Week 3—October 21, 2002
What was it that got you to choose your particular instrument to play?
Asked by Lori, California, USA
By Paul Sedgwick
The banjo was pretty popular (even cool) when I was a teenager, Lori, mainly because of two movies: Bonnie and Clyde, which featured “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” a famous banjo tune written by banjo legend, Earl Scruggs; and Deliverance, the movie that featured another famous banjo tune, “Dueling Banjos.” I was also fortunate to have as my first teacher a close friend of the family who was a great banjo player. But most important, I always found the sound of the banjo irresistible. I desperately wanted to be able to sound like that.
Is music a full-time profession for you, and if not, what else do you do and why? Would you like to do music full time?
Asked by Yvette, Virginia, USA
By Paul Sedgwick
No, Yvette, music is not my full-time occupation. I work full time as a theatre teacher for the Boston Public Schools. However, I believe my interest in theatre (primarily playwriting and acting) and my experience playing and researching the banjo are connected. Eventually, I hope the connection will lead to some kind of theatrical–musical program about the history of the banjo. Right now, I am the father of a young family, and the demands of a professional musical career would put strains on the kind of parent I like being. But one of these days, I’ll put it all together. Stay tuned.
What excites you most about music? What do you like best about music or the music industry?
Asked by Nick, Mississippi, USA
By Paul Sedgwick
The thing that excites me most about music is the banjo! I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I was never a big fan of any particular type of music until I heard the banjo. That’s when my interest in music began. Most people have a stereotyped idea about what kind of music the banjo represents. But I have been intrigued and truly inspired over the years by the diversity of music that can be called “banjo music,” and by the awesome creativity and inventiveness banjo players have brought to the instrument since it was a handmade artifact built and played by the first African captives in colonies the world over. Banjo players like Tony Trischka and Bela Fleck have achieved an amazing feat not only by surviving the mainstream “anti-banjo” music industry, but by constantly excelling and carrying the banjo into cutting-edge musical realms. Do I sound excited?