spring5497 - Posted - 08/03/2009:  07:45:59

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I am researching how to get started learning the banjo. I have been unable to find a local teacher, so I am looking to get started by dvd lessons. I have read about the murphy method and was ondering if anyone has used these dvds and if they would be willing to offer the pros and cons of this method. Thank you in advance.

Tedd - Posted - 08/03/2009:  07:56:25

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I'm way too impatient for working through tab and music notation, so Murphy's "show and tell" method worked well for me. I wasn't a beginner at the time,,,I used her "Advanced Earl" DVD. She shows you one way to play licks and tunes. I think early on that it helps to see that a real person can actually get his or her hands to do those licks. Good luck.

dgreen20 - Posted - 08/03/2009:  08:09:14

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I'm new to banjo as well (about two months). I have a Ross Nickerson beginning dvd as well as the Murphy method Beginning Banjo Vol 1. I like the approach with the Murphy method and find them to be well thought out and progress in a logical manner. I was able to quickly learn the five songs on the dvd and can play them fairly well slowly. Hopefully speed will come with time. Hope your pause and rewind buttons work well on your dvd player ... you well use them alot

I suspect I may have developed some bad habits in the process. I just arranged to meet with an instructor once per month (he's about 50 miles away) to help keep me on the right path.

Dan

Richard Dress - Posted - 08/03/2009:  08:10:27

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Don't try self-teaching when good teachers are available online at the HO. I know 555Glenn and Fiddling Al have good reputations. There are more online teachers available but I don't have their names.

richmondgeorge - Posted - 08/03/2009:  09:29:21

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The murphy method worked for me. I thought is was fairly easy. You can now get customized lessons from her.

RB00 - Posted - 08/03/2009:  09:36:15

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I think the Murphy method is excellent and it was very helpful to me.

Len

"The man who has no imagination has no wings." Muhammad Ali

Richard Dress - Posted - 08/03/2009:  09:45:04

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Len and Rich,

What about bad habits? How did you avoid them? That's the big problem when you don't have a good, live teacher keeping an eye on you.

KANINJACK - Posted - 08/03/2009:  10:05:11

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I've used 3 of Murphy's videos and each one has been highly useful. I also have been unable to find a local teacher that could work my schedule so I've had to rely on Murphy and the dozens of YouTube videos. Check out her blog on the order in which you should learn her songs because there is a specific reason she teaches in the order that she does. It does not go in the same order the songs are presented on the videos. She also has many of the videos on YouTube, however I don't know if they have been posted by her or not...

doubleaut - Posted - 08/03/2009:  10:16:30

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Murphy, is a great at home teacher, be sure to listen to her when she say's speed is not important. You are going to want to play it fast as soon you learn the tune, but keep it slow until you can play it from muscle memory, then slowly add some speed.

She is great when there is no teacher close.

When you have Jesus in your heart life is too good to last!!!!

Richard Dress - Posted - 08/03/2009:  10:49:17

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I would have been delighted to have the Murphy Method at hand when I started learning. But what about banjo-killing bad habits? Only the watchful eye of a good teacher can prevent that.

minstrelmike - Posted - 08/03/2009:  11:09:56

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It's funny because the first comment started out 'I'm way too slow..." and then said Murphy worked for them.
I thought they'd say exactly the opposite.
For me, watching a video and listening to someone talk is a far slower way of getting information than reading.

For me.

I can read what you say faster than you can say it and I can read a chord progression and begin playing it faster than if I wait for the length of the entire song.

For a beginner, a method of some sort is a more efficient way of learning than randomly learning things.
If you learn better by listening to lectures than by reading textbooks, the Murphy Method may be the way to go for you.
If not, then a tab-oriented method may be better. (And even for an individual, certain topics may work better certain ways).

In general, the Murphy Method is as useful as any other of the popular methods and teachers.
For you specifically, you might want to give it a try and then measure. Another approach might be to try some of the free on-line video lessons and also some of the free on-line tablature methods. That would tell you what works for you without requiring an initial monetary investment.

