Hi from southwest virginia [Archive]

yakumo9275

Jun-13-2008, 6:29am

Just thought I'd drop in, being a new member and all, I'm Stu, a mad Australian living here in VA, just bought myself an Ibanez M511SBS. I am completely musically inept http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif (this is my first instrument) married into a family of total muso's..

I live in Buena Vista / Lexington VA which has quite a bluegrass scene but can't seem to find a local mando teacher http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

I am trying to learn on my own and finding it tough, I know repetitive practice is required, it just frustrates me that I always seem to find the gap between the strings of same note, rather than the gape between the pairs!! lol

Newbie frustration I guess, its all muscle memory I suppose.

I will soldier on, I'm not sure if I am doing more good than harm being without a teacher.

Anyway, just thought I'd say hi.

Byrdmando

Jun-13-2008, 6:46am

Hey Stu,

I live about 25 minutes down RT. 501 from you in Bedford County. If you are looking for an instructor I would suggest you might try to get in touch with Mike Andes. He is the mandolin player for Nothin Fancy BG band. I know he used to teach and he lives right in Buena Vista. Also, go to the music store in Lexington, cant remember the name (right across the street from VMI), but it is run by a mandolin builder named Schofield. He makes a pretty mean mandolin and he may be able to steer you to somebody or some jams. Take care and have fun.

Byrd

sunburst

Jun-13-2008, 7:14am

Rockbridge music in Lexington is run by Diane Schofield, wife of mandolin builder John Schofield. Lessons are available there, but I'm not sure about mandolin lessons.

Also, check with Tara Linhardt and Danny Knicely. I don't have reliable contact info for them, but just ask around, it won't take long to find someone who knows them in that area.

With fuel prices like they are, you probably don't want to drive over the mountain for lessons, but in Charlottesville there is Pete Frostic and sometimes Andy Thacker.

fatt-dad

Jun-13-2008, 8:15am

Two nice festivals in Buena Vista also.

f-d (Richmond, Virginia)

billhay4

Jun-13-2008, 11:10am

Yakumo,
This is a gentle correction, so please take it as such.
Buena Vista is really not in what is usually known as Southwest Virginia. That part of the state doesn't start until you get past Roanoke and many would say it lies quite a bit west and south of there, in the coal country.
Most call Lexington the Shenandoah Valley, but I've never found this to be accurate either as it's actually in the James River watershed.
Regardless of where you are, welcome. It's a nice area. I've spent many happy hours on the James and Maury Rivers up there.
Bill

sunburst

Jun-13-2008, 11:22am

...and I bet there aren't many people who live more than 100 miles from there who know how to pronounce Buena Vista.

JGWoods

Jun-13-2008, 11:25am

...and I bet there aren't many people who live more than 100 miles from there who know how to pronounce Buena Vista.
Buener Vister

Well that's how it sounds in MA...

Jim Broyles

Jun-13-2008, 11:58am

No, not even close. If you try to pronounce the first word the Spanish way you will be giving yourself away immediately as a non-native.

Jim Broyles

Jun-13-2008, 12:04pm

Buchanan, VA = BUCKanan
Goode, VA = Gooed (long u sound)
Botetourt Cnty, VA = BOT-a-tot
Pulaski, VA = PewLASki
Buena Vista, VA = Byoona Vista

Jim Broyles

Jun-13-2008, 12:05pm

Wytheville, VA = wiffle

yakumo9275

Jun-13-2008, 12:15pm

dont forget staunton (stan-ton, not stawn-ton as I keep getting told!).

thanks for the welcome folks.

Bill, I'll take your correction and correct you ;) I'm australian, so you can say south all you want but its all north to me http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif My Wife is from the shenandoah valley (harrisonburg) her granpa was mayor of Elkton etc. and we have family in every mennonite/amish community across the country (aah playing the mennonite game).

Byrd, I work in Lynchburg, so pretty close to bedford county...

Thanks for the advice on checking out the Lexington Music store, I think I'll do just that.

fatt-dad

Jun-13-2008, 12:51pm

Wytheville, VA #= wiffle
Ha!

f-d

JEStanek

Jun-13-2008, 12:56pm

Geez, You guys are making me homesick. I grew up in Lynchburg (about 1 mile from Byrd), I lived in Elkton for 3 years, and had a brother who went to VMI (Many a friday evening parade did I watch).

