Tip Jar Jam: Follow Your Fingers!

Last night we welcomed Kristina and her mandolin back to the jam. It's been a while since we've had heard her steady chop which is always a nice addition to the rhythm section. Ben, on bass, supplied the downbeat, Kathy G, Dan, and Kasey (looking Pretty in Pink) tickled the fives, and Bob and Diane…

Tip Jar Jam: Musing on Words

Just when I was thinking that we'd have the same folks for the Tip Jar Jam that we had last Tuesday (Janet, Kenney, Doug, Betty) in walks Bob Mc. He was here for his last jam before he heads back to Florida. I was going to call him a "snowbird" but he actually lives down…

Tip Jar Jam: Betty’s Slow Isn’t Slow Anymore!

Sometimes smaller is better. Although "better" is not quite the right word. (I just used that to get your attention!) Perhaps it's more accurate to say sometimes smaller is a different kind of fun. (!!) Last night we had four folks at the Tip Jar Jam--Kenney, Janet, Betty, and Doug--and we made some excellent music.…

Custom Lesson Update

Here's the list of new custom lessons I've been churning out for the last month. As always, these can be ordered over on my website. Golden Slippers (in G) (I) Watch clip. - I've played this tune forever and I really do like it. I'm kind of surprised it took someone this long to request a lesson on…

Tip Jar Jams: Growing Pains

Tuesday's Tip Jar Jam was kinda light--Ben, Kasey, and Scott--so Ben picked up the bass and turned the jam into a two-hour long bass lesson for himself! Nice trick, Ben. I hope that counts against all the snow plowing you did for us this winter! And the grass mowing you did Monday! Seriously, I was…

Never Thought I’d Say This….

This weekend, while Casey is in North Carolina doing Murphy Method stuff at the Five-String Fest, Red and I are keeping grandson Dalton, who is now 2 and 3/4. What a joy and delight! "Everything went fine till half past nine"....as the song Glendale Train goes....metaphorically speaking. Actually everything was going swimmingly today, our second…

Tip Jar Jam: Happy May!

I wish I could tell you what Kathy G said as she left the Tip Jar Jam last night. But since this is a family-type blog (with the occasional cuss) I will paraphrase: Hooray, hooray, the first of May Outdoor pickin' starts today! We had TEN people at the jam last night, including Drew (banjo)…