Forum Activity for @robin-clark

Wow - you have had some good teachers Lisa!

My banjo has a simple wooden potwith ametal tone ring:

Oops - perhaps I should have taken my good lady's vest that I stole to use as a damper out of the back of the banjo before taking the photo - she may have something to say about that!

Robin

Looks like a humdinger of a banjo, Robin. I love those 'put together' basic banjos- they often have that wonderful down home sound. Reminds me of the 1060's Kay banjos that were very affordable and simple back then, but are now much sought after by smart banjo players because they were well built despite their plainness and they just play and sound GOOD! Is it a spun-over metal pot or a wooden pot?

Yes a good approach is to keep testing things and not let yourself get cemented into habits that might hold you back later. I made that mistake by avoiding drop thumbs the first year and when i tried to incorporate them later I found it terribly difficult. I learned a lot from that mistake. I was fortunate to take a workshop with Brad Leftwich at the time and I got a 30 minute private sit down with him. I asked him why i couldn't manage the drop thumb well, and he watched me and nailed it - he showed me the specific details of what my problem was, he knew exactly, and after that I was able to 'get it'. Otherwise my rhythm would have continued to be slightly awkward forever I think.

i found the best books & teaching materials for me were from Dwight Diller, Brad Leftwich, and Miles Krasson's book- all their ways of playing are a little different, but they all 3 teach fingering and phrases that encourage natural fluidity and yummy syncopated rhythms. They broke me of my self imposed chord-based bump-ditty dependence- that was my personal problem in my first couple of years. Not saying you are going to be like that at all- I think you are a more experienced musician than I am for one thing- just saying what helped me tremendously with my own banjo struggle. :)

Congratulations Robin, that sounds amazing for a couple of weeks study.

Had a guy at the club who went from concertina to banjo in 3 months flat, and good too.

john p

Ahh!!!

Skating and skipping over the fretboard - I can imagine that I've beenattempting to playCripple Creek and Angeline the Baker a bit like that.

Air pauses and less notes - very good!!!! I've just started to have a go at "The Cuckoo" - that's not got many notes at all so it is really making me think about how to carry rhythm. And I'm trying a slow Frosty Morning.

I'm playing around with all sorts of different right hand positions and movements - every player I watch on youtube is doing something slightly different so I'm just copying styles at present and listening to what happens.

I haven't got any idea at all where to use drop thumb (yet!). So I'm just practicing the movement for 10 mins or so each day. I'm sure that Nick will show me how to bring it in to the music when I'm ready. For now I'm basing everything around bum-di-dy and di-dy, thumb on thumb string - it is going to take quite a while to get that flowing.

It is great fun just learning something new

I try and have the approach that "I don't know what I don't know". And that what I'm physically doing now is not what I'm going to be physically doing next week.

I bought a really basic banjo from Andy Perkins banjos. It is his own brand "Grafton" made from Chinese parts and then assembled by him. It has no bells or whistles just very basic parts but it holds itstuning well and will do me just fine. It will certainly be well abused

Robin

Been there, got the tee shirt, and COULD'NT do it !!!

JohnH

You are done for now...the long slippery banjo slope.

You'll find that dulcimer fingering and rhythm doesn't really translate well onto banjo.

You are a good musician, so I'm hearing in your clip that you are able to dive right in and find all the notes pretty quickly- a great accomplishment and head start!

But it will take a much longer time to get the 'feel' of the special rhythms the banjo offers. Right now you are playing rapid fire melody single notes on one string at a time, with an occasional decorative strum. That won't get you a real southern appalachian banjo sound- it's more Dave Macon/Pete Seeger. Start learning especially drop thumb , start using slides and hammer-ons/pulloffs instead of keeping each note separate. I'm just trying to be helpful when i say think more ice skating and skipping and less typewriter. Think of the air pauses- they are just as important as the notes.

My suggestion is to slow down and forget trying to play fast tunes with lots of notes. That will not get you to where I suspect you want to go. Take a lot of steps backwards and work slowly on the RHYTHM, not the notes, not speed. To get the special banjo rhythm you'll need to work hard on drop thumb, slides, pulloffs, and hammerons...but drop thumb more than anything. Those are the tools. And remember your friend is the open drone strings- but not just for brushing and strumming- rather they are an integral part of almost every little 'dance phrase' of notes. I hope some of this makes some sense- it's hard to put into words!

