Looking for a Banjo lesson?
Oh what a strange little stringed instrument the banjo is, but I just love it. It's often considered by some folks to be the only uniquely American musical instrument there is.
As someone that grew up with Deep Purple and Pink Floyd, I got some pretty strange looks from my peers when I announced I was looking for someone to give me my first banjo lesson. I couldn't help it as I became enthralled with the instrument. I think it was when I first saw the movie 'Deliverance' and that unforgettable scene where we get to hear Dueling Banjos. Okay, so it's called Dueling Banjos, but as we all know it's a instrumental piece between a banjo and a guitar, but it was the hillbilly twang of the banjo which that gripped me.
Anyway, ribbed with the new nickname of Bob the Bumpkin by some, and George Formby by others, I went out looking at new banjos regardless, and came home holding my new instrument with pride and enthusiasm. Now all I had to do was find a teacher, and that was easier said than done.
A new enthusiast seeking a banjo lesson might visit local music stores or turn to fellow musicians. There is perhaps no better way to learn to play an instrument of any kind than by spending time with others who have mastered or even just enjoy the craft, and the best banjo lesson of all may be to spend a warm summer night by a campfire with someone who can fill the air with sweet bluegrass music and soft country twang.
A local music store, a college of university with a music department and a continuing education center are all possible places you can find a banjo lesson. New enthusiasts could always ask where they might find someone to provide a lesson or ongoing training from the shop or individual who sells them their first instrument. In fact, many music stores offer discounted lessons to their patrons who purchase an instrument.
When thinking of learning to play an instrument, the last place one might think to look for instruction is online. It seems that music should be heard, felt and experienced first hand to be learned and appreciated, and an online banjo lesson may not seem at first to offer much to a new musician. Surprisingly enough, more than one concise, complete and informative lesson can actually be found on the internet. As I was having some difficulty finding a tutor locally, I used the internet as a kind of temporary teaching tool just so I didn't lose interest while looking for a real pro to show me the ropes.
I also discovered that there are also DVDs available offering a banjo lesson or series of lessons. Often these come with an accompanying manual or instruction book so the aspiring musician can easily follow along. While there is no substitute for making music with others, there are many enthusiast sites on the web that provide general information, and an introductory free lesson.
What an online or in-person banjo lesson might entail depends upon the needs of the individual. It is possible to find a lesson on very introductory topics such as assembling a banjo that does not come already put together, banjo tablatures, or building a banjo bridge. A more advanced player can benefit from a banjo lesson focusing on different playing techniques such as claw hammer.
Many of the resources online for those seeking a lesson, or information on associations, or ways to network with other players, are free. These are a priceless resource for someone just becoming acquainted with the instrument.
There is probably no banjo lesson more valuable than that warm summer night around a campfire with someone who loves the craft and plays their instrument from their heart and soul. But there are many resources out there for enthusiasts of this age-old instrument. Likewise, there is no substitute for daily practice.
Alas, I'm still looking for a tutor which leads me to believe there's a decline in this popularity of the instrument. Either that or I'm just in an area where banjo players are a bit thin on the ground. I'm still as enthusiastic as the day I purchased my beautiful banjo, and have learnt some great stuff through the alternative teaching methods, but I long for the day I have my first ever 'real' banjo lesson so that I can have a real jam session with a fellow enthusias
