Flying and Picking #12

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Red Henry

Red Henry


Folks, I made a cross-country flight this morning, just to keep in practice. It wasn't a really long trip, but I flew solo from here (Winchester, VA) to Bedford, PA, then to Cumberland, MD, and then back home: 3 flights, 8 good landings (I used the opportunity to practice those, too).

And what does this have to do with playing music? Well, Chris, Jenny, and I are performing at the Daily Grind here in Winchester (the Jubal Early Drive location) starting at 7:00 this evening. And the flying seems as if it's gotten me in the mood to play.

This happened a lot during my first flying career, in the Air Force from 1972-75. Flying and picking just seemed to go together, one after the other. Have any of you gotten that feeling from these two activities? If so, I'd like to know about it.

Happy picking, and flying too, if that's what you do!

Red
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PS-- Local folks, if you can't make it to the Daily Grind this evening, we're also performing at Borders Books here in Winchester, starting time 7:00 this coming Sunday, the 23rd.

Posted in By Red, Practice and tagged , , , on by .

About Red Henry

Began playing mandolin, guitar, fiddle, and banjo in 1967-69. I married Murphy in 1974. We led the Red & Murphy bluegrass band, playing professionally, from 1975-87. Since then I've handled the technical side of Murphy Method cassette, videotape, and DVD production. When you call I usually answer the phone, and I'm normally the one who sends out the orders.

4 thoughts on “Flying and Picking #12”

  1. Martin Bacon

    .Red,
    I thought you were going to say that if you don’t have a lot of time even playing for a short period of time will help maintain your skills.
    Have fun. Pick purty.

    Marty

  2. Ben from Back When

    Red,

    Congrats on the successful flights and landings. Must be a very satisfying feeling. Wish I could just head down the block or across town (like walking from the dorm to the O & B) to see you all. I don’t fly (except ‘way back from the pilot’s seat), and I guess the thing that most makes me itch to pick is just being around good picking.

    Now, as long as you don’t succumb and dig out the mandolin WHILE flying, one knee on the stick….

    Hello to Chris and Jenny, too.

    –Ben

  3. Augie in Pennsylvania

    I’m glad you explained the 8 landings. On a three airport ’round robin’ I counted three. When I was flying we always tried to have the same number of takeoffs as we did landings. Of course on some of those bouncy landings we coud get three or four.

    Since I no longer fly I can’t link it to directly to picking, but I have the same enthusiasm for picking as I did flying. Keep up the good work.

    Augie

  4. Paul Rooney

    Red

    There must be some correllation between a love of aviation and picking. Since I became a banjo student of the Murphy Method I have ran across several other pilots carrying either a banjo or guitar with them in their travels. I hold an ATP but mainly fly my own acft. for pleasure these days

    Paul

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