banjoboogie.com
Playing Since: 2006
Experience Level: Purty Good

Interests:
[Teaching] [Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]

Occupation: music therapist/educator/producer

Gender: Male
My Instruments:
Wildwood Troubadour 5-string w/ Fishman
Helix Hurricane Rim/Gold Tone Plectrum Neck w/Kavanjo Pickup
Lange Triple-X Plectrum (no resonator :(
Others...
No-Name Tenor (assumed Bacon from 1930's)
Harmony 60's Bakelite 5-string
Slingerland Maybell Banjo Uke

Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Elmer Snowden, Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Roscoe Holcomb, Dink Roberts,

Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Charlie Parker, Monk, Coltrane, Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman, Art Enemble of Chicago

Beatles, Can, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin,

No Neck Blues Band, Exepter, yellow swans

Classified Rating: not rated
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 10/26/2012
Last Visit 7/7/2026

I started learning DRUMS at age 10. I wanted to be in a rock band with my friends. Got into HENDRIX and blew my mind on psychadelic rock music. Fell in love with free IMPROVISATION and music making with friends. My friends would leave their guitars around, and I started to pick out some songs, eventually taking lessons and learning some music theory. Meanwhile, learned more about percussion, keyboard instruments, played with Phoenix's youth symphony, marching band, and started my first band, playing guitar. Then I heard some JUG BAND music. I searched for other forms of FOLK music and started a jug band with my friend who also played guitar. I showed my tuba playing friend a jug, and he picked it up quick, laying down basslines and taking solos. One night at a new friends house, I randomly asked, "do you have a banjo," he pulled one out from under his bed, and I switched to banjo guy in the band from then on. I mainly play plectrum style, 4-string, plectrum tuning. It seemed to work with my driving rhythmic style, single note leads, and interest in JAZZ. I listened to blues, oldtime, and some bluegrass, so I imitated some of those sounds with my plectrum too. Recently, I've started to clawhammer/frail, and i love it. I continue to study plectrum style, and every once in a while I'll even work on some Scruggs pickin. I studied MUSIC THERAPY at ASU, got my degree, did an internship in Schenechtady, and now work as a music therapist in PHOENIX, mostly with kids with autism in public schools. My knowledge and interest of different instruments, and folk songs, has definitely been guiding me in the work that I do. While at ASU, i also joined every ethnic ensemble they have; African Drum, Gamelan, Mexican Marimba, Mariachi. I also have studied North Indian Classical Vocal music from an accomplished HINDUSTANI music intstructor. I like to play Indian music on banjo, using what I have learned from their music. My music is a natural expression of all the styles I love from old-time jug band, to Indian Classical, to heavy rock and noise music, to Jazz, Dixie, Big Band, Latin, and Free Improv. I mostly play old songs, and improv with friends. I also teach music lessons for guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, and on occasion the banjo.