2020-2021, a year we will never forget. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, w’eve constantly have had to make the switch from in person lessons to virtual lessons throughout the year. I get asked often, are virtual lessons as effective as in person lessons? Let’s take a look at the pro’s and cons of both.

1.Virtual Lessons

Technology has come a long way, and after trying all sorts of different platforms, i think its safe to say that virtual lessons can be very effective with a good internet connection and some headphones. Here’s a couple pro’s and con’s for virtual lessons:

Pro’s:

• No need to travel to the teachers location, saving you time and money
• Ability to take lessons anywhere, even if your on vacation
• More autonomy which forces students to experiment more and practice with backing tracks

Con’s:

• Quality of the lesson can depend on how stable your internet connection is
• Learning proper technique can sometimes be difficult when the teacher is not in front of you
• Requires more organization and tools to practice with during the lesson, ( this can be difficult for younger children)

2. In person Lessons

In person lessons have been around for a long time, I think it’s safe to say they aren’t going anywhere. Why? because they work and are extremely effective. Let’s look at the pro’s and cons:

Pro’s

• You have the teacher in the room with you, which ensures you learn proper technique
• Ability to play along with the teacher at the same time, this can be extremely difficult online
• More access to different learning tools and exercises that the teacher has at his studio

Con’s:

• You have to drive to the teacher’s studio which can take time if your really busy
• Less sense of autonomy, you rely more on the teacher to make progress instead of experimenting more on your own
• Don’t have the ability to take lessons when you are out of town or on vacation

Have you tried both? Which did you prefer? let us know in the comment box below. If you’d like to sign up for guitar lessons in Winnipeg click here