How many people actually play this style?

[Austin]

I'm curious. How many people even know about it? It seems rare to find someone who does.

[Ethan Schwartz]

What I mean is that playing technique cannot be separated from musical context. Same like knowledge of how to use a specific farming implement doesn't make sense when removed from the larger context of farming. Anecdotes of "so-and-so learned down-picking from observing a black banjoist" leave out that the technique was observed in the context of a tune, which has a far more specific history. 

[Richard William Ineson]

So how many people actually play this style or even know about it?

Ethan Schwartz said:

What I mean is that playing technique cannot be separated from musical context. Same like knowledge of how to use a specific farming implement doesn't make sense when removed from the larger context of farming. Anecdotes of "so-and-so learned down-picking from observing a black banjoist" leave out that the technique was observed in the context of a tune, which has a far more specific history. 

[Jody Stecher]

Are you asking about the up-picking techniques that are not connected to classic banjo? When I started playing banjo in 1957 there were thousands. At this point in time I would guess it is probably the same but the demographic has changed. These ways of playing used to be found solely in the southern states of the USA. Now they are played all over the world by whomever is interested.

Richard William Ineson said:

So how many people actually play this style or even know about it?

Ethan Schwartz said:

What I mean is that playing technique cannot be separated from musical context. Same like knowledge of how to use a specific farming implement doesn't make sense when removed from the larger context of farming. Anecdotes of "so-and-so learned down-picking from observing a black banjoist" leave out that the technique was observed in the context of a tune, which has a far more specific history. 

[John Cohen]

I think we need to distinguish between genuine techniques/styles and the attempt by amateur, sloppy, and/or untalented players to imitate genuine techniques/styles. I find it hard to believe that there were thousands of uppicking styles being played around the American South. Rather, I think this notion is the invention of urban folklorists who were incapable of or unwilling to cast judgement on the players they studied.

[Jody Stecher]

I meant  thousand of players, not thousands of techniques. The non-classic-influenced techniques are fewer than 10. 

John Cohen said:

I think we need to distinguish between genuine techniques/styles and the attempt by amateur, sloppy, and/or untalented players to imitate genuine techniques/styles. I find it hard to believe that there were thousands of uppicking styles being played around the American South. Rather, I think this notion is the invention of urban folklorists who were incapable of or unwilling to cast judgement on the players they studied.