Installing Skype

The first (and most fundamental) thing is to have a computer that is linked to the internet

with a good broadband connection. It is also important to invest in a microphone headset as

the sound quality will be better than a built-in webcam and microphone that many computers

come with today. The microphone headset will usually cost around 10 to 15.

The next thing to do is make sure you have Skype on your computer. Skype is basically

internet based communication software by Microsoft that specialises in providing free video chat

and free voice calls for users from all over the world. Skype users will only require Skype credit

(where you will need to pay) when calling landline or mobile numbers. Setting up a Skype

account is an easy task and many tutors will already have a Skype account ready. But for those

that don't here is a quick and easy guide for setting up a Skype account:

First you'll need to download and install the latest version of Skype. It's a very easy

process and it is completely free. Just follow these nine simple steps:
1. Type www.skype.com in the address line of your internet browser.

2. Click the download button on the home page and Skype will begin to download. (If the
download doesn't start automatically you can start it manually by clicking Start
Download Again).
3. If you are prompted to save or open the program always choose save the file to your
hard drive. Do not open or run the program during the download process!
4. . Choose an easy to remember location (such as Windows Desktop) and click OK.
5. When your download is complete double-click the Skype Setup program (or click Run if
you have the option).
6. When the installer program launches it will ask you to choose a language; select it from a
drop-down menu.

7. Read and accept the End User License Agreement to proceed. You may be asked to
install certain other browser add-ons but if you don't want them just uncheck the box and
click Next.
8. Click the Options button. This page gives you the option to launch Skype as soon as the
installation is complete. The box is already checked (just uncheck the box if you don't
want it to launch right away).
9. Click I agree - Install. Skype will ask you to set up an account by entering a Name, a
Skype Name and Password. The next screen asks for your e-mail,
country and city. Once you complete this Skype will automatically launch.
And that's the installation process done! You are now well on your way to start the online tutoring

process! Before that, let's take a look at how to get started with Skype.
Getting Started With Skype
Getting started with SkypeOnce the installation process has been completed a screen will pop up

to help you get started exploring Skype. You'll be able to:

1. See what you can do with Skype.
Here you'll find information about both the free and paid features of Skype.
2. Check that your sound functions.
Test your speakers, microphone and Webcam to make sure they are all working
properly.
3. Find friends and import contacts
You'll be able to search for people and check whether your email contacts are on Skype.

After you have explored and got to know a bit more about the program you'll want to set up your

Skype name and password. Your Skype name is what other people on Skype see when they

contact you i.e. GeographyTutorEmma133.

Setting up your Skype name and password:

1. Click the Don't have a Skype Name?

(The Create a New Account page opens).
2. In the Enter Skype Name box, enter the name you have decided to use.
Skype names must start with a letter, be between 6 and 32 characters long, include
letters and numbers and have no spaces. They should always be in lower-case.
3. Choose a Password and enter it in the Password box.
A Skype Password must be between 6 and 20 characters and must contain at least one
number and one letter. All Skype passwords are case sensitive so make sure you pick a
password that is easy for you to remember!
4. Select the check box to accept the Skype End User License Agreement and
Privacy Statement.
5. Click Next to continue to another Create Your Account Screen and enter your
email address.
This is optional but recommended.
6. Enter your country, region and city.
Again optional but useful for when others search for you.
Now that you have your Skype set up you are ready to start your online tutoring. It's a good idea

to set up your Skype profile by providing some information that will help other users find you

more easily. To do this just open your Skype Profile screen and choose Skype -Profile -

Edit and fill out any relevant information you feel necessary. It would be a good idea to fill in

the AboutMe section just to give students an overview of who you are and what you offer in

terms of tutoring.
Making A Skype Call
Now let's take a quick look at how to initiate a Skype call so that you are ready to contact your

student for their first online lesson.

1. Double-click the student's Skype Name.
This will open your contact's profile window.
2. On the screen there will be a video and a telephone icon.
Double-clicking the video icon you will initiate a video call with your student. By double-
clicking the telephone icon you will initiate a call without video.
3. When you student answers the call, just talk!
And that's it! It really is that simple.
Screen Sharing On Skype
Skype also allows you to screen share which will be an essential part of your online tuition.

