Clawhammer Banjo
Dario has loved singing and playing music for as long as he can remember. After becoming obsessed with ballad traditions from Appalachia and the British Isles, Dario began teaching himself to play the banjo in college in 2022. Since then, he has played Seattle Folklife Festival every year, written dozens of songs, started a band with his friends, played square dances and shows all over the city, and released an album of original music and classic old time tunes.
Dario's teaching philosophy focuses on the ability of music to create community and foster healing. Musical traditions connect us to our heritage, and the act of creation can ground us in the present. Dario also works with the Rhapsody Project, a Seattle nonprofit dedicated to helping youth connect to their identities and personal histories through music.
In college, Dario spent four years volunteering with the UW Songwriters Circle, uplifting musicians and songwriters at the University of Washington through peer mentorship and service. Dario is always happy to share what he knows about the banjo, and loves meeting people who are as excited to learn as he is.
@ladadario on Instagram
“It looked like a magic trick, and I desperately wanted to learn it.”
When were you first introduced to music and what got you “hooked”?
I was introduced to old time banjo music by watching Nora Brown perform on NPR Tiny Desk during the pandemic. Her style completely changed how I understood the banjo and old time music. The flurry of sounds and her textures from her banjo playing accompanied her singing so beautifully--enveloping the melody, but not overpowering it. Truly, it was like nothing I'd ever heard before. It looked like a magic trick, and I desperately wanted to learn it.
What is one of your most memorable experiences as a performer?
One of my favorite shows I've ever done was at a bakery in Fremont in 2024. My partner and I opened with our band, and afterward the headlining band played a bunch of dance tunes. Everybody was dancing like crazy at the end. And the whole audience was packed with many of my best friends and relations. The way I felt that night, with everyone dancing together, is why I do music.Â
Do you have any good practice tips for music students or musicians in general?
The most important time I ever spent practicing never felt like practicing at all. When I first started learning the banjo, I felt like if I put it down I'd go crazy. I was just having so much fun learning all these songs I'd loved for so long before, understanding them in new ways. That's why I encourage students to start by learning the songs they love, and building their skills around that natural interest.
Clawhammer Banjo
Dario has loved singing and playing music for as long as he can remember. After becoming obsessed with ballad traditions from Appalachia and the British Isles, Dario began teaching himself to play the banjo in college in 2022. Since then, he has played Seattle Folklife Festival every year, written dozens of songs, started a band with his friends, played square dances and shows all over the city, and released an album of original music and classic old time tunes.
Dario's teaching philosophy focuses on the ability of music to create community and foster healing. Musical traditions connect us to our heritage, and the act of creation can ground us in the present. Dario also works with the Rhapsody Project, a Seattle nonprofit dedicated to helping youth connect to their identities and personal histories through music.
In college, Dario spent four years volunteering with the UW Songwriters Circle, uplifting musicians and songwriters at the University of Washington through peer mentorship and service. Dario is always happy to share what he knows about the banjo, and loves meeting people who are as excited to learn as he is.
@ladadario on Instagram
“It looked like a magic trick, and I desperately wanted to learn it.”
When were you first introduced to music and what got you “hooked”?
I was introduced to old time banjo music by watching Nora Brown perform on NPR Tiny Desk during the pandemic. Her style completely changed how I understood the banjo and old time music. The flurry of sounds and her textures from her banjo playing accompanied her singing so beautifully--enveloping the melody, but not overpowering it. Truly, it was like nothing I'd ever heard before. It looked like a magic trick, and I desperately wanted to learn it.
What is one of your most memorable experiences as a performer?
One of my favorite shows I've ever done was at a bakery in Fremont in 2024. My partner and I opened with our band, and afterward the headlining band played a bunch of dance tunes. Everybody was dancing like crazy at the end. And the whole audience was packed with many of my best friends and relations. The way I felt that night, with everyone dancing together, is why I do music.Â
Do you have any good practice tips for music students or musicians in general?
The most important time I ever spent practicing never felt like practicing at all. When I first started learning the banjo, I felt like if I put it down I'd go crazy. I was just having so much fun learning all these songs I'd loved for so long before, understanding them in new ways. That's why I encourage students to start by learning the songs they love, and building their skills around that natural interest.