Stu, If you're willing to pop South down I81 a ways you could go to Floyd Fest. (http://atwproductions.com/index.php?pr=ffhome) You may also want to look for this book A Guide to the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail (http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Crooked-Road-Virginias-Heritage/dp/0895873273/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213383345&sr=1-1)

Jamie

Byrdmando

Jun-13-2008, 1:10pm

Stu,

I work in Lynchburg also. Im sure we will run into each other sometime. Jamie, tomorrow morning is the start of the James River Batteau Festival and I am taking the Sedalia Endeavor (my boat) from Lynchburg to Richmond. Do you remember that festival?

cooper4205

Jun-13-2008, 1:12pm

In this part of Tennessee and Southwest Virginia (I guess it would be the extreme southwest), anything with "ville" on the end is pronounced 'vul'

Jim Broyles

Jun-13-2008, 1:14pm

Jamie, I grew up in Arlington, which really isn't Virginia, I'm told, but in '94 I worked at several post offices in the area, including Lynchburg- not the main, one up on a hill near a Popeye's Chicken - Goode, Bedford, Austinville, Pearisburg, Tazewell, Danville, Martinsville, Callands, Appomattox Court House, Thaxton, Alton and probably some others I can't remember. I loved it and was set to move down but instead got separated and eventually divorced. My mother still lives in Christiansburg and my sister lives in Riner. Every time I go down I try to make the Floyd Store jam on a Saturday, but too many family obligations have prevented me from making it.

Jim Broyles

Jun-13-2008, 1:16pm

It wouldn't really be a "vul," which brings to mind Vulcan, like Spock http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif as much as a 'vle"

JEStanek

Jun-13-2008, 1:24pm

Bryd and JB,

Those are good places. One of my brothers used to work the Coleman Adam's Construction bateau on that event. Have a good float. For those not in the know, the Bateau Festival remembers when hogsheads of tobacco were carried down the James River to Richmond to be sold.

JB, I went to Virginia Tech and one of my Lab Mates lived and had family in Riner. We would go out in late summer to weed and pick sweet peas, tomatoes and wax beans from her garden. Yum. I didn't get into mando until I got moved to the Philly burbs. I know all about obligations interfering with musical side trips.

Jamie
Edit: eek, did my fingers spell poorly the first time.

Jim Broyles

Jun-13-2008, 1:32pm

My Dad was the police chief of Blacksburg from 74-80.

Byrdmando

Jun-13-2008, 1:36pm

JB,

The BPD was kind enough to put me up for the night back in 91 or so.

JEStanek

Jun-13-2008, 1:52pm

Gotta love Southern Hospitality. My wife's grandfather managed the Blacksburg Airport in the 40-50s. See Stu, soon enough you'll know way more than just the fine Mennonite Community near Harrisonburg.

Welcome to the Café.

Jamie

sunburst

Jun-13-2008, 1:54pm

Grandparents (and Mom) from Blacksburg, "Aunt Grace" lived up on Spruce Run in Giles County, my sister lived in Riner for a while (where Ward Elliot lives BTW), but my Dad's family is from Rich Patch, and that's where I grew up (well, spent the time I was supposed to be growing up). I feel like a transplanted hillbilly down here in the Blue Ridge foot hills where I live now.

Anyway, Stu, welcome to Virginia and welcome to the mandolin!

F5G WIZ

Jun-13-2008, 2:30pm

Funny story about Buchanan, I was on my way back from dropping off my Neely Mandolin in Damasus VA. and was headed up the Interstate along the Blue Ridge. Decided to stop In Buchanan in my motorhome for a quick Burger King lunch and tried to turn around in a large parking lot that was angled to high. Well I proceeded to bury my hitch on the back of the motorhome all the way to the ball. So there I was stuck in the middle of the highway in 95 degree heat. Well after the cops and fire dept. showed up, yeah I was embarrased, someone came along with a ten ton hydraulic floor jack in the back of a PT cruiser. Whats the chances of that. And after some finagleing we managed to get unstuck. The people were very nice and the cops let me go on my way. The mandolin came out great to but that is another story. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

fiddlingdan

Jun-13-2008, 2:43pm

Might also want to check out the Roanoke Fiddlefest in July
www.roanokefiddlefest.org
Dan

Rick Parrish

Jun-13-2008, 3:29pm

One more SWVA town: Narrows, VA = Nars (rhymes with cars).

Any of you pickers get extra credit if you know the county in which Floydfest is held!

Now up in the Shenandoah Valley, you have to know how to say McGaheysville and Weyers Cave! (My first wife was from Rocky Bar... Gobbler's Knob to be precise).

sunburst

Jun-13-2008, 3:35pm

Muh-GACK-ees-vil
Weers Cave

(I went to college in Harrisonburg)

Here in central Va. we have Schuyler, pronounced, SKY-lr.

Jim Broyles

Jun-13-2008, 3:46pm

Isn't it Floyd County?
I just looked up those two places - I was wrong on both of them. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Bigd18

Jun-18-2008, 9:27am

hello all, i am new to this forum and new to the mandolin. i was loaned an alvarez on friday and really enjoyed it all weekend, perhaps to my wifes dismay. yakumo9275, hopefully you will find an instructor to help you, i'm sure there are many. however i found that my guitar knowledge has really helped me ease into the mandolin. so if nothing else maybe you could start with some quality guitar lessons and transition into the mandolin.

my other reason for posting is i too am from southwest virginia, living in the community of callaway (franklin county). i feel very fortunate to be surrounded by so many good musicians, many are family members. i used to take for granted just how much talent is in our corner of the country.