“I’m not good enough!”

I can’t count the times that students (either in a private lesson or in a workshop) have said that to me. They rarely use those actual words of course, but through their comments and actions, the message is loud and clear: “I’m not good enough, and I will never be good enough. I just want to sit in the back row and strum chords. I’m just taking a lesson to make it seem like I’m progressing.”

I don’t mean to disparage those who just want to join in the fun; I mean to encourage them to strive for more! To begin with, if you take a lesson or sit in on a workshop, I assume that you want to improve; that’s what teachers are for. We live to see that light bulb of understanding click on and to hear improved banjo skills. But improvement takes commitment. Nobody I know has yet to develop a magic wand (or fairy dust) that will transform you in one lesson!

I think some folks have set their goals too high. Not everyone is destined to be a solo performer—and that’s okay! Some of the best Trad Jazz banjoists I have ever heard had no solo chops; that job only requires strong rhythm skills, and the ability to play the correct chords. On the single-string side, banjo bands would love to have more melody players; solo chord melody is of limited value to a banjo band and can actually detract from the band sound. Someone has to play the melody, and nothing beats a loud and clear single-string melody from a tenor banjo (the plectrum can do it too!). I myself am now playing single-string tenor for the Arizona Banjo Blasters; I save the plectrum for specialty numbers.

Both rhythm chord playing and single-string melody playing are easier to learn than either chord melody or soloist skills. As a teacher, I have finally realized that limiting a student to one or the other is a much-more realistic goal; I truly appreciate students who have realistic goals themselves. I want to give a student what they want of course, but it’s also my professional responsibility to be honest. We each have our place in the banjo world; recognize that place and capitalize on it.

On a personal note: I know what it means to have low self-esteem and to think that you’ll never be good enough. That was the story of my childhood and young adult life! My banjo playing ability at that time mirrored my lack of self-belief. My climb out of that self-imposed prison started in my 30s and continues today. A few quotes that have helped me:

“As you think, so shall you be.”

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford

“Fake it until you make it.”

Is it that simple? Yes, and no: yes, changing your mind is the first step to changing everything else. No: It will not happen just like that! Real change takes time and commitment. Just as a new banjo skill can take a while to become a habit, self-belief can take a while to become reality. “Faking it” (acting successful before you are) is effective but comes with a huge caveat: “success” does not mean “arrogance.” Some folks have thoroughly convinced themselves that they are a success when it is clear to others that they are not. If you’re going to claim success, you better be able to back it up with actual performance! Be honest with yourself and with others.

As an optimist, I am convinced that everyone has the potential to be a strong contributing member of the banjo society, whether that’s as a stage soloist, a rhythm player for a Trad Jazz band, a melody player for a banjo band, or as a “back-row strummer.” As a soloist and a teacher, I am of course biased toward the high-performance end, but I recognize that we each have our own natural place. The trick is to identify and embrace that natural place, capitalize on it, and be happy in it. If you want more, then be prepared to do a lot more to attain it.