((PKG)) MUSIC TEACHER
((Banner: Virtual Piano Lessons))
((Reporter/Camera: Genia Dulot))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub character: 1 female))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
I came to the States in 1992. I fell in love with American
guy. He fell in love with me. We met in Moscow through my
friend. Five months later, I was here and I love this
country. I have Master’s degree in both, Master’s degree in
singing, vocal and Master’s degree in piano. I couldn’t do
nothing for me than a year. I started learning English, then I
start teaching students and then I opened my first school. It
was in 1998.
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((NATS: Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher and Zade,
Student))
Marina: Oh, who do I see! Zade! Hello! Good to see you!
Zade: Hi.
Marina: Hi. Well, Zade, are you hungry?
Zade: No, I just ate lunch.
Marina: Perfect! Perfect timing then for music! Ok, let me
see. What you are going to play for me first?
Zade: Song eight.
Marina: Song eight? My favorite. Let’s do it.
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
It was my dream actually for a long time because I have
students that used to be here with me and then they left to
another state and I always thought, how is that to do it
online? Maybe, one day I will figure it out. But this time, I
was forced to figure it out, so I did. With coronavirus,
because one day they said, schools are closed, cannot run
the business. Okay, so one week I didn’t know what to
do. But then I started calling them and I said, “Would you
like to try online?” And some parents say, “Yes,
please, we need it!” And some parents say, “Online? What
is that? How do you do that?”
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((NATS: Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher and Zade,
Student))
Marina: That’s right, very good! OK, can you play this now
a little faster?
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
So, the teacher is on the screen, the student is on the other
side of the screen and it can be directed through their
hands. There is a camera that is movable around, so I can
direct it on the notes, I can point to the keyboard.
You know, it’s probably not that difficult to do. The difficult
part is how to make them interested online because you are
not there, cannot point at the notes and you cannot do
personal things that you do when they are here. So, it is
actually hard work.
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((Adriana, Student’s Mom))
It’s part of their daily learning. I mean they just use the
internet all the time and it’s not strange for them. My kids
seem to adapt pretty well. The only thing is I have to be very
careful that at home, we have a quiet environment and they
are not distracted with other things because at least in the
classroom setting that’s it, they are forced to focus. But at
home, you know, if we are walking or around doing other
things, it’s possible that they can get distracted.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
Of course, it takes away personal approach and smiles and
the movements. It does but these days, everything is on the
screen and we could be there on the screen or we could be
not on the screen, so we lose. It’s better to be there.
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((NATS: Marina Simpkins singing, playing piano))
Marina: Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight.
I wish I made a wish…..
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Banner: Virtual Piano Lessons))
((Reporter/Camera: Genia Dulot))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub character: 1 female))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
I came to the States in 1992. I fell in love with American
guy. He fell in love with me. We met in Moscow through my
friend. Five months later, I was here and I love this
country. I have Master’s degree in both, Master’s degree in
singing, vocal and Master’s degree in piano. I couldn’t do
nothing for me than a year. I started learning English, then I
start teaching students and then I opened my first school. It
was in 1998.
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((NATS: Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher and Zade,
Student))
Marina: Oh, who do I see! Zade! Hello! Good to see you!
Zade: Hi.
Marina: Hi. Well, Zade, are you hungry?
Zade: No, I just ate lunch.
Marina: Perfect! Perfect timing then for music! Ok, let me
see. What you are going to play for me first?
Zade: Song eight.
Marina: Song eight? My favorite. Let’s do it.
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
It was my dream actually for a long time because I have
students that used to be here with me and then they left to
another state and I always thought, how is that to do it
online? Maybe, one day I will figure it out. But this time, I
was forced to figure it out, so I did. With coronavirus,
because one day they said, schools are closed, cannot run
the business. Okay, so one week I didn’t know what to
do. But then I started calling them and I said, “Would you
like to try online?” And some parents say, “Yes,
please, we need it!” And some parents say, “Online? What
is that? How do you do that?”
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((NATS: Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher and Zade,
Student))
Marina: That’s right, very good! OK, can you play this now
a little faster?
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
So, the teacher is on the screen, the student is on the other
side of the screen and it can be directed through their
hands. There is a camera that is movable around, so I can
direct it on the notes, I can point to the keyboard.
You know, it’s probably not that difficult to do. The difficult
part is how to make them interested online because you are
not there, cannot point at the notes and you cannot do
personal things that you do when they are here. So, it is
actually hard work.
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((Adriana, Student’s Mom))
It’s part of their daily learning. I mean they just use the
internet all the time and it’s not strange for them. My kids
seem to adapt pretty well. The only thing is I have to be very
careful that at home, we have a quiet environment and they
are not distracted with other things because at least in the
classroom setting that’s it, they are forced to focus. But at
home, you know, if we are walking or around doing other
things, it’s possible that they can get distracted.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((Marina Simpkins, Music Teacher))
Of course, it takes away personal approach and smiles and
the movements. It does but these days, everything is on the
screen and we could be there on the screen or we could be
not on the screen, so we lose. It’s better to be there.
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((NATS: Marina Simpkins singing, playing piano))
Marina: Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight.
I wish I made a wish…..
((NATS/MUSIC))
