My daughter signed me up to play the banjo for show and tell her school classroom in a couple weeks. I'm not exactly sure what to do, what questions to ask, how much banjo history to explain and mainly which songs to play. Has anyone ever performed solo for a classroom or school? Any advice what might hold the attention of a group of nine year olds?

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  04:44:39          

I think the history of the development of the banjo would be good, kept fairly short and simple, along with a description of different styles of play. Not sure which style you play, but even if you don't clawhammer you might could learn the basic right hand motion enough to show them (even silently) what it is and how it differs from up-picking (or vice versa).

It seems like 9-year-olds might be at the point where "Old Macdonald" singalongs won't be "cool," but they might enjoy hearing a couple of familiar numbers -- and you could let them figure out the name. Lots of kids are familiar with "Arkansas Traveler" as the "baby bumblebee song," etc.

Just a couple o' ideas. I'm sure you'll get lots more and better replies as the day goes on.

BM

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  05:17:32      

I'd go with "bluemule's" suggestions on a brief history of the banjo. Maybe show some pics of banjo pickers from years gone by and present. Maybe do an easily recognisable song like "She'll Commin' Roun the Mountain" with very basic melody notes, then do it again with all the frill you can muster.

Have fun...good luck!!

RatLer

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  05:18:36        

Keep the history lesson short if any, kids don`t care about that they want you to rip one!!

www.myspace.com/pepperlaingt...nestarkillers

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  05:53:21    

A lot of what you asked is based on the age/grade you are dealing with. Early years in grade school would probably be better off with just showing the banjo and then doing a lot of simple sing-a-long songs appropriate for that age group. Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer have several CDs out on strictly kids songs (younger kids). Older kids (high school) would probably do better with a little blurb on history (no more than 3 to 5 minutes, and the rest of the time devoted to maybe a solo, or two and the rest sing alongs (print out some words).

Froggie
"Courage is Fear that has said its prayers.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  06:37:50          

OK - tough audience... My wife first shows kids what NOT to do with a banjo... (don't play table tennis with it [swings the banjo like a paddle], you don't break rocks with it, paddle a canoe, or smack Bakugans with it [very important to toss Bakugan in the dialogue])... The class may know some other fun things NOT to do with a banjo. From there the obvious next step is what you are SUPPOSED to do with a banjo... Play dueling banjos and exit stage left.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  06:48:00        

Give them an opportunity to strum the banjo while you hold it.

______________________________
alprice@nechville.com
www.vzvalley.com

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  07:04:14        

do THIS: (!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9EZ9RlyOr4

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  08:05:51      

How fun! I just went through something similar...only it was my wife who is the kindergarten teacher that recruited me!
See>> http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/t...IC_ID=160302

Anyway, you did not mention the age of the children in class. In my "show and tell" the kids were quite happy sitting and listening to a few SHORT tunes. I went into the different parts that make up a banjo between songs as well as questions, then at the end, like Alprice said, gave them the opportunity to come up and strum the banjo themselves Have fun.

""The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell "

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  08:22:16  

Great advice!
This was exactly what i was hoping for.
I'm really looking forward to this.
thank you everyone
(in case you missed it in the original post, the children are 9 years old)

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  08:26:32    

All good ideas. Does your daughter play? If so, have her be part of the presentation. In fact, have her be part of it even if she doesn't play. Maybe give her a rudimentary picking lesson right there in front of the class to show everyone how easy learning it can be. I did the same thing years ago with my son. He and I worked up Hot Corn, Cold Corn - him on the mandolin and me on the banjo. (We played it very slowly). He was in the 3rd or 4th grade as I recall. After playing the song I had everybody come up and strum the banjo while I held it. I talked briefly and in generalities about the banjo - some have 5-strings, some have four, some people strum them while others pick them, etc. We had a great time.

Ed

Regular Guy says, "Nuffs enuff"
www.customscrimshaw.com
Email: edweber@customscrimshaw.com

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  08:29:03  

She doesnt play, perhaps i can find a rythmic instrument so she can keep the beat beside me. Now that i think about it perhaps i could pass out a few to the class for a little more participation....of course i could see that sounding like a lot of noise to the other classrooms but still it would be fun.

