In-Lesson Experience (Teachers)

This article will share an overview of the in-lesson features available on Forte.

In-Lesson Control Menu

 

Mute

To mute and unmute your mic, click the microphone icon in the toolbar.

To toggle between your microphones or to test them, open the Settings menu (gear icon).

Camera

To disable or enable your camera, click the camera icon.

Recording

Using Forte’s recording feature, you can record all or parts of your lessons. To start recording, click on the Recording icon.

Both you and your student will receive a notification when recording has been turned on and again when recording has been turned off. You can enable and disable recording as many times as you wish during your session.

At the end of the lesson, both you and your student will receive an email with a link to download your recording. It takes our server approximately 15-60 minutes to process your recordings, depending on the size and length.

Using Forte's Chat feature, you can have written conversations with your student both during and in between lessons. To enable the chat function during your lesson, click the dialog icon.

Using Forte's Chat feature, you can also share files with your students. To share a file, either drag and drop the file into the chat window or click on the paperclip icon to browse for files on your computer.

Shared Notebook

Every student listed on your roster has a Shared Notebook, which is a live, shared document between you and the student. This document can be used to take notes during the lesson and to assign practice items.

It can be accessed during the lesson by clicking on the Shared Notebook icon. To access a student’s Shared Notebook between lessons, click on the Notes button next to their name in your student roster on the Students tab.

Screen Sharing

Forte's Screen Sharing feature allows you to screen share a full screen, a window, or a Chrome tab. To begin sharing, click on the Screen Share icon.

Select from the tabs at the top to select between sharing your Entire Screen, a Window, or a Chrome Tab.

Click on the preview of the screen you would like to share so it is outlined in a blue square, and click Share.

Sharing and Annotating Sheet Music

• You can share your screen from any app you have open on your computer. Finale, Sibelius, Adobe, forScore, and even the basic Preview application all work great with Forte screen sharing.

• Forte does not have a built-in annotation tool. However, any markings or adjustments you make on your screen within an app like Adobe, forScore, or Preview will be reflected to your student in real time.

Sharing Audio

Because Forte is browser-based, you can only share sound from a Chrome tab. If you’d like to play audio tracks from streaming services, you will need to launch those applications in your browser.

• Any media in a Chrome tab can be shared with your student, including YouTube videos, tracks on Spotify, browser-based tuners and metronomes, and more.

• If you would like to share an mp3 or mp4 file from your computer, you can drag it into an empty Chrome window and then share the sound from that Chrome window.

Picture-in-Picture

When sharing your screen, you have the option to use Picture-in-Picture, which allows you to take the image of your student out of the Chrome browser and place it anywhere on your desktop.

To activate picture-in-picture, click on the square icon in the top right corner of your student's video. This will then allow you to place their image anywhere on your computer screen.

Dual Camera Feature & Additional Settings

The Settings menu (gear icon) is located in the bottom right corner of your Forte studio.

From the settings menu, you can:

• Activate the Dual Camera feature;

• Mirror (flip) your self-view;

• Switch between available microphones, cameras, and speakers;

• Turn on/off Noise Suppression; and

• Test your microphone or camera during the lesson.

Dual Camera Feature (currently available for teachers only)

Using Forte's Dual Camera feature, you can use your Android phone or iPhone as a simultaneous 2nd camera angle. To begin using 2nd camera:

1. Click on + Add 2nd Camera.

2. Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera app.

3. Give your browser permission to access your phone's camera (this additional camera will not contribute sound from your phone).

Now your mobile device can be placed anywhere and serves as an additional camera.

To stop using the second camera, tap the phone icon on your phone to end the dual camera session.

Noise Suppression (available on computers/desktops only)

To experience the most out of Forte Pure Audio, we recommend turning the Noise Suppression feature off. However, sometimes Noise Suppression may be needed due to background noise or the device setup.

Noise Suppression filters out unwanted noise but will also unavoidably filter out some of your music-making. It’s best to use the noise suppression button sparingly.

To turn on Noise Suppression, toggle the button on in the in-lesson Settings menu (gear icon). 

Selecting and Testing Your Audio and Video Devices

In the in-lesson Settings menu, you can test your audio and camera devices by clicking on the Test button next to each. You can also test your audio and video settings before entering your studio by clicking on Camera and Audio Settings from your Studio tab in the left-hand navigation panel.

Mirror your Self-view Image

Using the mirror toggle, you can flip your self-view. This will flip your self-view camera.