Have you seen my main website? Tons of content there! 
Reach people where it matters most
When I work with banjo students, fairly early on in the journey I begin introducing the idea of realizing that when you pick your banjo, your job isn’t to just pick your banjo. It’s never too soon to start embracing the fact that you are an artist. As an artist, you want to let your artistry come alive and to emanate from your banjo picking. Much like a painter or sculptor, we work with a palette of colors and we appeal to the senses of the recipient of our art. Getting a full understanding of exactly what this means takes a very long time, and likely you’ll spend a lifetime trying to be a better artist. It may be a worthwhile endeavor to take a look at exactly how your 5 string banjo music is received by the listener and just how it affects the listener. This is part 4 of 4 parts. To start at part 1, click here
Your music is an all-over body experience for your listeners
We’ve spoken of some obvious and not-so-obvious ways to reach people with your music throughout his four part series. Head hands and feet are all involved of course. The last area I want to mention carries the most weight and the biggest impact.
It’s important to remember this entire series when you are learning to play your music on your instrument. Don’t just hap-hazardly throw the notes out there, but apply your artistic and technical abilities to your instrument. Exude the rhythm, focus on tone, perfect your timing, draw out the feeling in what you play. You’ll need these things and more to affect someone where it matters most…
Your music touches the heart of others
Have you ever had a song bring a tear to your eye? Have you ever found your heart racing from listening to a song? Have you gotten either excited or amazed or introspective or happy or sad or…well, you get the idea. If so, the music touched your heart.
The heart is the ultimate testing place, the refuge and hiding place of our emotions and feelings and urges. You should derive a ton of satisfaction when you get the kind of response and feedback from your listener that shows you are reaching them, such as the tapping of the foot, the movement of the hands, etc. Get the person to truly connect with your music and feel the message and the emotion and you’ve touched their heart.
Beginners, learn to play with heart to reach your listener’s heart
Take your art and your music seriously enough to reach your listener. It’s never too soon to begin doing that. In the end you’ll find that you’ve made a big impact on people’s lives through your little ol’ banjo. People will remember that and they’ll remember you.
Banjo Paul
“Wunse, I coodn’t even spel bango pikker…now I are one!”
www.banjosrule.com (main site)
www.mybanjolife.com (blog)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Paul
I agree with evertything you say. Even as a novice player I try to learn and play with the essence of who I am and how I do things. I hear things in a different way to others so of course I’m going to play diferently too. My Cripple Creek may sound the same as other’s rendition, at least to non players, but to me it sounds like no one elses. Friends who have heard me play have told their friends who in turn want to hear me play. Despite the nerves I’m happy to play a little something and not one person has walked a way without a huge smile on their face. AND I’m not really even a half decent novice…but I play with pure unadulterated joy…everytime. That joy comes across more than capability and makes all the difference, to me and those wishing to hear. The banjo is to my mind the friendliest most cheerful instrument there is. I also love being part of the world wide banjo community.
many thanks as ever
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth! What a great response to my article series. I really appreciate you leaving it and I really enjoyed reading it. You show a depth and an understanding that’s above the average beginner, and you are an inspiration. Thanks so much.
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