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FretlessFury - Posted - 02/03/2017: 15:04:39
Yo Fellow Banjo Nerds!
This idea has been percolating for a really long time. One thing I encounter with my students often is the difficulty in figuring out how to structure practice time. Consistent practice is so important in developing fluid, effortless playing that I decided to make a free video series to encourage it and make it easy.
I'm calling the series "Banjo Blitz!"
Every Friday, I will be releasing a very concise video with an exercise or pattern on YouTube. We will be focusing for now on left and right hand fundamentals and a concept I'm calling Deep Listening. The goal is to give you access to a simple exercise that you can explore during the week. Each Friday we'll build on the last exercise. The lessons are designed to only require a few minutes of daily practice.
I have some really fun stuff planned for the series, and already have 6 weeks of material filmed and ready. I hope to be able to condense ten years of teaching banjo students from all over the world into micro-lessons that you can use to see immediate results in your playing. I will also be pulling from my experience as a drummer in order to address time keeping issues and internal clock refinement.
For more info, please see the intro video.
youtube.com/watch?v=ttPgCTXuqzg
and I already have this Friday's lesson up and ready:
youtube.com/watch?v=ZhKjfYWvhbs
Hope you enjoy!
Tom Collins
Edited by - FretlessFury on 02/03/2017 15:29:00
dfwest - Posted - 02/03/2017: 15:32:53
Tom,
I enjoyed your series on Round Peak banjo, and I think this series might be even more valuable in terms of getting back to basics. I'm looking forward to next Friday! Thanks for posting.
Dave
FretlessFury - Posted - 02/03/2017: 15:41:24
quote:
Originally posted by dfwest
Tom,
I enjoyed your series on Round Peak banjo, and I think this series might be even more valuable in terms of getting back to basics. I'm looking forward to next Friday! Thanks for posting.
Dave
Hey Dave,
Thanks so much! Glad you find it useful! We're going to be on quite a journey with this series, and I've got some really wild ideas that I've imposed on my students throughout the years. It's gonna be a hoot!
Best,
Tom
Bill Rogers - Posted - 02/03/2017: 16:03:17
Tom is a superb player and a thoughtful, creative teacher. I recommend his material unreservedly.
FretlessFury - Posted - 02/03/2017: 16:19:16
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Rogers
Tom is a superb player and a thoughtful, creative teacher. I recommend his material unreservedly.
Bill,
Thank you so much for saying so! I deeply appreciate your support over the years.
Cheers!
Tom
FretlessFury - Posted - 02/04/2017: 08:16:18
quote:
Originally posted by dbrooks
Looking forward to this, Tom.
Active links:
Introductory video: youtube.com/watch?v=ttPgCTXuqzg
First Friday lesson: youtube.com/watch?v=ZhKjfYWvhbs
David
David,
Thank you for saving me from my forum incompetence by putting in the hyperlinks! Glad you're on board with the series!
Best,
Tom
mbuk06 - Posted - 02/04/2017: 13:31:01
Superb learning opportunity generously offered by a superb clawhammer picker.
Gotta love BHO.
WaylonWillie - Posted - 02/05/2017: 19:02:05
Thank you for taking the time to do this. I often check back on your Round Peak videos for a refresher. I'll definitely be following along on this new series.
Twangcat - Posted - 02/07/2017: 15:28:18
Thanks for doing this, Tom. I'm really looking forward to the series.
OT Banjo - Posted - 02/07/2017: 22:05:07
Thank you, Tom! Looking forward to the series!!
FretlessFury - Posted - 02/10/2017: 06:40:19
Hey folks,
Thanks so much for all of the emails and comments! You guys are the best!!!
Here's the weekly Banjo Blitz episode...hot off the presses!
youtube.com/watch?v=RCjQ4dda9FA
Jonus - Posted - 02/10/2017: 07:01:18
I have zero clawhammer training, and free sounds like a great way to get into it. Thanks for doing this, Tom. I'll definitely check these out!
paco_rumblefish - Posted - 02/11/2017: 08:26:19
Thank you for your time and willingness to share your knowledge.
NealR - Posted - 02/12/2017: 08:47:58
I'm very grateful! Thanks for taking the time to put this together.