Screen sharing basically lets you share your computer screen with anyone on Skype so you will

be able to show presentations or information to your student easily.

How to share your screen:

1. Start a video call.

2. After the call has started, click the button in the call bar and select Share screens.

3. A dialog box will appear. Just click Start to share your entire screen.

4. You can change your screen sharing options anytime by clicking this icon in the

floating call window.

5. You can stop sharing anytime by clicking the Stop sharing button in the floating call

window.

- If your internet is down, or you are experiencing some type of technical difficulty making the use
of Skype difficult, the session will be held via phone. You will need to call your Practice Leader at
 your start time (rather than wait for their call) to inform them of the problem. Webcam sessions
are ideal, but the phone can be used on occasion and can still provide a very beneficial practice
session.
- If the teacher is experiencing technical problems, he or she will initiate a phone call session.
Webcam sessions are ideal, but the phone can be used on occasion and can still provide a very
beneficial practice session.
- It is the students/parents responsibility to initiate the Skype call with the Practice Leader. If the
Practice Leader does not hear from the student by two minutes past their scheduled start time,
the Practice Leader will make one attempt to contact the student via Skype, then one attempt via
phone. If no contact is made, the session is cancelled and no make-up, credit or refund will be
given.

Missed Lesson Options:

Phone or Skype lessons during the students regular lesson time are also an option. In the
case of inclement weatherplease check your email or the website for lesson status.

Illness:
Students who are ill should not come to piano lessons. The teacher reserves the right not to
teach a student if they arrive sick. If students are only mildly ill, please email and we can arrange
to do a phone or Skype lesson. If you have a computer with a camera close to your piano or a
laptop that you can move close to the piano, please create a free Skype account and add my
name to your contacts (or add my phone to your Facetime). This will allow the teacher to call
you and have a lesson with you over the internet if need be. Visit http://www.skype.com/ to
create your free account. Your teacher will let you know what their Skype user name is. You can
also do a Google hangout with just a Gmail email address.

Skype Lesson Policies for

Violin/Viola
GENERAL ISSUES:

1. Please be at the computer on time, neither early or late. Note that you
are paying for the time slot, not the lesson, per se.
2. Have all your books and materials at hand: notebook, manuscript
paper, Suzuki or other books, sharpened pencils (no pens!). Make sure
your notebook has filler paper in it.
 3. Teacher will help you with tuning.
4. Upon receipt of first payment (usually takes three business days to
process), teacher will mail you rosin, shoulder pad, mute, polishing
cloth and music dictionary.
5. If your instrument has problems, please visit a luthier shop or music
store prior to your lesson to have any needed repairs done.
6. Please examine the first page of your notebook every practice session,
and prepare the materials assigned for the week. Contact Teacher if
there are any questions.
7. Students need to practice every day, and prepare the lesson materials
for the next lesson.
8. Practice time should be divided up into (i.) Scales/arpeggios; (ii.)
tudes or study pieces; and (iii.) performance pieces.
9. At home, during practice sessions, please start each session with a
scale (whether a specific one is assigned or not).
10. Please text, phone or email and let teacher know if you're not going to
be available online to take your lesson. And while sometimes it is
unavoidable, please do this well in advance of the lesson time, not at
the lesson time or an hour in advance. I need to know well in advance
so I can schedule other things.
11. No makeup lesson will be scheduled without 24 hour notice.
12. Lesson fees are the same every month, whether you have three, four or
five lessons. There are a couple of months where most students will
have five lessons. There are three lessons in December and three or
four in November, depending on the holidays.
13. Lesson fees are due on or before the sixth of every month, with a $10
late fee after that time. Fees are due, whether you miss the first lesson
of the month or not. Teacher will email you a PayPal invoice at the
beginning of every month.
14. No refunds for the month, once lessons have started.

Some other considerations

You will want to instruct your student how to set up their webcam so that you can see them
properly. Make sure they do not stand directly in front of a bright lamp or a window otherwise
they will only appear in silhouette. The room needs to be well lit and the light is better if it is
behind the computer shining toward the student. Also, if you require your student to stand, make
sure you instruct them to angle the webcam properly so that you can see them without their
heads being cut off.

