GP:  I know you are not supposed to ask, but could you tell us how old you are?

I am 20 years old.

GP: Katherine, where are you at in your education? (Where you attended/are attending, plans, etc.)

I am a Junior at Wesleyan University in CT. My majors are Art History and German Studies (German by accident because it was recommended that I learn German before going to graduate school for art history, who
would have thought?!) I would love to be a curator at an art museum, but we will see!

 GP: And you are headed to Germany? Can you fill us in on why? How long you  are going for? And future plans?

As I mentioned above, a goal of mine was to become fluent in German, and what a better place to do so than Germany! I love traveling, eating new foods, meeting new people etc and am so excited to be in
Berlin, one of the present capitals of the art world. I will be gone for eleven months, and then the next year will finish my BA at Wesleyan.

GP: Have you ever played a musical instrument before?

In elementary school we were required to either join the Chorale Group or Band, and since I knew I couldn't sing I decided to learn violin. I played for a couple years and, though my mother disagrees, wasn't very
good and didn't really enjoy playing. I tried trumpet in 5th grade too, and liked it but mostly because I was the only girl in the class! Since I was 11 years old, though, I haven't been involved in music except to listen to it.

GP:  So just two months before you leave for Germany, you decide to learn the banjo. In those two months you have made an amazing amount of progress for sure, but why would you decide to learn just two months before you head overseas?

It's a very bizarre story. Because I am going to be away all year in Germany, my parents wanted me to spend the summer at home. Nearly all of my friends from HS were spending their summer vacation away, though, and I couldnt find a job waitressing (probably because I had no experience!). So my summer prospects were bleak. I went in mid June to visit my best friend, Marleigh, who lives in Boston and was telling her about my woes. She is actually the one who suggested I learn to play an instrument, as a way to spend my time this summer doing
something (sort of) productive! My flight back got in at 11am and by 4pm I was in Gitter Picker buying a banjo!

GP: Why banjo, what was your inspiration?

Marleigh plays banjo but her brother and group of friends are all very musical. When I was visiting her she made me try playing the banjo and the guitar, the two instruments that were readily on hand, but I kind
of just knew that the banjo was meant to be! It's funny too, because she had tried to get me to play her banjo for a while, to just try it out because she had so much fun playing it and thought that I would too. But EVERY time I just kinda looked at her like she was crazy. "ME? BANJO? no thanks" is what went through my head. I don't know what changed my mind, but I'm so glad I did!


GP:  You’ve had a taste of both styles of banjo, what do you like better, bluegrass banjo or clawhammer and why?

I am definitely a clawhammer kind of girl. Who knows, maybe if I had started bluegrass first I would like that style better. But I think that, because I'm learning it now as I'm about to leave for my year abroad, it stresses me out not to be able to automatically play it like a pro, because I have so many other things to stress about now (packing, practicing my german, saying goodbye to friends and family, etc). I'll be sitting there with my finger picks on and my Earl Scruggs book and after about half an hour I'm like "well I've had enough of that!" and go back to jammin clawhammer tunes. It's gotten to the point where I feel so comfortable playing that way that it's a real stress-reliever, it mellows me out, and thats what I need right now!

GP: What do you think about your Goldtone openback?

I love my banjo!!! Because I'm so new to this, and have really only played on a few different banjos, I don't really have any expertise about banjos and sounds and quality yada yada. But its just so beautiful! The first night I got it, and had no idea how to play it, I remember I would just kinda hold it in my lap and look at it because it's just so stunning. Now I swear, if my house was burning down and I could only save one thing (knowing my dog and family was safe already) i wouldn't have any hesitation to grab my banjo and run for it!


GP:  What about practice?  How much time do you put into practicing each
night?

That's so hard to say because I play it all throughout the day in little intervals. Basically every time I walk into my room and see my case there I get the urge to play at least a couple songs. Every night though, especially when I was still trying to get the hang of the basics, I say I'd play for at least an hour or two straight. Often times much longer! I really have no idea though, practicing isn't a chore and whatever goals I have I set for myself, so I don't count the hours, they just kind of seem to fly by!

GP:  Every night?

Yup, I'm surprised my parents have tolerated it as well as they have!

GP: How has your GitterPicker experience been?

Gitter Picker has been great! From the very first day they have been so supportive, and I really love that its a family run shop because everyone is always smiling, and its kind of funny for me to see all these little kids running around with electric guitars while I'm waiting for my banjo lessons. It's just a great atmosphere in general. And who else would have given me the opportunity to play an open mic after only three weeks, AND not booed me off the stage for being so nervous. Without a teacher like Brett who really believed I could do
this, I wouldn't be anywhere near as competent as a I am today.

GP:  So where are you going with this?  What are your future plans with the
banjo?

Who knows! I love playing and know that I will always have banjo as a hobby, kind of as a friend too, as corny as that sounds! Whenever I feel like teasing my parents Ill say, "Yah after Wesleyan I'm goin banjo pro, so much for art history and german and all that money gone towards an exceptional liberal arts education!" and then break out singing Sugar Babe by Dock Boggs or whoever in my best hick accent, and my mom and dad laugh, albeit nervously. Maybe me and Marleigh will start a banjo group one day! And I have a bunch of friends at Wesleyan who play guitar...now maybe I should take voice lessons...hmmm......I'm definitely going to make banjo Germany's new favorite instrument.

GP:  Katherine, how about some parting words and advice from you?

Don't be afraid to try new things!!! I've always been pretty independent and open-minded but I never would have thought in a million years I'd be planning banjo. So yah I'd say try new things, even if its way out of your comfort zone. And don't take it too seriously! At the open mic I was so nervous and at a certain point I knew there was no way I'd be able to get through the entire song so I just stopped playing, looked up at Brett and said, "Well I think I'm done now. Its awful hard to play when your hands are shaking!" and laughed it off. Laughing is great, good advice for anyone, not just beginner instrument players!