Neal
workinprogress - Posted - 02/12/2017: 09:55:16
i'm in thanks.Just what i need
brandx - Posted - 02/14/2017: 09:14:43
Looks good to me;count me in.
Winged Words - Posted - 02/17/2017: 23:01:15
Love this! Very familiar exercises so far, but I'm really enjoying working on my deep listening. I'm from a classical guitar background so time spent working on pure technique works well for me. Thanks so much and I'm looking forward to what's in store.
WayneConrad - Posted - 03/03/2017: 12:31:55
This is perfect for me. I haven't always paid proper attention to the fundamentals, and it shows in my playing. I think I'm doing some fundamental double-thumb timing practice tonight with the metronome to see that my timing is "on". Thanks for creating these and sharing them. Well done!
Edited by - WayneConrad on 03/03/2017 12:32:33
ironhead - Posted - 03/04/2017: 12:50:07
Good piece of banjo pedagogy,Tom! Drop thumbing is an almost impossible pattern for some players. Like you mention, I think some are over thinking it. Your lessons are concise and insightful. Thanks for taking the time. Brian M
FretlessFury - Posted - 03/18/2017: 05:40:54
This is a tough one this week, guys! Let me know how it goes!
youtube.com/watch?v=A9LX5UgecPU
Sorry for the lack of a fancy thumbnail this week. I've been swamped! I'll add one eventually!
Mico - Posted - 03/19/2017: 00:08:27
Love these exercises! The "Drop Thumb Doozy" one so far I've been having a great time with. When I first started the pattern, It took me a while to get it right. But, then adding the metronome made it an entirely different experience - made me realize how much more practice I need!
Tried again a few moments ago and had a little easier time with the metronome. So there is definitely some growth and improvement for me on this. Going to work on this more, along with the rest of the other posted Blitz lessons.
Thank you Tom Collins, looking forward to next week's lesson!
FretlessFury - Posted - 03/19/2017: 06:33:00
quote:
Originally posted by Mico
Love these exercises! The "Drop Thumb Doozy" one so far I've been having a great time with. When I first started the pattern, It took me a while to get it right. But, then adding the metronome made it an entirely different experience - made me realize how much more practice I need!
Tried again a few moments ago and had a little easier time with the metronome. So there is definitely some growth and improvement for me on this. Going to work on this more, along with the rest of the other posted Blitz lessons.
Thank you Tom Collins, looking forward to next week's lesson!
Hey Mico!
Thanks for the kind note! So glad the series is helping you to improve your playing.
Yes, this week's exercise is pretty brutal. I was surprised at how difficult it was myself! I've kept working at it every day, and I'm feeling much more confident with it now.
Thanks for tuning in to the series!
Best,
Tom
Dogrich - Posted - 03/19/2017: 15:28:05
Tom,
Being brand new to playing and the BHO, I really appreciate your series. Great stuff, and THANK YOU!
DR
JimHand - Posted - 03/20/2017: 07:11:36
Just getting started with the series also and really liking it. I play frailing and trying to learn a different style.
Thanks!!
macv1 - Posted - 03/20/2017: 08:00:33
I start every practice session with these exercises and it has really cleaned up my claw hammer playing . Drop thumb has always been a little sloppy for me, but this practice makes a big difference and I rarely catch my thumbnail anymore. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to next Friday.
ironhead - Posted - 03/20/2017: 09:16:33
Good episode, Tom! Thanks for the lesson!
Schmidtrock - Posted - 04/12/2017: 18:38:15
I really appreciate you doing this, thank you!
Hilarie Burhans - Posted - 04/13/2017: 18:25:14
I teach a lot of banjo and will be recommending your videos as an adjunct. Very nice presentation... clear and thoughtful. Thanks, Tom!
FretlessFury - Posted - 04/14/2017: 16:37:03
quote:
Originally posted by Hilarie Burhans
I teach a lot of banjo and will be recommending your videos as an adjunct. Very nice presentation... clear and thoughtful. Thanks, Tom!
Hilarie,
I am a huge admirer of yours!!!! Thank you so much for the comment! You made my day.
Hope to pick with you someday!
Tom
FretlessFury - Posted - 04/14/2017: 16:45:22
Hey guys,
I've been posting every Friday (11 weeks in a row now! Whew!!), but I haven't had the time to post links here at BHO. So today I'm making up for lost time. Banjo Blitz Episodes 9, 10, 11 are LIVE and totally waiting to wreck your clawhammer hands!
