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Banjo Bud |
I hope you don't mind if share a personal story.
I was born into a musical family. Both grandmothers where in church choirs, one sang the other played the church piano and organ for over 50 years. My mother played piano and sang and my father played a little piano and banjo. Together they had 4 children, all played music of some kind. My two older brothers went to college on music scholarships, the oldest received a degree in music education and still plays professionally around town while teaching high school music, the other is a chemist. My little sister played piano and french horn and became a housewife. They all have children that play some sort or musical instrument.
Me, I also played music (woodwinds) in high school, was offered a music scholarship but decided to go on a different career path. My wife plays piano and we have 3 wonderful daughters, all with musical talent or their own. Her parents love Bluegrass and travel to Nashvile, Mountianhome, Renfrow Valley and others to Bluegrass festivals regularly.
I have only faint memories of my father playing the banjo (which is now long gone, i don't know what kind) and told those stories to my daughters and how I always wanted to learn to play banjo myself. This past Christmas, at 50 years old, my beautiful daughters and wonderful wife presented me with a new Deering Goodtimes 2 and it was a totally wonderful surprise!
It gets better, telling this to several guys at the office, i was told of a man in another department who played in a Bluegrass group. I went to speak with him and low and behold he plays banjo (15 yrs.) and took me under his wing and invited me to sit in on his group practice and it is in my neighborhood. Everyone was very friendly, supportive and encouraging. There was another banjo player(and a teacher) there which is a family friend of the inlaws and has offered to give me lessons and lives just down the road.
I have been to several practices and lessons and I am progressing along quite well. Sore fingers and all! It seems to me that God has placed these people in my path for some reason other than pure enjoyment. I only hope and pray that I can make them all proud, especially my dad.
I AM a Lucky Man!
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