Oklahoma City University professor offers online guitar lessons

After playing his sister’s old guitar for nine months on his own, Nathanael Dean was looking to add some expert instruction.

What Dean is getting is unlimited access to instruction from Michael Fresonke, who heads up the guitar program at Oklahoma City University.

For $15 a month, via online instruction, Dean, 14, has access to not just lessons drawn up by Fresonke but also videos with detailed demonstrations.

"I wanted to get serious,” Dean said. "And this is pretty nice. With private lessons he would have usually sent me home with a pile of paperwork. This is more interactive.”

Dean said he really likes the videos, which he relies on whenever he isn’t quite sure how to follow along with the plan.

Dean is one of Fresonke’s original online students. Fresonke set up the site in September and has about 20 online clients who use the site to learn at their own pace.

Fresonke believes the online lessons will gain in popularity, especially when compared with the $20 he charges — less than many other private tutors — for a 30-minute traditional lesson.

"I constantly have students who are searching out things on the Internet and bringing things into class,” Fresonke said.

"So I started searching the Internet to see what was of quality. There was good stuff, but it’s not very well organized, and it’s difficult for students to determine what is and isn’t good. And there’s a lot of stuff that’s free, but is only good if you already know what you’re doing.”