(If you have access to anyone who plays guitar or banjo or mandolin reasonably well, you probably won't develop any habits so bad they cannot be easily overcome with correct practice, and frankly, there are more bad teachers than good ones around--the quality of the player has only a tangential relationship to the quality of the teaching the player can provide, especially for a beginner.)

Mike Moxcey Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
http://moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/index.html

frmertd - Posted - 08/03/2009:  11:24:41

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highly recommend Murphy method. My first 3 yrs of banjo were spent with her dvd's. She rocks. I started with other people who learned via a book and cd and I don't think they were off to as good a footing as I was with Murphy. Having the visual of a person actually SHOWING you is better I think that just sound and tab.

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Edited by - frmertd on 08/03/2009 11:29:53

sjyokel - Posted - 08/03/2009:  11:56:00

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quote:

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It's funny because the first comment started out 'I'm way too slow..." and then said Murphy worked for them.
I thought they'd say exactly the opposite.
For me, watching a video and listening to someone talk is a far slower way of getting information than reading.

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Actually, Tedd says he's "too impatient." I jumped to the conclusion that Tedd liked the Murphy Method for the same reason that I do. It's easier for some folks to just see it and imitate it (especially if you've played some sort of stringed instrument before coming to banjo).

Learning to read from tab for a new instrument means you're having to learn two new things at once (three if you're new to printed notation altogether). It's a useful skill to have, but the DVD just lets you cut to the chase. The DVDs show you the song played slowly and then they break it down into 3-5 parts. After 1 or 2 DVDs, you get to the point where you can pick up parts of each song just by hearing her play it through the first time and you can skip parts of the detailed explanation. And after a few more DVDs, you should be able to hear a basic bluegrass chord progression and come up with a basic break.

In the end, I think it comes down to figuring out how you learn best.

I agree with you completely, Mike, that not all teachers are good for you...especially if personalities, learning styles, goals, etc. aren't aligned. But it's probably better to try everything (tab, DVDs, web sites, teachers) at first until something clicks.

cottontop - Posted - 08/03/2009:  13:08:16

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quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Dress

I would have been delighted to have the Murphy Method at hand when I started learning. But what about banjo-killing bad habits? Only the watchful eye of a good teacher can prevent that.

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All of my "bad" habits became good habits. I play like me and only me. I sound like no one else and no one sounds like me. Even my teacher says I sound good and he cannot duplicate my style, and he is a very good player. So, I will continue using my bad habits and they keep getting better every day.
BTW, I think the Murphy method is good. It has helped me and lots of others, but like anything else, it may not be for everybody.
cottontop

Baglady - Posted - 08/03/2009:  13:52:33

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I started out with tab and just out of curiosity I tried Murphy. Things went much faster with Murphy. Tab was a real crutch and it took me time to break away from it. I'm just about to finish up murphy's II video. I've got all her videos and plan to stick with it, but now I think I can do some tab without becoming so dependent on it. I also understand the timing better now. I can look at tab and know how it should sound as compared to how it was when I first started. I think Murphy's method is really good. I consider her my "main teacher", but I'm also using some tab as I'm starting to get into some vamping and backup. I want to learn. Period. It don't matter how or by whom. I am open to all methods. You will learn alot by just reading the forums here on BHO. Good Luck and welcome to the hangout. You couldn't have found a better place to learn.

Richard Dress - Posted - 08/03/2009:  14:23:10

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Thanks, cottontop. That's not the answer I was hoping for but it certainly has merit, at least in your case. Other possible answers are 'there are no bad habits' or 'there are bad habits but it doesn't matter' or ' the MM eliminates bad habits--here listen to my MP3'.

My hat's off to Murphy Henry and all the years she has worked to help students of the banjo. She's made a few bucks doing it, but I doubt she ever made as much as a community organizer or a real estate agent. I hope she gets something back for the time and spirit she has put into it Or maybe she, like many others in the business, are just keeping their head above water--I don't know.

