Living with the 'condition.' Part 2

[thereallynicelady]

Frequent isolation periods are needed in order to control this 'condition'. eg the study.

Here the banjoist feels safe as he is surrounded by positive energies.

This will not stop him or her giving rent to certain urges which involve tearing hair out, shuffling music, filing or picking at nails, expletives, repetitive playing of notes and phrases ad nauseum, expletives, repetitive playing of parts of different pieces, tinkering with the fabric of the banjo or selecting a different one and finally silence apart from the clicking of a mouse.

During this period the banjoist may be refreshed every hour by cups of tea or something stronger. If the latter the above behaviours result in very discordant music followed by silence and sleep, whereas the former may result in silences as the banjoist will need to take a short walk.

It must be noted that there will be very rare occasions when music is heard from the isolation room. When this happens NEVER go in and listen as the music will immediately cease and a sense of desperation will become apparent in the banjoist. Close the door and leave for another half hour. All will then be well.

[Richard William Ineson]

Sounds just like home from home to me.

[Alan Sims]

I always wondered what happend behind closed doors

[Jody Stecher]

Cups of tea? He gets cupsatea brought to him! He is very lucky and you are a saint. There is no pattern at my home. If my wife likes the piece I am working on then all doors between where I practice and where she is are open. If not, they are closed and sometimes in rapid and audible succession. I think all banjo spouses are to be applauded and awarded. It is a hard thing to hear the same !@#$%$%^&* phrase over and over and over and over and over and over. Harder yet is to hear it played poorly which is usually typical of the early stages of me learning a new banjo piece.  In the reverse situation when I hear my wife practice (banjo, guitar, piano, ukulele) I let her know I'm not listening, which is true. I mean I hear it but am not listening critically, am just going about my business and there is start and stop music somewhere which I find very pleasant. She gets a great tone from everything. 

[thereallynicelady]

Maybe your wife (OH) would like to add her two-penn'orth here at Classic Banjo. Perhaps I should start a banjo supporters' group or would that be a banjo supporters supporters' group!

[Jody Stecher]

Hmm, Alaska and see what she says.   A banjo supporter support group?  It'll soon be mistaken for its homonym, a banjo sporter sports group. I can see it now. The Banjo Olympics.  The 50 yard Mastertone Toss.  12 teams playing El Contrabandista and the prize to whomever finishes first, except in France.  The 1oo yard dash whilst playing the intro to Sweet Jasmine with points off for playing in time with one's own feet.  The possibilities are numerous.