To: All Banjo Students
From: Bob Young
Re: Lessons with Anton Ullrich

Pickers everywhere — In a short paragraph I will try to convey my Banjo experience over the last 3 years. It all started at the age of 54 when I caught the bluegrass bug and felt the urge to learn the 5 string banjo. Anton came highly recommended by an old neighbor who is a master with a tenor banjo. Over the last 3 years, I have absorbed an immense amount of knowledge, both in Scruggs style & melodic, under Anton's teaching system. BanjerTab has been easy to grasp and, along with the tapes of each lesson, make this system work for both audio & visual learners. Anton has also been very instrumental in giving me the encouragement to play in public venues, not just at home. I can easily say that my journey to become a proficient banjo player has been a great one with Anton's help & dedication in teaching others to play. I would highly recommend this instructional system to a beginner as well as an advanced player needing to work on technique.

Respectfully,

Bob Young
Houston, Texas

I've been a fan of bluegrass music for a long time and finally decided it was time to learn how to play the banjo. Trying to decipher tablature using books and DVD's became very frustrating, and I quickly realized I was not making any progress. So I began my quest to search for a banjo teacher. Then Eureka! I found Anton's site on the internet, contacted him and signed up for lessons.

Anton's teaching methods may seem unconventional at first, but he will have the student up and picking before you can say "Nine Pound Hammer." Anton has a unique gift of breaking down the nuances of a complicated banjo lick into smaller simpler parts, and then communicating those sounds to the student. Then it is just a matter of putting all the parts back together to make it sound like a real bluegrass song! I am always amazed how Anton can anticipate and zero in on a difficult measure and have me playing with ease. Instead of tab, Anton has developed his own "shorthand" for following the music. It reminds me of colorful hieroglyphs when I read it and makes more sense than tablature. Anton's enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of bluegrass music is contagious. He always has some fascinating tidbit to share about a particular song or recording. I can always count on learning something new and interesting each lesson. I feel so fortunate to have Anton as my teacher and friend. If you are hankerin' to play banjo and wondering how to start, contact Anton Ullrich.

Still pick'n and grimacin'

Julie Wagner DVM
Houston Texas.

I started banjo lessons with Anton Ullrich in September of 2004 and have enjoyed every lesson. First let me say, Anton genuinely wants his students to have as much fun learning to play and playing the banjo has he does. His BanjerTab system for teaching Bluegrass style banjo, has been developed over a 30 year period of giving lessons; so he knows what works for students and what does not.

With the BanjerTab system, you do not need to know how to read music to learn to play 5 string Bluegrass banjo. Anton has developed a tablature system that is very easy to understand. Everything is noted in the tablature, which strings to pick and which frets to finger. Another element of Anton's teaching method is his audio tapes. Anton records himself at metronome speeds corresponding to my ability each week. I use the tapes in my practice sessions. At the end of each lesson, I have the written tablature and the audio tapes so I can see and hear the music at the right tempo and beat. What could be better?

I have tried learning music from books and tapes or CDs and quickly get discouraged. The instructor played too fast or too slowly for only one or two repetitions, too few for me to get the hang of the material.

Anton says that the banjo is an instrument to have fun with and he makes it fun. If you want to learn to play 5 string Bluegrass banjo, you won't find a better teacher with a better teaching method than Anton Ullrich and his BanjerTab.

Tom Mason

I was a self-taught guitar player for many years when I decided that I just ought to learn to pick an old banjo that was collecting dust at my brother's house. I made little progress on my own until one day I bumped into a cross between Gabby Hayes and Santa Clause while buying a set of guitar strings at Memorial Music in Houston. This jovial fellow assured me that he could get me headed in the right direction. That was about eight years ago and today I consider myself to be a Banjo Player of modest ability, limited mostly by the time I have available to practice.

