I live in a rural area of the midwest with few teachers. I am wondering what people think of the idea of correspondence lessons. Can this work with a good teacher?

Here are some people who do this who I have found. Anybody have opinions about any of these teachers?

Tom Hess
http://www.tomhess.net/corlessons.php

Charlie Banacos
http://www.charliebanacos.com/pages/871706/index.htm

Robert Conti
http://www.robertconti.com/lessons_by_mail.html

Chris Dunnett
http://www.chrisdunnett.com/lessonsbymail.html

A range of instructors at Music Virtuousity
http://www.musicvirtuosity.com/instructors.php?cat=Online+Guitar+Lessons

Scott Tarrulli
http://www.scotttarulli.com/Lessons.aspx

Of the bunch Charlie Banacos is probably the best and the hippest of those teachers and is also successful at the correspondence thing. He's taught a lot of the modern NYC guitar players. I'd go with him, if he'll accept you ... it's not a given.

I have tought about such a thing myself... a lesson over MSN messenger with video can be done... not the same but would fit the bill in situation like yours or in situation when you need a 'specialty' teacher and you can't find one locally.