If you want to learn to play the guitar it should not be that difficult. You can enroll at your local college, browse the classified ads and get a personal instructor, or pick up some video lessons. The difficulty presents itself when you want to learn to play the Banjo. No worries.  Banjo Virtuoso Tony Trischka opened his unique online banjo school today: the Tony Trischka School of Banjo!

Tony had an idea – a very, very new way of teaching a very, very old instrument, interactively via the web, with one of true living masters of the music.  Viola!

Trischka is a world famous banjo master. Here is Tony in a 3-banjo duel with Bela Fleck and Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin) on Letterman:

Tony is also a well-known banjo teacher who has developed his own unique method of teaching the instrument. In order to work around his constant tour schedule, he has partnered with ArtistWorks.com, an online music lesson website, to share his method with the world in a 21st century context:

“Drawing from my career of teaching banjo, I’ve recorded a suite of over 155 lessons from absolute beginners to extremely advanced students on high definition video. Students from any country in the world can study the self-paced lessons. When ready, they record themselves practicing the lesson and upload it. I watch the student’s video just as though the student were studying with me in person, and really see and hear exactly what he or she needs. I can record my response to tell them how they are playing and what they need to do to play better – while I’m on the road or at home.”

Basically, it’s a chance to learn banjo personally and directly from a world-renowned master from your very own couch. It’s amazing what this old internet video box can do!

Over the next few months, Tony’s School of Banjo will feature interviews and performances with many great banjo players, including Bill Keith, Steve Martin, Pete Seeger, and Béla Fleck.