The article is devoted to the analysis of the forms and methods of music learning to schoolchildren during the self-isolation period. Distance learning is viewed in the context of new trends, opportunities and risks in relation to the various disciplines of the children’s music school curriculum, as well as music lessons in the mainstream school. Among the most acute problems are the vulnerability of the initial stage of musical education, losses in the artistic side of the musical-pedagogical process, individualization of teaching, and the impossibility of collective playing music. Separately considered such issues as the implementation of programmed teaching technology in the field of solfeggio and music theory; examples of algorithms and criterion scales for organizing students’ self-control are given. The problems of the transformation of listener’s perception under the influence of slide shows, the intrusion of the laws of screen arts into musical and pedagogical activity are touched upon. Music and educational content presented as part of large digital educational platforms was subjected to critical analysis.