Although I loved music I did no have an instrument until I was around 18 years of age and then I heard the tune ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown' from the film ‘Bonnie & Clyde'. I had to buy a Banjo and before long joined a band and since then have been playing in various bands in all sorts of venues around Scotland for almost 30 years.
The Banjo is a complex instrument, contrary to being on the receiving end of cruel jokes. (Chalmers Mackay Music School holds counselling when needed!)
Having met some of my favourite players over the years I have accumulated (pinched) most of the styles possible to play on a Banjo e.g. accompaniment, melody, in all rhythms, keys, and in six different tunings plus tunes from America, Ireland and Scotland.
The Banjo is certainly different from most instruments and you can be sure of one thing - people cannot keep still when they hear one and I feel I should pass on what I have learned on the instrument to give other people the fun it has given me