Articles

Bill Evans is one of those figures whose name is almost synonymous with the American banjo.  He’s not just an innovator (one fan described him as “the same thing to the banjo that Van Gogh was to color”); he’s also an instructor, student, author (Banjo for Dummies, among other titles) and historian of his chosen…

Although their prominence in bluegrass and roots music has receded and grown over the decades, archtop guitars (and their brethren in the mandolin family) have played a significant role in our music. Mother Maybelle Carter legendarily played a classic Gibson L-5 created by Lloyd Loar. Miscellaneous rhythm players in many early mountain, Western and folk…

Deeply relatable in lyric yet firmly fun in its delivery, “Everybody’s Got a Line,” written by Chris Jones and recorded by Chris Jones and The Night Drivers (Make Each Second Last, 2021), is a standout relationship song in today’s endless sea of relationship songs.  Written early in 2021, the song became a milestone for Chris…

For fifty years Elderly Instruments of Lansing, Michigan has been a central home for the warm sound of vintage instruments and an incredible selection of new instruments by luthiers from the US and abroad. A large brick building in Lansing houses thousands of musical dreams, a knowledgeable and friendly staff, but one more magic quotient….

The Future of Tablature Photo by Ryan Leach Learning to read music outside of the realm of classical or jazz music on instruments such as guitar, mandolin, banjo and Dobro, more often than not, involves learning how to read tablature.  Tablature is a written notation where the lines on the page represent the strings of…

Are you looking to attend to a music camp or workshop this year?   Camps and workshops are a great way to study with top professional players and talented instructors.  Camps and workshops also provide you the opportunity to meet new friends and jamming partners.  Below is a list of camps and workshops organized by…