Since you have no control over the quality of your students equipment and setup, you might
want to offer them a free mini-lesson where you both get to audition the experience. If the
student doesnt have a setup that is conducive to a productive lesson, it is not worth continuing.
You will be frustrated and your student will feel the same way.
There are also some small logistics. You have to determine who is going to initiate the call. You
have to arrange payment. If you accept credit cards, you can have them read the credit card
number to you in the lesson or you could send them a PayPal money request before or after the
lesson (you need to have a PayPal account but they do not). Or of course you could have them
send you a check. If you use Music Teachers Helper, you can have the program automatically
request payment via email. You should also have a makeup policy in place in case environmental
issues prevent you from continuing a lesson that has already been started (i.e. your wireless
signal goes out because of a storm, etc.)

Your Principal Contact will be with your teacher who is directly responsible for your
music lessons. This agreement is between yourself and your music teacher.

1. A relaxed lesson atmosphere will help your enjoyment and this will be your teachers priority.
2. Your teacher will suggest appropriate pieces of music that they think you will enjoy and these can be
ordered on the website. You may need to buy an extra copy for the teacher.
3. You may like to work towards taking abrsm music exams and your teacher will guide you on this. When
your teacher thinks you are ready to take the exam you can use the website to arrange and pay for an
examination close to where you live.
4. Your teacher may decide, with your approval, to send recordings of set pieces you perform for publication
on the website or youtube. You may also be given opportunity to join with other students in live mini-
concerts.
5. Your lesson environment needs to be somewhere where you cannot be disturbed during the continuation
of the lesson. Microphones are sensitive so you will need to make sure their are no televisions/game
players or washing machines running in the same room.
6. Lessons are paid to your teacher at the time of booking in blocks of 4 or 8 and you can select times from
available dates on the teachers diary. To enable you to keep a regular lesson slot we will give you some
priority on the bookings diary for ongoing lessons.
7. A standard lesson is 30 minutes long and it is important that all lessons start on time, so please be ready
with computer switched on and working and the skype programme open.
8. The next lesson after yours will also start on time so there is no facility to over-run to compensate for late
starting.
9. Even though lessons are at your home, we respectfully ask Students to wear clothing that you would
wear for a public meeting outside your home (i.e. no pyjamas). Teachers are under strict instructions not
to proceed with lessons where inappropriate clothing is being worn.
10. For the protection of Students and teachers a video recording of each lesson will be archived. The
recording will be confidential and will not be available to anyone outside the business of Your Space
Music Lessons Ltd. In accordance with Data Protection you can request a copy of that recording at a
small administrative cost.
11. All lessons with your teacher must be booked via the website and paid through the website.
12. Refunds are not allowed if you cancel a pre-booked lesson. However if you let us know 48 hours in
advance we will attempt to reschedule the lesson within a ten day window.
13. If your music lesson is cancelled because your teacher is unavailable you may be given the opportunity to
have lessons with another teacher from Your Space Music Lessons. If you decide not to take up this
offer and it is not possible to reschedule your lesson within a ten day window a full reimbursement of your
lesson cost will be made.
14. If your lesson is cancelled because your teacher decides that the internet connection is not sufficient for
the lesson to proceed then yor lesson will be rescheduled within a ten day window or a full refund made.
15. Your Space Music Lessons respects the laws of copyright and will not allow unauthorised photocopies to
be used in lessons.
16. You may terminate your music lessons by simply not booking any further lessons. It would be
appreciated if you could tell us this is what you are doing.
17. Every effort is made to ensure you have the best teacher to suit your needs. If for some reason you wish
to change your teacher please contact us. If you feel able to we would prefer you to talk to your teacher
directly yourself.
18. Complaints should be made directly to your teacher who is fully responsible for your lesson. You may
also wish to bring the complaint to the attention of Your Space Music Lessons.
19. Additional clause (applicable to parents)
20. From experience we have found that having a parent in the same room during the lesson is too
distracting for the child and they lose out on precious teaching time. However, we understand that parents
would like to watch and see how it is working for their child - after all skype lessons are a new thing and
quite intriguing so we have made a rule that by the third lesson the parent is not present in the same
room but stays within earshot and even eyeshot as long as the child is not aware that you are there.