Q: What does it look like inside the course?
A: Here’s a video tour inside of Breakthrough Banjo:
COURSE CONTENTS
Q: How will I receive my stuff once I get it?
A: When you register for the course, you’ll create a username and password. You’ll use this to log in to the member home page, where all your course materials will be.
Q: What will I learn from this course?
A: Breakthrough Banjo is a complete course for clawhammer banjo, intended to take anyone who wants to from the complete beginner stage to the advanced level.
After progressing through the course, you’ll not only possess a large repertoire of great tunes you can play and advanced technical skills, but will have the tools to do things like pick up new tunes by ear, play in any jam situation, arrange your own tunes, pick up tunes “on the fly”, play and sing, play backup to other musicians, and more.
Topics covered include:
- The No Tears Method for Drop Thumb
- Alternate Tunings
- Fearless Jamming: How To Thrive In Any Jam Situation, Even the First Time
- Playing and Singing: How to Sing While You Play, and Sound Great Doing It
- How to Play By Ear, Even if You Think It’s Impossible
- Playing With A Fiddler: Tricks And Techniques To Make Your Banjo-Fiddle Duets Sound As Amazing As They Should
- Using the Capo: How To Effectively Use the “Hillbilly Crutch” To Play In Any Key
- From “Plunky” to “Plingy”: How To Get the Tone You Want From Your Banjo
- Playing Popular Music on the Banjo: How To Take Your Favorite Song And Play It On the Banjo
- Fretless Fretless Banjo
- Syncopation Essentials: Tricks and Techniques For Making Your Playing Bounce And Swing
- Clawhammer Backup Made Easy
- How to Learn Tunes “On the Fly”
- The Clawhammer Style Palette – From Foot Stomping to Melodic, and Everything In Between
- From the “Cluck”, “Chuck”, and Beyond: Percussive Techniques for the Right Hand
- The secrets of “Drive”: What It Is, And How To Get It
- Developing Your Personal Style: How To Arrange Your Tunes To Suit Yourself
- How To Play In A Band
- …..and much more!
Q: What kind of tunes will I be learning?
A: You’ll be learning a bunch of tunes as part of the course, and have the option of learning many more inside of “The Vault”, which is an ever expanding library of tunes and songs in multiple genres (popular jam and fiddle tunes, traditional folk, popular songs, solo clawhammer classics, holiday music, Gospel, etc.).
Q: How long will it take me to progress to an advanced level?
A: This will depend on a few different factors, such as whether you have any prior playing experience, and how much time you have to practice. One of the advantages of the Brainjo Method is that you’ll be able to find content that’s appropriate for wherever you are now, and that will move you forward in this most efficient and enjoyable manner possible.
Q: What if I have a question about something in the materials?
A: Please ask! The best way to ask is in the comments section. That way, everyone can benefit from seeing the answer. If you’d rather not share your question, you can of course always contact me directly. I’m happy to answer anything!
Q: Do you have an amusing cartoon video that explains the merits of the course?
A: Well, funny you should ask! Yes I do:
GENERAL
Q: How do I sign up for Breakthrough Banjo?
A: Just click this link:
SIGN ME UP
Q: I’m old, can I still learn?
A: This course was built with the adult learner in mind, designed to take anyone at any age and make them into a musicians by tapping into mechanisms of neuroplasticity that exist in all of us, throughout our brains.
Q: Can I really learn to play by ear?
A: Unless you are truly tone deaf (“pure tone deafness”, which is a very rare genetic affliction), you can learn to play by ear. Most people think of the ability to learn by ear as a gift you either have or don’t. This is wrong. Learning to play by ear is a skill just like any other, and I will teach it to you. I’ve taken many folks who thought it was impossible, and turned them into ear learners in a short period of time.
Q: Do I need an in person teacher to get better?
A: Certainly, there are benefits to having a one-one-one teacher. Yet, the vast majority of folks don’t have access to a teacher in their area. Furthermore, finding one who’s skilled in communicating what a student needs to know and when is even more challenging. So, this is a luxury that few have access to or can afford, as the typical cost is $100-120 a month.
The Breakthrough Banjo course was designed primarily for those who don’t have access to or are not able to afford private lessons, as well as for those who are looking for a way of supplementing and extending their one on one lessons.
This course is intended to provide you with the benefits of a one-one-one teacher at a fraction of the cost. Lastly, members have reported making much more rapid progress in the Breakthrough Banjo course than they’d previously had with one-on-one lessons.
Q: Can I view the materials on an iPad or other tablet device?
A: Definitely. Tablets devices work very well for viewing the course materials.
Q: Am I able to download the course videos?
A: Yes. Since launching the Breakthrough Banjo course, I’ve now it possible for you to download the primary lesson module videos.
PRICING AND PAYMENT
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The course is currently FREE for the first 30 days, then $21 per month thereafter. You can cancel anytime.
Q: How do I pay?
A: You can pay securely with a credit card (through Stripe), or via Paypal.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Q: What do I if I need help?
A: There is a support link directly on your member home page (the place you will come to after logging into the course). This includes answers to support questions you might have, as well as a contact link.
Q: What if I’m not happy with the course?
A: You’re nuts!
Just kidding.
I have one goal only for you on this site, and that is to learn to play clawhammer banjo, and to take your playing as far as you’d like it to go. I want you to feel like you’re always getting more than your money’s worth from the course. So, if for any reason you aren’t satisfied with the course, just let me know and I’ll refund your last month’s membership.
Got another question you don’t see answered here? Use the contact form below to ask it: