About 3 years ago, I was getting close to teaching my 2000th private student. So, I decided as a way of giving back, I would give that person lessons free for a

year. Besides playing live, teaching is the single most rewarding thing I have ever done in music. I have gotten as much from my students over the years, as I have hopefully been able to give; I know I have always tried to give 110%.

I am lucky because that person who will be taking lessons for the next year, is actually very talented, and a breeze to teach. I think she will do extremely well at the banjo. She has the patience and the love for it. What more could I ask for in a student.

Her name is Katie Yandrick. She comes from Pennsylvania. Katie is a student at Eastern Kentucky University. I have included a picture of her with her banjo, and a little note she sent me. I wish her the best of luck. By the way, she's really funny too! A great sense of humor.

It all started with the movie ”Deliverance.“  I mean, I had always wanted to learn to play a string instrument, because I can’t lug a piano to the beach.  It was a few years ago that I fell in love with the banjo.  A year ago in January, I moved to Richmond, Kentucky, from Latrobe, Pennsylvania.  I couldn’t get the itchin’ for a banjo to go away, so I purchased one, without knowing anything about it.  I found Ken not too long after that; I knew we were ”a match made in heaven“ when he told me I was his 2,000 student!! His patience and encouraging teaching style are awesome.  I am actually playing the banjo now – thanks, Ken!!