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With the internet being what it is, it can be difficult to find qualified online music teachers.
After spending several years in the “online music teachers” space, I have come to find that most of the people touting online music lessons just aren’t qualified. We saw this in the blogging space, and I have definitely seen this on the rise in the online music space.
Let me start by saying this: “qualified” doesn’t necessarily mean education, though that can be a factor. Varied experience, personality, and teaching style are all factors when it comes to picking an online music teacher. So while finding the right teacher is definitely a personal journey, you also want to choose someone who won’t promote injury with unhealthy technique (looking at you, singers!), or give a foundation inadequate to play with others, pursue the parts of music you want to, or keep playing long-term.
Ok, rant about the online music teachers space over! I’m not here to drag anyone through the mud, but rather to offer some options of qualified music teachers that offer online lessons – please use this list to start your search for an online music teacher.
C&S Music School
I would be remiss if I didn’t plug my own online music school here – C&S is officially stepping into the world of fully online music teachers! As of June 2024, we officially launched C&S Music School, in an effort to provide affordable online music lessons for all instruments.
We offer micro-music lessons for just $30 a piece, for those students who can’t commit to a full lesson every week or month but still want feedback so they can improve on their instrument!
Maestro Music Lessons Online
If you are a homeschool parent who came here looking for a great option for online music lessons for your homeschooled kiddos, look no further than Maestro Music Lessons. They are exclusively online and work exclusively with homeschool families.
Each of their teachers is highly qualified with at the minimum a bachelor’s in music and 5 years teaching experience, plus an extensive interview process and background check. They offer a free trial lesson and several very affordable lesson packages for homeschool families of all sizes.
Jammin’ With You
Jammin’ With You was founded by self-proclaimed “professional goofball” Josh Shriber who had a desire to foster the love of music in kiddos without pressure or judgement. They visit schools, hold camps, and now offer online music lessons.
These online music teachers are best used for children of school ages.
Sage Music Academy
At the time of writing this, Sage Music School has 2 brick and mortar music schools – one in New York, and one in San Antonio, Texas – and the rest of their music lessons they conduct online.
They use their own lesson system and train their teachers, so there is consistency across the board with all of their online music teachers.
Virtu Academy
Virtu Academy boasts a sizeable catalogue of highly-qualified online music teachers for different instruments and genres.
They also use a unique booking model where the student pays for lesson credits, and then schedules them for times that fit their schedule. As of writing this, they are offering half off your first lesson (less than $20!)
Forte Online Music Lessons
Forte, like most of the other sites listed on here, has their own catalogue of highly qualified online music teachers that teach many different musical disciplines.
What sets forte apart from the rest, however, is that they use their very own video interface for conducting lessons with not only video feeds but progress tracking and live note-taking as well.
Online Music Academy
As the online branch of The New York Academy of Music, the Online Music Academy offers New York located music teachers for online music lessons – meaning you get to take lessons with musicians who are familiar with the industry and have connections in the New York area, which is a huge plus!
You can visit their website for pricing and more information, or to schedule a free trial lesson.
TakeLessons
As many of you probably know, TakeLessons is a site that really gained some traction during 2020, for obvious reasons. Many teachers turned to them so they could continue teaching, and many students turned to them to fill their extra time.
That being said, there are some significant pros and cons to using TakeLessons. For one, prices vary. So you can find affordable online music teachers that fit your current budget. Two, they offer a large variety (even not just music). You can pursue whatever instrument or musical discipline you like. The biggest con would be, in my opinion, varied quality. As their online music teachers aren’t as heavily regulated or necessarily screened by music industry experts as you find elsewhere, it is a bigger gamble on the quality of teacher.
However! You can bounce around until you find a teacher that you trust and can afford.
Lessonface
Similar to TakeLessons, Lessonface is an online community dedicated to matching students with teachers remotely. The stand-out factor, however, is that Lessonface is specifically for the arts – language, physical art, and, of course, music.
Teachers set their own rates, and profiles highlighting their credentials.
School of Rock
With over 100 locations world-wide, School of Rock has built an empire of music education geared towards students who want to pursue music, specifically in the pop/rock world with an emphasis on performance. They offer in-person lessons, obviously, but many of their locations also offer virtual music lessons, which are available for students ages 4 and up.
Click the button below to visit their website and sign up for a free trial.
I hope this list gives you a great starting point in your search for online music teachers!
If you have any questions, or want help navigating the world of online music, please do email me or leave a comment!
Also, Music Teachers: If you offer online music lessons and would like to be added to this list, shoot me an email. I want to offer as comprehensive a list as I can.