Learning the Banjo

Engin 1:
My Father taught me to never turn my back on a challenge or try to run away from one. If you do, that challenge will grow in stature and, like a greasy wall leaning towards you, be almost impossible to summit.  But, if from somewhere within, you can summon the courage and tenacity to stand tall and meet its advancing menace without fear of failure, you will have succeeded.  If this philosophy is subscribed to, even in ultimate defeat, you will have triumphed. You would have learned more about yourself for at least trying than if you decided to run at the first available opportunity.  Never run away or turn your back on anything. Never!

Enigin 2:
Challenges and an individuals attitude towards success can vary, for some it is career, money, kudos etc, etc. For others, it is the simplest things that present the more interesting and rewarding outcome.  For me, like all of humanity, I have many challenges that I am trying to overcome, some sub-consciously and on an every day basis.  These challenges are fought without prior thought or planning, a certain automation kicks in every morning when I wake and the day’s attempts to succeed will begin.

Engin 3:
Now, let me tell you, I am most certainly not musically minded, nor do I come from a family of musical geniuses (is that a word?) or maestros.  I have not got one musical bone in my body.  I simply have no natural aptitude for playing instruments (of any kind).  “But Ben, I hear you cry in astonishment, you surely jest with us, we have heard rumour that you partake in the regular playing of the BANJO!!!!!!”

Enigin 4:
Darn it!! Well, with cover well and truly blown let’s get it right.  It’s a Short scale Irish Tenor Banjo to be correct, but who really cares! When played it sounds like something Grandpa Whetus would play out on his porch, whilst rocking on his old Maple rocker with Rex his faithful Hound Dog nestled by his feet on those too hot to sleep, Tennessee nights…….  that all to clichéd sound drifting out through the night into the Cajun hills. Get the picture!!!!! Good, I was beginning to exhaust my creative mind!!!

Enigin 5:
Anyway, the point to this entire ramble is that I do play the “Banjo”.  Or at least, more appropriately, I try to play.  I am not by any means, nor will I ever be, the next Earl Scruggs (don’t worry, you wouldn’t understand!!) but I don’t really care, I’m proud of where I am in the pecking order. I’m proud because I keep trying.  I can play to a fair standard I suppose and could probably get away with a little bit of busking (providing I didn’t have to sing) and yes, the layman out there would probably think I sound OK.  But the fact still remains that I am not now nor have I ever been a naturally musical person.  I have never had the urge to play any other kind of musical instrument, not even the guitar.  I didn’t even “Do Music” at School.  The fact is that I picked up a Banjo when I was around 14, made an awful racket and, to put it simply, didn’t give up! (The challenge)

Enigin 6:
Now, I wouldn’t say that I am successful in playing the Banjo, I wouldn’t be so self appreciating, but I would say that I have been successful in trying, if that makes sense!  In my humble, Joe Bloggs opinion, you can only achieve true success, by accomplishing a long serious of failures (and trust me, I’m still failing). Sure, there are perceived exceptions, people are sometimes deemed to have achieved success in their life’s when actually they have achieved nothing, they’ve done nothing more than get lucky!!  The achievement (sadly something the afore mentioned wouldn’t be able to appreciate) comes when that long series of failed attempts, reaches the point where success is inevitable.  How many bum notes do you think Mozart wrote and played before he could truly say he had succeeded in writing any number of his classics.

Enigin 7:
All I am trying to say in a roundabout way is this.  If you would like to feel sense of true achievement, first you have to try. You have to steady your nerve, take a deep breath, stand tall and square up to the challenge ahead, proud of the knowledge that it takes courage. Recognise it as something that you are going to meet head on and dig your trench for the coming battle.  When your respective horns are locked, the true battle will commence, you will be tested, you will fail at first, you will want to give in to that feeling of being beaten, to quit, DONT………get your head down, roll up your sleeves get back on you feet and keep trying, you must keep trying.  People do not ultimately fail in achieving success; they simply stop trying to overcome the challenge.

Conclusion:
Anyway, what do I know?  I have a nice tankard of Gumbo on the porch and Rex is warming my Maple rocker.  Now……where’s my Banjo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!