As a teacher I have always tried to use the show-me method rather than tab. It doesn't seem fair to charge a student for memorizing tab which is what many banjo lessons degenerate into (even though I have done it myself).

So, thumbs up for MM! Now what about the banjo-killing bad habits?

Now, Spring says: " am researching how to get started learning the banjo. I have been unable to find a local teacher".

I want to stop there and say there are still some teacher options to check out, and I recommend the HO live online warmblooded teachers..

Flying Eagle - Posted - 08/03/2009:  15:41:52

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quote:

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All of my "bad" habits became good habits. I play like me and only me. I sound like no one else and no one sounds like me. Even my teacher says I sound good and he cannot duplicate my style, and he is a very good player. So, I will continue using my bad habits and they keep getting better every day.
BTW, I think the Murphy method is good. It has helped me and lots of others, but like anything else, it may not be for everybody.
cottontop

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That sounds interesting, cottontop. How about posting some soundfiles? I'd like to hear you play.

frmertd - Posted - 08/03/2009:  16:08:50

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I love Murphy but I do want to second the opinion that a good teacher is priceless. As prev mentioned, a teacher can change bad right hand problems that no dvd willl. They can also teach you volume. I played 8 yrs before some famous players looked at my right hand and there were definate problems. Now I have to correct them , had I learned from the combination of a teacher and Murphy, it would have gone better for me.
Having said that, some mediocre teachers never corrected my right hand. It was only when I got together with people like Jens Kruger and Bill Evans was the problem pointed out.
so my advice to all beginners: use Murphy, but get a good teacher once in a while.

fixdent - Posted - 08/03/2009:  16:38:57

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Murphy is a great way to get started. You will eventually venture out.

--
Gordon

SJL - Posted - 08/03/2009:  17:22:42

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quote:

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Originally posted by fixdent

Murphy is a great way to get started. You will eventually venture out.

--
Gordon

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Gordon,

I think that you hit the nail on the head. One advantage of the Murphy DVDs and videos as opposed to the audio cassettes that I started with is that you can see Murphy's hands, which helps to address Richard's concerns. I know that I have been spending a lot of time trying to fix bad habits with both hands.

I do agree that I think that a good teacher is the way to go if you can find one, but there may not be one in your area. Murphy will get you started playing music on the banjo.

"If the woman is alive at the end of the song, it ain''t Bluegrass".

2007 Hatfield Walnut Custom

1976 (?) Aria Pro Tree of Life

Just Bill - Posted - 08/03/2009:  18:09:22

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The Murhpy Method is the ONLY reason I am now able to play the banjo. Her teaching methods really clicked with me. As for bad habits, her lessons include giving examples of things to avoid during the lesson. Additionally, she emphasizes good tone as opposed to speed, telling the student speed will come later (and it does).

Regardless of your skill level, I would recommend you not jump around on the lessons. Like many very successful training modules, hers are like building blocks...one builds on the previous. Don't build a wall by leaving out a row of bricks.

The comment about "venturing out" is the goal of Ms. Henry's teaching method. She enables you to put together your own arrangements and breaks using what she has taught you. You are not tied to tab. Instead, you are provided the "tools" to be able to develop your own breaks to songs. These breaks are then YOURS, not someone else's. I have thoroughly enjoyed putting together songs on my own and have Ms. Henry to thank.

Best wishes on your banjo journey!

Bill

Proud to be a "MURPHY HENRY-ITE"

"If you ain''t different, you ain''t normal!"

RB00 - Posted - 08/04/2009:  09:21:43

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Richard,

Where I live there were no banjo teachers. So I had a choice. I could stand my banjo in the corner and admire it from a distance or I could take advantage of the Murphy Method and play, in spite of the chance that I might develop a bad habit or two. I chose the latter and I would do it again. I've subsequently found an excellent teacher and discovered that I had not developed any bad habits in the process and I had a great time.

Len

"The man who has no imagination has no wings." Muhammad Ali