Custom Lesson Update

It has been so long since I've posted a Custom Lesson update that I have a TON of new songs to add to the list. It's much harder for me to find the time to record these lessons during the summer since I'm away from home so much, but I still think this is a…

The MusicBox Project’s Americana Women

Here's a link to a post on the No Depression website about a project that both Murphy and I participated in. Previously we've posted the videos (here and here and here and here) that Dyann Arthur filmed of both of us, but this nice little article has an overview of the whole project as well…

Recording a New DVD: Banjo Backup for Fiddle Tunes

We’ve spent the last two days filming a new DVD, which you all are going to be pretty excited about, I think. It’s on banjo backup for fiddle tunes, that is, banjo/fiddle duet style. Think Earl Scruggs and Paul Warren. Funnily enough, this is not the first time we’ve taped this particular video. About eight…

Kenny Baker

For those who haven't seen the announcements on various music lists, the great bluegrass fiddler Kenny Baker died yesterday in Nashville. Kenny was probably the most influential bluegrass fiddler of our time, having played with Bill Monroe for over 15 years (in itself a record for Bill's sidemen). He played fiddle on all of Bill's…

Three Different Kinds of Picking

In the last week or so, I've participated in three really different kinds of picking sessions. All three were enjoyable, all three were beneficial (read: good practice), and all three might have hints for Murphy Method students who like to pick. The first jam, on Thursday evening, was the weekly event at Linda's Mercantile and…