After a half century of loving and living music, Hamilton's banjo man Paul Trenwith is proud to call himself a musician.
It's not that the founding father of the legendary Hamilton County Bluegrass Band hasn't always been a musician but to feed his family and keep the wolf from the door he has nearly always had to work as an architectural draughtsman.
He is now proud to be able to write 'musician' in the space on forms which ask for his occupation.
For Paul being a musician is about living his music, playing gigs and sharing his talents. And that means he can offer his services as a teacher - something he enjoys.
Hamilton born and raised, Paul went to 'a country school in Te Rapa' and then Fairfield College.
He always messed around with a ukelele and when his sister's boyfriend gave him a banjo ukelele he was in heaven. But when he heard Earl Scruggs, the messiah of the modern three-finger banjo-picking style, music was never the same for a young Paul Trenwith.
Music - and his beloved banjo - became his life. With his then wife Colleen, Paul featured in the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band on New Zealand tours, as resident band on television show Country Touch for a year or two and as full-time musicians in Sydney.
He remains busy. Next month the Hamilton County band (with originals Allen Rhodes and Keith McMillan) is off to Queensland's Redland Bluegrass Festival.
Paul still entertains and hosts a monthly fourth Sunday meeting of local bluegrass fans at the Silverdale School and his Backporch Bluegrass jam.
And he loves nothing better than playing with The Trenwith Boys - sons Mike (dobro), Jeremy (guitar and bass), Sam (drums and guitar) and Tim (bass).
Next year Paul is looking forward to playing banjo and hosting an ocean-going bluegrass cruise.
He has released a CD of songs and tunes he has written, co-written and played during the past 40-odd years. The album, Bluegrass Picking, features 19 original tracks chosen from a series of earlier recordings.
If you want to polish your picking, or pick up a banjo, phone Paul on 856 3963 or 0272 909 030 and make an appointment. He will be thrilled to help.