Also, I would be hugely thankful if you guys could subscribe to the YouTube channel if you haven't already done so. The more people subscribe, the more my videos rise to the top of YouTube feeds, which gets me viewers, which encourages me to post more free lessons!
Here ya go:
youtube.com/watch?v=UMTs2aegfsU
youtube.com/watch?v=YaSwgqGGiW0
And I didn't make a fancy thumbnail for this week's video. Sorry guys! Here's the link to Banjo Blitz Episode 11:
youtube.com/watch?v=dEtkczwVpOQ&t=7s
Enjoy!
FretlessFury - Posted - 04/28/2017: 10:20:03
It's Friday! Whooooohooooo! 13 weeks and we haven't touched the banjo with our left hand yet! This week we work on dynamics:
youtube.com/watch?v=M2caFZ0Por0
Edited by - FretlessFury on 04/28/2017 10:24:09
verycutedog - Posted - 05/19/2017: 12:08:14
I've just started watching these and they seem incredibly helpful as well as well-produced-- I've been looking for something that focuses on the basic motions I feel like I've blitzed through in the past. Also picked up your album, which is great!
FretlessFury - Posted - 05/19/2017: 13:06:27
quote:
Originally posted by verycutedog
I've just started watching these and they seem incredibly helpful as well as well-produced-- I've been looking for something that focuses on the basic motions I feel like I've blitzed through in the past. Also picked up your album, which is great!
So happy that you're enjoying the lessons. And thank you soooo much for purchasing my album!!!!!
IAShane - Posted - 05/20/2017: 09:48:26
This is amazing. I've been playing everyday since January, mainly just focusing on getting the right hand rhythm going. I just started learning a couple of songs this past week. I'm in no hurry, and these lessons look great.
Thank you very much for posting these. I look forward to working through them.
Mark Johnson - Posted - 05/22/2017: 09:04:24
Hi Tom,
These are great videos. I like the organization, the approach, your clarity in communicating these ideas, and last but not least the production quality. What a treat for banjo learners, and for free to boot. Keep up the great work,
Mark
FretlessFury - Posted - 05/22/2017: 11:28:03
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Johnson
Hi Tom,
These are great videos. I like the organization, the approach, your clarity in communicating these ideas, and last but not least the production quality. What a treat for banjo learners, and for free to boot. Keep up the great work,
Mark
Thank you, Mark! I'm a big admirer of your playing!
Best,
Tom
FretlessFury - Posted - 05/27/2017: 07:30:21
Uploaded another BB episode yesterday, folks. Hope you enjoy! I promised I'd give photo credit for the thumbnail: my 7 year old daughter took that pic!
youtube.com/watch?v=l0QKxNqj1SA
Edited by - FretlessFury on 05/27/2017 07:31:44
scalrtn - Posted - 05/30/2017: 20:52:03
I'm new to clawhammer, and the board. This is great, thanks much !
Bogfire - Posted - 06/04/2017: 18:42:45
Hi Tom,
I bought an open back banjo as my goal was to play mountain music.
However I have been having alot of trouble with trying to translate my clawhammer video to actual technique. I just about gave up. Then I found this series. Very simply explained and starts right at the beginning. I have dyslexia so learning is always a stuggle, but your videos make sense to me.
Thanks for your hard work!
Andrew
FretlessFury - Posted - 06/05/2017: 08:20:02
quote:
Originally posted by Bogfire
Hi Tom,
I bought an open back banjo as my goal was to play mountain music.
However I have been having alot of trouble with trying to translate my clawhammer video to actual technique. I just about gave up. Then I found this series. Very simply explained and starts right at the beginning. I have dyslexia so learning is always a stuggle, but your videos make sense to me.
Thanks for your hard work!
Andrew
Andrew,
Thank you so much for your kind note.
My brother is a teacher at an incredible school for dyslexic students, and I have learned a lot about teaching from him. I also have a dyslexic student (not banjo, drums), and I've had to adapt my material to his way of learning. It's been challenging and rewarding. He's really changed the way I present material to all of my students.
I'm so happy you did not give up the banjo. Play a little bit every day and you'll be amazed at your own progress in a few months.
Best to you,
Tom
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