Posted - 01/31/2010 :  07:25:49      

quote:

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Originally posted by Banjoal

Its probably me.

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Posted - 01/31/2010 :  07:56:38      

I haven't seen any of the folks who 'hype' the Murphy Method claim that if it doesn't work for you to continue on. I haven't seen that from any of the proponents of any method (or of any of the non-methods either).

Most of the advice given is to try it with an open mind, not like the kid who will stuff the broccoli in his mouth but knows ahead of time he ain't gonna like it. While many of us argue as to which are the best methods and which ones will hold you back from certain goals, there isn't anyone on this list that wishes for any seeker to become a worse banjo player. Everyone is trying to help.

That's why _you_ have to pay attention to what it is you're doing.

My anti-method advice is generally this: once you've learned 20 songs via a method, learn the next 20 via some other method or on your own. That avoids stickiness to a certain way of learning. I also don't think you should take lessons for more than 6 months at a time. Stop and do something on your own, otherwise you end up thinking taking lessons (or reading books or watching dvds) is the same thing as learning.

The single song you figure out how to play on your own during the hiatus jumps you to the next step where the next 6 months of lessons becomes far more useful.

Posted - 01/31/2010 :  08:07:37      

Good!

quote:

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Originally posted by minstrelmike
...once you've learned 20 songs via a method, learn the next 20 via some other method or on your own.

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Edited by - maplebridge48 on 01/31/2010 08:46:31

Posted - 01/31/2010 :  08:36:52      

Usually when something works as it advertises the customers are happy with the results and will endorse the product. You may call it hype, others see it as customer satisfaction. No form of advertising can beat satisfied customers and word of mouth!!
Mandolin players, get yourself one of Red Murphy's one piece maple bridges! Goodness gracious they are good!!
I learned by ear some 65 years ago to play tenor banjo, then used the same method to learn 5-string. I never did learn to read music or tableture . I developed a great ear for tuning and timing and only recently obtained an electronic tuner.

Posted - 01/31/2010 :  09:17:14      

quote:

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Originally posted by maplebridge48 Or, as Murphy says in the first lesson, "The purpose of the Murphy Method is to train YOUR EAR so that eventually, you'll be able to pick songs out BY YOURSELF without me having to show them to you!"

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Posted - 01/31/2010 :  10:03:19          

Just to be clear, I am not against any method of learning. Frankly, when I started to play I couldn't find a teacher, I didn't know of any banjo players in the area (Toronto, Canada), and I had no musical experience. I found the Murphy Method and it worked.

I am not saying that I think that it is the only method that works, but it has allowed me to move on to other ways of learning.

Posted - 01/31/2010 :  17:45:16        

I started with the MM, and as I ventured into tab, found that the licks I learned through Murphy were immediately reconizable in the tablature... as found throughout this thread, complimentary methods can only help you progress-

Posted - 02/01/2010 :  05:11:38    

I've always been confused by the "Banjo for Misfits" ad's proclamation:

....'Adults love our Misfits video' because all the songs are 'recognized by spouses everywhere.'

Huuuuhh

Posted - 02/01/2010 :  05:49:00  

My wife of 28 years couldn't tell you the name of most of the tunes I pick....Cripple Creek is "Oh, that Hee Haw song.. The ad is just saying that you'll be taught songs that are probably not your typical bluegrass fodder, but familiar songs most people would recognize.

Posted - 02/01/2010 :  06:01:22        

I am hyped up about it because it was my strong desire and ambition since a teenager to three-finger pick the five string, and it worked and is working for me, whereas using tablature did not work.

Posted - 02/01/2010 :  09:50:20      

I credit her for all of my Scruggs stuff since learning from her early on made playing some of Earl's other songs relatively easy to me . I also credit her for keeping me interested in playing banjo and not giving up after a week . I've had great success with her videos and think her and her family deserve the "hype" . Bandzo , I'm sure MM is not for everyone but as long as you have the desire and persistence to learn the banjo , or anything else for that matter , you WILL succeed .

Posted - 02/03/2010 :  06:35:50  

If I could say a word....First, thanks for all the lively discussion about the Murphy Method and tab! When I first started teaching, back in the '70s, I used tab! And the only reason I started teaching by ear is that I found tab didn't work for my students--and I had a lot of students and a variety of ages. The first time I "talked" a tune onto a cassette (Old Joe Clark), my student did light-years better than she'd done on anything else. Ever. So, of course I taught Old Joe Clark by ear to other students, and they all did better. So I quit using tab and started teaching only by ear. It was better for the students.

I'm sure tab does work for some people--but I've always suspected they had pretty good ears to start with. I've also seen the many, many cases in which tab has not worked--and students can play "at" lots of songs, but can't play the banjo. (Which are two different things, as someone pointed out.) And I just hate that for the students.

I am happy that the Murphy Method can open the door to banjo playing for many people. I am thrilled when these people can stop using our DVDs and start learning and playing on their own!

Back to working on my book now!

Murphy Henry

Posted - 02/03/2010 :  08:17:53      

I am tab learner...just works for me...but I have purchased the Murphy method tapes, dates me, and loved them.

