Meet Saja Butler | Musician and Music Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Saja Butler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Saja, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to give people the Gift of Music without the social construct of an age limit. Most of the people I teach in my studio are 30-70+ years old.
They are either coming into Music for the first time OR returning to Music after many years off.
I show them how to easily come back to Music or intro Music education in a fun way through their songs, not a classical
piece or traditional piece of Music from long ago.
It’s 2023. Allow people to learn through their favorite songs and they learn quickly and love it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a professional Musician who is known for playing the banjo African style in any genre of Music. I have been playing banjo for 23 years and have developed a specific picking technique in clawhammer that people come to learn in my studio and love to hear in my Music onstage. I am Afrobanjo as my brand.
As a Black woman from the South, I picked up the banjo in Tennessee and LOVED it. I didn’t realize at the time that the banjo came from Africa (Yes, it really did!), so I felt conflicted and ashamed to love it. I continued to play after almost giving up the first year. I was about to move to Colorado from Tennessee in early 2000 and told my banjo teacher the news.
He said to me” Well, let me teach you a few things because I know you’ll be teaching banjo one day.”
He was mighty prophetic, as I started my studio, Urban Monk Studios in 2007, 7 years after his predication. I have been teaching banjo for 15 years now.
What I’m most excited about is the recent BEST MUSIC LESSONS in Fort Collins win! I received the news last week.
We have won top 3 in Northern Colorado the past two years and before that high online reviews. To see the evolution of people seeing HOW I teach and HOW they heal and learn is why my studio continues to evolve beautifully. I raise vibrations. I create a butterfly effect of healing because I lift up my students and share all knowledge of Music as they are ready.
There is no reason to compete in Life; unless it’s a good game, but that’s fun.
There is no one on your path to create your path but you. YOU are the reason you achieve and believe and receive greatness. No one else can do that for you.
I show people that through Music, a most unconditional Love. I hope through that, they go out in their individual crafts and continue the example of lifting up others as well. Every grocery store is full, every bank is full, every gas station, coffee house, etc. And they all sit next to each other, too. SO, why can’t we just realize we can all do what we desire and there is room enough for everyone?
It’s why I’m here.
I’ve learned this lesson and many other along the way. I will continue to learn as I know I evolve as our society and culture evolve. I am an inhabitant of our Earth, so I must always study.
Teaching is learning twice as they say. So in lessons, I teach and learn.
It wasn’t always easy and as an owner of a business, it’s never fully easy, but it’s very fun.
Lots of instability, lots of risk taking and trust.
But the only way forward to through it, so I keep going and all is provided for me and the studio.
Keep going. Stop being scared and stop taking things so personally. The world has never been, nor will ever be all about you. it’s about all of us. That’s actually quite freeing as you give more of yourself with out the pressure of others.
My brand is that; self certainty, compassion, knowledge and kindness uplifted, wrapped up in a Southern Sex’d up blackneck shell. Ye haw, yo.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, We’d first go to Avogadro’s Number to grab a quick cheap cocktail and see some awesome local band on the patio. They have great pub food, the gyro and tempeh sandwiches are amazing. Also the milkshakes. Next day, we’d go on a hike and swim! We’d roll up Horsetooth Reservoir Northside for a paddle, go to the coves to swim and chill, maybe walk around then paddle back to the North put in. Then, we’d head home for a local cocktail then head to Old Town for a show in Old Town, dinner at the Crown Pub, or RARE.
Other spots that week would be The Swing Station in Laporte and the taco truck right outside. Best taco truck EVER.
Paddler’s Pub would be on the list and Snooze for an incredible brunch. Mishawaka for a show and dinner. Incredible spot up the canyon. We’d also hit JAWS for sushi, The Riverponds to walk the dog and swim and Starry Night for coffee.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A special shout out to the Urban Monk Studios community! Most of my students have been here for YEARS, supporting me in funding, but also sharing what I do to others. And my Dad. He’s always believed in me. Thanks, Dad. I love you!

Website: www.urbanmonkstudios.com

Instagram: @afrobanjo and @urban_monk_studios

Facebook: Saja Butler and Urban Monk Studios Fort Collins

Youtube: Urban Monk Studios

Image Credits
Pro Saja Image only~ credit By Steve Glass Photography