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Mendel, mitosis
and ... banjos?
Biology professor playing banjo on his porch, camp
By Jodi Westrick
Collegian Reporter
Most members
of the Hillsdale community think of Dan York as a biology professor
who is passionate about his work. York teaches students the
difference between meiosis and mitosis, he is involved with
the Conservation Club, and he makes frequent trips to Africa
to study African lions. York does more than just biology, though.
He plays the banjo.
York recently spent three days
honing his skills at the American Banjo Camp in Puget Sound,
Wash. About 70 students attended the camp ranging in age from
their 20s to 60s.
"I originally started playing
the banjo in high school around 1970," York said. "I
hadn't played in about 20 years. I picked it up again about
five years ago."
The camp was an anniversary present
to York from his wife, who has been trying to organize the trip
for about three years.
"She knew I would never get
everything situated for the camp on my own, so she organized
everything," York said. "It was a complete surprise
to me. She had to order plane tickets so I could leave early
Friday morning and come back Sunday night."
The camp offered its students
specialized instruction in old-time and bluegrass style banjo
playing. York mainly plays in old-time style.
"It's a style that takes
its roots from the slave period near the end of the 19th century,"
York said. "It remained popular until bluegrass came along
and the radio was invented.
"It's really an interesting
genre of music. It's a mix of slave tunes with tunes from the
Civil War. Around 1890 to 1920 there was a really strong influx
of Irish and British Isles music as well because of all the
emigration."
Because of the two different styles
of banjo playing, the camp was divided into two sessions. Examples
of these sessions included the "Fundamentals of Round Peak
Claw-hammer," "Triplets
and Grace Notes in Claw-hammer Style," and "The Thumb
Lead Two-finger Style of Carroll Co., Virginia." The claw-hammer
style is used in old-time banjo playing, while bluegrass players
generally use the three-finger style.
"Banjo playing gave rise
to country music and also helped to form the blues and rock
and roll in general," York said.
The camp featured many well known
instructors, such as Ken Perlman, Bill Keith, and Mac Benford.
Each night the instructors would also give a concert showing
their talents in banjo playing and also to entertain the students.
"I had a fun time. It was
a really nice experience," York said. "I met some
really great people and I hope at some point to see them again."
York is also looking for any interested
musicians who specialize in the fiddle, guitar, mandolin or
banjo to accompany him in his banjo playing.
"I really am looking for
people to play along with," he said. "Right now, I'm
just playing all by myself."
On the Web: http://www.Langston.com/ABC
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Ivan Heitman/Collegian Freelancer
After a 20-year hiatus,
biology professor Dan York returned to playing banjo five
years ago. York can often be seen playing oldtime and bluegrass
music on his porch.
www.langston.com
The American Banjo Camp (ABC) is located
in Puget Sound and hosts a variety of students from around
the nation.
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