I continue to slowly add to my list of custom lessons that are available to order. There is a wide range in this batch--from Earl to Bela! These can be ordered directly from my website. Birds and Ships (A) Watch clip. - This is a slow, pretty song, in the key of D. Catfish John (in C) (I) Watch clip. -… Continue reading Custom Lesson Update
Month: September 2013
Article on Chris Henry in Southern Songwriter Magazine
Today a wonderful and insightful article on Chris appeared on the Southern Songwriter Magazine website. It talks about his new album Making My Way To You and his songwriting process. Read it right here.
Tip Jar Jam #41: I Like It When You Model For Me
The above line was spoken by Kathy to Bob Mc as she was leaving the jam last night. Since I knew what she meant, it took me a minute to get the double meaning, which Bob was quick to point it out! What Kathy was referring to was the fact that Bob had helped her… Continue reading Tip Jar Jam #41: I Like It When You Model For Me
Tuesday Jam: Keep Eating Out Of The Jar
Today's inscrutable title comes from Kasey and Ben Smelser--mostly from Ben but Kasey started it. Well, I actually started it by telling the jammers that there would be no jam next week because I would be in Raleigh at the big bluegrass trade show, the IBMA's World of Bluegrass. And the first words out of… Continue reading Tuesday Jam: Keep Eating Out Of The Jar
Tip Jar Jam #40: What’s a “Jam Buster”?
As someone who loves the magical alignment of numbers, I find it satisfying that at Tip Jar Jam #40 we had 4 students. Fortieth jam, four students. A nice symmetry. Adding me to the mix gave us the perfect number of people for a classic bluegrass band: Kristina on mandolin, Kathy on banjo or guitar,… Continue reading Tip Jar Jam #40: What’s a “Jam Buster”?
Review of Pretty Good for A Girl in Bluegrass Unlimted
Bluegrass Unlimited magazine published an absolutely fabulous review of Murphy's book Pretty Good for A Girl: Women in Bluegrass in their September issue. Read it here on the BU site.
Tuesday Jam: Speak Sotto Voce and Carry a Big Banjo!
No one provided a great title for the jam so we'll just see what develops as I write. [I just figured out the title. See below!] We were nine students strong last night including Ron, who had driven all the way in from Arkansas to take some lessons and who stayed for the… Continue reading Tuesday Jam: Speak Sotto Voce and Carry a Big Banjo!
Tip Jar Jam #39 : Taking One For The Team
Today's title is courtesy of Bob A. Last night he wanted Scott to sing Long Gone--so he (Bob) could play his recently-polished guitar break. I said, "What if I said you can either have Scott do Long Gone or you can sing Life's Railway To Heaven? We don't have time for both of them." I… Continue reading Tip Jar Jam #39 : Taking One For The Team
Tuesday Jam: Splitting the Break Three Ways
As you know, we have split our Tip Jar Jam into two nights, Tuesday and Wednesday. Having smaller jams enables me to do a bit more on-the-spot teaching, which I love. And it lets us cover aspects of jamming that student and teacher alone can't manage. Splitting a break three ways is one of those… Continue reading Tuesday Jam: Splitting the Break Three Ways
Meeting In The Air
Actually, the meeting was in Bloomery, but when I walked out the back door of Ben's house, onto the deck, I sure felt like I was in the air. I could see clear across the valley to the beautiful, West Virginia mountains. There is a reason John Denver started Country Roads with the line, "Almost… Continue reading Meeting In The Air