Do you have a local quilt shop near you that has a machine quilting class? If you do that is my first recommendation. Secondly, get a book on machine quilting, and yes watch any videos or tutorials on the computer that you can.
When you take a class, not only will you learn the basics, but teachers have so many wonderful tips to make it easier, and enjoyable!! I refuse to pay a long arm quilter, (nothing personal long arm quilters!), only because I feel its no longer my quilt! I like to put every stitch in it!