The good news is that online voice classes are just as effective as in-person classes. In fact, they can be even more useful if done the right way. Online classes aren't as effective, but almost as effective as real-life ones. And they can be useful in a practical sense.
Online voice classes are like the most familiar singing lessons, except that the teacher and student are not in the same room together. There are already many options for online singing lessons. From YouTube tutorials to live Skype sessions, you can take advantage of online voice classes to have a private class with your favorite vocal coach. As long as you and your coach are in different locations, you will continue to be connected via the Internet.
In fact, anyone with an Internet connection can take private singing lessons with the teacher of their choice. Sometimes they end up not practicing until a few days later or, worse, they wait until next week just before class. As for private voice classes, Skype has done it so you don't have to take private voice classes near you. There has been an explosion of educational video resources to learn everything imaginable; this now includes online singing lessons.
One of the best things I got from my first classes with a private singing teacher was a clear sense of direction to work towards. Another major drawback worth noting is that your online singing lessons will rely heavily on technology. When you take regular singing lessons in your vocal coach's office or studio, you can be sure that distractions will be kept to a minimum. However, as our world becomes more and more digitized, there is no reason for online singing lessons to fall short.
Based on the pros and cons of online and real-life singing lessons, I've worked out some scenarios for different types of imaginary students. With my online student Ido, a dream come true of any teacher, an online lesson comes pretty close to what it would be in real life, I suppose. One of the most amazing things about the technological revolution is the ability for anyone anywhere to take singing lessons online. This is because there are many different skill areas that support the task of singing, from technique and vocal health to understanding room acoustics, songwriting, and the value of movement and performance.
The first full online singing lesson I gave after Nick's event, I was amazed at how much I could contribute to the student without being able to approach him. If you mean taking a lesson with someone via skype or other video chats, I think they can be very useful.