Mel Bay Frailing the 5-String Banjo
Barbara Koehler grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. After she and her husband got married, they moved to Gainesville, Florida to operate a music store. It was also about this time that Barbara was learning the frailing style on the banjo (the old-time mountain style). She was studying with Eric Muller, the banjo instructor at her store, but there was a lack of instructional material for the frailing style.At a National Association of Music Merchants convention around 1974, Barbara and Mr. Muller met Mel Bay and asked if he had any books on frailing style. There were none at the time, so Mr. Bay suggested they write one. Barbara and Eric Muller then collaborated on their first title, Frailing the 5-String Banjo. This was one of Mel Bay Publications' first books to contain extensive photographs of folk musicians in their natural setting. George Heaps-Nelson was the harmonica teacher at the the Koehler's store while working in Ph.D. in Latin American History. George and Barbara also collaborated on two books, Folk & Blues Harmonica and You Can Teach Yourself® Harmonica.Currently, Barbara Koehler is a registered nurse in Tampa, FL working with alcohol and drug addicted people. She is also an antique dealer, with storefronts in several area malls. She has been married for 37 years and has three grandchildren.