The commonest problem I see with new banjo students?- waggling their thumb separately from the rest of their hand, and using it as an afterthought in a separate note. The thumb needs to BE THERE ALREADY on the thumb string and just lifted off to make the rhythm note sound- you can't bring it along and position it only when you are going to make that note, like you do with the other fingers and notes.

So tell us about your new banjo...and pictures!!

I don't know what came over me? Perhaps it's just a phase I'm going through? Hopefully it is not a sign of something more serious

Two week's ago, on a whim, I pulled out my credit card and bought - a BANJO

I've been listening to loads of old recordings of Appalachian bands lately and it was listening to the banjo/fiddle combinations made started me thinking. If I want to improve my trad dulcimer playing perhaps learning banjo may be a pretty good way of thinking about rhythm in a different way - and it would be a good instrument for accompanying my fiddle playing better-half who is really getting into old time playing. So based on those lame excuses I bought a banjo (please forgive me ).

I've watched a few very basic "learn to clawhammer" YouTube lessons, got a few pointers off my banjo playing buddyand have set about trying to get my head around this weird instrument that has loads of different tunings and a strange right hand action (Mmm..... that reminds me of another instrument I play ). I'm not sure how far I'm going to get with the instrument but my present goal is to simply transfer the tunes I play on mountain dulcimer to banjo and see what comes from that. Already I'm noticing that I'm naturally making slight changes to tunes so they "fall to the fingers" on the banjo when frailing. And I've found I have to use a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs, plus the thumb string to fill in 8th notes. I've also found that if I look at my hands too much it all goes horribly, horriblywrong So I'm just trying to relax and not think about anything at all - just trusting that my fingers will fall to the notes once I've worked out a phrase or passage.

So, 2 weeks into my banjo journeyI've just made my first recording, which is posted below. The instrument still feels very strange in my hands but hopefully over time it will start to feel more and more natural and begin to sound better too

Robin

Very true Robin!

I've not competed in a dulcimer competition (it is a bit of a swim to get across to the US ) but they do seem to be a part of traditional mountain community culture - so perhaps that's is the light they should be viewed under.

I understand the sentiment Mark and Greg"music is an art form, not a competition"but, just perhaps, in cases like this, the competition festival is a historic and cultural community art in itself?

I spend many years living in the Highlands of Scotland and each community's "gathering" was an important date on the callender - and a mix of sport and musical art competitions.

Where I live now, in Wales, the eisteddfod is an important part of the culture. Every child in Wales will compete in singing, dance, poetry or instrument playing right from first school. It is hardly a surprise that Wales is renowned for producingmusicians - the opportunities to practice and be coached are there for all !

So perhaps we should look at mountain dulcimer festival competitions as the continuation of tradition. There were dulcimer competitions held at the first Galax fiddle convention in 1935 (Ruth Melton won!). So that does suggest that music competions were part of mountain community life well before that - and that the dulcimer was looked upon as a worthy instrument for competition! And the settlers would have bought the culture of such events from the home countries.

Kendra - it is good to see you continuing this tradition and heartening to hear that young folk are the ones whofeel particularly energised by these events - long may they continue !

Robin

Robin Thompson said:

Although I don't think of playing dulcimer as competitive sport, contests have been a part of community musical get-togethers for a long time. So, I think of contests as being part of a tradition.

I've never competed and don't know whether I would or not. If the atmosphere of a given competition was light-hearted, friendly, maybe. . .

Personally, I've never competed in a contest and never will. Not that interested in making music into a competitive sport. However, I do not mind watching others compete in a contest. It would make a nice addition to a weekend festival. I prefer the festivals with workshops, vendors, jamming, and concerts by the professional musicians. A contest could easily be added to these festivals, perhaps free admission in exchange for entering a contest. Concerts and contests probably have a greater appeal to the non-dulcimer players attending a dulcimer festival. It would certainly give dulcimer spouses something to do while their spouse attends workshops, looks at the instruments being offered for sale, or jams over in the corner.

Greg

The Reds are my "go to" team for when the Indians aren't in the running!

Paul

Too funny, Geekling! We wouldn't want you to start gnawing.....but to tell the truth, I think I would start gnawing my arms off too if I had to compete....some people love it, some do not....it's very interesting to me....

YAY! Ken! Let's get 'cha up here next year so you can show 'em how it's done!