As a father of three boys that are active in sports, a business owner, and a coach of youth sports, my time is limited. I play for myself and, in the early days, was forced out to the garage to practice. Had my goal been performing on stage, I am confident that, under Anton's tutelage, I would have been there in 2-3 years. The success of his system was nearly instantaneous. Within the first year I was playing recognizable versions of the classics – "Dueling Banjos," "Cripple Creek," "Jed Clampitt," "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," "I'll Fly Away," "Nine Pound Hammer." Anton's "BanjerTab" is a simple and intuitive system for translating Scruggs-style banjo and he stresses in his lessons the common and repetitive elements found there.

Anton is still one of the premiere banjo pickers in Texas, yet, as a born teacher, he has the unique ability and patience to teach the beginner, as many advanced music teachers will not take beginner students. I think this is because Anton has a real passion for the banjo and is compelled to share his passion. He likes to be there when a new student takes those first steps on their banjo journey.

Now, after these eight years, my Fridays with Anton have become more than banjo lessons. He is one of my favorite people. I have gone through periods where I practice every day and make real advances and periods when I get busy or travel and go backwards, but I never miss my lesson if I can help it. Anton is there with his smile and sense of humor, with his stories about the music he loves and the people who made it. Anton is a creative teacher, always striving for interesting, new ways to teach the fundamentals. He is a colorful piece of Houston music history and a good friend.

If you think you want to learn the 5-string banjo, Anton Ullrich and BanjerTab are the "sure fire" way to get there.

Murphy Graham
Houston, Texas

When I retired I decided to spend more time with my music. Over the years I had tried learning to play several acoustic instruments, mainly the guitar, but never really succeeded. Three guitar instructors and numerous books and videotapes didn't work. Since acoustic music, mainly Bluegrass, was my interest, I decided to try the banjo. I had purchased one at a guitar show several years before but had not spent a lot of time playing it.

I found Anton on the web and was happy to see he specialized in banjo and was a full time instructor. My previous instructors were full time musicians and part time instructors. Anton's method looked intriguing so I decided to give it a try. Three years later, I have never been disappointed.

Anton has developed a teaching method that is not only fun but also extremely effective. He has studied the right and left hand and has found ways to make the banjo easier to play and play faster sooner. He has you playing songs as they are played on recordings within a few months. Not simplified versions but the real thing. None of that "learn these rolls" and "play these chords" like others teach. One of his creations is BanjerTab. This replaces conventional tablature. I find it easier to read at a glance, and it conveys much more information than regular tab. I also like his backup method. It's easily adapted to playing new songs and much more fun than some techniques taught by others.

I have been extremely pleased with what I have learned and will continue to take lessons as long as I'm in the area. Anton has done for me what other teachers and methods could not. Anton Ullrich is true professional Banjo Instructor.

Byron Gilleon
Houston, Texas

My family and I were displaced to Houston due to Hurricane Katrina. After a month, my family moved back home but my job didn't and I needed to do something other than work. I found Anton's website and gave him a call. He said, "I'm going to teach you back-up banjo." I said, "OK."

Five months later I have come a long way and I've added several songs and lots of picking skills to my repertoire. Every step of the way it was hard work but fun! The more I practiced, the more Anton loaded into my next lesson. What Anton really taught was syncopation, dynamics, technique, rhythm, and he really taught me how to work through a song until it came together. I looked forward to every lesson!

Before I met Anton, I learned the 5-string banjo from books and cd's. The first 6 months were rough – nothing sounded like "banjo picking." I eventually learned a half dozen beginner songs though it was tough learning each song by slogging through them blindly. I should have started with Anton. He is an excellent teacher, patiently leading me through each phrase, diagnosing problems, and yet he is always encouraging! He listens when I play and constructs drills to work through the problem areas.

Each lesson is recorded to tape so that you can go home, listen, and repeat. THIS IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE! Some of these little banjo phrases are intricate and are hard to read off paper. Listening really worked for me so that by weeks end, I could play the material and I was ready to move on.

Though I now have to move back, I will still be visiting Houston on business and I plan to make sure to find time for more lessons with Anton!

