Hello, is anyone still with me? This is not the publishing schedule I envisioned for this blog's 10th anniversary. Somehow it's been eight months since my last post. Even worse, after ending my epic streak of playing my instruments every day for almost a year and a half, my practice time lost all sense of consistency.
Being at home so much the past two years, you would think that I'd find more opportunities to pick up my banjo or fiddle. That has not been the case.
I think last year, there was more focus on staying connected to the old-time community virtually, through online jams, workshops and performances. After another year and spending more and more time in front of a computer screen, I just don't feel like spending even more time ensnared in the light of my laptop to play along with a video, follow a tutorial or, in my case, write a blog post.
Any goals I had for improving my musicianship this year have gone straight down the tubes. I've neglected my poor banjo and and fiddle to the point where they've been reduced to wall decorations.
I've just felt very disconnected from the music. At least in terms of playing it myself.
I've been sitting on a couple reviews for The Old-Time Herald. Unfortunately, I was too slow to submit them for the most recent issue that just came out last week. I hope they'll be able to get back on a more regular publishing schedule in 2022.
As the year comes to a close, I've been thinking about my lack of music-making this year and how to get myself reinvigorated for 2022. It was enough to inspire me me finally to lift my banjo and fiddle off their hooks and see if I still remember how to play anything. Thankfully I do. And I hope the good vibes I felt afterward will lead me to get back to playing more often.
If anyone is out there, thank you for reading The Glory-Beaming Banjo. I'm sorry there wasn't much content this year. I'll try to do better. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year.
Happy Holidays! Sorry to hear about your musical doldrums this year, but your enthusiasm will probably come back around sooner or later. I live in the Cleveland, Ohio area myself, and only started teaching myself how to play banjo at the beginning of the pandemic last year, focusing on learning clawhammer, since I much prefer old-time style music to most of the bluegrass I've heard. Having spent most of my life previously mainly being an electric bass player and guitarist, playing banjo seemed completely alien to me at first, but working long and hard at it, I have come to enjoy playing it tremendously, and just recently put out my second cd of (mostly) original recordings (which you can check out here, if you like: https://coffeehut.bandcamp.com/), which I'm pretty happy with.
ReplyDeleteThese are definitely still difficult times to feel optimistic and motivated about anything, but I have definitely found a lot of gratification exploring and learning this strange and wonderful instrument over the past couple of years, and look forward to doing more with it in times to come.
Best of luck to you -- keep on listening, and I'm sure something new to you will hit you eventually and re=spark your enthusiasm!
Oh yeah -- you might also consider getting a new banjo! That would spur your enthusiasm, I'd bet! :)
DeleteHi Jeff, thank you for the kind words and encouragement. I've been slowly rounding back into form since posting this. Congrats on your new album. I listened to a few tracks, and it sounds pretty cool. Glad to connect with another denizen of Northeast Ohio. If you need my address on where to send that new banjo, let me know! Haha
DeleteI appreciated your comments regarding the pandemic and the pursuit of OT music. For me, I just about ended what turned out to be a combination of long term Covid as well as a knee replacement, carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, and a procedure for Dupuytren's contracture. I visited NYC in January, 2020 and two weeks later (or so) was ill for a week. No one was really talking, or diagnosing, Covid. I seemed to get better and then long term issues presented: I lost 30 lbs., pain in all my joints, brain fog, and so on. That all lasted over a year and only was diagnosed by an immunologist in mid-2021. So my musical year was interrupted, although I took some lessons, attended some virtual banjo camps, and got better on the banjo as my hands recovered! I'm looking at new goals for the coming year and maybe Clifftop if things get better. I hope you keep up with your Blog! I've been a follower for several years and enjoy your thoughts and progress.
ReplyDeleteClint, thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry to hear of your struggles over the past two years with Covid. I wish you well, and hope that you are able to reach your musical goals in the New Year. Best regards.
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