Beginning Banjo Track 2024

“In what order should I go through the videos?” Thanks for asking! To get the most out of our Murphy Method videos, we strongly suggest you follow our Beginning Banjo Track, laid out below. Our step-by-step approach makes learning the banjo as easy as possible. Each song builds on the previous song so please don’t…

Tips For Learning By Ear From A Lesson Video By Casey Henry

Go here for a downloadable/printable PDF of these tips. Before sitting down to learn a song, listen to it a minimum of five times. (It is typically played through at the beginning and the end of the lesson.) Listening to it every day for a week is even better. You should aim to be able…

Which Videos Concern Roly Polys?

I woke up this morning to this question in my inbox: Hey guys! Could you please confirm which video(s) concern "roly polys”? Thank you in advance, I figured more than one person might be wondering this very thing, so here is the rundown: The main roly poly video is Kickstart Your Jamming. That is for…

Intermediate Banjo Camp April 21-23: Learning to Play the Melody

Casey and I are really looking forward to our upcoming Intermediate Banjo Camp, April 21-23! We love seeing all of you—old faces and new—and this is one of the few times Casey and I actually get to play music together. And remember: At this camp we have an Advanced Beginner/Beginning Intermediate track. Check with us…

Ask Murphy: Your Jams Are Kind

“Your jams are kind.” Okay, that’s not a question. One of my students said that to me recently and I’ve been reflecting on it ever since. I consider it to be high praise. I want my jams to be a place where students feel comfortable and supported. Goodness knows it’s hard enough to scrounge up…

Slowest Student in The Fiddle Class by Murphy Henry

Well, it’s been years since I blogged [Editor's note: it has actually been one year, four months, and ten days.] but since I just spend 5 days being a fiddle student at the Augusta Heritage October Old-Time Retreat in Elkins, W.Va., I thought I’d relive the experience by telling you about it. It was such…

The Adventures of Peg and Jill: Peg Makes a Boo-Boo

This post originally appeared on Banjo Hangout. This is the third installment in The Adventures of Peg and Jill. If you need to catch up here are part 1 and part 2. Peg tripped lightly up the steps to Jill’s teaching place, banjo in hand. She was feeling good about her practice this week. She hadn’t been able…

The Further Adventures of Peg and Jill: Banjo Lesson #2

(This post originally appeared on Banjo Hangout.) Thanks for all the favorable comments on my story, “The First Banjo Lesson.” I’m glad so many of you could relate to it. As you know, learning to play the banjo, especially as an adult, is no easy task. Here, in this second installment, we follow Peg as…

New High Definition Beginning Banjo DVDs Are Here! In Three Volumes!

The release of the new Murphy Method HD-DVDs prompted the following conversation between Sweet Murphy and Grouchy Murphy: Sweet Murphy to Grouchy Murphy: Aren’t you excited about the new DVDs? In HD? They look great! Grouchy Murphy: Hell, no. Do you honestly think I can get excited about teaching all these songs again, on camera?…

Tip Jar Jam: When The Roll Is Called Uncloudy Day

Tip Jar Jam: When The Roll Is Called Uncloudy Day (Psst: The title is not a typo. Read the blog. All will be revealed.) Well, we didn't have a Tip Jar Jam on Wednesday because, first of all it snowed. Then after I had ratcheted up my courage to drive into town in the snow…