Skype is a software application that allows for free PC to PC video calls or phone calls.  It is straight out of the Jetson cartoon series.  Since my mom lives in Hawaii, we both have webcams with microphones that allow us to make video calls.  We tried other software applications to make our video calls, but the picture was so jumpy and delayed I felt I was in a old Japanese movie.  You know where the character’s mouth and voice don’t match up.  It was annoying and we stopped video calling each other.

If I ever turned on the television in the late afternoon, I noticed that Oprah was interviewing guests and having discussions with audience members from the comfort of their own home via Skype.  I was amazed at the quality of picture and the sound of Skype.  Was it just her internet connection and high tech devices? Or could I also enjoy such a high quality video call?  I had to find out.

Meanwhile, my daughter’s harp teacher decide to quit teaching music lessons and enjoy her retirement.  So now we were without a harp teacher again.  We lost her first and favorite teacher to marriage as her husband is an officer in the Marine Corp.  They live the stereotypical military life filled with endless moves across the country.

If you have ever tried to find a harp teacher, then you know how difficult it is especially out in a rural area.  Harpists are not a dime a dozen.  However, our quitting teacher mentioned that she could not believe how many music teachers were now offering lessons via Skype.

Skype?  Skype?  Could it really work?  Before I went hiring anyone else, I had to ask our original teacher if she would consider giving Skype a try.  She readily agreed!  We were both so excited!

Kyla with her harp teacher years ago. Now they are reconnecting with Skype.

Now every Wednesday we make video call at the appointed time and Kyla gets her harp instruction from the East coast.  Our teacher has even moved since we started lessons again, but it did not affect our ability to connect.

All you need is a PC, microphone, webcam, internet connection, and to have downloaded Skype for free.  You use the Skype directory to locate your family and friends.  You simply add them to your contact list and can call them for free.  You can also text them, too.

Once you have your contact list set up and the other person accepts you on their list, Skype tells you who from your contact list is online just in case you want to chat.  My brother, my mother, and I stay in touch with video calls using Skype.  It is a great way for my mom to get to see and speak to all of her grandchildren and vice versa.  It doesn’t make you feel so isolated and far away from each other even on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Best of all, Kyla is playing the harp again with her favorite teacher.  She is greatly encouraged and inspired by her.  It was all made possible by technology and the software application of Skype.  Face to face lessons are better I am sure, but Skype lessons are the next best thing.

As a homeschooling family, I hope to find more uses for Skype.  If you already use it for something else, please let me know.  I would love to enrich our life with other possibilities.

Tags: free software, harp lessons, Skype, technology, video calls

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 7:01 am and is filed under Homeschooling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.