Posted - 02/03/2010 :  08:43:16      

Well hello Murphy,

Welcome to the Hangout. It's about time you got here! As you can see, you are always on our mind.

tex

Posted - 02/03/2010 :  10:00:52  

Ditto to what Texan said.

MEB

Posted - 02/03/2010 :  11:08:15      

I have nothing but positive things to say about the Murphy Method. I bought about 6 of the DVDs when they were on sale last summer. Fast forward and rewind can be a pain, but I use VLC player on my comp and play the dvd at half speed bc sometimes she can move a little quick with a few licks. Though I must say, I like that guy Rob's sticky on this page for FMB; it seems to be the fastest and easiest way for me to learn a tune. It's similar to MM but he separates the licks for you and repeats them over and over so youi don't have to rewind. I say we all pool money together and get him to do even more banjo videos. I don't want to highjack the thread but I'd pay for some more lessons from Rob the way he did FMB, Cripple Creek, John Hardy....

Posted - 02/03/2010 :  14:32:51  

I came to the Murphy Method expecting to learn to play banjo the same way I had learned to play several classical instruments, ( piano. church organ and clarinet). I was shocked that the only "notes " available were tab. I tried to learn from tab. In fact, I was trying to learn to play "Wabash Cannonbal" form the "Teach Yourself Banjo" book. I was making no progress on my own and a friend offered to help me. I kept asking him where were the notes for the melody? How did the words match up to the tab? He could not answer my questions very well. I could not hear the melody when he played it using the tab. I was completly discouraged and puzzled. Then, by pure chance I discovered the Murphy Method. It transformed my learning experience. With Murphy I could hear the melody, I could play what I heard. Even though I kept thinking to myself, wouldn't it be a whole lot easier if I could read something written down? now, quite a few years later, I do not read tab very well, but I have learned to play that banjo better than I ever expected in those first few discouraging months. There is no better way to learn to play the banjo than with Murphy, Casey and Red.

Posted - 02/04/2010 :  09:45:07            

Finding MM after my first 8 months of struggle is the only thing that made me stick with it. Finally got some results and it all started coming together. Learn something, use part of that in the next thing you learn, build off what you already know, rinse and repeat.

Posted - 02/04/2010 :  11:14:46          

Facts:
1) I have taken banjo from Murphy, the person, in Winchester, VA for the last 1.5 years; no previous banjo experience.
2) I have been through ALL of the tunes on at least 8 of her DVDs, which I love, Love, LOVE. Actually, I'd prefer to learn this way -- let Murphy and Casey do all the thinking and then let me just copy what they do!!! That's about all my 60 year old brain can take, but NOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo, Murphy "encourages" (read: MAKES) me improvise on the fly to some (to me) obscure bluegrass tune(s) that she is playing on the guitar!!!!! Much to my amazement and wonder, I CAN actually DO it!!!!!!
3) The Murphy Method works!!! You will not be "Monkey-See; Monkey-Doing" forever; you will find that you actually become a banjo player inspite of yourself!!!
4) 'nuff said and "There you have it!"

Posted - 02/04/2010 :  11:28:28      

So we can put you down as a 'yes' next to Murphy method......

Posted - 02/04/2010 :  13:36:49      

quote:

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Originally posted by thetexan

So we can put you down as a 'yes' next to Murphy method......

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Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 02/04/2010 14:22:35

Posted - 02/04/2010 :  14:37:24        

What Murphy described as people "playing at the tunes" completely shocked me the first time I saw it - in a close freind. He had been taking lessons from a "teacher" for 2 years before I met him. I thought "2 years eh - lets play Cripple Creek" so I said "hey Steve lets do Cripple Creek". He then proceeds to set up a MUSIC STAND and PUT A NOTEBOOK on it. "Whats the book for mate?" I asked, to which he replied he needed the book so he would know what notes to play. This after 2 years of instruction.....

Posted - 02/04/2010 :  14:40:39  

Murphy just made a post about this topic on her website at www.murphymethod.com. It's worth reading.

Marty

Posted - 02/04/2010 :  14:48:22  

So now you are a "musician and a banjo player".

Marty

quote:

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Originally posted by banjomamas

I came to the Murphy Method expecting to learn to play banjo the same way I had learned to play several classical instruments, ( piano. church organ and clarinet). I was shocked that the only "notes " available were tab. I tried to learn from tab. In fact, I was trying to learn to play "Wabash Cannonbal" form the "Teach Yourself Banjo" book. I was making no progress on my own and a friend offered to help me. I kept asking him where were the notes for the melody? How did the words match up to the tab? He could not answer my questions very well. I could not hear the melody when he played it using the tab. I was completly discouraged and puzzled. Then, by pure chance I discovered the Murphy Method. It transformed my learning experience. With Murphy I could hear the melody, I could play what I heard. Even though I kept thinking to myself, wouldn't it be a whole lot easier if I could read something written down? now, quite a few years later, I do not read tab very well, but I have learned to play that banjo better than I ever expected in those first few discouraging months. There is no better way to learn to play the banjo than with Murphy, Casey and Red.

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Posted - 02/04/2010 :  15:18:32            

"Murphy just made a post about this topic on her website at www.murphymethod.com. It's worth reading." -- Marty

Can't find it. Got better directions?