https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/end-of-year-review-mandolin-beginner
It’s the end of the year and time to review our progress, and plan our goals for the coming year!
Discuss the Mandolin lesson: End of Year Review
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Thank you so much! I felt like this lesson was just for me. Thank you for a great year of lessons!!
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Thank you Sir for all that you do and your kind, loving, understanding. I became a gold pick member a few months ago because I realized what a treasure you are. I support you because you are a Christian and you are not ashamed of our Lord. Also since joining I have benefitted from your practice with a purpose lesson. My playing is somewhat improved but nowhere near what I want it to be. Maybe someday. My 74 year old fingers are stiff from arthritis but I’ve noticed that they are getting somewhat better just by spending time stretching them and doing warmup exercises everyday. I’m faced with numerous health issues but thanks be to our Lord somehow I manage to find between 1 1/2 and 2 hours per day to practice. You have given me something new to think about in this lesson today: My value as a person isn’t found in my inability to play like you do, my value is found in Christ Jesus who died for me. So I will plink and plank and plunk joyfully to the Lord. Just one think I’m a little hesitant to mention; please don’t take this as a criticism, but I’ve noticed in your beginner lessons you go much slower in explaining the how to’s than you do in the intermediate and advanced levels. I’ve tried slowing the videos down but I personally would find it more beneficial if you didn’t go through them quite as fast. God bless you and your family in the coming year.
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Thank You Very Much Ben for your informative and enlightening discussion. As I was watching the video I was jotting down some intended goals for next year and had to stop at TEN !!! 
Should keep me fairly motivated for the next few months.
I’ve only been a GP Member since June but have not regretted joining and honestly, I’ve learned more in the past 6 months than I had in past, failed attempts, for over 2 years with previous instruction. Being a retired educator I especially appreciate the objective/goal structure of your course in addition to the numerous addendums to assist with learning and ensure success.
Thanks again Ben. Goal #8 . . . Get To A Cabin Camp !!! 
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Happy New Year, Everyone! I hope you’re all healthy and in good spirits.
As we “chord walk” into 2024, Ben has encouraged us to reflect on our musical journeys from the past year and share the top 5 things we’re looking forward to working on. Here are mine:
A Reverse Roll of What I Learned This Year:
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Effective Practice and Focus: This year, I learned the art of practice and unwavering focus, thanks to Mr. Hyatt and to valuable lessons like “How to Practice.” For me, Banjo playing, or any instrument, for that matter, is about mental daily discipline as it is about picking strings. Practice has become part of my daily morning routine as much as coffee.
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Drive Enhancement: Not only did I learn how to infuse drive into any song, I also learned how to play different variations of a single note - thanks to the “Fireball Mail” lesson.
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Chord Walking: The “Backup Course” taught me how to gracefully chord walk into different chords, and I had a lot of fun with the Single Measure Backup Lesson.
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Jamming Abilities with Others: One of the most random journeys this past year was the random jam I had with others with the “Minor Mingle”. We brought together a saxophone, piano, guitar, banjo, and a drum machine.
Amazing Grace with Banjo: I drove into new territory with “Amazing Grace,” and this time the partner – Ben’s jam track. It’s incredible how a jam track can elevate the learning experience. Playing along with a mandolin made it even more ‘pick-turesque’! -
Neck Exploration with Waypoints: I’ve been exploring the neck extensively, crafting what I call “waypoint warm-ups.” One of these warm-ups emulates classical guitar-style etudes, covering the entire neck range. It’s a work in progress, but it’s been a fantastic learning experience for me as I speak the chords as I play attempting to use every position on the neck.
A forward roll of areas to Improve Next Year:
- Picking Transition: Coming from classical guitar, I still play using my fingers and transitioning from fingerstyle/classical banjo to fingerpicks is on my agenda, I still prefer using fingers.
- Alternate Tunings and Capo: Exploring alternate tunings and the use of capo use is a journey I’m I believe I am finally worthy.
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Curb both banjo puns and the use of the G Lick: My banjo puns also need some alternate-tunings, and I’m working on not overusing the G lick. Both are promises I am not sure I can keep.
- New Song Horizons: In additions to the new songs yet to be discovered in future lessons, I have thoughts of adapting songs none banjo song to the banjo, some first thoughts I have are “Just Breathe” by Pearl Jam, “Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits and/or “Never Going Back Again” by Fleetwood Mac. In my world, all would be a challenge.
- Consistent Learning: To keep the learning curve steep, continue with the resolution to tackle one new Banjo Ben lesson each week – as I start to wander up and down the intermediate track.
Lastly, wishing everyone a joyful, safe, and melodious 2024 filled with great music!
And a massive thank you to Ben and the incredible crew for their unwavering dedication in churning out fantastic material.
Cheers to a happy and healthy new year! 
David
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So I don’t know how I am responding to a Mandolin End of Year Review in the Beginning Banjo section but hey it is what it is.
2023 hasn’t be a great year for me. Following my surgery at the end of last year 2022 I didn’t study/practice any banjo for the first six months of this year the second half of the year although I did pick a little I didn’t have the same motivation I have experienced in previous years. I seem to sleep a lot during the day and awake most of the night.