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  08:38:06          

Here's what I would do.

Start with a tune, just to show them what the thing sounds like.

Then - IF you're comfortable with it - give about a 30-second explanation of how the banjo originated in Africa, and was brought to America by enslaved people. Just state the bare facts - no need to editorialize. The African-American kids in the class will be made proud, and the white kids might learn something they didn't know.

Then give a very brief (no more than a minute) demonstration, Pete Seeger style, of how people make music on the banjo.

Then play another tune.

Ask for questions.

If it's going well, play an encore. Otherwise, thank them for their attention and say goodbye.

EDIT: I like Ed's idea of having the kids come up and strum the banjo. Great idea!

Edited by - Chesapeake on 10/27/2009 08:40:41

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  08:43:10  

What you "do" isn't as important as what you "accomplish", and if all you "accomplish" is to get a group of kids away from their classroom computer screens and experience a bit of the 'real world' for 15 minutes or so, you will be successful! What could be more 'real worldly' than listening to, and learning about, the banjo? You realize that if you get out of this classroom alive (and you probably will), you'll be asked to visit others with your presentation in the coming years? And another generation of banjoheads will be fostered. Great!

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  15:20:26            

Good suggestions, all.

I show up in
<----THAT
outfit, and I write on the chalkboard, and ask them to read it aloud with me:
"In America, you can TRY to be,
whatever you WANT to be!"

Then I proclaim
"I want to be a banjo-picking show-off!", and launch into a couple bars of "Criplle Creek".
Then a bit about the history, then we sing some songs.

THIS OLD MAN
(with an extra verse of
"I love her, she loves him., Barney ate my Uncle Jim!
He's a dinosaur, carnivore, evil, mean and dark.
Barney rules JURASSIC PARK!)
COMING 'ROUND THE MOUNTAIN ( with all the arm and hand movements for "Toot, toot! Whoa back! Hi, Babe! etc.)

And sometimes, I let them line up and come strum one finger up and down the strings, two or four strokes, while I change the chords.


=):{ )
Mike Gregory, Banjo Maker Infraordinaire
When I say my instruments are as good as anything Gibson or Martin ever made,
I mean MEL Gibson and DEAN Martin!


My banjos can be seen on my own website
http://littlebanjos.lunare.net

See me & my SQUARED EEL banjo on the Y'all tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97EfvhFgRBY

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  15:47:00      

Mike, you're a hoot. All good suggestions. I especially like the changing chords idea.

"When Banjos are Outlawed, only Outlaws will have Banjos."

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  17:43:28              

All good suggestions ( I used the banjo in grades k-8 for the last few years, and I can tell you 9 year olds are perfectly happy singing along to Old MacDonald (especially if you let them pick the animals) and any other song you can think of- that they can sing the chorus of- Cindy, New River Train and This Land is Your Land are big hits with the kids ( Though they will probably only know the first and second verse of "This Land", so keep returning to the first verse as a refrain). It's good for then to see you make a simple I-IV, V7 progression in different keys using a capo and by all means let them see the rr spikes if you have them. I used to have a hands-on section of the first lesson with the banjo in which we'd see how the sound was made, starting with the strings: Fret the strings at or beyond the 12th fret but strum between the nut and the 12th so that only the sound of the vibrating string, unamplified, is heard, then open so the bridge and head are also vibrating, then have the kids come through in a line so they can touch the bridge and then the head to actually feel the vibration.

I'll never play like Earl Scruggs or sing like Luciano Pavarotti, but I'll pick better than Luciano and sing tenor better than Earl
deligo ergo renideo,
Bob Cameron

Posted - 10/27/2009 :  18:00:17    

I often play the banjo in my classroom. Younger chidren love the experience of strumming the thing for themselves and are fascinated by the banjo picks.Ask them if they know any tunes and then play something that they can sing together, This land is your land " is a great idea.tell some corny jokes, describe how a banjo is different from a guitar, many younger students are confused about that and most have never even seen a banjo in person.Relax and have fun the students will brighten your day as you brightened theirs.

