[Dixielandjazz] Apologies in advance....newby here requiringeducation

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Regarding learning to play the banjo, see below.

I have been very, very busy & have not looked @ DJML for quite a while.
Sorry to be so late with this answer.  Also, as I am leaving for NY in a
couple of hours, I do not have time to check to see if your question has
been answered.

You are correct, a 5 string banjo, picking with finger picks is not what is
used in Dixieland.

You want to play a 4 string (either) tenor or plectrum.

A plectrum is a little easier to play solos on & was generally used more in
the old pizza parlor days.

A tenor is often preferred for backing a Dixieland band, because of the
sound.  The chords generally span 2 octaves.  Whereas a plectrum is a little
over one octave.

However, both can be used in Dixieland.  Personally, I play a plectrum.

Now, to the question regarding teachers.  I am not sure of the web site, but
do a googol search for Don Van Palthe.  He is a great plectrum banjo player
who lives in the CO area, unless he has moved.  He was the first, or 2nd
banjo player to ever work in a Shakeys.  It was the original Shakeys Pizza
Parlor in Sacramento.

Don teaches banjo by correspondence.  He has books & video tapes.  I
understand that his teaching methods work very well, if you are willing to
practice (put in the time).

If you can't find Don, let me know & we'll track him down for you.

Sorry for the long e-mail & especially if your question has already been
answered.


Bob
mr.wonderful at ringwald.com
Placerville, CA, USA, Earth, Sol's System, Milky Way
Amateur (ham) Radio Station K6YBV
Fulton Street Jazz Band
See: http://www.ringwald.com
Boondockers Jazz & Comedy Band
See: http://www.theboondockers.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Skypilot98 at aol.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 3:20 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Apologies in advance....newby here
requiringeducation


> Hello all. 57 year old here who has decided to learn to play the banjo.
I'm
> in Belleville, Illinois, 25 miles SE of St. Louis, MO. To prepare for this
new
> adventure I visited my local music shop and bought the only banjo they had
in
> stock, a Dean 5 string BW-3. I finally found someone who knew a person who
> teaches banjo in town. A young lady names Chris Talley-Armstrong. I
contacted
> Chris who agreed to take me on as a new student (Hell, I'm twice her
age!). The
> problem is this. She teaches bluegrass music. I want to learn Dixieland.
When I
> told her this she replied with, "Hmmmm, not only do you have the wrong
> teacher, but you also have the wrong banjo." There apparently is no one
for miles
> around who teaches Dixieland banjo; perhaps someone in St. Louis, but no
leads
> right now as to whom. I sure would appreciate comments from anyone who
might
> read this as to what I might do. Do I really have the wrong banjo for
Dixieland?
> All the research I have done indicates a few different types of banjos,
but,
> nothing really tells me which type is for what music. 5-string, tenor,
> plectrum.....duhhhhhhhhhh. Boy, do I feel like a real dork! And just how
does one
> find a Dixieland teacher? Again, I apologize for my ignorance. This is my
first
> posting on here. Please be gentle.......Rob
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>