2013

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

The Deering folks and I have been allies over the years, and they recently asked if I’d review one of their recent Goodtime Banjo variants.… Read More