Virtual banjo lessons anywhere
I’ve taught online banjo lessons for over 15 years. My students are located in Australia, Canada, the U.K, Thailand, and more. I even have students in my home state that prefer the online lessons so they don’t have to drive to lessons (You haven’t lived until you’ve sat in Atlanta traffic!).
There’s something about being in your own environment while taking music lessons. It’s comfortable, it’s familiar; it’s where you learn best.
Why online banjo lessons instead of in-person lessons?
Virtual Online Lessons are particularly useful in the case of those that live in remote areas, or areas that a qualified banjo teacher is difficult to find. With today’s technology, no matter where you’re located, you can learn to play banjo.
Another benefit of taking banjo lessons online-you might have access to a more qualified instructor than the one at your local music store. If banjo is your teachers 12th instrument, this COULD be a sign…Music stores often have guitar teachers that dabble in the banjo, Don’t get stuck with a Dabble Dan.
You need a banjo teacher that REALLY knows their stuff-this only comes from years and years of studying and teaching the instrument.
Here I am playing banjo at the Ryman Auditorium-I’ve played all over the world. I don’t say that to brag, I say that to tell you that you’re in good hands.
Lastly, with online lessons you have more flexible scheduling options. The last thing you want to do when you get home from working all day is get back into the car to drive to lessons. In addition, maybe you have 30 minutes at 9pm after the kids are all asleep? I do late evening lessons.
How effective are online lessons?
Maybe you’re concerned that online lessons won’t be as effective as in-person lessons. Provided that you practice consistently and are self motivated, online lessons work as well as in-person banjo lessons.
Of course there are some disadvantages; for example, I can’t reach through the computer screen and move your hand to the right position. However, video/visual representation seriously helps out in this regard. I can watch your hands and give visual aids to help you feel and find the right hand positions.
Once again, I will tell you, I’ve had in-person students that switched to online lessons and tell me they liked it BETTER!
Can kids learn how to play the banjo online?
I’ve found many kids ages 10-16 do well with online lessons, they enjoy the computer aspect of it. It’s “cool.”
Besides, now you don’t have to get them ready, get them in the car, and out the door to banjo lessons. Lucky you!
Online banjo technology
The great thing about ZOOM is you can RECORD the lesson for your archives. So, if there’s something you miss, you can have a video to reference later. Usually I tell students to record the last 10 minutes of lessons and I’ll go back over all the stuff you need to work on for the week.
ZOOM has SCREEN SHARING capabilities. A lot of times I will bring up a chord chart, TAB, or other diagrams on the screen for students to see and follow along with.
What is required?
A decent internet connection, webcam and an account with ZOOM is all that’s needed.
Things I teach in my banjo lessons online:
- Bluegrass Banjo: Scruggs Style, Melodics, and Single-String
- Improvising-how to play and take breaks on songs you don’t know at your local jam.
- Chord Theory-You don’t want to only memorize where to put your fingers without knowing WHY.
- Harmony-Music is highly predictable, so, if you know the general chord sequences, you’ll have a better idea of where a song is going and will rely on pure memorization LESS.
- Songwriting/Composing/Arranging-I often have students that are primarily songwriters and simply want to add the banjo to their songs. I can help you do this and I can also help you arrange your song.
- How to read TAB-As you progress, it’s inevitable you will want to learn how to read banjo tab, so I teach all students this skill.
- Ear Training-hints for hearing chords, exercises to try to improve your hearing abilities. Ear Training Blog
- Career advice-for those that are glutton for punishment (hahah) and have to do this for a living? I will help you develop the skills I believe are necessary to succeed as a musician. This is from over 25 years as a professional who has played Carnegie Hall, The Grand Ole Opry, and The Ryman Auditorium.
No need to wait until you have bad habits deeply ingrained in your playing, contact me TODAY and I will QUICKLY get back with you.
Want to know more about rates/policies, and read testimonials? Want to see a free banjo lesson video of my teaching? Go to my
Digital Beginner Banjo Course at Udemy
Finally, if you prefer Digital Online banjo courses instead of private one-on-one lessons. I do have a pure beginner banjo course over on Udemy I can be your Virtual Banjo Coach and get you started:
This is essentially the material I teach my beginner students the first couple of months of lessons. No Tablature is used.
Things I cover in this Banjo Course:
- Right-hand fundamentals
- Left-hand technique
- Basic Banjo Rolls
- Cumberland Gap
- Train 45
- Cripple Creek
**Please use this link if you purchase the course so I get full credit on Udemy**
