I love to jam. Jamming is truly “bluegrass in its most natural habitat”… more than performing (in a circle you can really see and hear each other). Bluegrass Banjo Heaven-on-Earth is when you’re in a good bluegrass jam. The teamwork and spontaneity are fun — bluegrass at its essence.… Read More
If you got into bluegrass in the 1970s, you probably first became aware of Pete Wernick as half of the twin banjo tag team (along with Tony Trischka) from the New York State band Country Cooking. Or maybe you bought one of the first copies of his best-selling instruction book “Bluegrass Banjo” from Oak Publications. (Remember those flexi-discs?) … Read More
Here I am, 71 as of Feb. 25, and still picking the five. The “new Granada” I got in 1988 is 29 years old this year — older than Earl’s was in the 40s and 50s — and sounding nice with a calfskin head I’ve had on it since fall.… Read More
I’ve noted that some of my fellow BNL columnists run amok at times, discussing non-banjo things. I rarely run amok, ahem, but for my first column of 2014, I’d like to probe the wisdom of the ages—to make a point about 21st century banjo of course.… Read More
Holidays can be the best of times, often with families close at hand. Gift-giving is on our minds, with the challenge: “enjoyable and useful” to the recipient.
Kids in the 8-18 zone but also adults of any age are prime candidates to receive a musical instrument. Notice I didn’t just say “banjo”…sometimes the best thing a banjo player (you, I presume) can give a relative is an instrument that goes well with a banjo!… Read More
I’ve been teaching banjo almost 50 years now. Though most banjo teaching addresses typical technical challenges, I have some pet non-technical topics, to steer a player toward better music and more fun on the instrument.… Read More
You’re reading this not long after I’m writing it, September 8, just after a concert of one of my all-time heroes, the amazing Pete Seeger, who gives new meaning to the word “venerable.” Anyone might wonder, “can he still do this?” but as always, it was a damn good concert, and a testament in spades to Pete’s ideals of music and community reinforcing each other. … Read More
Pat in Alabama writes: I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing some advice. It’s about warming up. I’m playing with a church bluegrass band in a “Bluegrass and Stained Glass” concert here in a few weeks. … Read More
Michael from Minnesota writes: I just read your article about stage fright. It describes me so well, I feel you were sitting in the same room. While I play guitar and not banjo, my experience was the same.… Read More
Ah youth! I still remember my years as a teenaged musician and how much excitement and energy I had for learning and playing bluegrass. Fifty years later, I love to be around kids in that state of mind. Kids today have it better than we had it, I tell you!… Read More