Rubbing elbows with the famous…

Starting the week of Jan. 18 and running through Jan. 23, I am going to be attending an advanced banjo camp being put on by Peter Wernick over in Boulder, Colorado. I won my spot at the camp via a scholarship contest that Peter held, which makes this a doubly nice experience. I just have one question: how come I couldn’t win this in July?! I hate winter! Boulder, Colorado?! Sheesh. (All in good fun Peter!)

I hope to be a better picker and a better teacher

Idoubt there is anyone reading this blog post that doesn’t know who Peter Wernick is. If you don’t for some reason, Google his name and you’ll get a feel for just who we’re talking about here. He handles the banjo duties for the world famous band Hot Rize, he’s been on David Letterman and Jay Leno playing banjo, he’s got some instructional DVD’s and books out, he puts on workshops and camps throughout the year, and all-in-all he’s quite the cottage industry in his own right. (Sorry if I didn’t name some other important projects you’ve been involved with Peter!) The man can back up what he teaches with his playing.

Peter Wernick with Hot Rize (click to enlarge)

I stopped by The Bluegrass Blog a couple of days before Christmas to catch up on news from the bluegrass world, and while I was there I read an article that said Peter Wernick was extending a scholarship to his famous banjo camp in Boulder, Colorado. This time around he was awarding a scholarship for the advanced class. To enter you had to email Peter and describe your accomplishments on the banjo, your goals, what you’d like to accomplish in the future, where you’ve been, where you are going, what you struggle with, etc. The advanced course is recommended for people in bands and who can play at a certain level of development. You also had to submit a video or a recording of yourself playing. I submitted the required items and then got the privilege of emailing back and forth with Peter just a bit, which was nice. I submitted my entry something like two days before the contest deadline (talk about right place right time! I’m so glad I visited The Bluegrass Blog when I did!) and lo and behold, a few days after deadline I received my email from Peter saying I had won.

Click me! Click me!

A step in the right direction for my picking career

It is my goal to be better banjo player. Period. I am dancing on the periphery of being able to do some stellar stuff, but I simply haven’t given the banjo it’s due diligence for most of the last 10 years. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve progressed, I’ve jammed, I’ve gigged out, I’ve taught, I’ve made a name for myself in my local region. But if I am brutally honest I have to admit that I’ve taken the lazy way out and done the bare minimum when it comes to the banjo. (There’s my confession…now let’s all group-hug and sing Kumbaya…) For the last half of 2009 I’ve been trying to progress and move forward. 2010 will find me making huge strides, and Peter will be much to thank for that.

Along with being a better picker, I want to be a better teacher. I can’t tell you how valuable it will be to see how a pro approaches things and teaches. I love helping people and so hope this experience adds to my professional ability, and further that I can bring that ability to you and help you with your picking.

Watch this space starting Jan. 18th!

I have an aggressive plan in place to blog each night from the hotel of the camp. But, I have learned that there will be much picking and socializing going on each evening of the camp, and those that know me know that if there’s a jam session, I’m there baby!! So…reality may find me missing some evenings. But if all goes as I’m planning, I’ll report to you each night, complete with pictures and maybe even some video. Please stay tuned for that!

Show Banjo Paul some comment love!

Do you have experience with banjo camps and conferences and clinics? Have you ever attended Peter’s camps? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Please scroll down to the bottom of this blog post and leave a few comments for my readers and me. We’d love to know what your experiences have been.

Thanks so much! And, as I always say: pick ‘em if ya got ‘em!

Banjo Paul
“Wunse, I coodn’t even spel bango pikker…now I are one!”
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