When the lockdown went in place last March, Boothbay voice teacher, Betsey deGroff thought her private studio was going to be shuttered. deGroff, a retired school vocal music director who has taught across the country, thought her retirement side gig of private lessons was doomed. Enter Zoom.

“At first I was skeptical that virtual lessons could replace in person, face-to-face lessons,” said Ms. deGroff. Initially, she tried socially distanced, mask required lessons, but the guidelines from the CDC and student apprehension quickly put an end to that. Reluctantly but hopefully she decided to do one or two local students via Zoom.

“I’m tempted to say the rest is history,” added Betsey. “After overcoming some early technical glitches, the lessons really started to click. Word got out and now I have students I never would have had in person because they live too far away. I’m currently working with students from Poland, Maine to Andover, Massachusetts, and even one in Fort Wayne, Indiana.”

Her students like the Zoom approach because it is so convenient. First, they can do it from the privacy of their own living room. Second, they avoid the CoVid risk of being in public. Third, there is no commute. The last is a real game changer as many of her students traveled two hours or more round trip to have lessons.

“One of the big advantages is flexibility. Either of us can change lesson times with ease since we only have to consider the actual teaching time, not commutes,” said Wendy Northrup, one of Betsey’s students and a choral director herself at Falmouth High School. “Betsey is the exact teacher I want and with Zoom, I get access to her.”

Mandy Jump, Betsey’s student from Indiana says, “As someone who has always wanted voice lessons but didn’t have many options in my area, I was thrilled when my mom gifted me with six months of lessons with Betsey. Meeting over Zoom has been surprisingly easy.” Mandy is a contemporary rock musician and lyricist who is also leveraging Betsey’s expertise in her composing.

Ms. deGroff’s motto has always been “if you can talk, you can sing,” and the pandemic has provided an incredible inspiration that has enabled others to put that saying to the test. And the quality of the lessons has not suffered either as another of her students, Sophie Patenaude, recently won the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Maine musical theater competition as well as a full four-year college scholarship to Ithaca College in vocal performance. And the fact this student’s college auditions were on Zoom as well meant she was even more well prepared.

More information about Ms. deGroff and her private practice is available on her website: Cameratamus.com or by email at bdegroff25@gmail.com