I have always been amazed by the amount of music out there (who hasn’t, I guess?) There is no way that I will ever hear it all, ever be able to find all the bands and artists that I enjoy, so I do the best that I can. There are also so many instruments in the world, and I have a tendency to want to learn to play all of them, unrealistically. The only instrument that I have actually kept up with is the guitar, even my bass playing which used to be my main instrument and which I loved has fallen by the wayside while I’m at college.
The banjo was my latest attempted conquest, my first in a while.
Instruments That I Have Tried to Learn (and pretty much haven’t)
-Harmonica
-Ukulele
-Piano
I have some basic knowledge of these (I own a harmonica, a ukulele, and a keyboard- which kind of count, maybe)
All of these fell through because I didn’t practice, or I didn’t have time to. I always want instant instrument gratification, and I need to realize that this is the farthest thing from reality. I haven’t given up hope on all of them yet however.
I still want to learn:
-Sitar
-Drums
-Fiddle
-Tuba (kind of)
And, I mean, I’m pretty much open to other instruments as well.
The sitar is my dream, I’m pretty sure it takes like a lifetime to be really good- but who know… maybe someday!
While on this quest to learn banjo I realized that it will be difficult for me to ever learn any of these instruments without extensive practice. I, of course practiced guitar and bass- but somehow it was different. I move fast, I am always in a hurry, which sometimes makes it difficult for me to learn new things that take a long time to pick up on.
My mom has begun learning ukulele in my absence from home, and I can see so much how practicing every day has helped her improve tremendously. Although she still feels as though she can’t play very well- I think she has a remarkable grasp on the instrument for only playing for about two months.
So- you’re like- this is NOT about banjos, where are the banjos?!
I’m kind of getting there, maybe. Basically what I have realized through this blog, through this semester is that owning the instrument doesn’t mean you know how to play it. Of course, I always knew this but it seems to have really hit me with this latest venture. When I headed to college in the summer I was sure that I would come home for winter break pickin’ like a pro. But, as break rapidly approaches I realize that this is not the case.
And that’s okay.
I’ve learned so much about the instrument, have a newfound appreciation for all of those that play it, and I haven’t given up hope that someday I will live up to my name of “Banjo Lil” and when people ask me to play them a song on the banjo I will quickly pull out my banjo and play a rollicking rendition of “This Land is Your Land” OF COURSE.
Banjo Lil 
