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jackhatfield - Posted - 07/15/2026: 06:44:55
I have been asked to announce that to any banjo players in the vicinity of Duke University consider volunteering with a study of focal Hand dystonia by agreeing to be filmed playing the banjo. They are looking for normal healthy banjo players to develop a control group. See attached flyer. Pay is $25. To apply, contact Dr Bukhari at
MovDisRes@dm.Duke.edu
Neurology.Duke.edu/research/lab-
and-translational-research/Noreen-
Bukhari-Parlakturk-MD-PhD
Thanks!
Owen - Posted - 07/15/2026: 08:06:15
Tongue-in-cheek, I wonder how they determine whether or not a banjo player is "normal"? 
Banner Blue - Posted - 07/15/2026: 08:53:29
Less tongue-in-cheek, research requires people to participate. If you are able, please do so. Normal would probably refer to an average player with no known neurological problems.
slammer - Posted - 07/15/2026: 09:55:14
I’m almost tempted to make the drive. May be my only chance to ever be payed to play my banjo!!!
Slammer!!!
1935tb-11 - Posted - 07/15/2026: 12:11:52
tom adams had to go through this is why he had to quit banjo for a long while.. he could still play but couldn't know for sure if his middle finger would hit the string... so he laid it down for a while and played guitar... while on guitar he perfected his 2 finger style and went back at it with springfield exit.
i had talked to him about it in 2012 when i was having trouble,,, but turns out mine was just some arthritis slowing me down
Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 07/15/2026 12:12:21
eagleisland - Posted - 07/15/2026: 13:25:53
Hey, $25 is more than I've made at some gigs playing the banjo... 
1935tb-11 - Posted - 07/16/2026: 12:06:33
well its a 168 mile round trip at 17 miles to the gallon in my truck that works out to about 10 gallons at 3.54 per gal.. so $35.00 in gas vs $25 in pay. they are plenty of pickers around durham.....
but its a worthy effort to study
deVisee - Posted - 07/16/2026: 13:01:04
As a Duke alumnus, this is really tempting... The 25$ doesn't cover the roundtrip from Europe, unfortunately.
I do pay the patients in my clinical research way better than this, though.
steve davis - Posted - 07/19/2026: 16:49:12
I wonder if any banjo players were ever paid to not play.
Edited by - steve davis on 07/19/2026 16:51:40
chuckv97 - Posted - 07/19/2026: 17:03:04
Focal Dystonia, they say, is a half physical and 90% mental problem…..
seriously, though, Craig Korth, a fine Canadian banjo player has it and had to quit playing - he'd get near the banjo and his hand would just curl up stiff into a claw.
Another musician is classical guitarist David Leisner who worked his way back to playing after about 7 years of pain-staking slow practice, re-organizing his mind as to how his fingers would move.
Here's Korth's interview with Fretboard Journal youtu.be/uVDZH1zcC8o?si=YJ95bLpvGKnxUDXW
Edited by - chuckv97 on 07/19/2026 17:11:37