Miles Barrett

Dear Friend,

I can't begin to explain how much I have learned from Anton in the past year. Finally the banjo makes sense. I have struggled through traditional lessons in the past, only to give up after many frustrating hours of practice. Anton's method provided instant success and fun! He clearly explains the rhythm of the banjo music with key words and visual diagrams. His numeric system is easier to read and remember than tablature.

After only a few lessons, I was playing real music on my banjo. Anton's method also teaches you to play by ear and not rely on written notes. This enables you to play many songs without a lot of memorization.

Learning to play the banjo is the best investment I have made this past year, and by far the most fun past-time.

Remember: You just can't play a sad song on the banjo.

Happy picking,
Jenny Farris

I can't believe that I waited 57 years to decide to play a musical instrument ~ Since I had never tried to play any other instrument, it troubled me that I might not be able to be able to even entertain myself, much less anyone else. Anton's teaching method is easy to learn and his emphasis is teaching songs that you can play right away – as you learn new songs, each has its own techniques that fit into another and another. Banjertab looks strange – but soon, I recognized the patterns and learned to anticipate the next measures, moving my fret hand quickly to be in position for what came next. Started out with a goal of learning "three songs" and here I am almost three years later – still learning and really loving and enjoying my banjo!

Terry G.
Houston, TX
February 2006

"It's Just a Banjo." Don't be fooled, Anton Ullrich is a master of adult education.

With over 30 years experience in teaching, Anton has perfected the art of verbal and visual reinforcement, stepwise breakdown of complex motor skills, and developed a language (called "banjertab") to communicate the notation, fingering, timing, inflection, and positioning of both the right and left hands.

In my banjo-picking career, I've been exposed to many named players (J.D. Crowe, Jim Smoake, Garland Shuping, Ross Nickerson and every imaginable instruction book). All were excellent in demonstrating how they could play, but none could break down the various components of the three-finger technique so that a beginner could quickly advance to achieve the desired snap, crackle, and pop.

Everyone advocates learning the rolls with emphasis on the melody note and "syncopation" of the background. Anton recognizes the strong-soft-soft inflection of Earl Scruggs and the masters, which gives bluegrass banjo that galloping feel. Listening to and playing along with Anton's taped lessons allows one to imprint the proper timing and sound. Then, using the banjertab notation for reference, one can progress with speed unparalleled by any other banjo teaching technique.

Since imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, I have incorporated Anton's banjo teaching techniques into my curriculum to teach surgery residents complex surgical procedures in direct parallel to learning the five-string banjo. I personally am grateful, my students are grateful, and anyone exposed to Anton's unique five-string banjo method will certainly share my enthusiasm.

Joseph B. Zwischenberger, M.D.
Professor of Surgery, Medicine, and Radiology
LeRoy Hillyer, M.D. Endowed Chair in Surgery
Director, General Thoracic Surgery Program
The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

If you're like me, learning to play a new instrument was very intimidating but Anton's BanjerTab system really works! It got my eyes off the paper notes and quickly playing in real situations.

I never had the benefit of formal music training and wasn't sure what to expect when I started playing the banjo in 1995. Anton made playing fun and easy. Along with an infectious laughter and sense of humor, his teaching skills are among the best I've ever experienced as a student. Learning the banjo has been one of the greatest pleasures in my life.

Laura Leigh Branson

Like everyone else, I was surprised and delighted at how quickly Anton's approach gave me the ability to play song after song. I took lessons from him for years, as a result. Tab never worked for me, and Anton combines a rare gift for teaching with a completely new way of representing the music on paper that is far easier for me to understand.

I really believe that ANYONE can learn to play now, and play well -- thanks to the years and years Anton has spent digging these licks out of the classic recordings, creating his own new licks and breaks, and -- especially -- learning how to teach the rest of us how to play.

Gary Henderson

Every New Year's Eve, my annual resolution included getting in shape and learning to play a musical instrument. And every December, I would realize that I had gained more weight and was still limited to plinking out the same feeble chords on my guitar.

