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Monthly Archives: August 2009
What I Would Do Over
I went to visit my folks out in the country this past Sunday afternoon, just as I often do. While there, I took the opportunity to go visit my old bedroom. The furniture has changed in there since the days … Continue reading
Posted in Banjoists and Others, Music in General, Philosophical Ramblings
Tagged Banjo, Change, Communication, Dulcimer, Experience, Faith, Home, Mandolin, Pray, Wisdom
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Building Up Endurance
Very frequently I have students tell me they have some problems with cramps, shaking, or just an uncomfortable tenseness in the arms and hands. Let’s talk about it. I remember getting those sensations as well as I was first learning … Continue reading
Posted in Tips & Techniques
Tagged Banjo, endurance, Guitar, Mandolin, muscle stress, Practice, tension
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Different Kinds of Banjo Students
One of my students and I were talking just recently and I was referring to all the different kinds of students that a teacher interacts with: young and old, talented and not-so-talented, progressive and traditional, by the book and outside the … Continue reading
Posted in Banjoists and Others, Banjos and Society
Tagged Banjo Student, coaching, Favorite, Frailing, Goals, melodic, Merit, Plectrum, Scruggs, Techniques, Value
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Should Music be Cubby-holed?
A friend and I were talking about various qualities of musical instruments and he made the comment that guitars, banjos and such instruments can easily play alone, whereas a brass or woodwind instrument, say, a trombone, really needs other instruments … Continue reading
Posted in Banjoists and Others, Music in General
Tagged Banjo, Charlie Rich, Country, Cubby Hole, Dulcimer, Jazz, MLS, Music, R&B, Rock, Sitar, Trombone
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Back to 16th Avenue
I finally got back up to 16th Avenue in Nashville a few weeks ago. I was there to retrieve two of my banjos after getting them repaired at Classic Ax on Music Row. Plus, we brought the kids with us … Continue reading
Posted in Banjos in General, Reviews
Tagged 16th Avenue, Banjo, Classic Ax, Mandolin, Music Row, Nashville, Repair
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Like Riding a Bike
A while back I had a student say to me: “I wish playing the banjo was like riding a bike where you never forget it!” While that’s mostly true – we have to continue to practice, or we’ll get way … Continue reading
Posted in Beginning Banjo
Tagged Chords, Dynamic, Guitar, Practice, Riding a Bike, Static
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Knowledge and Wisdom
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. So we must also remember: Knowledge is knowing how to execute a full-fretboard G major scale. Wisdom is knowing not … Continue reading
