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                            Here are some student comments.

"I have been using Don Van Palta's plectrum banjo lessons and arrangements for the past several months.
They are truly unique and superior to any other teaching aids I've come across. To see and hear and repeat
the info as often as you desire and to play along with Don's accompaniment is superior to face to face
lessons in many ways. The tapes are so well done that Don seems to anticipate questions and answers them
before they become a problem. Thanks for making this material available."
(R.T. Dooley, OK)

"I owe a great deal of my playing and my career to Don Van Palta. As I travel the world I have met other
banjoists, from Australia, to England, to Scotland, to Canada and all over the United States who, like
myself, owe a great debt to Don for his lesson series which opened up our ears and minds to many
techniques and concepts which are very hard to find for plectrum banjo. He has devoted much of his life to
the teaching and performing of this instrument. If you enjoy plectrum banjo then you owe a great deal of
respect to him for keeping this instrument in the public eye for so many decades. In addition to all of this
he is a true gentleman. Don Van Palta is a man of highest standards personally and professionally. Thank
you Don for all that you have done and continue to do." (Peter Mezoian, ME)

"I just got your CDs and DVDs with the books and started working on the first set of lessons. They look a
lot easier to deal with than the other books I attempted to start with. At least with your lessons I feel like
I'm accomplishing something. I will probably look back over the other books after I finish your courses.
But then again, you have so much material. . . . . . I may not!" (Kyle Ford, WA)

"As someone searching for Plectrum banjo info for years and not finding much until I found your web site
back in 1998, I'd just like to say publicly, THANK YOU! Your teaching materials have instructed and
inspired me to play better than I thought I ever could." (William Miller)

"I just want to wish you and Carolyn a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thank you for spending all of those years travelling to play the banjo for all your audiences including
myself.   I some times stop to think what would it have been like if you hadn't driven across the country to
perform in Maine when I first met you and saw one of your shows.   Then there are all those years of
working on the ships and all of the travel that it entailed.    Sometimes I think that the other banjoists don't
realise what you went through back then.    Not to mention the meticulous work you did to create your
lesson series and all of the arrangements which you made available to us all.    You were the first!!
I've always believed that you paved the way for someone like me to have this career.   I will always
remember that and always be grateful." (Peter Mezoian, ME)

"Once again, thanks for sharing your musical magic through these great materials, particularly the
arrangements, they make me feel as if I have been admitted to the magician's club, finally realizing the
secrets, but also, the work behind the magic." (T. Coin, PA)

"I'm extremely grateful for Don Van Palta's banjo course. It's easy to follow. You have it right in front of
you on the video monitor. It's like Don is in the same room with you! How can you miss. Don's videos and
books have totally excellevated!! my banjo playing. It's fun, and with a little dedication, easy!"

"Don, I am truly enjoying practicing Nola. I have loved playing and practicing all your arrangements, but
Nola takes the cake. I've got the first section with both endings fairly good, but quite a ways from up to
speed. Thanks for putting together a great arrangement such as Nola. Also, I have received so many
compliments on the Richelieu banjo I got from you." (J. Taber, WA)

"I want to tell you how great I think your cassette and book method of teaching is. I find it all a lot of
work, but the results do come. I think your playing is fantastic and the amount of work you get into the
solos is really exciting." (A. M. Parker, New Zealand)

"I have Plectrum Banjo Books a'plenty, in fact five different ones! One has all possible chords for C
tuning. The catch is that they don't tell you what to do with them! Your book has done more for me in a
few days than the others have in a year!" (Rolfe H. Utz, W. Va.)

"I've listened to The Flying Dutchman CD every day with my morning coffee since I received it in August.
But Clap Your Hands will take its place for a while. Some people play notes and some people play music.
You definitely play music and it's wonderful to listen to." (B. Little, AZ)

"I can't tell you how enthusiastic I am about your lessons! You really cover the mechanics of each stroke
in depth, and with the aid of the video it really takes the guesswork out of it."
(Floys, CA)

"I'm continuing to develop on the plectrum and your arrangements and recordings have been very helpful
and inspiring. Thanks again for all you do." (D. Back, AL)

"The package arrived safely on Friday and I have had a good time with it the past couple of days. I'm
already on my way with the triplet glisses, and there's so much more to do and learn. I'm watching your
moves on the video very closely!" (J. Sandell, CA)

"I have purchased every Solo Book you have offered to date and they have been a great help to me. If only I
could live long enough to really play them as well as they should be played. I bought my Richelieu banjo
from you. I love it and you were right, it's sounding better all the time. My bride says that some of that is
because I'm becoming a better player." (R. Payne, DE)

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I received your material late Friday, had time to watch 3/4
of the first tape, practiced a bit and played a job on Saturday. Got complimented by the leader on how well
I sounded. Easily 50% better than before your inspirational and educational material. It literally "kicked
down the door" to many banjo mysteries! Thanks again, today I am starting from the beginning and plan
to work through your material slowly and thoroughly." (L. Rossi, IL)

"The package containing your instructional videos arrived last week and I am absolutely delighted with
the contents. I have treated myself to an overview and it is obvious that many, many hours have been spent
to produce such a clear, informative and entertaining program." (K. Harvey, Australia)

