Blue River Music Lessons

Many years back one of my best banjo students ever, Elijah Orlenko, left Vancouver to move to Toronto with his family where he would study classical piano at the Taylor Academy for six years and win a number of competitions including top prize at the Los Angeles Young Musician International Piano Competition.

Present day; Elijah has just been accepted to the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia which is among the top programs in the world for classical piano. He is very excited. The one catch is that the housing there is quite pricey so his family are doing some fundraising to help out.

If you would like to help Elijah the website is https://gofund.me/ccb42d19

Just to get an idea of who he is here is a recent clip pf him playing Transcendental Etude #10 from Franz Liszt on the piano as well as an old clip of him playing Honeysuckle Rose on the banjo...

https://youtu.be/gpjsCGDxDGc

https://youtu.be/0CxrejYdg6c

Elijah’s Musical Journey to Curtis, organized by Elijah Orlenko Hi! My name is Elijah Orlenko, and my passion is playing the piano. This year I am… Elijah Orlenko needs your support for Elijah’s Musical Journey to Curtis

https://youtu.be/MoBLTW2YRJ8

Simon and Garfunkle's 'America' on solo banjo Simon and Garfunkle's 'America' on solo banjo arranged and performed by Devon Wells.

Some general tips for increasing right hand speed on 5 string banjo.

Banjo Speed - General Advice General advice on how to build right hand speed in bluegrass banjo.

https://youtu.be/3bxcMyw6Q7o

variation on the standard Scruggs G lick #6 (bluegrass banjo)

Recorded a little picking on Home Sweet Home...

Home Sweet Home Home Sweet Home played solo banjo by Devon Wells

This is a niftly D lick for bluegrass banjo...

D lick#1 D lick for bluegrass banjo

This is an arrangement I did of the standard 'Alabama Jubilee'...

Alabama Jubilee (Guitar Instrumental) This is an arrangement I made of the standard 'Alabama Jubilee'.