Paul, we welcome you back to Coshocton dulcimer days anytime with open arms....too bad you have to "wait 'til next year"! (I guess I will have to say it....."How about them Red's"!!! ) Am I in trouble now? I guess once a trouble maker, always a trouble maker!

Dulcerina-

I went a couple times, but it was always in May, and Mrs.Wanda's birthday, Mothers Day & The Memorial Day family cookout made for a busy month. Mrs. Wanda never developed an I didn't go much. Hoping for next year, now that it's in June.This June we have 2 graduations, a wedding, and a family reunion. I don't even get to open mics much lately.As a Cleveland Indians fan, I grew up saying "Wait till next year!"

Paul

Thanks for the comments!

I do think that festivals have all gone toward the workshop/concert type weekend and I think that is a good idea. We are trying to cater to as many people as we can, and the contests do bring in a lot of people, both contestants and watchers. I think the contest mentality is becoming more and more popular again, and I am so happy to see so many of the contestants are coming from the younger generation! YAY!

Paul, you need to come back to Coshocton and see how much it has changed....hopefully for the better....and it is all free, except the workshops which are $15 per person per workshop, paid directly to the teacher who keeps 100%. We offer between 50-60 workshops depending on the year, plus jams, vendors, concerts, lot's of food, and more....

Ken, float on up our way sometime soon.....we could use a good noter/drone teacher....maybe next year?

Thanks again for your comments....

Dulcerina-

Competition is a big part of festivals, but for me being a self taught player, I would rather attent a workshop / instruction class instead. Right now competing is not for me.

Although I don't think of playing dulcimer as competitive sport, contests have been a part of community musical get-togethers for a long time. So, I think of contests as being part of a tradition.

I've never competed and don't know whether I would or not. If the atmosphere of a given competition was light-hearted, friendly, maybe. . .

I watched some of the contests at Roscoe years ago, but I was a brand new player, and the idea of competing was way off in the distance. It was fun to watch, but at that time I was more interested in attending workshops,and learning to play, so I only watched when no classes were being held. I suspect many new players might feel that way, too. I never developed much interest in competing, and I now find I would rather jam at festivals than anything else. I also take less workshops than I did in the early days. Concerts are more appealing to me than contests, as I feel the performers have more time to display the depth of their abilities. Those on a level, and of a mind set, to compete may prefer to watch the contests, and probably enjoy them. I kinda lost interest. I haven't been able to attend Roscoe for a good many years, but hope to again in the future. The jams were always fun, even when I didn't know many songs.

Paul

I organize the Coshocton Dulcimer Days festival and we have the Mid-Eastern Regional Hammered and Mountain dulcimer contests. Winners receive a trophy, money, and entry into the Walnut Valley Festival in KS. This festival has had contests since the first festival in the early '70's.

I am just curious about what ya'll think about contests, if you would ever compete, if you have competed, what you think judging criteria should be, and any other comments. Since we are sanctioned by Walnut Valley, we do have go by their rules, but we can change minor things with their approval.

Me, personally, I cannot compete....it makes me physically ill!!! LOL I have not competed since about 1985. I could do it when I was a kid, but it is just not my thing now. Isn't that weird???? I remember one time, Bob (my hubby) and I borrowed Dad's courting dulcimer to compete against mom and dad....We tied!!! .....and had to have a play off!!! Isn't that too funny.....Bob and I did manage to beat mom and dad, but I don't know how!!!! Bob and I still play that courting dulcimer today....I guess it is our good luck dulcimer!

I hear people say all the time that competing makes them better players and I can see that. It makes them practice and to be able to be in front of people. It gives them a goal to work on.

What are your thoughts and opinions? I thought this would be a fun topic to discuss.

Back in the '70's, the entire structure of the Coshocton Dulcimer Days....then Roscoe Village Dulcimer Days....was all based on contests. They had a courting dulcimer contest, a kid's contest, a club contest, traditional contest, men VS women, duet contest, band contest, hammered, mountain, best male singing, best female singing, and so on. Today, I don't think there are enough people who would be interested in these contests, but some people have mentioned that they would like to have a duet contest and a vocal contest come back. What do ya'll think of this?

I am looking forward to reading your comments. Thanks........

Kendra,

Yup, Amazing Grace or Southwind. . . Please let me know the preferred keys for the tunes and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks Geeks.....I have missed everyone!