"I've had a plectrum for about 35 years, but would still consider myself a beginner. Received your DVD
lesson programs last week and was pleased to see that there were just two things I'd been doing wrong over
the past 35 years - - my right hand and my left hand! Your lessons are so well presented that I've learned
more in the past 10 days than I have in the previous 35 years. Now I'm motivated! Thanks so much."
(B. Little, AZ)

"Just a short note to let you know how much I am enjoying taking lessons on video. Your instruction is
great. I received the package on Wednesday, tuned up and went to work. I am on lesson 2. I haven't
touched a banjo in 25 years, and when I did play, I tuned it guitar tuning. Although my 53 year old fingers
don't want to do what I want them to do, they are coming under submission." (Pastor S. McCoy, Florida)

"I used to play with the Peninsula Banjo Band in the 70's under the direction of Charlie Tagawa. I
haven't touched my Gibson Mastertone in over 25 years. I was going through some LPs (big CD's!) and
played a couple of yours. I then got inspired and decided to start in again. I have been practicing for about
two months now. Your VHS lessons are invaluable. I have even used your music when playing my Yamaha
Organ. Thanks again." (J. Blankenship, CA)

"I enjoy playing the banjo very much. My wife Charlene and I love to entertain. Don has really helped me
a lot with his fantastic arrangements and solo books."
(John Taber, WA)

"I am really glad I have the lessons. I've practiced on them at least 2 hours every day and usually more.
Some of the segments I have on a loop and it really helps learn difficult passages - especially on the
tremolo, glissando and solo segments." (B. Little, AZ)

"Your "Arrangements" are fantastic! I'll be sending in for more. I'll send you a picture to hang in the
Rogues Gallery as soon as I can get one taken of my mug. Please send me a "Sing-A-Long Fest". I have
been requested to play at a Christmas party."
(Jim Blankenship, CA)

"About 35 years ago I learned to play the plectrum and was active with an area banjo band for a number of
years. I then made a major career change and stopped playing the banjo. I recently decided to learn how to
play the banjo again and ordered your three video lesson programs. Programs 1 and 2 contain well
presented basics I had once learned 35 years ago. Program 3 is teaching me how to do the tremolo and I am
looking forward to the syncopations you teach later. Seeing these strokes in video is a real help in
understanding how to do them. Your videos are well done and show a lot of work and planning. Your
professional manner and good humor make them fun to watch. Now if you would only do the practice for
me . . . . . !!"
(Linwood Johnson, Corvallis, OR)

"I got the package today. Everything was in excellent condition. I am 100% satisfied. The arrangements
are just great. Again thanks, I really know they will be a challenge, but I will have fun practicing them.
My best to you always."
(John Taber, WA)

"Thank you Don for Program #3. I am enjoying the clear instructions and the face to face DVD lessons."
(Keith Hay, New Zealand)

Hi Don, very much enjoyed your video of "Al The Things You Are" in this month's edition of Jazz Banjo.
com magazine. Just the motivation I need to get back to playing. Lost interest when advised I had prostate
cancer but since it was removed earlier this month and I'm on the road to recovery, might be just the time to
pick up the old Paramount Leader and get back to those DVP lessons."
(Pete Donaldson, Texas)

Hi Don, I greatly appreciate your quick response and phone call. I'm deep into the first sixteen measures of
"Heartaches", and enjoying it immensely. You have done a great service to those of us attached to the
plectrum banjo in creating your lesson programs and arrangements. I only wish that I had had this
opportunity in 1956 when I started lessons in Portland, Maine, at the time when I was an apprentice
cabinetmaker a few years out of high school. But better late than never! Thanks again for your interest
and help. (Dean Bennett, Maine)

Hi Don, The Solo Books arrived today. They’re excellent and I’ll have lots of fun trying out the
arrangements. Thank you for the CD; It is superb and really shows how versatile the plectrum banjo can be
in the hands of a master. I play your CD’s almost continuously in my car, on my PC and at work. They give
me so much pleasure. Best regards. (John Mullen, Scotland, UK)

Hi Don:

I started banjo lessons with a local fellow, Jack Taylor, in 1957. My first inspiration was Eddie Peabody
and I met him when he was doing an Auto Show here in Calgary in 1961 and we corresponded and visited
together for the better part of a decade. When I saw the "Mickie Finn Show" on television, I came across
another banjo player that inspired and motivated me - "The Flying Dutchman" and then I met you at
Klondike Days in Edmonton.

I taught banjo from 1975 to 1983 and when I first started I purchased your audio course. I had been taught
the guitar tuning and I wanted to learn something about the true plectrum tuning. While I never made the
switchover, I still re-tune my banjo from time to time and run through some plectrum chords and play a
couple of tunes - usually Bye Bye Blues and The World is Waiting For The Sunrise. I also showed my
students your course when I'd take them on so that if they wanted to learn alternate tuning to the guitar
tuning, they could order your course directly from you and work on it on their own.

Whenever I'd hear an interesting arrangement on recordings by you or Eddie, I'd take the basis of it, then
see if I could "re-tool" it to make an arrangement of my own.

Thus, if I group Jack Taylor and Eddie and yourself together, I certainly learned things from each of you -
and all interesting in their own right. I don't know if this qualifies Otis and me for your "Rogues Gallery"
photo page but I've sure appreciated your friendship and inspiration over the years, Don. I hope this will
continue for a long time to come.

...Johnny Thorson