When I took up the banjo last year, it was my way of starting over. I am absolutely certain that one of the biggest reasons - if not the reason - that I am finally reaching my goal is Anton Ullrich. Put simply, Anton has put his heart and much of his life into the banjo. He works hard to see the instrument from the student's perspective. He has figured it out at its most basic level - so you don't have to.

The more I accept Anton's advice and stick to his program, the faster I progress. In less than one year, he has taught me to play bluegrass standards at tempos that are faster than I can strum C-D-F on my guitar. It's so much fun, I've started dragging my banjo into work so I can sneak in some practice during my lunch hour.

If I had to compare it to something, it would be like getting the chance to paint on a canvas that's been blank for a long, long time. And the more I paint, the more canvas there is to paint on. Better still, you don't have to be an artist. You just have to love the music.

Now if I could just get Anton to help me with that exercise program...........

Greg Hassell

When Anton taught me the "backbone" of his method to Bluegrass banjo in our first lesson I learned one of the greatest lessons in music, to be applied not only to Bluegrass music but to music as a whole.

Overall Anton's "BanjerTab" is a clear and visually aesthetic method in learning to play and understand Bluegrass banjo. The way the music is broken down and represented has shown me a way to achieve solid timing and clean tone. Keep in mind that the visual aspect is of great help. I can't quite explain why or how but it works with the brain, ear and fingers to make playing the banjo fun and easy. I correlate it to a roller coaster ride every time I play.

Ear development is also another strong attribute I have developed unknowingly with Anton's method. After time my ear developed to the point where I can listen to a break and I find that I am able to recognize a lot of the licks and play along with the tune within minutes. Mind blowing and fun.

Patience is something we all must practice when learning a new tune... however times they are changing. The learning curve is greatly decreased with Anton's "BanjerTab." The best example I can give is that being a fiend for banjo music I have gone the way of "Tab" to learn a tune. I spent about 4 frustrating weeks working on "Clinch Mountain Backstep." Tab didn't cut it, I finally asked for Anton to break that one down for me. In a week I was playing along with the CD at tempo. Immediate gratification.

To anyone wanting to learn the banjo I highly recommend Anton's method. Fun will be at your fingertips and ears as you learn, and your ability to play with others right along side. Thanks Anton!

Sincerely,

Francis C. Mougne,
banjo player for Keystone Station
Marin County, Ca.

Francis Mougne backing Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan
Jan. 15, 2002, Sweetwater Saloon, Mill Valley, Ca.

Francis Mougne (seen here) plays on a Deering "Calico" model banjo.

My experience with a banjo was nothing until I met Anton Ullrich. I had played a guitar for several years when my wife purchased a banjo for me for Valentine's Day in 1996.

I tried to learn the banjo by reading music and by the tablature method with very limited success. Then I was lucky enough to meet Anton Ullrich and began taking lessons from him. He introduced me to his method of learning and it's been a growing process since. This method makes sense and it gives the right feel to the music when played from the printed page.

If I hadn't found Anton Ullrich, I know that I would not be playing banjo today. I would have given up.

Bob Block

Twenty five years ago I made my first attempt at learning to play the banjo using tablature. It was very frustrating and it was soon replaced by something less frustrating. In February 2000, I began lessons with Anton. Immediately he had me learning a classic Flatt & Scruggs Bluegrass tune: "Someday We'll Meet Again Sweetheart." Within a few months Anton had taught me to play great songs like "9 lb. Hammer," "I'll Fly Away," "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," "Ballad of Jed Clampett" and more. Within the past 18 months, I have learned as many as 18 tunes and it's great to be finally playing banjo! His technique is very simple to understand and use, it is fun, and it works!!

Anton is a patient, professional, concise, goal oriented instructor. His unique sense of humor makes each lesson fun and relaxing - a high point of the week. So, quit dreaming and start playing! You'll never regret it!

Dave Brown,
Construction Worker

I started learning from Anton's teaching method at 79. The Ullrich method of playing brings a new dimension of pleasure and satisfaction into my life. I wish I had started at 69 or 59 or earlier!

W.E. Murrell