Oldgus

[Ptarmigan]

WELCOME ;D

Hello Oldgus

Welcome to the Old Time Music Forum.

We are all delighted that you are now a member and we look forward to your contributions to the discussions here.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your music & your Old Time Instruments.

Then, why not hop over to our Where are you? poll and click on your own area!

Cheers
'Ptarmigan'

[oldgus]

Hello gang,

I'm pleased to be an early member of what I'm sure will become yet another great resource for musicians.
My name is Gus Bloch and I reside in the beautiful state of Vermont in the USA. Starting with clarinet as a child, I've been involved with music in some way ever since. As an admitted music instrument junkie, I play just about everything including drums, but I draw the line at the painful puckering required to play trumpets, trombones and such. My interests are in retro-nostalgic music such as classical, pre-sixties rock n' roll, traditional jazz and blues performing with or leading groups in all three. I also direct the Rutland City Band, a forty piece concert band which performs in our city bandstand weekly during the summer months.
Finding it hard to find and keep a good banjo player for my jazz group, I took up plectrum banjo and ukulele a few years ago. This led to my being asked to teach banjo at Green Mountain College.
Though I explained that the banjo I played was not what the students would be interested in, the Dean wouldn't take no for an answer. I bought a five string, mandolin and fiddle, started dabbling and studying. Things are now taking off.
Claw hammer is going well, bluegrass and mandolin fair and of course, fiddle is tough. One major challenge is that I have a trained baritone singing voice and I probably sound a bit like like Pavarotti does Uncle Dave when doing old time.
Next semester, I am starting an old time folk music program at the college. Beginning with a project to bring students together for jams and a musical presentation for the college community, I hope to develop something that will become a permanent part of our music department.
I have found both the Banjo and Fiddle hangouts to be good resources in helping my students and myself reach our goals. I'm sure this forum will become just as valuable and I thank it's founders, moderators and all those who participate.

Warmest regards,

Gus Bloch

[Ptarmigan]

Wow Gus, it sounds like you are well & truly up to your Oxters in Music over there.

With all your wide & varied musical experience it looks like you'll be a very useful member of this forum.

I must agree with you too, that the Banjo & Fiddle Hangouts are indeed, in my opinion, two of the most valuable sites on the net.

Cheers
Dick