My first 6 months on the banjo

It's J.R.'s one year banjoversary and he's writing a series of posts on where he's been and where he's going, banjo-wise.

You can pretty much divide the past year into two parts: the first six months in which I didn't practice enough and the second six in which I did.

Here's a look at those first six months.

---

Month 1: Getting started

• I get my banjo and start blogging about it.
• I begin lessons with Mike at Flatts & Sharpe.
• Mike shows me Seeger-style boom-titty-boom strumming.
• I learn to read tablature.
• I learn three chords (G, C and D7) and assume that I'll be rapidly learning many other chords. (Spoiler: I do not rapidly learn many other chords.)
• I'm supposed to be doing some homework that Mike gave me, but instead I get distracted by plunking out bugle calls on my banjo.

---

Month 2: Trouble begins

• I learn to hammer on.
• Mike shows me three new chords (G7, A7 and Em), but they don't stick in my mind, probably because I'm having trouble finding the time to practice.

---

Month 3: The left hand learns a little

• I learn to slide.
• I pick up a few songs (like Cripple Creek), all in Seeger style.

---

Month 4: Lack of practice makes imperfect

• Mike starts me on my first book: Hal Leonard Banjo Method - Book 1.
• I try to learn the F chord, but my pinky can't do the job.
• Aaaand that's kind of it for the whole month. I don't practice nearly enough.

---

Month 5: Thinks perk up 'cause I have a goal

• Flatts & Sharpe announces that it will be hosting a recital for its students, so the month is pretty much dominated by my preparation for that event. I decide to do "The Preamble" from School House Rock.
• Mike helps me figure out the chords.
• I try to learn a few new tricks for the piece (like Scruggs-style forward rolls), but I wind up abandoning them because I can't learn them well enough in time.

---

Month 6: Shoving myself onstage

• I perform at the recital and I'm a hit. But, being honest with myself, I realize that I got through it on enthusiasm and a really good slide show.
• Think I'm being too hard on myself? Check out the terrible hand positions from these photos of the recital:
  
  See? I'm having fun, but my right hand is doing everything from the wrist (like Mike had warned me against in month 2) and I'm holding my left hand like a claw (ditto).
• I get involved in the holidays and don't do much with the banjo for the rest of the month.

---

Sorry to end the post on such a downer, but that's really where I was after six months. Things will pick up in the next post, though, because I've created a trick that helped me stick with my practicing.