Tom Rose has been spending a lot of time with his collection of 20 banjos lately.
Currently on furlough from his role as store manager of Interlochen's Scholarshop, Rose has been using his free time to record himself playing lots of music on his banjos.
He first began learning the instrument as a teenager in Virginia and briefly studied with Bill Emerson. He played alongside his father, who had a banjo he had purchased from the Sears and Roebuck catalog.
Rose started studying the banjo in earnest again in his 50s, taking lessons with a member of Interlochen's IT staff.
Recording and posting videos during the last couple of months has given him not only a creative outlet, he told Classical IPR, but also an opportunity to connect with some of his extended family and reminisce about his father.
Listen to the entire conversation and performance below. Then scroll down for video of Tom playing "Molly Put the Kettle On" and "Last Chance," recorded in his "banjo room."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YN-i2Jo8xk&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Tx6uOr2sc&feature=youtu.be
