- 5 STRING BANJO - STANLEY STYLE - Get there early, if you are keen, one session only over the weekend, prompted by a statement made by a novice banjo player at the recent 2008 Harrietville Bluegrass Convention on Sunday morning.
than from all the so called experts over the past three days, do you give lessons ?"
This statement has pushed Howard Miller to offer his style of learning five string banjo to other banjo players. Having identified that the major problems with most proficient banjo players is they either don't have the time or patience to be effective teachers, or they are simply so far advanced beyond beginners they cannot slow their lightning fast fingers down or remember HOW difficult it was to work out all those fancy licks. Howard is offering to demystify some of the slog of deciphering the magical world of the 5 string. Another aspect that was raised is how most banjo players started their music career on guitar, which is why the Scruggs chordal style of banjo playing has such popularity.
Do not expect to learn any Scruggs style banjo, there are hundreds of books and DVD's on the subject and as Earl is a musical genius and the most copied musician in the world, that style did not appeal to Howard. What he sought was an authentic percussive, mountain style of three finger picking that could be continued into his latter years. As Ralph Stanley has played fine banjo well into his seventies, there was hope for a late starter in banjo, as Howard was almost in his fifties before buying his first five string. Helped along further by his recent purchase of a vintage Stelling archtop banjo, the sound he has long sought is becoming achievable and before he picks himself into the dizzy heights of being a performing musician himself, he would like to spend time with other pickers who feel they might be able to listen and gain something or even share something they have picked up.?
This is an interactive workshop where all who attend are invited to not only participate but offer any tips, hints or special points they may feel need to be exchanged. So don't be bashful?
He has conducted a number of banjo workshop at recent festivals, Music Majic at Corryong in Victoria, being the latest, the interest raised has reinforced this need to help beginners along. The Stanley style of picking was very well received by other musicians at the festival, who mentioned few banjo teachers really new or liked the style or were able to achieve the authentic sound.
Having organised Ausgrass for 15 years now and Banjo Bootcamps in 2004 & 2005, he has had more than moderate exposure to different styles of playing and learning this instrument. For those who want to sit and pick and learn something about an exciting, authentic mountain style of banjo, Get your self down to the workshop at 10.00 am sharp.
Harrietville 2004, as Howard picks on the 5
string with a couple of mates??
update
December 2008