Custom Lesson Additions

As I count the days past my due date (just two days overdue at this point...) I'm keeping busy doing the custom lessons that I warned people I may not have time to do if the baby arrived early or on time. Lucky for these people the baby seems like he's pretty comfortable right where…

Chris’s Song IBMA Final Nominee!

I couldn’t wait to tell you all our son Christopher’s song, “Walkin’ West to Memphis,” made the final ballot for IBMA Song of the Year! There are only five songs nominated and his is one of them. What an honor! The song was recorded by the Gibson Brothers on their album Help My Brother. [Here's…

Christopher’s song in IBMA “Song of the Year” balloting

Here's some bluegrass news from the Murphy Method -- Many thanks to all the International Bluegrass Music Association members who voted for Christopher's song "Walking West to Memphis" in the Song of the Year balloting! Last night, they announced that WWTM is one of 5 finalists! Y'all keep voting, and Murphy and I are looking…

Custom Lesson Update

Here is my periodic update of the new additions to the custom lessons list. These are the ones I've gotten done in the last two or three weeks. Some interesting songs here. "Gentle On My Mind" is a challenge because the melody mostly consists of only two notes. "Ring of Fire" is Earl's break from…

Picking and Dancing

I’m just back from a big weekend of kicking up my heels at the West Virginia Square Dance Convention in Buckhannon. “And this is relevant to bluegrass how?” you might be asking. Well, since I spent this past year learning to dance the man’s part, not only did I dance some with my friend and…

Bluegrass Onesies

At one of my baby showers the party activity was onesie decorating. I was extremely impressed by everyone's artistic talent, which was much greater than my own! But a few weeks after the party I got a belated addition to this outstanding onesie collection from my friend and fellow banjo teacher Ned Luberecki. I had…

Shortie

So, my banjo student Mark comes in yesterday for his lesson with a story to tell. He says he was driving home from work, listening to my CD, M and M Blues, which I had given him on our shared birthday, May 18. It was not his first listen, of course, so it didn’t hurt…