My view of a student during a Skype lesson. The student's view of me is virtually the same, but with camera-switching I can show an overhead view of my pedal steel as I play, or alternate views of my right hand when working on technique.

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​How Skype Works
It’s really quite simple and easy to do.

We both use webcams to see each other play. I share the view from one of 3 cameras; you can see an overhead view of my steel guitar neck, or 2 different views of my right hand. Above is what I see coming from a student. What the student sees from me is virtually the same, and includes an overhead view of my pedal steel as I play, and different views of my right hand.

We hear each other speak and play via USB microphones. My audio (voice, steel, audio tracks or metronome) comes through the built-in mics of one of my webcams. Your audio is handled the same way.

Is Skype for You?
Distance learning is best suited for:

• Remote students in other towns, states, or countries, who have little or no access to live steel teachers in their area; or simply want to go through Professor Twang’s E9 101 curriculum, and/or a series of customized lessons targeted to his/her current personal needs.

• My local Pacific Northwest steel students who have had a number of
​in-person lessons with me, and are on the right track, making good progress and no longer need much hands-on guidance with technique. 

These local students are VERY happy to get a lesson without tearing down, driving through traffic, setting up in my studio, taking the lesson, then doing it all again in reverse.

Now with a flick of a switch they can take a great lesson in the comfort of their own home. And so can you!

What It Costs
Skype lessons are currently $60/hour, prepaid in blocks of time via PayPal.

The only other costs are your high speed internet service, and a webcam.

​Skype software is free, and video calls between Skype users are also free.