Not heard of this before (other than what Bill mentions above done by universities as online classes, which are not done on Skype). In those cases, one logs in to a hard wired 'server' that is owned by the university offering the course(s).
I would be a little concerned though - one needs to have a way to check the credentials and get references about the teacher/mentor/tutor. I, for instance, would want to know "who" exactly is teaching me and what their experience level is. I would also ask for references.
My personal next area of concern is about Skype itself - their
Fair Usage policies are quite clear about not using their resources for one's own personal financial gain
Skype FUP said:
. . . Skype’s subscriptions are for personal, individual, non-commercial use only, in accordance with our Terms of Use and this FUP (“Legitimate Use”). The following is a non-exhaustive list of practices that would not be considered Legitimate Use:
Using subscriptions for commercial purposes or commercial gain . . .
The teacher (on one site) gets $50 per hour - paid one month in advance, no less - in all my years of private piano and organ lessons, the customary (and accepted) method of payment was made
after the lesson was completed ... I would be a little leery of paying a month in advance
before the lesson(s). And, what is to prevent
your lesson, that you paid for, being hacked into by other unscrupulous people - getting the benefit of a lesson that someone else has paid for?
Granted, with vidcams the student and teacher can react in real time, but there is something special about the actual 'hands on' experience of a teacher, seated at the piano or organ next to the student - they are able to physically place your hands, arms, fingers in the proper positions, whereas on a 'video conference call' (Skype) that is not possible.
Bottom line, speaking as a professional organist with over 50 years of playing experience, I would not succumb to this method of teaching and/or learning. There are sufficient universities and private teachers all across the nation/world that can give you the special attention that can only be experienced by a one-on-one study, in person.
I guess I'm 'old school' when it comes to music lessons . . . I would want that personal interaction that can only be achieved between the student and the teacher being in the same room at the same time ... especially if one was taking organ lessons.
Kh
