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload. Most home broadband meets this. Run a quick speed test at fast.com if unsure.
Headphones
Any pair. They prevent feedback loops. Wired beats wireless for music (no Bluetooth lag).
Zoom
Free Zoom account. We send a one-click join link with each lesson.
Recommended (modest upgrades that make a big difference)
USB Microphone
Built-in laptop mics are noisy. A $70 USB mic (Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica AT2020USB+) transforms the sound your teacher hears.
Good Lighting
Natural light from a window facing you is free and ideal. Otherwise a $20 ring light works.
A Quiet Room
Doesn't need to be soundproofed. A bedroom with the door closed beats a kitchen. Soft furnishings (rugs, curtains) absorb echo.
Camera Angle
Position the camera so your teacher sees your hands, your face, and your instrument. For pianists: a second device showing the keyboard helps.
Critical Zoom Setting Most Students Miss
Turn on Original Sound for Musicians.
Zoom's default audio is optimised for speech, which compresses music and cancels harmonics. To fix it:
1. Open Zoom Settings → Audio → Audio Profile
2. Select "Original Sound for Musicians"
3. Enable "High-fidelity music mode"
4. Enable "Echo cancellation" only if you must (it dulls the sound)
This is the single biggest improvement most students can make. It's free. It takes 30 seconds.
Instrument-Specific Notes
- Piano / Keyboard: Two devices help — one for face-to-face, one positioned overhead showing your hands. A second phone on a music-stand mount works.
- Voice: Stand 6–12 inches from your microphone. Use a pop filter or your hand to block plosives. Sing toward soft furnishings, not bare walls.
- Strings & Winds: Position the camera so your teacher sees both your bow/embouchure AND your full body posture. About 6 feet back, slightly elevated.
- Brass: If neighbours are an issue, ask your teacher about whisper mutes or practice mutes — they preserve technique without volume.
- Drums / Percussion: Multiple camera angles really help. Most students set up a phone for face-to-face + a second device for kit shot.
Need Help?
Our admissions team is happy to do a 15-minute setup-check video call before your first lesson. We test audio, video, and Zoom settings together so your first lesson is about music, not troubleshooting. Email support@theglobalconservatory.com.