Spectrum News: Virtual music lessons help students find sense of normalcy

Story by CCM Graduate Student Kelly Barefield

UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna Jordan Pollard (MM Jazz Studies, ’14) recently spoke to Cincinnati Spectrum News 1 network about her experience teaching at the Cincinnati Music School during the pandemic. Read the story online.

Pollard teaches piano lessons at Cincinnati School of Music, a local business owned by husband and wife Joe and Anna Backer. Now 10 years after its founding, the school has three locations and nearly 50 teachers. It has also been a winner of Cincy Magazine's Best of Music Instruction since 2015. During the pandemic, the Cincinnati Music School has fine-tuned its distance learning and in-person options to help students find a sense of normalcy, according to the Spectrum News 1 story.

When shutdowns started to make their way through the country, schools rallied to create health and safety plans so students could continue their studies. Just as work meetings, college offerings and even some doctors’ appointments have transitioned to virtual platforms, many music teachers have also adapted to online methods. It took some time for both students and teachers to adjust to the change, but Pollard felt that her Cincinnati Music School students were eager to return to learning (even if it was on Zoom), according to Spectrum News 1.

It is clear that Pollard has been successful in making many connections with her students, as she has some who have been with her during her entire tenure at the Cincinnati Music School. In the Spectrum News 1 feature, she mentions a student who she has been teaching for six years who views music as his “happy place.”

Pollard receives glowing reviews from parents regarding her instruction. One review featured on the Cincinnati School of Music website says “…. We are so pleased with the quality of instruction, flexible scheduling, and warm friendly staff. Jordan (piano) is an excellent instructor. She is amazingly talented, extremely patient with the children, and very positive.”

Another featured review on Pollard’s instruction says “… Jordan is a great piano teacher who can keep my son focused and learning and my daughter appropriately challenged. She is very willing to let them experiment musically as well and learn fun things like the theme songs for their favorite video games.”

Some Cincinnati Music School students are learning from home, but others participate in one-on-one in-person lessons. This has allowed families to choose how they want to participate in classes, and has even expanded the schools reach with out-of-state students.

Read more about Pollard’s work in the Spectrum News 1 story.

Learn more about the Cincinnati Music School on the organization’s website.