Learn to play the guitar through Skype
With the growth of social media through sites like Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Snapchat, the entire world is now connected to the Internet in one way or another. People find it easier to communicate online instead of talking through a regular phone line. We even find it easier to shop online instead of having to drive into town, struggle to find a parking space, and stand in line at the store.
Businesses are finding new and exciting ways to reach people over the Internet, so it wasn’t hard to see that eventually education and learning would be available over the Internet.
Skype is not a new program; It’s been around for a number of years, but it really wasn’t until high-speed broadband became available that it became a means of reliably streaming video and audio.
Now we can replace the classroom with a monitor and the catchment area for students has become the whole world.
However, we still have to remember that the same rules apply when selecting a teacher if you want to learn to play the guitar.
Education
Opinions differ on whether a guitarist needs to have formally studied their instrument. His teacher may have gone to school, but he may also have studied one-on-one with dozens of professional players.
If you’re considering a teacher without a college background, find a list of references and check out what they teach.
In addition to showing you technique, you’ll want a teacher who explains music theory to give you a deeper understanding of what you’re playing.
teaching experience
Many great guitarists can teach, but they may not be experienced teachers. Conveying information is its own art form, and everyone learns differently. A good education alone won’t do the trick – choose a guitarist who has at least a few years of teaching under his belt. If they are new to teaching and you are okay with that, make sure they give you a rate that is competitive with other teachers.
teaching style
Casual or intense? Loaded with theory, or focused on a single technique or song? There are as many different ways to take a guitar lesson as there are teachers and students. Ask yourself what you want to get out of your experience. If you’re just doing this for fun, you may want a more relaxed teacher. If you want to learn as much as possible, find someone to keep you on your toes.
Of course there are pros and cons to choosing to learn online, here are some of these in greater detail.
professionals
Because you are no longer confined to region locations, you can select a master from anywhere in the world.
No more lost traveling to your lesson,
Students can practice up to the point of their lesson to ensure they are prepared and ready for the lesson.
Students feel more comfortable being in their home environment and feel more relaxed and find it easier to act out and play more than they would in a classroom situation.
Due to the nature of Skype lessons, students actually spend more time gaming than they normally would in a face-to-face lesson.
If you are a busy parent and try to find time to attend classes and also take care of another sibling, then the problem goes away, the student can take his lesson why he has time to do other things.
Cons
The teacher is not in the same room as the student, so he cannot manipulate their wrists, fingers, elbows, etc.
The teacher and student are unable to play together due to a delayed webcam (and all webcam sessions experience delays).
You need internet connection.
Students can be distracted by outside sources, siblings, animals, neighbors, etc. however, please note that this can also occur in a lesson if a student is being taught at home.
Required equipment
This is the minimum configuration you will need:
High speed internet connection
Computer, with enough processing power to send and receive streaming video and audio (anything on the market today can handle it)
Webcam, either built into a laptop or purchased separately
Microphone, again integrated or separate, over time you may want to upgrade to a higher quality microphone.
It’s also recommended to have a good pair of headphones in case you get distracted or the internet quality starts to fade during a lesson.
This is the minimum you will need to participate in an online lesson. You will need to install the Skype software on that computer. Go to Skype.com and they will guide you. Choose a username that is appropriate for you, usually your own name, if available.
Payments
Payment for online lessons is normally done via PayPal, speak to your teacher and they will usually tell you how you would like to be paid. Some teachers offer lesson packages that can save you money over a period of time.
