BConk - Posted - 07/19/2007:  09:44:33

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Tom - I wonder if there aren't any number of people that are more comfortable learning something when they believe there is only one authority, one method, one opinion, one thought - to emulate and learn from.

I must admit the amount of valid but differing advice a person can find in a clawhammer forum can be overwhelming at times. For me, that means the genre allows much more freedom, which is why I was attracted to it in the first place. But I can understand why people would feel better if there were only "right and wrong" and not so many shades of grey.


Brian Conklin
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists...4644&alid=-1

sugarinthegourd - Posted - 07/19/2007:  10:01:47

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I'm not a great banjo player*, but I wonder how Patrick knows that as we have never met and I haven't posted much anywhere.

I do know people who have met Patrick who say that he's a nice guy in person, and that they are mystified and appalled by his online persona.

* though I'm not sure I'm any worse than Patrick, honestly, just different

clawfootcurt - Posted - 07/19/2007:  11:45:46

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How about them Green Bay Packers, huh? What a team!!

Compare music to drinks. Some is like a strong brandy. Some is like a fine wine. The music you're playing sounds like Diet Coke.
- Luciano Pavarotti

black flag - Posted - 07/19/2007:  11:45:59

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'Scuse me, but why do people continue to feed this self-important adolescent's fantasies of world domination by even responding to his posts? He craves attention and you're dishing up big platters of it for him.

Chris

mike gregory - Posted - 07/19/2007:  12:06:35

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quote:

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Originally posted by black flag

'Scuse me, but why do people continue to feed this self-important adolescent's fantasies of world domination by even responding to his posts? He craves attention and you're dishing up big platters of it for him.

Chris

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Because posting is fun.
Especially for one such as I, unable to compete on the Talented Musically" level, but allowed to post arrow-gant and aragorn pictures.
Besides, what's wrong with wanting to feel important?
Mary Kay Cosmetics used "Make Me Feel Important" in their sales training, and made millions.

Even I succumbed, one day, when there was an offer for a huindred imprinted pens.
Irene knew the company who made the PENS, though not the company who imprinted them, and advised me that they were worth the money.

So I had the lines of copy read:
"Vote Mike Gregory for Planetary Emperor"

And this was long before Star Wars hit the screen.

How's THAT for fantasies of World Domination?

kudzugypsy - Posted - 07/19/2007:  12:10:08

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like someone said on the opening page - i knew this would go in this direction, but hey, we need a little fuedin' once in a while to keep us content - but not to the mud slinging.

anyway - i am new to CH banjo, but have played *folk* music for years (my whole life actually and never knew it) and like A LOT of beginners, i watched PC's videos on you tube and he has put A LOT of time into them, maybe for ego, but they provide a very important and much needed outlet for many who are spread across the world to take up the banjo and to play in this style.

now, i'm from NC, and grew up in Galax, the hotbed of OT CH banjo, they're EXCELLENT players everywhere and my girlfried is from Mt Airy and just about every rock you kick over has an *authentic* old timer frailin away underneth it. so i am exposed to *the real deal* quite readily. i can see the rift between the authentic old time purists and what PC is doing, but hey, its all good - there are A LOT of people who just want to sing folk songs and have a good time, they dont care how Wade Ward did it or if this doesnt really sound authentic - they are just making music with themselves or friends and PC can get you going on that road and hats off to him for his efforts.
its also gotta be REALLY hard to make a living playing CH and we should support his efforts even if they dont line up with the purists. i kind of see PCs approach like that of Pete Seeger - you wont find any OTers doing his songs, (and you'd get kicked out of a lot of jams for playing his style) but he turned A LOT of young people on to the banjo and we are better for it.

oh yeah - i just dragged my old copy of J. Burkes OT fiddle tunes for CH banjo and maybe we all need to re-read that EXCELLENT introduction again - i'm sure it has been 25 years since some have and i think he spelled it out perfectly from observing the folk scare lessons of the early 60's.

on another note, i did get quite PO'ed with Ken Pearlman for his opening remarks in his MB book "everything you wanted to know about clawhammer banjo" about the Mt Airy/Galax purists and i thought it sounded just like someone *up north* who didnt know the culture would write...but i still like the book - i just ripped those pages out (and cursed) and am now happily on my way thru it.

'80 Gold Star GF-100FE

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Edited by - kudzugypsy on 07/19/2007 12:26:12

mtracy - Posted - 07/19/2007:  12:59:49

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Ha, now Mike G's type of arrogance I enjoy!

chip arnold - Posted - 07/19/2007:  13:34:25

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kudzugypsy, Other than pointing out the variance from traditional clawhammer, as you yourself did, I haven't seen anyone fussing about PC's music.

Play with a plan
Chip

mike gregory - Posted - 07/19/2007:  13:43:23

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Well, the election's apparently come and gone, and I'm not Planetary Emperor.

Took a peek at the Patrick Costello website, saw him on a video.
I can see where he and I have some common ground.
Read his Dear Old Dad's comments about why beginners quit, and why NOT to quit learning banjo. Makes sense to me. AND sounds a lot like what I've read on this site, too.

Feudin's fun to watch, like pro wrestling, or an action movie sword fight.
But, unlike pro wrestling, or an action movie sword fight, it's not scripted, and like real swordfight, the jabs can really hurt.

Y'all want to have a debate, do it like we had to do it in High School.
DEFINE your terms!

And that, by itself, should keep everyone busy forever, since the "Proper Way To Hold The Instrument" has not been agreed upon, even by people who LIKE each other. Neither have we a definition of "The Proper SOUND for an instrument to Produce". And, attempts to decide where to place the fingers, have all too often degenerated into suggestions regarding bodily orifices.

If one defines "Success" as "More instantly recognized worldwide than the kid on the porch", then one shall never achieve success. And the general public does not know, does not care, that the Kid wasn't playing the banjo.

I am arguably one of the least skillful MUSICIANS, but I recognize that most people are easily taken in by IMAGE, so I look like something off an old Vaudeville poster. And, like the soap opera star in the Anacin commercials, who opened his pitch by saying
"I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV.........."

I admit I'm not a musician, but I play one, on the banjo.

I may not be by others' definitions, a successful banjo player, but I'm generally a happy one.

And I did remember a thread, some months back, where two Outhangers were ripping each other mercilessly. Daed if I can remember over WHAT, but it must have been serious musicianship, since MY mind didn't retain it.

I'm sticking to what I sometime have posted:
Job ONE is to enjoy the banjo;
Job TWO is to share the joy;
and JOB 3:19 may be the first Biblical description of a happy banjo jam.

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Edited by - mike gregory on 07/19/2007 13:45:46

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 07/19/2007:  13:49:56

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quote:

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Originally posted by kudzugypsy

...its also gotta be REALLY hard to make a living playing CH and we should support his efforts even if they dont line up with the purists.

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From what I have read, I think people *do* support what Pat does musically. Any disagreement with him has never had anything to do with his "efforts not lining up with the purists".

R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
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Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo