Luke Richardson
Old-Time Music, 5-String Banjo, Clawhammer Banjo, Harmonica, Old-Time Fiddle
Housecalls Only
Luke Richardson's musical journey began around the age of five after he found an old, rustic harmonica in one of his father's chester drawers. From that point on, he has literally taken the instrument and ran with it. Luke's path led him to traditional Old-Time music in his late teens after he was introduced to Clawhammer Banjo in March of 2006. Since then, he has reaped success within the contest scene near his home in sunny Tennessee. Among his most notable achievements was taking first place at Uncle Dave Macon Day's National Championship in 2009.
Most recently, Luke has bounced around the states playing, competing, and teaching music with other like-minded people. Now in Brooklyn with a banjo on his back and harmonicas in his pocket, Luke is likely to greet anyone and everyone with a warm smile and southern drawl. Be a part of Luke's journey and let him share music straight from his treasure chest of collected tunes and techniques.
HARMONICA
Luke is a very seasoned harmonica player. He is fluent in both first position and second position playing. His style of playing is very melodic and precise. Mainly Luke plays first-position harmonica using a very rare "pucker" style which is very similar to the style of Mark Graham, one of old time and irish music's most achieved players. Luke has taught the harmonica at the Chattanooga Folk School and the Alabama Folk School as well as privately. His method for teaching the instrument is a very effective one. He simply uses his free hand to point up or down, which indicates which way to breathe. This method allows students to get a feel for the tune and the instrument as well as learn basic chord structures of the music being played.
BANJO
Luke has intently studied techniques by players like Adam Hurt, Reed Martin, Dan Gellert and Walt Koken. Luke won his first banjo contest after less than two years of playing. He started in March 2006 by attending two banjo camps (Suwannee River Banjo Camp, Midwest Banjo Camp) ran by the great Ken Pearlman. Just last year, Luke was asked to teach at the Midwest Banjo Camp as an "Associate Instructor". To rise from the ranks of student to teacher is a major highlight of his budding career.
LUKE'S APPROACH TO TEACHING
"I like to teach music by ear because that is the way we are supposed to take it in-through our ears."
TEACHING THE BANJO
Luke is very technically advanced with right hand techniques such as drop-thumbing, syncopation, 2/4, 3/4, 6/8 time, double thumbing, the "galax" lick. Luke is also very knowledgeable about various tunings on the instrument. The tunings he uses include "Reuben D," "Sandy River Bell Tuning," Double C, Standard C, Open C, Standard G, Old G as well as a few more tunings he invented.
TEACHING THE HARMONICA
Luke's playing is very much centered on melody, while he does pad his melodies with rhythmic devices. Luke teaches how to play individual notes as well as inhale and exhale bending of notes. He can teach "straight" or "cross" harp depending the direction his students want to learn. Aside from learning how to play the instrument, students will also learn very beautiful collected tunes which Luke has adapted to the instrument.
