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BRC Events

BRC Events

A Five String Dragon Mastered

January 4, 2025

Not too long ago, the BRC workshop produced a banjo decorated with themes of mythology. The peghead portrays a fearsome dragon and a knight in armor who will tame it.The upper neck fretboard contains frightful visages of werewolves and the heads of hungry dragons.

The lower neck reiterates these scary mythological creatures and their claws.

As all BRC banjos contain an inlay on the heel of the neck for the eyes only of the musician, the base of this neck revisits the image of the fearless knight.

The pot is made of ash, walnut, and cherry woods, and an inscription thereupon (inverted) documents that this instrument is the 105th banjo produced by the BRC.

Over the recent Holidays, the “Dragon Master” 5-stringer was gifted to a grandson who has special interests in musical theatre and musicianship. He and his BRC grandfather (below) were soon jamming together.

From the BRC: All good wishes to our readers in the New Year.

Antique Instruments, BRC Events

A Gibson Violin

December 14, 2024

Although known for its banjo production at the Kalamazoo factory in Michigan, the original Gibson workshop also made violins mostly from 1939 to 1942. About 4200 violins were crafted at the 225 Parsons St. manufacturing site, but production of these unique instruments was discontinued at the onset of World War II. The co-host of our Thursday evening jam sessions owns one of these unique fiddles which he has preserved in safe keeping for many years in its original case. Recently, he brought out the vintage violin to play at a weekly picking session. His fellow musicians were so impressed with the instrument`s  marvelous tone and volume that it has become a regular feature at our weekly jams.

A Kalamazoo-Gibson sticker is readily visible inside the vintage instrument by peering through an “F” hole in the front of it. The violin has a flamed and quilted maple back.

In a recent jam, our co-host (below center) holds the precious vintage fiddle after playing it in a spirited hoedown tune with the band. One summer years ago, the BRC craftsman visited the historic Parsons St. site of the original Gibson factory while vacationing with family in the Michigan Upper Peninsula.

On the same evening seen above, we also celebrated the birthday of our bass player (far right) with cupcakes, and we regaled her with a cheery chorus of  “Happy Birthday.” In addition to being the band’s time keeper, our bassist is also a skilled dulcimer player.

Above is a Seasonal photo of the lakeside BRC domicile as seen from the far shoreline.

From the BRC:  Have a joyous Holiday Season.

BRC Events

Sunrise at the BRC

February 11, 2023

Located in the basement of our home, the BRC workshop faces east across one of the three lakes in our neighborhood. The shoreline behind our house is frequented by deer, foxes, raccoons, and the occasional rambling coyote. Grandkids catch hefty catfish from our dock in the summertime. This winter, sunrises have been a frequent spectacle of meteorology.  By November, wide temperature swings brought freeze-thaw cycles to our lake while intermittently crystalizing its icy monochrome surface.  It is said that Mark Twain advised, “If you don’t like the weather in Missouri, wait five minutes.”

In early December, sunrises were streaked with feathery red-orange hues that mirrored themselves on the waters and frequently predicted impending snow flurries.

Later in December, the Heartland was visited by angry crimson skies (below) heralding the arrival of an historic bomb-cyclone storm that pummeled the landscape and all who lived here.

When the colossal storm finally abated, a gold-striped horizon and windswept morning sky (below) emerged at sunup to reveal that about 600 Canada geese had been driven south by the storm and taken refuge on our frozen neighborhood lakes.

Home owners began to shoot bottle rockets at the noisy  flock to hasten its departure, but to no avail whatsoever. Only the arrival of a hungry coyote stealthily prowling the shorelines was sufficiently alarming to alert the geese to a menacing predator, and the giant flock of birds promptly took wing and fled en masse to faraway environs. As dawn unfolds daily, we are not infrequently treated to a “Giverny in the Sky” alluding to Monet`s serial paintings of his pond in France visited by the BRC wife and her sister a few years ago.

From the BRC: Have a sunny and Happy Valentine`s Day.

BRC Events, G&F Band

Friendships

July 28, 2018

For more than a decade, the local Harley Davidson dealership has been the site of a summertime street party for the Children`s Hospital. The BRC founder`s band has entertained regularly at this annual outdoor festival,  and we have enjoyed making friends with many parents, patients, siblings, and health care workers.IMG_3615

 

About six years ago, we first became acquainted with a special youngster, and she has become our favorite fan.

 

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Over the years, we have fondly watched her grow and listen to our Bluegrass music.

This year`s gig was on a sweltering day, but the band was blessed with a shady cover. We briefly stepped inside the dealership`s air-conditioned shop for a group photo which features a young and capable next -generation banjo picker.IMG_0509

 

 

Although this year is the last scheduled summer street fest, we will carry with us memories of valued friendships with the many good folks who share a link with the Children`s Hospital. We extend a very special thanks to Jeanne who tirelessly coordinated all of these successful fund raising events.

BRC Events

The 4 R`s of 5-Stringers

November 29, 2016

Using his long neck banjo and a customer`s newly acquired instrument as teaching tools, the BRC founder (center in photo) was an invited speaker at this month`s meeting of the Midwest Woodworkers Association. He lectured the assembled craftsmen on his 4 R`s of banjo building:

  1. The banjo must look right and have an aesthetic charm appealing to the personality of the owner.
  2.  The instrument must feel right to the buyer. The BRC open back model weighs only 4 lbs., and this entry level lightweight can be easily handled by beginner students.
  3. The fingerboard must  play right with low `action` of the strings. The fretboard is the dance floor where the digits, like the legs of a ballet dancer, must be able to accomplish their tasks with comfort, ease, and accuracy.
  4. The instrument must sound right to the expectations of the customer. The BRC open back models have a woody, chubby sound preferred by clawhammer enthusiasts, and the resonator banjos have featured a snappy pop favored by Bluegrass pickers.

After a Q&A session, the BRC founder concluded the presentation by performing his `Variations on Greensleeves` on the MWA member`s new banjo (left center). In a very cordial thank-you note a few days later,  an executive officer of the Association graciously reported, “Your deep musical knowledge, your fine workmanship, and your good cheer have inspired us all”.fullsizerender-8

As winter closes in upon the Heartland, the BRC workshop staff wishes all our faithful readers overflowing blessings of the Holiday Season. Enjoy the recent local press clipping about the Banjo Rehabilitation Center in the below link.

http://www.voxmagazine.com/music/two-local-luthiers-revive-banjos-and-mandolins/article_b9046154-5f94-5f3f-83b5-b01b557ad825.html