| Horst von der Wege, Germany "The big picture is my Swing-Band, "Das Kleine Salonorchester". Don's Solo Books are a great help both for me personally and for the band." |
| Bob Renier, Jarbidge, NV "I was helping to move a house in Jarbidge and while the house was moving along I entertained at the back door." |
| John Coleman, Portland, ME "2009, with my 1928 White Laydie. I had removed the resonator, as I was playing in a small venue coffee house at the time, backing up a maritime folk singer". |
| Robert T. Dooley, OK, USA "Me and my Richelieu." |
| "Little Al" NJ, USA "With my custom Richelieu. Thanks, Don, for all your help and encouragement". |
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| "Rogues Gallery" |
| "I'd like you to meet some of my past and present students from all over the world". Don Van Palta |
| Peter Mezoian, ME, USA "I owe a great deal of my playing and career to Don Van Palta." |
| Don Stevison, OH,USA "Just a pickin' an' a grinnin'" |
| Bill Little, AZ, USA "Don did all the work and I'm having all the fun." |
| Jackie Lynn McCoy, OH, USA "Heeeeeere's Jackie" |
| Buster Mondello, TX, USA "Decisions, decizions, dezizionzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" |
| Gary Hicken, MD, USA "Thanks for getting me started in the greatest direction of my life (next to meeting my wife!)" |
| John Mumford, CO, USA "Click on my mug to go to my Jazzbanjo website." |
| John & Charlene Taber, WA, USA "We love to entertain." |
| Good Shepherd Seniors Jazz Band, Cincinnati, OH, Bill Cleary on the banjo "We are playing the Retirement Homes, Nursing Homes, Seniors Church groups, etc. We love what we're doing!" |
| Pete Donaldson, Kingwood, TX "Me and my Paramount Leader are sounding better by the day." |
| Pastor Steve McCoy, Neptune Beach, FL "I am progressing steadily." |
| Carmel Finn & Ray Towers, Australia "We're wooping it up at Australian's 60th Jazz Convention in Lismore, N.S.W." |
| Rick Sanders, Merrill, Iowa "Banjo music will live forever, let it flow from your heart." |
| Jerry Unger and his Arkansas Shrine Music Club "Our banjos may be fakes but just wait until you hear us play for one of those wakes!" |
| Maxine Pomeroy and friend, Dewey, AZ "I'm enjoying my new short-neck banjo. It accommodates my little tiny fingers a lot better." |
| Torvald Netterby, Sweden "Thanks Don, the neighbors aren't complaining anymore!" |
| Banjo Barry Calben, Port Jarvis, NY "Performing on my Eddie Peabody VegaVox Deluxe at the Allenberry Resort, Boiling Springs, PA." |
| Alan "Papa Al" Hamilton, USA "My tremolo is coming right along. By the way, the vest uses a lot of batteries!" |
| Jackie Lynn McCoy OH, USA "Heeeeeere's Jackie . . . . . again!" |
| Bob Irwin, "Banjo Bob", Fruitvale, BC, Canada "Moe Boyler said to me before he passed: You are a BB playing a B&D" |
| Paul Badey, Media, PA "Don, could you help me find a banjo with a neck I can wrap my fingers around?" |
| click |
| click |
| Dean Bennett Mount Vernon, Maine "A Bacon & Day Silver Bell #1. My pride and joy." |
| Pete Donaldson . . . again! "See Don, I fixed my elbow, so quit pickin' on me!" |
| Mike Bevan, Isle Of Wight, England "That's me with my beloved Clifford Essex Banjo." |
| LLeo Skovgaard Ringe, Denmark "It doesn't hurt to have your picture taken, . . . . only afterwards!" |
| Chip Lillie, Media, PA "I'm with the Philadelphia Irish String Band. Come join us if you play a string instrument and you too can look like me!" |
| John Mullen, Kinghorn, Scotland, UK "Wow! This is bigger than my old ukulele, But thanks to Don I'm already making music with it!" |
| Mel Bernstein, USA "Possibly the oldest beginner on the plectrum banjo (almost 72). But Don will teach me, if I sit up straight, hold the banjo at the correct angle, arch my fingers, hold the pick properly and keep my elbow away from my body!" |
| Ron McLawhon, IL&CA, USA "Me and my banjo . . .always bring on a smile!" |
| Sammy Rose, California "You like my 1927 Gibson Mastertone Grenada? I got it for $150!" |
| Falco Krieger, Germany Dear Don, here is a picture of me with my Deering Calico banjo. Your Programs helped me a lot. Thanks and Best Wishes. |
| "Here are some of my outstanding students who went on to became professional entertainers!" Don Van Palta |
| Bill Dendle, Sacramento, CA, USA I'm often complemented on my clean technique! You always insisted that I do things "correctly" and I've always been grateful for that. |
| Victor Kreimeyer, WA, USA "Thanks for your help and encouragement. The 6 Solo Books are a treasure!" |
| Pat Blakely, banjo & Al Huish, piano at a Shakey's in Orem, UT in mid 1970's. "New student, old banjo player!" |
| Carl Bivins on Banjo with the "Pot Roast Dixieland Band Montrose, CO" |
| John Coleman, Portland, ME "Circa 1989. When I was living in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. At the time I was considered the best player in town (of course that was after the only other banjo player died!)" |
| Banjo King, Denis Shink Levis, Quebec City, Canada "It's very hard to find a teacher in my town! Now I found you, Don! Now I can play plectrum banjo! Thank you Don. |
| Bob O'Neal, Tacoma, WA "Here's to the 'pluck' of the Irish!" |
| Maria vanLeuven, Australia "I'm practicing my tremolo with my new metronome. By the way, that thing wasn't cheap!" |
| Johnny Thorson & Otis, Canada "Usually Otis leaves the room when I start to practice. This time he stuck around. Maybe it had something to do with having his picture taken!" |
| Steve Dofing, Macomb, IL "Some time ago I purchased Program #3. The DVDs have been extremely helpful in learning right-hand techniques that do not seem to be available elsewhere." |
My wife, son and I went to see Peter Mazoian
play a show in Rhode Island on Saturday,
February 27, 2010. He was fabulous! He is
also one of the nicest people I have met. Mel
play a show in Rhode Island on Saturday,
February 27, 2010. He was fabulous! He is
also one of the nicest people I have met. Mel
| Bud and Deb Johnson, Tucson, AZ. "We are very active in the 'Tucson 'Banjo Blasters'. Come see us at the "Tucson Banjo Blast" May 13 - 15. We'll be strummin' away with all the other 'Blasters'" |
| Jerry Hashman, Canada "I'm a longtime rocker who got interested in the Banjo thanks to Don!!" |