I was skeptical at first...

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Fiddlin Al Students and Alumni

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A place for former and current students of Fiddlin Al to post videos of their progress, share comments and ask questions.

51 Members, Created 2/18/2013 -

Administrators: MiG-19 (owner)

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From loukiii on 2/22/2013 8:36:11 AM

I had taken lessons for about 2 years from a local teacher who eventually told me I needed to get a more advanced teacher. Unfortunately there was nobody in my area that I felt could show me what I wanted to learn. Mainly backup, because that is after all what separates "the men from the boys" in the bluegrass banjo arena. After my first lesson I was kind of disappointed really. I was given the tab for cripple creek. I was like "Seriously?" And told that backup would come in time, but I needed to tweak my right hand just a tad first. So I decided to give it a couple months out of curiosity lol. Besides I liked the fast pace of weekly lessons and the convenience of Skype. Sure enough, I realized I was learning good songs, I struggled with some because I already knew basic arrangements of them and had to unlearn them. I do better on ones I am unfamiliar with, and I started learning the stuff I was really after. The backup. I play with the same folks at least monthly and although I found myself knowing more songs at the jams and being able to play decent breaks to many songs including ones I didn't know, I could not really tell if or how much I had progressed. Then I went on a trip to Southern California with my banjo of course, and found some local jams to get in. Wow, the reception was amazing. Of course bluegrass people are among the nicest, but these folks loved my playing. They must have been starved for good (but not that good lol) hard driving picking. Of was told by a local that they were not strictly bluegrass and to expect an eclectic blend of bluegrass, old country, rock and etc. Well the first song they played I did not recognize, but it sounded like Blue Ridge Cabin Home would fit both chord progression and melody so I started doing the backup for that. Ears started to perk up and the singer gave me the nod so I played a Blue Ridge Cabin Home and they loved it. Lol fit perfect. Then when it was my turn I busted out fireball mail which I had been practicing a lot after screwing it up at the last jam and I think I nailed it. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the night. It was hands down the most fun I have ever had at a jam. This was at an old folks home in San Bernardino. I was invited to play on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at other jams, and they seemed genuinely disappointed when I told them I loved in Florida and would not be able to return next week. Lol I know it sounds like I'm bragging and I'm full of myself, but I was really kind of embarrassed. Makes me want to work even harder to do better next time.

6 Comments
	MoPac fan says: 2/22/2013 8:47:38 AM My uncle used to live in San Bernardino. I spent the summer out there in 1976. Ahhhhhh the Bicentennial. Ahhhhhhh California girls. Sigh. Glad to see you made it in here Lou. We'll get together soon and pick.
	loukiii says: 2/22/2013 8:59:53 AM My grandparents moved out here from St. Louis area around 80- 81. I spent all my summer vacations out here after that and went to college in San Bernardino for a year before joining the Marines in 85. Met my wife here in 93. Grandparents are still here and so is here family.
	MoPac fan says: 2/22/2013 9:17:43 AM My uncle was a Major in the Air Force when he lived in San B. He was stationed at Norton AFB. We went to San Diego when I was out there to Sea World. We went to Tijuana. Went to Palm Springs and rode the tram to the top of the mountain. Went to my first swap meet. It was a lot of fun.
	G says: 2/22/2013 10:14:22 AM Hey there loukiii ... great story about that jam :) That's probably the dream for most novice pickers like myself. And don't worry - I didn't take your story to be anything close to bragging. Just a good honest sharing of a positive experience. And thanks for sharing it - it's good inspiration!
	kwmidwest says: 2/22/2013 6:49:14 PM That's an inspiring story loukii.
	jbabb says: 2/24/2013 8:12:46 PM I have been there too! Makes you want to practice that much harder for the next time! It could be called drive?
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