Any Irish Banjo Teachers in or around Newton MA?

Trad Irish Music
1

Hi!

I am looking for information on a few things.

  1. How old is the recommended age to begin playing banjo?
  2. How do I find a teacher in the Newton MA area (my web searches have yielded no leads)
  3. What type of Irish banjo would be best to begin playing?


    Any information would be appreciated :slight_smile:
2

Hi Granny

If you are looking for Irish banjo tuition then these are the nearest Comhaltas branches to you. You should be able to get 4 string tenor banjo tuition from them.

http://www.comhaltasboston.org/

http://blarneystone.com/comhaltas/

As for age we have children about 7 years old and upwards learning the banjo at my local branches, as long as they can physically handle the instrument then they can learn to play it.

David

3

Isn’t a banjo kind of intrinsically not a traditional Irish instrument?
Please feel free to correct or concur.

4

Check out some of Barneys work with the Dubliners.

The defence rest :wink:

Slan,
D.

5

[quote=“emmline”]Isn’t a banjo kind of intrinsically not a traditional Irish instrument?
Please feel free to correct or concur.[/quote]

“Intrinsically”? Dunno what that means. There are instruments that are more central to the tradition’s musical esthetics (voice, pipes, fiddle, flute) and others that are less central. But there’s been masterful banjo playing in Irish music ever since the 1920s at latest (Michael Gaffney, Barney McKenna, et al).

cjs

6

“C’MON BARNEY!” as they say in Dublin (and London and…) :smiley:

Last time I saw the Dubs (in London earlier this year), Barney did Mason’s Apron and left me speechless. He may not be too steady on his feet these days, but those fingers still rock (or reel, or jig or whatever…).

I’ve just bought a tenor banjo, inspired almost solely by Mr McKenna, and with the help of a Dubs DVD, a bunch of Dubs MP3s and the Amazing Slowdowner I’m currently working on The Swallow’s Tail and The High Reel. As I have smallish hands I went for a Gold Tone short-scale tenor (cheap but pretty good), and I’m loving it.

As for the OP’s questions: in my case the best age to start is 45 :wink: although the general rule is that the earlier you start learning any instrument the better. But then the other general rule is that it’s never too late to start!

What type? If you have flexible or medium to large hands then a standard scale tenor may prove easier to keep in tune. If you have small hands then a short scale tenor will be easier to learn on. Standard scale are usually the ones with 19 frets and short scale usually have 17. I’m very happy with my Gold Tone short scale.

Can’t help with teachers, but there are some good videos that might help, such as those by Gerry O’Connor. Also check out http://www.irish-banjo.com/ for some good tips.

7

No further argument, your honor.