These past couple of months what picking I have done has been focused on Alan Munde 's Peaches & Cream ( from Alan’s Anthology II DVD) which is slightly different to @BanjoBen 's Lesson and a Medley of two Celtic, Melodic, Single String tunes Boys of the Bluehill and Harvest Home by Heath Joyce PickinLessons.com of which I am also a Life Member.
I have tinkered with a few other lessons but nothing that really held my interest for long. This morning I decided to revisit three lessons I hadn’t looked at in a long while. Lonesome Road Blues. Boogie Woogie Back Up 1 & 2 and to my amazement I was surprised at how much I could remember. The Melodic Solo in LRB still remains a challenge. For the time being I have no plans to set any long term goals. My recent CT scan has highlighted a post op issue that requires further investigation / CT scan / tests. So for the next month or so I will be spending what time I have on LRB & Boogie Woogie Backup my Favourite Lessons
When I received @BanjoBen 's timely review in the mail today I hadn’t given any thoughts on what I plan to do going forward. I do hope to continue to help others in their quest to play banjo. My last thoughts of 2023 are for my good friend Dave Long who passed away earlier this year. I miss you buddy
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’auld lang syne!
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Great lesson. Mostly just want to thank you for your passion to share and teach others. Health issues have squelched my practice and playing but I still enjoy watching every lesson. I had the pleasure of attending a Cabin Camp this past year and it was awesome! Playing rhythm guitar on the stage with my group for our concert was certainly a blast. Highly recommend a Cabin Camp for everyone!! Just do it. Thanks Ben.
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Ben, please continue to do a full ‘Mindset of a Musician’ course.
For 30 years I played the guitar, I never got any better and just learned to simply play some songs strumming cowboy chords. After using your course as a gold pick member for three years learning the banjo I felt like my guitar playing was only ever ‘painting by numbers’ but with my banjo playing I was actually starting to “learn to play the instrument itself.”
the mindset of “learning to play the instrument” was so different to simply playing songs
This last year I have been playing in different keys, I’ve been playing with others and making my own arrangements. I have been listening to and breaking down Banjo breaks and Tabbing them out as I work them out. I have been adding licks simply when I think they fit. I’ve been attending festivals and jamming. I’ve been moving up the neck and playing chords out of different positions on the fly. I’ve learned that even the most simple backup on the banjo is as much about playing the banjo as the most complex solo break. I’ve been playing live in front of others. I have been playing along to songs that were never banjo orientated to start with. I now have other musicians asking me to back them on their songs to give it a banjo element. I have got together a group of other musicians and we now have a bluegrass band in the making (not that common in the UK). I am starting to live and breath the banjo. Over the last few months I have some how without me knowing managed to inspire one of my best friends to play the Banjo, some one who had never played a note on an instrument in his life, came to me one day with a banjo and asked me to show him the very basics to get him out of the blocks, He is now practicing daily and has just this week dropped some serious cash on a stage grade Deering. He’ll be a Gold pick member soon!
What this website has done for me is allowed me to actually learn the instrument itself and get into the mindset of learning.
To add to all of that my 13yr old daughter is now playing the mandolin, we play together all the time, she is very much part of our band and fully respected by the other members. The joy of playing with and watching my little girl develop into music is something I cannot put into words.
My next years goals are to work hard on learning more scales to get a better melodic sound. To work on pushing up my picking speed but still retaining control and clarity. To play live more. I also want to revisit some of the lessons contained in the beginner section. As well as the focus on my three finger playing I also want to learn the cuckoo in claw hammer style as an introduction to drop thumbing and break through that barrier with that style of playing.
Many thanks for all you do Ben, wishing you and your family all the very the best for 2024. I look forward to seeing what you can create in the way of lessons next year. Happy New year from Birmingham UK.
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Thanks, Ben, for this lesson and thanks to all for your replies which are so interesting to read and so inspiring.
2023 marked my first full year playing the banjo (I picked it up part way through 2022) and I feel I’m making enormous strides.
For me, my key success was starting to play with others. I have a couple of very talented friends and together we play the banjo (me!), guitar and ukulele.
The practice of playing with them has helped so much when playing along to the lessons here on banjobenclark.com, although it has slowed down my progress through the Beginner Learning Track.
My targets for 2024:
To perform in public with my banjo group. We currently know 11 songs and have said that when we reach 15, it’ll be time!
To take part in a jam session (difficult as I don’t know many other musicians). I am going to a traditional music festival in July, so am taking my banjo. Hopefully I’ll get the chance there.
I’m (obviously) going to continue with the Beginner Learning Track, by the end of the year I’ll be happy if I have reached the end of the Basic Banjo Backup course. As a stretch target, I’m going to practice Bkackberry Blossom up the neck, principally to help me fix the chord shapes.
Happy New Year to all!
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Happy New year to everyone and thanks Ben for all your help and dedication to helping us.
Last year I really spent time:
Working on Pulloffs
Getting more comfortable in normal speed jams playing backup and sometimes taking a break.
