What Would J.D. Do?

The great J.D. Crowe passed away on December 24, 2021, at 84 years old. He was the biggest influence on my banjo playing right after Earl Scruggs. I spent literally hours trying to get my pull-offs to sound like his. I learned many of his classic songs including "Train 45" and "Blackjack" and his break to…

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…

Ask Murphy By Murphy Henry

I’m sure you all have heard by now of the passing of the great banjo player Sonny Osborne. As a tribute to Sonny, I’m writing an article for Bluegrass Unlimited magazine based on Sonny’s Banjo Newsletter column. It was called “Keep on The Sonny Side,” and every month Sonny answered questions that readers would send…

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…

Murphy Featured at the American Banjo Museum

I don’t remember who sent me this photo of Janet Davis and me, but apparently this was (or is?) an exhibit at the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, Okla. I knew nothing about it! I am honored, however, to have been featured. If anyone knows anything about this, please let us know! The museum…

A Thirty-Year Gap!

By Red Henry Ever since we founded the Murphy Method in 1982, one thing we’ve been proud of has been customer loyalty. Many, many of our Murphy Method students keep ordering lessons year after year, and we appreciate all that repeat business. Some customers may take off several years, and then come back and order…

Musings from Murphy

I thought I’d add a word or two here to Casey’s always-excellent newsletter, just to let you know how we’re faring at Murphy Method headquarters (aka Our House) during this stay-at-home time. I’m missing my Tip Jar Jam! I miss hearing David sing In The Pines with the “woo woos” at the end, just like…

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…

The First Banjo Lesson

(This post originally appeared on Banjo Hangout.) Preface I've been teaching banjo for over forty years and based on what I’ve seen most students go through many of the same experiences when they first encounter The Murphy Method. They walk away from that first lesson believing that they are the only ones who have trouble…