Hi can anybody out there tell me if they know of anybody in the Offaly area who might be willing to give tenor banjo lessons to a dedicated mature student, I can play a number of tunes but cannot get the speed needed for playing in sessions...PLEASE HELP!!!!!
Well I am in Portland, Oregon, USA, so I won't be much help for pointing you to a teacher.
But I have suggestion for you. Select one tune and work on it over and over to get it up to speed. Play it every day. Play with a metronome. Slowly increase the speed of the metronome. Eventually you will get there.
A teacher will tell you the same thing, and here I am telling you this for free
But you might have something actually wrong with your technique that is holding back your speed...so of course it would still be worthwhile consulting with a teacher.
One other thing -- you might be tensing up as you try to "force" yourself to play faster. This is a natural but incorrect thing to do. Instead, you must relax. Tension is the enemy.
I'm not familiar with teachers in Offaly but John Byrne is a banjo teacher if you fancy the extra bit of a trip to Mullingar. I've only been told this though. I've never heard John play and I've never met the man. A friend of mine plays banjo and John is his teacher. According to this friend, John does 'non-stop listening' to Gerry O'Connor and plays in a heavily ornamented style. It's not my cup of tea at all but, he's the only guy that springs to mind at the minute.
That's good advice from concertinaplayer and having listened to Eddie Whelan, I'm sure he'd be a very competent teacher. Page http://comhaltas.ie/locations/detail/offaly gives access to the various Comhaltas branches in Offaly and although I have no idea where Eddie teaches, I'm sure if you contact one of the secretaries, they'll point you in the right direction.
Colm Green is also another great banjo player in the Midlands but again I don't know where he's based.
Hi, I'm Living in Birr, Love playing Banjo, i play in my local most weekends with a couple of guitar players i wouldn't be up to session speed either, you wuold be most welcome to join us the more the merrier.
john byrne has numerous leinster titles....5 or more .......and has been placed in the all ireland ........i know him well ......he is a brilliant player......sorry if dis is a bit late ....i have his number
banjo lessons
banjo lessons
Hi can anybody out there tell me if they know of anybody in the Offaly area who might be willing to give tenor banjo lessons to a dedicated mature student, I can play a number of tunes but cannot get the speed needed for playing in sessions...PLEASE HELP!!!!!
# Posted on July 19th 2008 by gilly
Re: banjo lessons
Well I am in Portland, Oregon, USA, so I won't be much help for pointing you to a teacher.
But I have suggestion for you. Select one tune and work on it over and over to get it up to speed. Play it every day. Play with a metronome. Slowly increase the speed of the metronome. Eventually you will get there.
A teacher will tell you the same thing, and here I am telling you this for free
But you might have something actually wrong with your technique that is holding back your speed...so of course it would still be worthwhile consulting with a teacher.
One other thing -- you might be tensing up as you try to "force" yourself to play faster. This is a natural but incorrect thing to do. Instead, you must relax. Tension is the enemy.
Good luck to you.
# Posted on July 19th 2008 by timmy!
Re: banjo lessons
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_264_5_banjo_player_eddie_whelan/
When all else fails, see your local Comhaltas branch
# Posted on July 19th 2008 by concertinaplayer
Re: banjo lessons
I'm not familiar with teachers in Offaly but John Byrne is a banjo teacher if you fancy the extra bit of a trip to Mullingar. I've only been told this though. I've never heard John play and I've never met the man. A friend of mine plays banjo and John is his teacher. According to this friend, John does 'non-stop listening' to Gerry O'Connor and plays in a heavily ornamented style. It's not my cup of tea at all but, he's the only guy that springs to mind at the minute.
# Posted on July 19th 2008 by 52Paddy
Re: banjo lessons
That's good advice from concertinaplayer and having listened to Eddie Whelan, I'm sure he'd be a very competent teacher. Page http://comhaltas.ie/locations/detail/offaly gives access to the various Comhaltas branches in Offaly and although I have no idea where Eddie teaches, I'm sure if you contact one of the secretaries, they'll point you in the right direction.
Colm Green is also another great banjo player in the Midlands but again I don't know where he's based.
# Posted on July 20th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: banjo lessons
Thanks guys for all the tips will check them all out
# Posted on July 20th 2008 by gilly
Re: banjo lessons
Colm's in Dublin all the time at the moment.Eddy's living outside Ennis.Id's say youre going to haveto travel.Offaly isnt a banjo stronghold
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by bozoukipukey
Re: banjo lessons
Woops,wrong eddy.Colm greene is in Dublin though
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by bozoukipukey
Re: banjo lessons
Hi, I'm Living in Birr, Love playing Banjo, i play in my local most weekends with a couple of guitar players i wouldn't be up to session speed either, you wuold be most welcome to join us the more the merrier.
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by andy masters
Re: banjo lessons
would love to give it a go but dont think I'd b good enough andy Thanks
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by gilly
Re: banjo lessons
you sound very like me, you have to start somewhere nothing ventured nothing gained give me a call 087 6879639
# Posted on July 22nd 2008 by andy masters
Re: banjo lessons
martin murray is a brillant teacher if you could make it to carrick on suir cost 25 euro per half hour
# Posted on August 15th 2008 by Derek_22
Re: banjo lessons
john byrne has numerous leinster titles....5 or more .......and has been placed in the all ireland ........i know him well ......he is a brilliant player......sorry if dis is a bit late ....i have his number
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by banjitar