Right now too many people think they can learn completely online...
...but it's unlikely in the extreme. Of course, there's no shortage of folks that will take your money for DVD packages, lesson videos, even Skype "lessons." During these tough economic times, folks wish they could get it for free. Some things you can, but this is NOT one of them. Why do I say this? Here are three reasons (I'll present these reasons and then explain for those that are interested.)
1. It's all physical repetition and not some mind activity (the mind does not play the instrument and thus training must be worked at, which is called practice!)
2. Without a physical presence, even with Skype, the teacher cannot see and hear and understand what you don't know. With Skype they can see and hear only - at most.
3. You don't know this subject so you can't be expected to know good training from bad training.
1. There is a thing called "muscle memory" that must be developed so that it will do your playing for you. You cannot simply "think" your way to ability, unlike so many school subjects. You also cannot buy ability, regardless of your finances. It's your body that plays an instrument and the body is much less intelligent than your mind. It's a "creature of habit." If there is any patience involved in practice it is patience with one's own body parts to get what you already understand.
2. The key to all this is that the teacher must (at least so far as I can see) be there in the room with you to prevent you from falling into bad habits. Skype is helpful but not helpful enough unless you already play a bit. Then it might work IF the teacher is interested in teaching you those things you want to learn. It's like exercise - if you don't like it you won't stick with it, Skype or no Skype. Thus, my first question to my students is "what do you want to do?" Skype is for those who already play a bit, as I said.
3. There are loads of lying fools trying to take your money and they all know one thing, something that I observed quite early in this business - that nobody will blame THEM for the a lack of results. For some strange reason, people usually make an excuse, "Oh I guess I wasn't that talented." Thus, the failure of the teacher is blamed on the student, BY THAT SAME STUDENT! Sorry liars - but unless the person is a complete moron almost anyone can learn to play their favorite music. I tell my own students, "I've seen very, very few folks who couldn't learn to play, but I've seen many people give up too early." Honest, you can't be blamed, as a student, if you don't know bad instruction from good. Not all teachers are good ones, just as not all doctors, lawyers, or accountants are good ones. Why should a bad teacher get a pass? I couldn't tell you but it way too often they do.
Of course, I haven't sampled every single site, video, or DVD Course out there so I can't say for sure that nothing works. The reasons I give above, however, are rather general and should apply for the foreseeable future.
