Last week I had to go out of town for work. I couldn't take my banjo and fiddle, which meant I had to interrupt my daily playing streak.
As you may recall, I started tracking consecutive days playing last year as a way to stoke enthusiasm and boost my overall practice time. My longest streak was 86 days on banjo and 89 days on fiddle, and then I finished off 2018 with a 50-day streak.
I've been able to keep that streak going into 2019. It just so happens that my final day of playing before jumping on a jet to Texas was the 50th day of the year. It's nice to have a nice, round number as a new milestone.
I restarted my streak at the fourth annual Lake Erie Folk Festival. While I didn't participate in as much jamming as in past years, the event provided plenty of entertainment.
The Old-Time Banjo Summit delivered many amusing anecdotes from banjo luminaries Richie Stearns, Lukas Pool, Doug Unger and Mark Olitsky. I wish I would have taken my nice camera to document the workshop, as the photos I took turned out terribly.
Each player discussed how they got into playing the banjo and early influences. To cap off the discussion, they all played "Soldier's Joy" together, banjo orchestra-style.
Following the Banjo Summit, was a discussion about banjo building, led by Unger and Pool, and his wife Eden, who operate Ozark Banjo Co. It was delight to see some of their instruments up close. Unger is known for his mastery of traditional banjo design and decoration, in the style of the great makers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Fairbanks and Cole. Eden and Lukas Pool offer more modern designs, with larger rim sizes and frailing scoops.
Overall, it was good to connect with my local old-time community, play a few tunes and support this excellent festival. The next goal is reach 101 days straight of playing.
I've been able to keep that streak going into 2019. It just so happens that my final day of playing before jumping on a jet to Texas was the 50th day of the year. It's nice to have a nice, round number as a new milestone.
I restarted my streak at the fourth annual Lake Erie Folk Festival. While I didn't participate in as much jamming as in past years, the event provided plenty of entertainment.
The Old-Time Banjo Summit delivered many amusing anecdotes from banjo luminaries Richie Stearns, Lukas Pool, Doug Unger and Mark Olitsky. I wish I would have taken my nice camera to document the workshop, as the photos I took turned out terribly.
Each player discussed how they got into playing the banjo and early influences. To cap off the discussion, they all played "Soldier's Joy" together, banjo orchestra-style.
Following the Banjo Summit, was a discussion about banjo building, led by Unger and Pool, and his wife Eden, who operate Ozark Banjo Co. It was delight to see some of their instruments up close. Unger is known for his mastery of traditional banjo design and decoration, in the style of the great makers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Fairbanks and Cole. Eden and Lukas Pool offer more modern designs, with larger rim sizes and frailing scoops.
Overall, it was good to connect with my local old-time community, play a few tunes and support this excellent festival. The next goal is reach 101 days straight of playing.
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