Robin, it will be wonderful for Mark to join you, I didn't mean to leave him out....

We can also try Amazing Grace or Southwind or something else that you suggest....so sorry about your neck problems, hope they go away soon!!!!!! Doggone it is right!!!!

Wish you could come, Stephanie!

Got it, Kendra! I'll fiddle around with Old Joe Clark & Golden Slippers on the BD and make some kind of noise. Mark and I will probably play together (guitar & BD) for my demo if that's okay. (I've been struggling with neck problems for months and that's curtailed my music play of late, doggone it. )

Thanks ya'll for the welcome back! I hope I can stay awhile!

Robin, check the Sat. concert schedule on the Coshocton Dulcimer Days website. The spot called "Meet the Dulcimers" is where I would love you to join us with your bowed ducimer. I think it is at 11:45-12:20...... we will probably play something easy together like Old Joe Clark, or Golden Slippers, or........suggestions please.....

For the rest of you to know what I am talking about, at Coshocton Dulcimer Days this year, I have taken one of the 35 minute concert slots and introducing the people to the different kinds of dulcimers/styles......I am playing noter/drone style, Hunter Walker is demonstrating a modern style, Robin is demonstrating bowed dulcimer, and Theresa Halsey is going to show the hammered dulcimer. Each person is going to say a little about the instrument/style, then play an example of a tune. At the end we are all going to play a tune or two together as time allows. I think it will be awesome and also prove that all dulcimers can be played together. I can't wait to try out this idea......

Anyway, I am glad to be back and thanks again everyone for the welcome back....

Dulcerina-

I think you all had it worse in far southern Ohio than we did, Kendra. Our satellite internet goes out when there's heavy rain and, surprisingly, we had working internet through most of April and May.

Won't be long 'til Coshocton!

Glad to see you back. God hasn't told me to build an ark yet, and that's beginning to make me nervous. I been good, ain't I?

Paul

Wow! It seems like forever since I have had a chance to check out "Friends" here! I even missed out on the great new buttons that everyone else has.... but me...... I will be getting mine soon though...

It started with all the rain we had. I never had time to get online trying to work outside and then the rain took out our phone for about 3 or so weeks.

We have satellite internet from our next door neighbor and when the satellite was working her router was not. She had to finally get a new router. We do still have dial-up but of course, our phone was out.....

When our neighbor got the new router, it continued to rain and the satellite was not picking things up through the clouds. We could only get on once in a while for a short period of time......

We would sometimes take our laptops to the nearest city and use them, but then we only had time to catch up on all our business.....WHEW!

I missed you all!!!!! I am glad to be back! Yay! I hope to be able to stay for a while, kick my shoes off, and have fun!

I am glad to be back.........

Jim, we were at the shop a couple hours. Randall did a little shopping before he left and we did, too. (I love my Snark tuner and I got a neat jamming stool that Gary built.)

Yup, we've got to meet somewhere down the road. And get in some jamming.

It was so neat to meet Randall! He, Gary Sager, Mark and I jammed for awhile upstairs at Gary's shop-- what fun. (I feel lucky to have gotten to jam with such good players!) Not only that, Randall took a couple of requests; talk about a beautiful, smooth baritone voice. . .

Mark took this picture before Gary got to the shop:

Sounds like a great meet Robin (now where have I seen a tee shirt similar to yours before..............LOL)

John

Sounds like a great meet Robin (now where have I seen a tee shirt similar to yours before..............LOL)

John

It was so neat to meet Randall! He, Gary Sager, Mark and I jammed for awhile upstairs at Gary's shop-- what fun. (I feel lucky to have gotten to jam with such good players!) Not only that, Randall took a couple of requests; talk about a beautiful, smooth baritone voice. . .

Mark took this picture before Gary got to the shop:

Great photo, Jim! You two guys look like you just got everything you'd circled in the Sears Wish Book for Christmas.

Tomorrow it's mine and Mark's turn to meet Randall.

Very cool. I have more fun and learn more jammin' than anything else. I'm really looking forward to the September campout also.

Scott

Great photo, Jim! You two guys look like you just got everything you'd circled in the Sears Wish Book for Christmas.

Tomorrow it's mine and Mark's turn to meet Randall.

Very cool. I have more fun and learn more jammin' than anything else. I'm really looking forward to the September campout also.

Scott