All things considered, the banjo is a rather odd-looking musical instrument. It looks like the result of an arranged marriage between a drum and a ukulele.  When I asked a country musician why it was called a “banjo,” I was told, “Because it looks like one!” Basically, a banjo is a round wooden shell covered with either a plastic or natural hide “head” and attached to a fretted neck. It is yet another American musical instrument “not invented here.”

    Although opinions vary somewhat, the origin of the banjo is generally thought to be the African continent. When slaves were taken from their homeland to the Caribbean, they brought this musical instrument with them. Immigrants from the Caribbean to the U.S. then brought it here, where it began a long process of increasingly sophisticated development.

    My first musical instrument was called a banjo ukulele, and looked like a banjo in miniature. It was rather crude, having gut strings, friction pegs for tuning and an actual animal skin for the head. There are many other variations.

    The plectrum or tenor banjo has four steel strings, a twelve-fret neck and a resonator to amplify and project the sound. As the name implies, it is strummed with a pick and is favored by the Philadelphia string bands that march on New Year’s Day. Popular in the big bands of the 1920s as a rhythm instrument, it was also used by the banjo superstars of yesteryear such as Eddie Peabody, Dick Roberts, Red Roundtree and Freddie Morgan of the Spike Jones Band. Those vintage instruments are actively sought after for their superior tone and are valued at many thousands of dollars.

    In country and bluegrass music we find banjos of the same general configuration but with five strings plucked both upward and downward with individual fingers wearing metal picks. The flexibility of this approach allows a much more complex musical form and, in the hands of an expert, incredibly high-speed playing.

    Beginning in the late 1950s, the American folk music revival brought forth another variation in the form of a banjo with an open back and no resonator. These instruments could be played in two different styles.

    One was the country or bluegrass approach using finger picks. The other was called “frailing” and looks and sounds very much like picking and strumming done at the same time. In the hands of an expert such as Pete Seeger or Michael Cooney, this approach required less conscious attention to individual notes, making it far easier to play and sing at the same time.

    Regardless of the type of instrument, playing style or choice of music, the banjo in all of its many varieties remains the happiest-sounding musical instrument I’ve ever heard.

Copyright © 2019 Emmet Robinson

    Published late last year was Mindfulness Matters, an excellent new book by positive psychology expert Pax Tandon.  Intended as a book designed to help the reader find and maintain a fuller, richer, healthier life, we’re now in the final stages of producing the audio version. Plans are to make it available both on disk and online.

    At the microphone, Pax shares her most personal stories. She describes her triumphs, her misfortunes, how she dealt with them, the lessons she learned along the way – and how her experiences can benefit the listener.

    In listening to her warm voice, you’ll have the sensation that she’s speaking directly to you. For details, contact Schiffer Publishing at 610-593-9292.

    In another example of an audio book, a client brought in four copies of a children’s book she found in a card shop. The books contained recording devices allowing her to record personalized versions of the classic Christmas tale, The Night Before Christmas, in her own voice. Pre-recorded music provided introductions to each verse.

    Having had considerable experience as a narrator, all she required was a bit of coaching on voice inflection to produce most listenable recordings.

In listening to her familiar voice addressing them by name, her grandkids will be thrilled!

    The recording was most likely captured on something called an e-prom – basically a tiny memory chip powered by a replaceable miniature battery. With care, the books should enjoy long shelf life and provide holiday pleasure for years to come.

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    The most recent video interview was with a native Philadelphian who has lived an old-fashioned success story. Recording him on video as he described his life was both fascinating and inspiring! When not in school or playing stickball in the street (the manhole cover was second base!), he worked as a paperboy delivering the news to the neighbors.

    After high school graduation, he found a full-time job with a chain of supermarkets and began working his way through college  – that was possible back then!

    Meeting his future wife at a party, many months passed before he found the courage to ask her for a date. That first date must have been quite pleasant as it led to a series of dates and, eventually, to the altar!

    As they began their new life together, he continued with his day job while completing his under-graduate studies. After several years with the supermarket – and several promotions – he branched out and started his own successful business.

    Now comfortably retired to a pleasant home in the ‘burbs, he serves as a living testament to the American dream.

