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STUDENT GUIDE • ONLINE VOICE & ACTING LESSONS
HOW TO PREPARE FOR
ONLINE VOICE & ACTING
LESSONS ON ZOOM
Your setup, your Zoom audio settings, and what to bring—so we spend every minute of your lesson on your voice, your storytelling, and your growth as a performer.
For MTM students · 6-minute read · Zoom settings checked October 2026
TWO DEVICES. YOUR TRACKS. A CLEAR VIEW. CLEAR GOALS.
01 • WHY ONLINE COACHING WORKS
WHY ONLINE
SINGING LESSONS
WORK SO WELL.
Zoom lessons give you more flexible scheduling, zero travel time, and the comfort of working in a familiar space—so your energy goes into the session itself.
01
MORE FLEXIBILITY. NO COMMUTE.
Book around school, rehearsals, and work. Log on from home and start singing.
02
YOUR COACH, FULLY FOCUSED ON YOU.
I love playing piano in a lesson, but accompanying splits my attention between the score, the keys, and you. When you sing with a prepared track, I can watch and listen closely, take notes, and give you more detailed adjustments.
03
THE BEST OF BOTH: HYBRID COACHING.
Online sessions give us room to develop the work. An in-person session before an audition lets you practice collaborating with a live accompanist. See in-person coaching in Long Beach.
Still learning the notes or rhythm? Let me know ahead of time and we’ll adjust how we work. When enabled and shared by the host, Zoom’s meeting summaries can also help you review a session without constant note-taking—but they aren’t automatic for every lesson, so confirm important assignments with me. Learn about Zoom meeting summaries.
02 • YOUR SETUP
THE TWO-DEVICE SETUP
FOR ONLINE VOICE LESSONS
For our usual lesson, Zoom’s microphone needs to hear both your voice and your accompaniment. The simplest, most reliable way to do that is two devices.
DEVICE ONE • THE LESSON
A LAPTOP OR TABLET FOR ZOOM
Choose a screen large enough to see demonstrations clearly. Set it on a stable surface or stand, plug it in, and keep your hands free. A laptop gives you access to Zoom’s full desktop audio settings.
DEVICE TWO • THE MUSIC
A PHONE OR SPEAKER FOR YOUR TRACKS
Use this device to play your accompaniment into the room. Have the correct tracks open and ready. It does not need to join the Zoom meeting.
GET THE BALANCE RIGHT
Keep the music loud enough to follow but soft enough that your voice stays clear. Don’t place the speaker right beside the microphone.
Download your tracks in advance, check the key and audition cut, and silence notifications. At the start of the lesson we’ll test a short passage together and adjust the balance.
CAN ONE COMPUTER DO BOTH?
Yes—Zoom supports sharing your computer’s audio. But pressing play on the same computer doesn’t guarantee I’ll hear your track clearly. Please use the two-device setup unless we’ve tested another arrangement together. Zoom’s computer-audio sharing instructions.
03 • ZOOM SETTINGS
THE BEST ZOOM
AUDIO SETTINGS
FOR SINGING.
Zoom’s normal speech filters are built for talking—and they can squash, cut out, or warble a singing voice. One setting fixes most of it.
In the desktop app, open Settings → Audio, find Microphone modes (or Audio Profile), and choose Original sound for musicians. Then confirm it’s active from the audio menu during the meeting. Labels vary by app version.
01
TURN ON ORIGINAL SOUND FOR MUSICIANS
This is the one that matters. It stops Zoom from treating your sustained notes and dynamics as background noise. On a tablet, look for Original Sound in the audio settings and confirm it during the meeting.
02
ECHO CANCELLATION: MATCH IT TO YOUR GEAR
Keep it on if you hear me through speakers. If you wear headphones, we can test whether turning it off improves your sound.
03
HIGH-FIDELITY MUSIC MODE: OPTIONAL
Worth trying only with a good microphone or audio interface, headphones, and a strong connection. Leave it off for a basic setup, and test it with me before using it regularly.
04
STEREO AUDIO: USUALLY SKIP IT
A single voice microphone doesn’t need stereo. Use it only with a stereo-capable mic or interface and a real reason to send stereo sound.
KEEP THE VIDEO SIMPLE
If the picture freezes or your device struggles, switch off HD video and optional effects like Touch Up My Appearance, Portrait Lighting, and virtual backgrounds. Clear, consistent sound beats extra video effects every time.
PREFER A VISUAL WALKTHROUGH?
Berklee Online’s illustrated setup guide shows the music settings with screenshots. Zoom’s own guides: professional audio settings and in-meeting audio controls.
04 • CAMERA, LIGHTING & SPACE
SET UP YOUR CAMERA & ROOM
FOR ONLINE ACTING LESSONS
Your storytelling lives in your face, your breath, and your body. Let me see the whole performance.
01
CAMERA AT EYE LEVEL
Raise your device on a secure stand or a stable stack of books. Start with your head and torso in frame, with room for gestures. Be ready to step back for movement or come closer for detail work.
