Student Setup Guide · Lessonspace
Camera Setup
Camera Setup
for Piano Lessons
A clear guide to setting up a second camera view so your teacher can see your hands clearly during every lesson.
Why a Second Camera?
One of the most important things your teacher needs to see during an online piano lesson is your hands, including your finger position, wrist height, and technique. A single front-facing camera showing your face doesn't give enough detail for effective teaching.
There are two straightforward ways to add a dedicated hand camera to your Lessonspace lesson. Choose whichever suits your equipment and setup best. Both are described in full below.
Before you begin
Your teacher will send you a Lessonspace room link before your lesson. You'll need this link open and ready. Make sure your primary device (the one your teacher sees your face on) is already working with its camera and microphone before you set up the hand camera.
The Two Methods
Choose What Suits Your Setup
Option A
External Webcam on a Stand
Recommended · Single device, cleanest setup
Connect a USB webcam to your primary computer and position it on a flexible arm or camera stand so it points down at the keyboard. This avoids any audio feedback issues and keeps everything on one device.
Step 01
Position your webcam
Mount it on a stand or flexible arm around 50 to 70 cm above the keyboard, angled down to capture both hands across the full width of the keys.
Step 02
Connect via USB
Plug the webcam into your computer and wait a few seconds for it to be recognised. No extra drivers are usually needed on modern systems.
Step 03
Join your Lessonspace room
Open your lesson link and join the room as normal. Grant camera and microphone permissions if prompted.
Step 04
Switch your camera source
In Lessonspace, open the camera or settings menu and select your external webcam. Your hand view becomes your video feed.
Step 05
Check the view
Ask your teacher to confirm they can see your hands clearly before the lesson begins, and adjust the angle or height as needed.
Step 06
Keep talking as normal
Communication keeps flowing through your microphone as usual, so you can chat with your teacher throughout the lesson.
Option B
A Second Device
Tablet, phone, or spare laptop, using the built-in camera
If you don't have an external webcam, you can join the Lessonspace room a second time on a phone or tablet, position it to show your hands, and disable its microphone and speaker to prevent audio feedback.
Step 01
Prepare your second device
Use a phone, tablet, or second laptop on a stand, wedged against books, or in a phone holder so the camera points down at the keyboard. Landscape usually works best.
Step 02
Open the lesson link
On your second device, open the same Lessonspace room link your teacher sent.
Step 03
Mute the microphone
As soon as you join on the second device, mute its microphone. Two active microphones in one room will cause echo and feedback.
Step 04
Turn the speaker to zero
Use the volume buttons or in-app audio settings to silence the second device's speaker. Audio should only come from your primary device.
Step 05
Switch to the rear camera
Select the rear-facing camera if available, as it usually has better image quality, and point it down at your keyboard.
Step 06
Confirm with your teacher
Your teacher will now see two feeds: your face from the primary device and your hands from the second. Ask them to confirm both are visible.
Important · Audio feedback
Audio feedback happens when a microphone picks up sound from a nearby speaker. On your second device you must mute the microphone and silence the speaker. Check both every time before the lesson begins. If you notice echo during a lesson, this is usually the cause.
General Tips
Getting the Best Picture
Lighting
Position a lamp to the side of the keyboard to light your hands without glare on the keys. Avoid having a window directly behind your hands, as backlight makes the image very dark.
Height
High enough to show both hands across the full keyboard, but close enough that finger detail is visible. Around 50 to 70 cm above the keys works well for most setups.
Angle
Pointing the camera slightly from the side, rather than directly overhead, lets your teacher see both the fingers on the keys and the curve of the wrist and forearm, which helps with technique feedback.
Connection
A wired internet connection is always preferable to Wi-Fi. If using a second device on Wi-Fi, keep it close to your router. Lessonspace generally performs well even on moderate connections.
Test first
Run a quick test before your first lesson. Open the Lessonspace room a few minutes early and check your teacher can see a clear hand view before the lesson time begins.
Stand options
A flexible gooseneck phone holder, a microphone boom arm with a phone adapter, or a small desktop tripod with an extension arm all work well. These are widely available and inexpensive online.
Other apps
If your camera or microphone isn't detected, check you don't have another conferencing app open. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and similar can hold exclusive access to your devices. Close them before joining.
Permissions
When you first join a Lessonspace room, your browser will ask to access your camera and microphone. Please grant both. If you declined before, reset these in your browser settings and reload the page.
Browser
We recommend Google Chrome for the smoothest experience. Safari can occasionally be unreliable with camera and microphone access, so switching to Chrome usually resolves any difficulty on an Apple device.
Check ahead
We send your lesson room link at least a week before your first session. Open it ahead of time, ideally testing from a second device too, so you can confirm everything works before the lesson itself.
Need help?
If you're having trouble with your setup, get in touch before your lesson and we'll help you get everything working. You can also ask your teacher at the start of a lesson and they'll guide you through it.
Get in Touch
Questions About Your Setup?
We're happy to help before your first lesson. Drop us a line and we'll get you sorted.
Email hello@keynotelessons.com