The music business is feeling the effects of the economic woes of the nation, including local music stores. I suggest that we support local music stores. It's true that the best prices on instruments and accessories are available from the big catalog companies like Musician's Friend and Guitar Center. But how is the service of those chains? You be the judge of their service after you get an unplayable instrument dropped on your door by FedEx or UPS.

The economic trends all point to a dramatic d… Continue

Hi all,
I received emails regarding my blog but am unable to open them to respond to. When I click on them it says "sorry, unable to find..."
Then I looked thru all the members and did not find them there.
There names are Nicolasa Sims and Lavenia Collier.

Any help on solving this problem and/or reaching them would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary Milici
my blog post is "bluegrass tunes needing lyrics"

Well, I can’t believe it…spring has finally arrived. The sun even came out today to make a rare pre-July appearance in Oregon. Okay so maybe it’s not that rare, but sometimes it seems like it and the hint of blue sky is always nice to see after a surprisingly cold wet winter.

Winter was great though. Along with a record snowfall, were the sets we played at the star-studded RiverCity Bluegrass festival, the show at the Emerald Valley Opry (for one of the best audiences west of the Mississippi),… Continue

I had a great time in Nashville meeting so many gifted and wonderful people - both artists and industry professionals. The different workshops were great in terms of understanding different aspects of the business side of the music industry and just how important Independent Artists are - the Industry is imploding right now and there just couldn't be a better time to be independent! Though I didn't win any awards this time around, I was so blessed to be considered among very qualified companions… Continue

On May 1-3, 2009 Dusty Strings will present four outstanding clawhammer banjoists and teachers—Bob Carlin, Chris Coole, Cathy Barton Para, and Dave Para—for a weekend full of banjo workshops, opportunities for private lessons, a Saturday night concert, and plenty of time to meet and jam with other banjoists of all levels. Workshops will cover a broad range of topics for complete beginners through advanced players. A Friday evening introductory session is open and free to anyone curious about cla… Continue