Headphones: any are better than none
Headphones remove the echo, so the app doesn’t need echo cancellation, which cuts the voice. That’s why even simple earbuds give cleaner sound than the speakers of an expensive laptop.
- Closed over-ear headphones — best for the teacher: you hear the details of the voice, and the sound doesn’t leak out.
- Earbuds — convenient for students, especially children and lessons from a phone.
- Open studio headphones — sound natural, but some of the sound can get into the microphone if the volume is high.
Wired or wireless?
Bluetooth headphones add their own delay — usually about 0.1–0.3 seconds. In conversation it’s unnoticeable, but a student singing to a backing track or playing with a metronome may lag slightly behind the music. So whoever sings or plays to accompaniment is better off with wired headphones. For a teacher who listens and comments, wireless ones are fine.
Microphone: when the built-in one is enough
For the first lessons a laptop’s or phone’s built-in microphone is enough. It’s worth buying an external microphone when:
- the voice sounds “far away” or with room echo;
- the sound crackles on loud notes;
- you need to hear the student’s quiet phrases and low notes in full detail.
The simplest option is a USB microphone: it connects to the computer with one cable, no sound card needed. Place it 20–40 cm away and slightly to the side of the mouth to soften harsh consonants.
For piano lessons
An acoustic piano is heard well through the built-in microphone if the laptop stands next to the instrument rather than on its lid. A digital piano can be connected to the computer as a MIDI keyboard: then your playing sounds in the room right away, and the pressed keys show on screen.
Where you can save
- A separate webcam: the built-in one is enough — in a music lesson sound matters more than the picture.
- A sound card and a studio microphone: only needed if you record professional material.
- Special sound software: everything in the room is set up in a few clicks.
You can check your headphones, microphone and browser in a minute on the “Tech check” page.