I found this quote online by a piano teacher named Diane Umile and it has a lot of good things to consider (although I don’t consider online lessons a necessary evil–I think of them more as a silver lining. 
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“Online Lessons – They seem like a necessary evil… just another inconvenience of living during a pandemic. However… have you ever noticed that there are some advantages to online lessons? And even some things that might be a little better than in-person lessons? Yes, I’m trying to look on the bright side. But here are some unexpected advantages that I’ve noticed:
- The student becomes more independent – they must pay better attention to the score, know where in the music they are, the measure numbers, the notation, and the details. They have to figure much more out on their own.
- The student must listen closely to the teacher and her playing.
- The student can work from the comfort of their home environment and play on their own instrument.
- No traveling needed; can still have lessons in a snowstorm, when the car is in the shop, when a parent is ill or unable to bring them; when the student is slightly under the weather; time and fuel saved from not traveling. I’ve even had lessons with a student who was 2000 miles away!
- No forgotten books or sheet music
- Parents of mid-to-older students can enjoy some free time of their own instead of sitting at the studio
- Siblings do not need to come along to lessons
- No need to miss out on piano completely since online lessons are available. The student’s progress will not be hindered by missing out on lessons for weeks or months.
- Many other activities such as sports and clubs are closed. Students are probably not playing their band or orchestra instruments much. Online lessons may be one of the few activities the student still has, and their piano teacher may be one of the few people that they interact with regularly.
- Students are learning to use online communication which will be a vital, standard method as we venture into the future.”
McCune Music Studio 