Nikki in Springfield

Here is the video of Nikki playing her banjo in the Showcase Saturday morning at the Springfield, Illinois bluegrass festival. Way to go, Nikki!

Chelsea, Chris & Ron in Springfield

Here is the video of us playing in the Showcase Saturday morning at Springfield Bluegrass festival. Many thanks for Larry for taking the video for us!!!!

22nd Annual Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival

Wow! Did we ever have a great time in Springfield this year! Nikki, my 11-year old banjo student, won a banjo scholarship to attend the Bill Evans banjo workshop on Friday. She had a blast and did so well! Nikki also played in the Showcase on Saturday, as did Chelsea. I played guitar for Nikki, and then Chelsea and I worked up Orange Blossom Special as a duet and got Ron to play guitar for us. We are using toothpicks halfway through instead of our bows. I am posting the videos in separate blog entries, so you'll have to check out the next two entries for the videos.

On Sunday when we were packing up to leave, a camera man from a local Springfield television station came by and filmed Chelsea and me for the news. Here is a picture of Chelsea being interviewed for the news!

Bluegrass Wood Carving

Yesterday I went to the Wood Carving Show at the fairgrounds in Belleville. There was this absolutely wonderful carving of an entire bluegrass band. Zane was kind enough to take a picture for me and he e-mailed it to me this morning. What do you think??? Isn't it great?

Banjo Fingerpicks - Types and Fitting

Due to an overwhelming number of people asking about proper fit of fingerpicks, or how to make them more comfortable, or how to keep them on while playing, I decided to make this video to explain all of this. It is in Two Parts due to size.

Part One:


Part Two:

Chris Talley Trio Plays in Mascoutah November 16

The Chris Talley Trio will be playing in Mascoutah, Illinois on Sunday, November 16th. The concert will start at 2:00 and will be held in the Espenschied Chapel (Mascoutah Cemetary Chapel) located at 317 County Road. This will be our last public concert of the year, so come one and all!! The cost is $5.00 at the door. Since the chapel is not affiliated with any church and is self-supporting, your money helps with the upkeep. Hope to see you there!

Indian Head Fiddle

This is a one of a kind indian head fiddle. The scroll was carved by Zane Prosser and is absolutely exquisite! I have posted two videos and some pictures for you to look at and to hear the fiddle.