Just moseying around

[thereallynicelady]

Visit Classic Banjo

Down at the bottom of the page is a link to BADGES. This was my first investigation and I hope that the badge appears at the top of this post. If it doesn't it's back to the drawing board. The code from this badge can be inserted into web pages if you wish the world to know that you are a member of this site.

My second investigation was looking at other people's blogs just to see if anyone posts regularly. There are about 32 blogs of which only a handful post regularly. Some people have not posted for quite a while, and some people post quite regularly. (I think that the 'very well done' should go to Marc for regular entries from 2009 - sorry that was a bit of teacher speak.) A few people seem just

to want information

to want to sell something

to just want to comment

and some seem to be

LURKING!

Quite a lot of people start discussions, add videos and post photos as well as adding comments. (Have a 'very well done' from me.) I shall have a mosey around those next time. It got me to wondering about just how many people are 'active' on this site. There are over 400 members. How many have registered, got what they want and then gone on their merry way, never to return?

So from this moseying around I am going to expand my horizons and post a Discussion. It would be great if all who view it make a comment so we all can 'see' who is out there and active.

There's lots to play about with here - a Main Room, where you can 'talk' to Members Online. (Dare I chat to anyone?). You can have a private conversation by clicking on their name - a little box pops up. I'm not too sure about the Notes page.

Right, I'm off to sort out my Discussion post. I should actually be hoovering but that can wait.

Thank you for the comments on my other posts. It's great to have feedback and Marc, I'll take a picture of the inside of the piano for you. Watch this space.

PS I've just previewed this space and the badge doesn't appear. Perhaps I don't have Flash. Ho hum!

[Mike Moss]

These badges are great -- is it available as a forum signature as well? These badges and signatures are often a great way to give the site visibility by displaying it on other music forums.

[Jody Stecher]

1) Not everyone is an extrovert. "Lurking" is not a crime or a moral failing. It is the natural behavior of those who are happier being quiet. 

2) If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

3) The effort  to attract more and more members of any shared interest group (internet or not) inevitably leads to the adulteration of quality. I have witnessed over the years in various fields.

If you really want a lot more people to be participating be prepared for a lowering of standards. The unusually high standard of good manners, civility, mutual respect, helpfulness and musicality that have made this website such a fine place to spend time  will all be thrown to the wind with thousands of members.  There is a sure fire way to attract not only thousands but millions of new members: purge classic banjo music from all the qualities that make it what it is and keep calling it classic banjo even though it has now become techno grunge dominated by drum machines and synthesizers. 

[Sylvia]

Hi Jody , it gets a bit lonely playing along by oneself sometimes and sometimes the only other thing if there is no like minded human is, a synthesizer, a bit more musical than a metronome, and reasonably good to practice with.

 I grant you , nothing can replace a piano, banjo, or other "live " instrument as accompaniment , but when needs must a synth. will do.

[Jody Stecher]

I agree, Sylvia. What I meant is that the banjo itself would be replaced by machines. Want to get your political party to gain acceptance? Change its principals so that it no longer resembles itself. Want to increase attendance in the congregation of your religion? Sweep away the unusual beliefs or practices. Want to increase the popularity of your favorite music? Sweep away "outdated" rhythms and chords.  Classic banjo pieces often have a third part, the "trio". That's too hard, and it's often in another key. I know! Let's get rid of third parts.  Only two part banjo pieces from now on. Wait a minute! What is that plinking sound? It doesn't sound like the 21st century and it certainly won't sell product. It must be changed. Let's try getting rid of the hoop and vellum and replace it with a new shape. Hmmm. Still sounds like a banjo. That won't do. I know! let's replace the banjo itself with a synthesized keyboard. Ah! Now THAT sounds like modern times. Now classic banjo will be popular because we've taken the banjo out of it. What I just wrote sounds absurd but it resembles exactly what happens in every field. The only way to get mass appeal is to destroy the identity (and therefore the value) of the very thing whose popularity is imagined to be insufficient.

[Sylvia]

Hi Jody, my meaning , in using synthesizers. is to use them as a tool to practice with when no one else is available,they do allow a person to get used to the strict timing of playing with others.   And somehow I don't think they will replace the actual musical instruments. Musical instruments have been around since humans first walked the earth, or near enough, and I have no doubt that they will still be around in some small measure when we human beings have wrecked the joint.

