Thumb Picks

Oh, goody, oh, goody I can hear some of you saying. Finally a blog about something mechanical! As many of you know, I don’t get too excited about the fascinating-to-some world of banjo parts: tone rings, rims, stretcher bands, bridges, tail pieces, head tension, strings, and, yes, picks. I don’t like to tinker with my…

Now Offering Webcam Lessons

I'm happy to announce that I'm finally set up and ready to go for webcam banjo lessons. I've done a few for a couple different students and, although I don't have ALL the kinks worked out yet, I'm ready to offer them to a wider audience. Webcam lessons are not as good as in-person lessons,…

Murphy Method Banjo Camp: Two Spots Available

If you procrastinated and didn't get your reservation in when we announced this camp, you're in luck. We've had cancellations and can now offer spots to TWO deserving students (first come, first served). Camp dates: March 24-27 in Winchester, VA. Price $650. All details HERE (it says "sold out" but pay no attention to that).…

More Jamming

Janet and I went to the Martinsburg, W.Va., jam again last Sunday and this time it was a completely different kind of session. Fewer players, fewer folks in the audience. In fact, when we got there at 4 p.m., there were no musicians milling around getting ready to play. No open cases, no tuners. Zac…

Have Studio, Will Travel

These days absolutely any space can be turned into a recording studio if you have the right equipment. My brother Chris has a laptop computer and a bunch of other geegaws and things that have flashing lights on them that he can take anywhere and record anyone. My living room is presently the location of…

Pet Peeve

I’ve been teaching a long time now, and I like to think that over time I’ve developed a certain amount of patience that I perhaps did not have in my younger years. If people don’t practice, I can live with that. We all lead busy lives. As I tell the students, “We’ll practice in the…

And now for a quick photo-op…

I just wanted to share a picture with all of you. This was taken when Chris and I went over to a Frank Wakefield concert at Garrett Park, Maryland, several weeks ago. I had no idea this photo existed until a day or two ago, when I found it on Frank's Facebook page. Click on…

Picky, Picky, Picky

It looks as if this is a good week to talk about picking. That was a really good session Murphy had up in Martinsburg. And now I have a couple of old-time jams scheduled for the next two nights, both within 45 minutes of the house. As Murphy has suggested over and over on our…

Jamming: Not For the Faint of Heart

I was recently at a Sunday evening jam session in Martinsburg, W. Va., that is being put on by the newly-formed Eastern Panhandle Bluegrass Association. I wanted to check it out and to take my guitar student (and square dancing buddy) Janet so she could get a taste of jamming. I knew she would do…

Super Bowl Time Again

Happy Groundhog Day!! Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring. That’s sure an appealing thought in the face of today’s twenty-degree high temperature. I owe you a blog. I was supposed to blog on Monday, but I forgot amid the craziness. I’m in Dallas, Texas, working on the Super Bowl halftime show. This is my fourth…