02
LIGHT YOUR FACE FROM THE FRONT
Face a window or put a soft lamp near the camera. Avoid a bright window behind you. Your eyes and expressions should be easy to see.
03
MAKE SPACE TO MOVE
Clear the floor and choose a spot where you can stand comfortably without leaving the frame.
04
KEEP YOUR MUSIC AT EYE LEVEL
Place your score or script close to the camera so you can read without constantly looking down.
05
CHOOSE A QUIET ROOM
Close the door and reduce background noise. Curtains, rugs, and soft furnishings help tame an echoey room.
06
KEEP THE BACKGROUND REAL
A simple, uncluttered real background shows posture and gesture better than a virtual one that cuts around your movement.
For acting work, we’ll choose an eyeline that suits the scene. You don’t need to stare into the lens unless the exercise or audition format calls for it.
05 • WHAT TO BRING
BRING GOALS—
AND MORE THAN
ONE SONG.
We may go deep on one song, but I want you to apply a new technique to another piece too. That’s how a discovery becomes a skill you can use anywhere.
ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
- “How can I make this transition feel easier?”
- “What does this character want?”
- “How do I make this audition cut tell a complete story?”
Audition prep is valuable—but coaching can do more than get you ready for the next appointment. Whenever your schedule allows, make room to explore technique, expand your repertoire, and grow your overall performance skills.
06 • BEFORE, DURING & AFTER
TURN EVERY ZOOM LESSON
INTO LASTING PROGRESS
BEFORE
PREPARE YOUR MATERIAL & CONNECTION
Send any new score, script, audition instructions, or questions ahead of time. Mark your cuts and know where your track begins. Warm up, keep water nearby, and log on a few minutes early.
Use a stable connection (wired helps), close extra apps, pause big downloads, and test your camera and mic before we start.
DURING
EXPERIMENT & ASK QUESTIONS
Tell me what you notice after an adjustment. Ask for another demonstration if something’s unclear. Expect to repeat short sections and try unfamiliar choices—that exploration is the work.
Sing with the accompaniment playing in your room. Internet delay makes singing along to piano from my end unreliable.
AFTER
MAKE A SMALL, SPECIFIC PRACTICE PLAN
Before we finish, confirm your main takeaways and what to practice next. Review any shared notes, then apply the work to a second song or scene.
Want to record a session? Ask first, and we’ll agree on how the recording will be used.
07 • YOUR CHECKLIST
YOUR PRE-LESSON
ZOOM CHECKLIST
- Lesson link open; devices charged
- Zoom microphone and camera tested
- Original Sound selected for singing
- Second device and music speaker ready
- Correct tracks, keys, and cuts prepared
- Scores or scripts within easy reach
- Face well lit; camera at eye level
- Space clear; interruptions minimized
- Water nearby; warm-up completed
- Goals and a second piece ready
YOU DON’T NEED A RECORDING STUDIO. YOU NEED A WORKABLE SETUP, PREPARED MATERIAL, AND A WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE.
08 • QUESTIONS
ONLINE VOICE LESSON
FAQS
What Zoom setting is best for singing lessons?
Turn on Original sound for musicians in Zoom’s audio settings (Settings → Audio → Microphone modes or Audio Profile), then confirm it’s active during the meeting. It stops Zoom from filtering out sustained notes and dynamics.
Do I need a professional microphone for online voice lessons?
No. A laptop or tablet’s built-in microphone works well for most lessons once Original Sound is on. A good USB microphone or audio interface is a nice upgrade, but it isn’t required.
Can I use one device for Zoom and my accompaniment tracks?
It’s possible with Zoom’s computer-audio sharing, but it’s less reliable. Use a laptop or tablet for Zoom and a separate phone or speaker for your tracks unless we’ve tested a one-device setup together.
Can I sing along with the coach playing piano over Zoom?
Not reliably. Internet delay makes live accompaniment from the coach’s end fall out of sync, so for online lessons you’ll sing with a prepared track playing in your room.
Can acting lessons work online?
Yes. With your camera at eye level, front lighting, and room to move, we can work on objectives, relationships, eyelines, and full audition cuts over Zoom.
What should I bring to an online voice lesson?
Your accompaniment tracks in the correct key and cut, your sheet music or script, water, a few specific goals, and at least one extra song to apply new techniques to.
What if my internet connection is slow?
Use a wired connection if you can, close other apps, pause large downloads, and turn off HD video and video effects. Clear sound matters more than a sharp picture.
NEW TO MTM COACHING?
LET’S MAKE
IT CLICK.
Try your setup in a free 30-minute Zoom session: real coaching, a clear next step, and a quick sound check.
Want the details first? See online voice & acting coaching.
Coaching + assessment · No obligation to book paid sessions
Prepared by David Jayden Anthony for MTMastery.com. Zoom guidance checked October 2026. App features and menu labels change; the linked Zoom guides have current instructions.