I've been getting this question more recently as everyone is excited to move into a post-pandemic world. However, my teaching studio has permanently shifted to an exclusively online model, for a variety of reasons I'll share below. There may be occasional opportunities for in-person "workshop days" at some point, but they will not be regularly scheduled weekly lessons.

Health & Safety

Covid has been very unpredictable and each time I've thought we were near the end of the pandemic, things have moved back. It's become frustrating to anticipate, and much easier for both myself and my students to adjust to online lessons versus biding time waiting for in-person classes. Online lessons have also drastically reduced the number of lessons canceled due to coughs and colds - I had a very strict illness policy for in-person lessons, and that's a non-issue now, allowing me to teach more lessons without interruption! 

Geography

I teach students around the country, thanks to the option of teaching online! I'm able to reach a much larger student base without worrying about geography, which has been great for so many reasons. Students have moved, or I've moved, or distance made it impossible to start working together. Now, none of these issues are a factor. I also don't have to worry about rising fuel costs when assessing travel distances to student homes.

Schedule

As I transitioned to being a full-time musician over the last couple of years, my schedule has fluctuated - and going completely online allows me to serve more students every week as it cuts out travel time between lessons. This has been doubly beneficial - both allowing me to work with more students, and allowing students more options for lesson scheduling. 

Equity in Education

I grew up in a remote, rural area, and I understand firsthand how challenging it can be to find quality music education if you don't live in a bustling metropolitan area. I believe EVERYONE should have the same access to music education, regardless of location, and teaching online allows me to work equally with students no matter where they are. Some students who live nearby may wish to have in-person instruction, but I don't feel right offering in-person lessons at one price point (in order to factor in travel time, fuel costs, and time between lessons) to some students, while offering online lessons only to others, simply because of where they may live. I also don't have enough time in my schedule to allow this on a regular basis. Instead, teaching online allows me to offer the same learning experience to every student. 

In Conclusion

While I'd love to spend time in person with all students, it's not currently part of my studio plan. I love connecting with music students from around New England and beyond, and being able to continue making music with students as schedules or locations change. I'd also like to make a quick note that pedagogy and music teaching have adapted very quickly to teaching and learning online. While it may not be exactly the same as in-person lessons - it can be a little more challenging to play duets in real time, and I can't write notes on music myself - learning music online in 2022 is a LOT different than it was a few years ago when I first started offering online lessons. More activities and adjustments to lesson planning make lessons more rewarding, engaging, enriching, and valuable for all students.