J.R. Jenks' Blog: My second 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.

Yes, after those first six months I just wasn't making the progress that I wanted to. I'd performed on stage and had a good time doing so, but I wasn't satisfied with my musical performance. I'd spent half a year on my banjo and had gone to lessons every week (mostly), but I could just barely manage a Seeger-style sing-along. (And I'd have needed the printed music and a lot of practice before I could play the song.)

Coincidentally – or perhaps because the universe just wanted me to learn to play the banjo better – this period of realization came upon me at the end of the year, just in time for a new year's resolution:

My new year's resolution for 2008 is to spend at least as much time playing my banjo as I spend watching TV.

I set down some ground rules and started the year-long Banjo versus TV project. And let me tell you, the last six months have been much, much more fun.

Month 7:

The redhead says my Scruggs-style playing is sounding "almost like music"
I try to teach myself Foggy Mountain Breakdown when I'm really not ready for it. Mike sets me back on the path of good practice technique.
I purchase what will become the best gadget in my toolkit: an Olympus WS-311M digital voice recorder. In the coming weeks I'll use it to record banjo classes, my lessons with Mike and my own progress.

Month 8:

I join the Banjo Hangout Player's Union and really start to use the facilities of The Banjo Hangout. I begin to cross-post between my personal blog and my blog at The Banjo Hangout.
I do a speech for our Toastmasters group about my Banjo versus TV project. This is important for a few reasons.
- It helps me organize my thoughts on how feasible the project is, how I can improve my chances for success and why I need so many hours of practice.
- Because I discuss my goals so publicly I'm more likely to achieve them.
I go to a jam with the Windy City Jammers. I have a good time and I resolve to go back frequently, despite the fact that I feel like my skill level isn't there yet. (I haven't gone back yet.)
I attend an evening's performance at the 48th Annual Univerity of Chicago Folk Festival.
A big break-through occurs and my practice starts to pay off when my basal ganglia (some call it "muscle memory") learns the forward roll. Mike says I sound good! We play a couple of songs together and he says, "I actually had fun playing with you." Woo-hoo!!
I start to track the songs I want to learn to play on my banjo.
I'm having a little trouble transitioning between different types of rolls in a song.

Month 9:

I buy a cheap, spare banjo so I can have one at work, too.
The redhead says, "Hey! You're sounding good. I was actually nodding my head to that one." I look forward to the day when people compliment me on my banjo playing without using the term "actually".
I'm a little bored with the few songs in my books that are within my current skill range, so I order some "easy banjo solo" books.
I attend Shorty's Strickly Bluegrass Festival and learn how to vamp during a jam.
I return home from the festival to discover that my employees have transformed my office desk into a hillbilly shack. I love those people.
I buy myself a copy of Tabledit software and learn how to use it as a practice aid (sort of).
My first attempt at installing strings does not go well. (I would later learn that I should have used a string winder.)