Information on

Joan P. Dickerson, Banjoist

Sounds of the Banjo™

Just Banjos™

Biography

Throughout our history, the banjo has been a passion of Americans from plantations to Park Avenue, waning at times in favor, but still electrifying.  That "half barbaric twang," thrilled Joan so much, that she knew she had to play banjo.  But, like most people, Joan did not realize that there were types and styles of banjos-Tenor, Plectrum, Bluegrass, Old Time, Classic, Minstrel, Frailing, Clawhammer, Jazz. So when her banjo teacher (who would be more than 100 years old now) offered her "Classic" banjo, she fortunately did not know enough to decline in favor of the sound she had heard -- Bluegrass.

    As one of the few black players of this style (of an instrument which had an African origin and was once strongly associated with African Americans), Joan has of course been the subject of several newspaper articles. Classic banjo is the style used at the Turn-of-the-Century. Weston, Van Eps, Oakly, Farland and Ossman were well known and noted.  She usually plays period instruments from the 90’s (the Gay Nineties) through the twenties.

    Joan studied with Russell Truitt, and with Norm Azinger, and has performed with him as well as with Al Smith, Bill Stewart and  Jeff Grosser, masters of the plectrum banjo and Greg Allen a tenor banjoist.

Performances

Sounds of the Banjo™ uses a variety of banjos and performers to present  a "History of the Banjo," interjecting between banjo tunes, commentary about banjos, its music and people.

When performing as a member of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club (a four string banjo band which can marshal as many as 45 banjoists) and with Banjo Busters ( a banjo quintet which formed in the early 1970's), she plays plectrum  banjo style.  As a soloist and duo with Just Banjos™, she plays the melodic Classic style banjo.   Joan has performed before strolling audiences as  well as before seated audiences of up to 450  at:

	•	Chautauqua Institute, NY

	•	The Classic Jazz Society of Toronto, 2nd Annual Ragtime Extravaganza

	•	The Mississippi Queen Steamboat of the Delta Queen Steamboat Line

	•	The Grand Opening of the H.J.Heinz Historical Center

	•	Victorian Christmas and Garden Tours, Pittsburgh

	•	Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, "Cultural Street Fair"

	•	ProArts' "Live Arts 2000" fund raising gala

	•	Cincinnati Museum of Arts, opening of the "Twachtman Exhibit"

	•	Phipps Flower Conservatory, Winter Christmas show

	•	Banjo conventions in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia,Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee

	•	Nursing homes, private parties, churches and bookstores

The Pittsburgh Banjo Club has several times featured Joan’s Classic Banjo at their performances.

As an educator, Joan has taught college level Computer Science and Mathematics, and has designed and taught computer classes for industry and institutes.  She also designed a Banjo Survey Course for Calliope--the Folk Music Institute of Pittsburgh. This was partially funded by Fretted Instrument Guild of America Foundation.

Memberships:

	American Banjo Fraternity

	Banjos Unlimited, http://www.find.at/resonator

	Fretted Instrument Guild of America (FIGA),   http://www.members.aol.com/~allfrets

	Pittsburgh Banjo Club

Contact Information:

	Joan P. Dickerson, PhD

	3232 Kennett Square

	Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA

	Phn: (412) 687- 0675

	Fax: (412) 687- 8196