Prepping for online zoom lessons + group sessions

• Location and setup -

  • Find a location where you will feel comfortable, spacious, and focused while doing basic standing (or sitting if needed) movement, singing, and making voice exercise sounds.

  • If needed, notify (or negotiate with) housemates beforehand about your lesson / practice plans.

  • Use a laptop, and set up the laptop at eye level while standing so that your full standing body posture is supported by the position of your laptop. (try this laptop stand on a desk or a large box on a desk or a high clothing dresser). If you are needing to be able to sit for some or all of the lesson, find a height for your laptop that best fits that need.

• Strengthen your internet connection -

  • Plug your laptop into your modem with an ethernet cable if accessible.

  • Set up in an area that gets the best wifi connection, or get a wifi booster. Some providers may offer it for free.

  • Close out unnecessary applications and tabs.

  • If your internet is weak, ask housemates ahead of time if they may be able to reduce internet usage during your lesson.

• Update ZOOM settings -

  • Update ZOOM to the most recent version.

  • Desktop: go to audio settings (click little arrow on your zoom screen near the mic/mute icon and this option will appear)

    • For “suppress background noise” - choose LOW

    • Uncheck “automatically adjust microphone volume”

    • Check “Show in-meeting option to enable ‘Original Sound’” and also check “High-fidelity music mode”

    • At the start of each zoom meeting TURN ON original sound

  • Mobile: Settings -> Meeting -> TURN ON “Use Original Sound”

• Additional setup recommendations (not strictly required) -

  • Use headphones that feel comfortable while singing and have a long enough cord to be able to comfortably move in the space. EXAMPLES (of many):

    • Headphones (over-ear): $50 Sony, OR $150 Audio-Technica (what I use) OR Earphones (in-ear) $100 Shure

  • While most built-in laptop audio works well, it can also be helpful to improve your audio quality with an audio interface + microphone, or an all-in-1 mic. EXAMPLES:

    • all in one (good quality): $79 Blue Yeti Nano OR $129 Blue Yeti

    • all in one (better quality): $250 Apogee One - has built-in microphone, with option to plug-in a better microphone (like those below)

    • interface + microphone (better quality … requires additional microphone stand and XLR cable) (price range for whole setup begins at ~$250)

      - interfaces: $45 Behringer OR $139 UA Volt 1

      - microphones: $100 Sennheiser e835 (also works for live performance, needs mic clip), $100 AT2020, $300 WA-47Jr

      - microphone stands: $100 K+ M Regular floor stand (beware of getting cheap ones), $37 DS-7 Desk Stand (for just resting on desk, cheaper but less versatile)

      - microphone XLR cable: $50 10-foot