The coronavirus public health emergency has teachers getting creative with online learning. WNIN’s Sarah Kuper talked with one Evansville music teacher who is trying to keep up with virtual lessons to save her livelihood:
Gina Hurt is trying to conduct a virtual piano lesson with a six-year-old. The student is sitting down at the keys and the Hurt is talking through a computer.
It’s confusing at first but Hurt says she is getting used to her new way of teaching.
“It’s just hard with the little ones who can’t read or write and I’m telling them what to do and they are like 'huh?' And you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!”
But that’s not exactly true for Hurt – she is learning her way around Facetime and GoogleDuo to connect with students.
Hurt has been a music teacher for forty-five years. She earns a living by instructing students but also by playing at churches and doing music therapy at assisted living facilities. With church buildings empty and visitors forbidden at nursing homes, she is losing big sources of income during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
While she has figured out a way to virtually keep teaching, many students and families are choosing to suspend instruction until it can be done in person again.
She is affiliated with H&H music store and the store has decided to waive fees for students who aren’t doing lessons now. Hurt says, "For now we are just staying home and tightening our belt!”
As much as she misses the income, she says she has always known her work ebbs and flows with the economy so she tries to prioritize saving.
“Who knows how long this is going on, it is really hard”
With a background in music therapy, she says she knows the importance of connection over instruction sometimes. Virtual lessons may be an adjustment but she hopes they are bringing her students relief from uncertainty.