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  14:21:08        

I love your comments Mike...I like to trawl BHO to see what you have to say...always always makes me laugh. What a gem you are. Would buy you a pint if you lived near me.
Elizabeth






Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  17:54:14      

Hi Elizabeth,
All the comments are so terrific! I played banjo in my classroom for 12 years and have done several in class demonstrations with our family band. I think the first thing to do is decide what you really want to accomplish. My goal, when I'm working with kids, is to pass on the love for old time and bluegrass music. So whatever you do - make it fun. Things like letting the kids strum the strings is great. Call a couple of kids up and let them lift the banjo - with your assistance - so they can see how heavy it is. Most kids are very surprised. Most ADULTS are very surprised! If you can put together a washboard maybe your daughter could play that and it would be an old time addition to your music. Nine year olds do have short attention spans but they absorb what you say when it is short and to the point so I think some banjo history is really good for them. Let them know where the banjo came from and tell them how it changed and actually became America's only authenticly American instrument. Like everyone said, keep it short, they really want to hear that thing played! I love that your daughter signed you up. That is REALLY special!

Posted - 10/28/2009 :  22:02:15    

It'll be really fun for you. I like the ideas of keeping it simple, playing a couple of short tunes and letting the kids come up and touch it or strum it. I find kids are always interested in getting to see the instruments up close and getting to touch them, and banjo music is so happy and toe tappin that the kids will really get into it. Have fun, your daughter will be smiling ear to ear with pride.

Raynae Redman.

A banjo can get you through times with no money, but money can't get you through times with no banjo. John Hartford

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  08:30:51    

I wrote up a bunch of stuff on how to do music in schools.

http://moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/shows/index.html

Shows are a lot easier than jamming. You only need to actually rehearse the basic thing. I would strongly recommend trying to learn to frail or fingerpick (whichever you don't do) something very simple just to show the difference.

I tend to frail because it fills the room up better and makes it easy to sing. Then I'll often end with a fast fingerpicking tune. It doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to be fast.
If you are worried about your technique, strumming works just as well on banjo as it does on guitar.

If you are playing all by yourself, you might also want to use different tunings. They often like to hear the changes in the strings.

I usually do the history,. Folks are surprised that it came from Africa, that minstrel music was the first popular music and it led to vaudeville. Oh Susannah was the number one hit tune of 1849 and Stephen Foster was the first American to make his living as a songwriter.

You can also do history of American music in general. There are several ideas on my pages.

That age will sing along and I always try to do singalongs because it keeps them more involved. I have a bunch of common folk tunes with words and chords listed on this page:
http://moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/songs/index.html

It will be more fun than you expect.
Plan to smile a lot.

Mike Moxcey
http://moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/index.html

Posted - 11/02/2009 :  22:12:42    

Have you played for her school yet? We'd like to hear how it went?

Raynae Redman.

A banjo can get you through times with no money, but money can't get you through times with no banjo. John Hartford

Posted - 11/03/2009 :  03:03:04  

nov 13 is the date
there are a lot of great ideas and suggestions, I'm really looking forward to this.
she is already telling everyone about the event, it should be a lot of fun
thanks

Posted - 11/03/2009 :  12:04:41  

I recently did this for my grandsons 4th grade music class.
I gave a brief history of the banjo, pointed out a few things like 5 strings, pointing out the shorter fifth string. Played a couple songs, cripple creek for one, kids seem to like this song, I also chose a simple childerns song ( Mary had a little lamb) picked out the basic melody. Then demonstrted how it woul sound playing it in a Bluegrass style using primarily a forward roll. I then let the children hold the banjo with my help of course.
closed with a few questions and answers. this went over real well.
Ron

Posted - 11/03/2009 :  13:54:39    

Don't forget to wear your Billy Bob teeth