__BanjoJim's Pickin' Parlor__

Check out our friends @ Beck Mountain Corn Maze http://www.beckmountaincornmaze.com

And don't forget to visit The Song of the Mountians website http://www.songofthemountains.com

BanjoJim's Pickin' Parlor is a place for Banjo pickers to get tabs, hear BanjoJim original music, get start-up lesons and promote the awesome world of Banjo Pickin'! If you are in the Tri-Cities area and are interested in lessons, jammin' or other information, please e-mail me at banjojim1@gmail.com .

If you are interested in viewing the lessons page, please contact me for the USERID and PASSWORD. I will get it to you as soon as possible.

Hello pickers! I would like to thank you for visiting my website, and I hope you enjoy it. Just a little about myself, the name BanjoJim was given to me by some of my shipmates in the Navy when by happenstance a fellow sailor was sly enough to leave me his sorrows in the form of a banjo (hey, it was free!). Anyway, at the time, BanjoJim started out as code for "HIDE! Here comes that obnoxious, crazy guy who thinks he can play banjo!" But today and over the years the meaning behind the name has evolved into "RUN!! Here comes that obnoxious crazy guy who thinks he can play banjo!!" I mean really! You don't have to run! I'm not that fast... so anyway, I've been pickin' since 1990 and when I left the service I moved to East Tennessee. Seemed natural since I was now a banjo picker! Although, I will say up front that the fact that my home state of New York ordered the State Troopers to post blockades at all of the borders to prevent my return had NOTHIN' (see I can talk southern) to do with my decision! After moving to Elizabethton, Tennessee I decided the best way to get some pickin' time with other banjo players was to hit the festival circuit and roam the parking lots for unsuspecting groups of musicians. Again, the fact that they refused to sell me a ticket at the gate had nothin' (there I go again!) to do with that decision. Eventually, but not inevitably, I learned to pick purty good (see!). I also learned that the banjo pickin' community is small (most parents don't allow their children to play banjos) and tight knit (banjo pickers don't have a lot of friends). Now, at the prompting of some of my banjo pickin' friends, I am teaching the banjo! Which goes to show that ANYONE can play! But seriously, if you're just gettin' started or have even been pickin' some, you have found a home where people get you! I don't think there is a more rewarding experience in music than playing the banjo. It takes a lot of work and edurance to pick one and hearing Foggy Mountain Breakdown on your own banjo (hopefully played by you) is exciting and satisfying! If you happen to be in the area and would like to learn to pick, pick better or just jam, you can contact me at the e-mail listed on this website. Feedback on this website is also very welcome as this is my first shot at this kind of thing! Enjoy!

Sincerly, BanjoJim