    Back in 1982, two young musicians recorded a batch of original tunes on open-reel tape. Although tapes of that general vintage usually don’t play well due to deterioration in chemical composition, I was pleased to find that this one played perfectly.

    Recorded at the higher speed of 15 ips (inches per second), the tape required the professional playback equipment I keep on hand.

    What I was pleased to hear was an excellent recording of two young voices in perfect harmony, accompanied by a well-played electric 12-string guitar. Beginning my workday at three o’clock on a Monday morning, this started my week off on a pleasurable note.  I wonder if they have any more tapes?

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    I was happy to receive a stack of audiocassettes of both studio recordings and live performances by Mark Schultz, a musician friend from many years ago. What a pleasure it was to be reminded of how good a songwriter he is!

My favorite was a lovely heartfelt ballad titled “Way With Words.” In the song he expresses his regret at being unable to communicate his feelings in music – and yet he does, and in grand style! Excellent work!

    A skilled musician on both guitar and banjo, Mark is also a lyricist blessed with an ear for melody and a quirky sense of humor. His coffeehouse audiences responded most enthusiastically with their sustained applause.

    In converting the tapes to disk, one cassette was missing its pressure pad and not immediately playable. To rectify the situation, I opened the cassette shell, carefully removed the tape, and installed it in a new shell. Not easy, but doable. Problem solved!

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    As long as I had my surgical tools for cassette repair out on the bench, I decided to try to salvage a tape that had arrived from Hawaii in damaged condition. Whatever machine it had been played in most recently had chewed up the first several seconds of tape making the rest of it unplayable. What to do?

    First, open the cassette shell. This is relatively easy with shells that are assembled with screws. With so-called “sonic-welded” shells it becomes necessary to carefully split the shell with a sharp knife – hope-fully without losing a hand in the process!

    Next, open a new cassette shell, and discard the tape.

    Then, using a precision editing block and splicing tabs, remove the damaged part of the original tape, splice the remaining tape to the original leader and reassemble in the shell.

    Good fortune was smiling that day, and I was treated to a lovely concert by a famous big band from the 1940s.

    FYI: Broken open-reel, audiocassette and VHS videotapes are usually repairable with the precision tools available here.

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    Reviewing some tapes I’d received, I realized that only one was an original recording. The rest were commercial tapes with restrictions on copying and transfer to disk. The solution was obvious. First, process the original recording, calculate the charges and complete the invoice. Then access the Web and look for CD versions of the commercial tapes.

    Provided with that information, the client could then do the online shopping herself. Or, for a minor surcharge, I could place the orders for her.

    If you have tapes or records of name artists and want them converted to disk, try the Internet.  When available, commercial CDs are generally more economical than custom conversions.

    Over the years, the monitor amplifier for the studio headphones had become less than reliable, and needed replacement. The new amp connects the control room to the studio where it feeds a second controller designed with outputs for four sets of  ‘phones and providing individual volume controls for each. The two-way communication between the rooms is now clearer and more reliable. Client reviews have been quite positive.

The first issue of my newsletter for musicians, Stagecraft 101, is now available. The term, Stagecraft, by the way, refers to everything you say and do after the emcee says your name. If this is of interest to you, please give me a call at 610-647-4341.

The original photo was like my hair – dull and lifeless. So, first I adjusted brightness and contrast, and then removed some distracting background elements. Finally, resizing and reformatting resulted in a much better photo.

Q: Why do you work so hard to produce high-quality sound, when the end result may be compressed mp3 files listened to through ear buds?

A: Although many people have never heard true high fidelity sound, that’s no excuse for giving less than the best. Restaurateur Bob Evans says, “We do it right, or we don’t do it.” That simple, homespun philosophy has served me well for more than fifty years. Why change?

    If you’re directly involved in the performing arts as a musician, singer or songwriter, a must read for you is Paul Simon – the Life.

    Written by Robert Hillburn, this outstanding, detailed biography offers a host of useful examples on how to make a name for yourself in the performing arts.

    Internationally known speaker, author and consultant Brian Tracy says, “To reach success, we can study what successful people do – and then copy their methods.“ What works for Paul (and Brian) can work for you. ‘Nuff said!