Hi All…
My name is Justina or just Tina (get it 
). Seriously either Justina or Tina will work.
Anyway I wanted to pop in and say hello. I joined Bachido.com in August 2013 and have lurked around the site. I joined after my Japanese mother-in-law gave me her Nagauta shamisen. She has had it for years (at least 50) and is no longer able to play so I was fortunate to be the receiver of this beautiful instrument.
( I hope the image was linked correctly)
So I wanted to take lessons to play the shamisen but alas no one in Alabama teaches shamisen let alone even heard of it. So I first found Bachido.com and started there. I still reference the site and purchase supplies for my shamisen but I have found a Japanese Nagauta shamisen teacher who teaches via Skype.
Below is a photo my teacher took of me while playing during a group Skype…
So I have been taking lessons since October and she says I am doing very well. Now I’m beginning to throw in some singing with the playing. First number to sing…Matsu no Midori.
I love watching and hearing everyone else play their shamisens!
Welcome to Bachido, Tina! I’m glad you’ve joined in the community!
Very interesting! How are your lessons going as a group on skype? May I ask, how are group lessons through skype run? When I get back from Japan, I plan to start a monthly group webinar thing, just like that group skype, where people can ask questions and get advice 'n such. So I’m very curious how others do.
Thank you for being a part of Bachido! I look forward to your involvement here! 
Kyle…
Thanks for the welcome.
This particular photo of the group session has been a one time thing thus far. My sensei just wanted to introduce each of us Skype students to other Skype students.
As far as lessons via Skype, I think it works out well. Although I’m sure that in person lessons are more beneficial but in a pinch I think this works out. There have been only a couple of times when there were issues with Skype, whether it was Skype itself or internet connection or something else I do not know. Sometimes playing simultaneously with my sensei is a little off because of the time lag, but again it’s not to bad.
I think the group webinar idea sounds great. I would love to hear everyone else’s insites on playing shamisen and their experiences. Just have be aware that everyone tried to play shamisen together there could be time lags