So Now I am going to make my next years goals public and it will be fun to look back next Jan and see how it wentl
-My 2024 Banjo Goals**
- Have Fun and enjoy, its the Journey
-Contiue to work on pulloffs. I may always be working on these, until the day I die.
-Practice adding one new lick into songs every month. Practice this so much that I can do it on the fly.
-Try to attend at least one Jam session a week.
-Learn 1 new song every other month from Banjo Ben website.
-Make up my own break for one new song every other month.
-Spend a least 4 days a week 10 min, practice working on scales and memorizing the number associated with
each note in the three positions.
-Learn transitional notes as I travel from one position up the neck to another position up the neck.
-More time working on timing with metronome (sp) strum machine or playing along with videos.
-Take more breaks at Jam sessions
So these are my goals any tips or comments are welcome as I am flexible
I have signed up for Montana this year and looking forward to meeting some of you and having a blast.
I deleted post because I thought I was on wong disscussion since I play banjo, but I guess Im ok
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Ben, I have watched this video twice. It has made me pause and think about what I’ve done and perhaps where I should or need to go. It was very thoughtful and brought together the relationship between myself as a student and you as an instructor. Sometimes, especially with this type of instruction, it’s good to hear encouragement, and recognition of what we are doing.
This last year (I just had my one year anniversary as a gold pick member) has been full of rolls, cords, songs, and at times working just to get to the next lesson. Last month I felt like I wasn’t at a place I should be. So I have gone back to dig deeper into practicing roles and techniques. I just don’t want a rocky foundation. And if I have to go back and work over some of the same lessons, I will.
So, as I start, my second year, my goal will be to define what my goals are. They could be five goals or they could be three goals, but in either case there is a goal to get to a better level.
Thank you for this lesson, happy new year to you, your family, and all the folks at Banjo Ben’s.
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Hey Ben! Thank you for this lesson, especially for the emphasis on recording myself! I found that when I was recording myself, I began to get nervous just as if I was playing solo in front of others. The more I recorded myself, the more comfortable I was already becoming! I have since played solo in front of others and have already begun feeling more comfortable with it!
I echo many of the sentiments above regarding your sincere demeanor and faithful approach to making us better musicians. I enjoyed attending the banjo camp in 2022 and know that I’ll even enjoy the next one more given my remarkable improvement since. I don’t think I’ll be able to make one this year, but God-willing I’ll see you in 2025, hopefully at the farm in Texas! I recommend attending a camp to anyone reading this! Have a blessed 2024!
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Wow y’all, thanks for all these great replies! I was thankful and honored to read your words, and excited for each of you as you progress in 2024!
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This was a fantastic way to look back and ahead and has got me fully energized to take on this year with some focus…so thank you!
Here are my top fives:
Progress last year (banjo):
- Backup. Finally! The members only Kristin Scott Benson members only course is what made that happen for me
- Timing. I’ve got a metronome and realize now how helpful that can be to improving my timing. This is an ongoing priority of me
- Listening. I really surprised myself a few weeks back when I played a few backup rolls to a commercial on TV. No tabs!
- Advanced version of Cripple Creek. That was the first song I learned and - probably like many - have mastered the beginner version. Recently, I tackled the advanced version and, while not completely there yet, can play it. It’s pretty awesome.
In the coming year:
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Timing. I’m really going to have fun with the metronome
- More chords. I still struggle with fingering/switching
- Jam Session. There is one nearby and I will overcome my fear and attend my first one! I really want to come to a camp - anything planned in June?
- Practice rigor/structure. Need to put in place what you teach in your lesson @BanjoBen. Sometimes I still just pick up the banjo and play what I know…
- Up the neck. For backup, for leads. need to keep working on more chords and bends and get my little pinky finger working!
All the best to everyone!!! Oh - and if there are others in the SF Bay Area who want to Jam, hit me up.
Jon
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Bonjour Banjo Ben,
And thanks a lot for these lessons about practice becaude I’m the kind of guy you’re talking about in this video : living in Europe and having nobody to play with and no chance to jam.
My goals for this Year :
- Be able to play about 10 songs and tunes ( break and black UP).
- Be able to play a little faster.
-To improve the timing of my hammer ons and pull offs. - To play songs in other keys than G.
-To begin to improvise.
I’ll sending a video very soon.
Please, excuse my english.
Wish a wonderful New Year to all bluegrass fans.
François
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Great as always Ben. Words to live by. A Happy and Blessed New Year to you and your family !
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Great as always Ben. Words to live by. A Happy and Blessed New Year to you and your family.
DB
Ben – For the first time in the few years since I have picked up the banjo I have written down goals for the coming year. You’ve inspired me to do things that are a little out of my comfort zone. Thank for that – and I am hopeful I can attend a camp in the next year. Do you have any coming up in the early fall? Chris McMurray
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Yep, we’ll be releasing those later this spring! I’m so excited for you and your progress!
Looking through my old document files I stumbled on this journal one of many I kept to keep track of my study and progress. Who knows it may be of help to someone out there.
Archies Tune List.pdf (39.1 KB)
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