Free Lesson and Book

Want a free plectrum banjo lesson and book? Please read to the end:

Who did I write my book for? [Beyond Chord Melody, Volume II: A Modal Framework for Jazz Improvisation] Well, to begin with, I wrote it for myself. It is literally “the book I’ve been waiting for my whole life.” I would have preferred that someone else write it, but when it became obvious that no one else was going to, I knew I had to. Which meant researching the available material and teaching myself (in the absence of banjo-specific material). Of course, this shows that the material was there all along (and that anyone can find it); I just needed to make sense of it, and for it to capture and hold my short attention span (surely, I’m not the only one in this situation?). All I have done here is take “common knowledge” musical material and apply it to the banjo for the purposes of learning something new.

Why isn’t it already common knowledge for us banjo players? I think it’s a misperception of what is possible for the instrument and/or what players think is possible for them. Single-string jazz improvisation is just not considered to be in the plectrum banjo’s wheelhouse—except of course by those who do it. Yes, the material covers a pretty complex subject, which is pretty “hard” in itself. But I have taken great pains to boil it down and make it more accessible to those with learning difficulties—like me! Simple? No! “Simpli-fied?” To the greatest extent possible, yes! I tried to make it as easy as possible to understand and apply. But, you still need to work it to make it work.

Here is the most important group I hope to reach: “Ambitious beginners.” We are the ones who know we need to learn more, no matter what our actual ability level is. The thing that keeps an “expert” (or a “future expert…”) moving forward is having a “beginner mentality.” I consider myself to be a beginner—in this style of music anyway. Nobody can learn anything unless they are first willing to admit they need more! I know and accept how good I am, but more importantly, I know and do not accept how good I am not.

Let me ask you an important question: how do you think an expert becomes an expert? Do they say “oh, I’ll never be able to do that!” Or do they say “hey, that’s cool! I want to learn to do that!” Do you think they are just born with it—that they pick up a banjo (or whatever) and just start doing amazing things with it? Can you not imagine that amazing player, stumbling through the most rudimentary lessons in the beginning? “Oh, but he/she was a natural!” Sometimes yes, more often no. In reality, hard work is more prevalent than natural skill—the long haul more important than instant gratification. I think this is one of the biggest misconceptions in all of music.

Many of the folks I know in the banjo world (of all levels) are stuck in an endless loop; they say they want to get better, but they aim low because they don’t really believe they can improve. How do you know something (like this book) is “too difficult” for you? Have you tried it? So, they stick with things that they can handle now, or fall for “play-in-a-day” sales pitches for things that promise overnight success. Those are both dead-end paths that take you nowhere fast! I was stuck in that never-ending loop for decades myself, so I understand the frustration. Why not aim high and give it a shot—try to go somewhere slowly? This is the type of material that can be easily started now—by a total beginner—and will take you as far as your desire demands—not just around the corner. I am proud to have produced a book that will take a lifetime to totally absorb.

I’ll make a bet with you: I never charge anyone for the first lesson (online or in-person). I’ve always considered it to be a “consultation” to make sure we are a good student/teacher match. Give me a chance to prove to you in that one free lesson that you can get at least a toehold in this book (I’ll provide the materials), and that it will take you way beyond that endless loop, at whatever level you may be stuck at.

If I am successful at proving this, I will offer you a second lesson for free with the purchase of a book (“a $40 value! But wait, there’s more!”)—and then we can go from there. I don’t write or teach to “make a living,” so what’s in it for me? Just knowing my book is out there and being used is the only reward I seek—knowing that a banjo player somewhere is improving thanks to my hard work, optimistic enthusiasm, and personal dedication to advancement.

Please contact me at banjoplayer1@yahoo.com for more information. Thank you!