Leaving out Trios or changes of key ?  I havn't yet to come upon a musical group leader who would condone such behaviour, even though the group may groan.   Well ,the groups I belong to always groan at a change of key , but we do get on with it and it does get easier dealing with changes of key.

Other changes, politics , religion, well there will always be changes there ,always have been, but think of the early music, that is still around and I guess has witnessed quite a lot of political and religious changes.

Anyway I guess banjos will be around as long as humans have the wherewithall to build them. Well I'm hoping so.

[thereallynicelady]

Hi Jody, My investigation was only into this site and the members of this site. I agree with you that lurking is not a crime or a moral failing. Lurking on a site means that the person does not wish to join in for whatever reason. I was also commenting on just the members here, (who are vetted before they can become members), and not about attracting new members. I just wanted to show that there are lots of areas here that can be utilised to the benefit of all the members. In participating, new areas can be explored, new ideas mooted and new offerings added, which may, indirectly, help the more silent members in their quest to learn and know more about Classic Banjo. I think that the offerings here should be for all those interested in Classic Banjo from beginners to professionals, from players of the banjo to those just interested in the instrument itself or the people who perform or performed.

Sylvia, I also agree with you that there's nothing better than live music and playing with others but where there is no other option practice with a synthesizer will add another dimension to the performance.

[Richard William Ineson]

Good afternoon RNL,

I'm out here and reasonably active, and I also do quite a bit of lurking, as I like to take a look at the new comments/discussions/photographs etc. and I don't always have something  pertinent to say, so I keep quiet; I enjoy having a look and I chip in when I feel the urge. The classic banjo, I think, will always be with us, it has had its ups and downs - by the early 1990s it was nearly extinct but Pat Doyle started his 'The Banjo' magazine and enlisted Mike Redman and then myself, to organise regional banjo events, which we called banjo rallies, as that is what such events were termed in the early 1900s. The classic banjo has come along way since then and has gained a lot of new fans which will ensure its survival. New technology has been a major part in this resurgence of interest because the CB repertoire is mostly out of print and the copper plates from which the music was printed, melted down, long ago and made into gas pipes. Photocopying and now the scanner and internet have enabled what were pretty rare items of banjo music, to be available to everyone in seconds; no more searching through piles of mostly piano music , of the 'Come Into the Garden Maude' variety, hoping to find that elusive Parke Hunter gem - that really was beyond the call of duty, not to mention the mountainous piles of 78 rpm records which usually contained yet another Olly Oakley recording of 'Whistling Rufus' and nothing else . The other thing which happened was that we actually used to play the banjo at various public events and this always attracted favourable comment. This side of things is difficult to organise because the few classic banjo players who were available, lived at sizeable distances apart, making rehearsals and performance problematic, but this is an area that needs reviving, public performance attracts new players - look at what has happened to the ukulele since the UOOGB started getting out at night. Playing the banjo with others is great fun, let's do it again.

[Jody Stecher]

I agree on everything except that the popularity of the uke is good for anyone except the uke manufacturers.  The astounding popularity of the ukulele is a perfect example of what I mean about the price of popularity being the loss of identity. The ukulele got popular again because of the perception (orchestrated or accidental, I don't know which) that the uke is an easy-to-play  variety of electric guitar. Go to any ukulele gathering (in the USA anyway) and no one will play without their pickup and amplifier. The soft beauty of the uke has been lost.  Go to a uke festival and you will hear nothing that sounds like uke. The sound is harsh and jarring.  Just as I have nothing against synthesizers I have nothing against electric guitars. I have nothing against electric banjos either, so long as it does not become the standard banjo.  

[thereallyniceman]

For those struggling with the acronym UOOGB, we are fortunate to have "The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain" based this side of the pond. If you have never seen them, you should. I went to a live concert as was totally amazed. They are "professional" musicians playing music ranging from classical to that of the modern day, (sounds a bit like Classic Banjo doesn't it). They have done more to popularise the uke over here than any website or dumbed down, over amplified uke strummer. 

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN

All we need is a breakthrough like this for Classic Style and the genre will be back where it should be. I say the more players and interested parties we can attract, the better!

[Jody Stecher]

  UOOGB and the ukulele craze is harmless, non-violent, creates and maintains good will.  But the whole phenomenon is more like football than like music. Good fun? yes. Music? Maybe not. Need I point out that I am not anti-uke? I LOVE the uke.  

p.s. : I am also not anti-football!!