Two years ago Jake gave me a ukulele, and it completely changed my musical life. Having played acoustic guitar and piano for so many years, I had no idea how the addition of a new instrument would expand my songwriting capabilities, challenge my muscle memory, and increase my overall skill level as a musician.
This last Christmas Jake pushed me again by giving me a new banjo. At first, it was very strange to me and I fumbled with it as though I’d never held an instrument before. Feeling lost on its neck, not understanding quite how to hold its awkward body, and unable to leap right into song creation, I felt a little discouraged. I watched a few agonizing instructional videos on YouTube before I realized that I just needed to approach this new species like I had all the others: Take time and experiment, let my fingers explore every part of it, and apply my own style.
Although I still have a lot to learn on the banjo, I am in a state of bliss with its newness and the possibilities is opens up for me.
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