Join professional banjoist Hilary Hawke as she guides you through an expanding video guide of tunes and exercises that will kickstart your playing.
As a subscriber you will receive:
- 24/7 access to the entire library of existing video lessons, as well as all future updates...
- Direct input on content in the site
- Membership to a private Facebook group where you can share ideas, videos and receive feedback.
Example Curriculum
Sample Lesson Video
Sandy River Belle
Hello! I'm Hilary Hawke
I grew up in upstate, New York, about 4 hours from New York City in a little town outside of Saratoga. I knew when I was 5 years old I wanted to be a musician and desperately wanted to start an instrument but didn’t come from a musical family.
I started playing clarinet in school when I was 8 and wrote songs, sang and played guitar when I was a teenager. I went to the amazing SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music for clarinet and guitar, but began playing banjo to just have fun and experiment with writing music. It took over my world and I moved to NYC to perform and teach as much as possible!
NYC cut my teeth and made me realize the scope of talent that passes through and how much you need to hustle to get gigs and make a living. I’ve gotten to play with so many amazing musicians over the past 15 years in the city, as well as performing with Steve Martin’s Bright Star on Broadway as the banjoist/guitarist, and holding the banjo chair for the revival of Oklahoma! on Broadway. I eventually got my master’s in music at Columbia University while teaching banjo.
Since the pandemic I’ve found myself teaching more and more online, creating youtube videos, and even coming back to some in-person lessons. I have always wanted to build more of a community with my banjo lessons, because I’ve found people really stick with it when they feel a community of learners around them.
I’m hoping I can help you on your musical journey and can clear a path for you when you have any troubles along the way.
I look forward to teaching you and learning from you as well!
-Hilary
A few words from Hilary's banjo students...
Will- "I took banjo lessons on and off for 2 years with Hilary. She took me from zero banjo chops to being proficient enough in clawhammer to participate in local old time jams. Hilary clued me in to the subtleties of banjo playing like ghost notes and alternative string hammer ons which added a ton of depth to my playing. Thanks Hilary!"
Bob-"There's a quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt that really hits the mark when thinking about my time learning banjo with Hilary: "Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care." I could tell you that Hilary knows a lot about how to play the banjo. I could tell you that her style of instruction was well paced for beginners and intermediate players alike. But I think what will be most useful to know for anyone starting out, or looking for a mentor, with the banjo, is that Hilary is genuinely interested in guiding you through your development. I'm still playing 6 years later!"
Amy- "As a music teacher for several years, I expect a lot from my own instructors. Each lesson with Hilary left me buzzing with excitement and so eager to practice more. Hilary chose songs that were deeply satisfying and accessible, yet seemed to be at exactly the level of attainable challenge."
Eva- "Hilary is an amazing teacher! A brilliant banjo player herself, she is patient and super excited with your progress as a student. I've been taking lessons since 2015, first group and then private, and Hilary has been a truly inspiring teacher."