Do Online Voice Lessons Work? Plus, the best Zoom audio settings for a successful lesson!
Don’t take my word for it!
I was worried starting online lessons. Are they as good as in-person lessons? And the answer is YES! The sound quality is a lot better than you would think and Chelsea is more than capable of hearing what’s going on in my voice. And as someone who lives across the country from Chelsea, it’s totally worth it. AND I can do it in my pajamas! Total win.
– Hannah Bayles. Singer & Voice Teacher in Provo, UT
I find online lessons incredibly useful because they reinforce my work ethic, and keep me striving to improve my voice in areas I may not sing in every day. Even through the computer, Chelsea’s ear is stellar in recognizing tension in my voice and diagnosing the cause of it, and giving me exercises to free up my cords. It doesn’t feel like we’re in different time zones at all!
– Isabelle McCalla. Broadway star of The Prom, Water for Elephants, and more.
Tips for successful online voice lessons:
Find a quiet place with minimal distractions. A keyboard nearby may be helpful but is not necessary! Check that you have a strong and fast internet connection BEFORE your first lesson and ensure your Zoom app is up to date.
It is a good idea to play any backing tracks you want to use during your lesson on a different device than the device you are using for your online lesson connection. If not, whatever audio you play on that device may cancel out all sound for your teacher on the other end!
In which case, you will need:
- A device to connect to your online Zoom lesson on. Computers usually have better sound/microphone capabilities than an iPad or phone!
- External speaker to play backing tracks through
- An additional device to record your lesson on OR, make a note to record your Zoom lesson to the cloud.
Best Zoom Audio Settings for Online Voice Lessons in 2025:
Connecting to Zoom on a COMPUTER?
- Open your audio settings
- UNCHECK “Automatically adjust microphone volume”
- SLIDE the “Input Volume” to about 75%
- Under the “Audio Profile” section, SELECT “Original Sound for Musicians”
- SELECT “High-Fidelity Music Mode” and “Echo Cancellation,” particularly if you are not using headphones
Connecting to Zoom on a DEVICE (iPad, Phone)?
- Leave the meeting, or from the start page on your app, CLICK the three dots for “more”
- CLICK into “Meetings”
- TOGGLE ON “Use Original Audio”
These settings will then allow you to TURN ON “Original Sound for Musicians” once you are in the Zoom meeting room.
Musical preparation for your online lesson
You may also want to listen to this scale, and this scale beforehand- we’ll use them in our lesson!
More testimonials for online lessons:
Not only has my daughter’s singing range and tone improved, but her confidence in herself and her voice have increased dramatically in just a few months of lessons. As a busy mom I appreciate the convenience of not having to travel and drive to yet another one of my children’s many activities, and my daughter actually prefers singing from the comfort of her own bedroom.
– Amanda Neilson. Westchester County, NY
Normally, there’s a slight delay so she won’t play the notes of the scale as I sing- she’ll just give a chord to indicate when and where to start. One word of caution- If you are an absolute beginner like I was many years ago and have trouble singing a scale without somebody playing the notes along with you, then online lessons will be difficult. However, right now I have no problem singing a scale or an arpeggio after given a chord so I have no trouble being online.
-Zev Aber. Singer, guitarist, and tutor in New York, NY.
Ready to book your first online voice lesson? Find the right teacher for you and learn more here.
