The banjo, which originated as an African-American instrument, has been around for centuries and can be played in a variety of musical styles.

Today, the instrument will take center stage at the Palmer Museum's Banjovial concert.

The show, sponsored by the Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art and Bruce Roth, is part of the "Art of Music Series" and will feature Banjovial members Roger Munnell, Mike Evock, Jim Kerhin and Mike Loewen.

"It's going to be both a demonstration of the banjo and a musical performance," Munnell said. He said the group will play in several styles of music, including jazz, bluegrass, classical and minstrel.

The "Art of Music Series" performances are organized every third Wednesday of the month at the Palmer Museum.

The show will be held on the second floor in the Pincus Gallery of Contemporary Art to complement the Picturing the Banjo exhibit, which runs through June 25, said Dana Kletchka, curator of education for the Palmer Museum.

Kletchka said the series always features performances from the School of Music and local bands. She said the museum tries to serve a broad audience by making the midday performances diverse and interesting with a variety of musical styles and instruments.

"Essentially, for me, it's a way for people who may not be compelled to come to the exhibit to come because they may be more interested in the music," she said.

Banjovial is a four-piece group of seasoned performers.

Munnell said some of the members play as a part of other musical groups as well.

"We are quite flexible in our musical presentations," Munnell said. "We have two banjo players demonstrating different banjos and styles. A lot of people think it's just strumming away, plantation style, but there's a lot more to the banjo."

Munnell, who will be playing the trombone and the washboard in today's performance, said he has played with Penn State President Graham Spanier.

The two once spent a week playing in New Orleans, he said.

Kerhin, one of the two banjo players, said he started playing in the '70s and now gives lessons on the four-string banjo, the four-string plectrum, the plectrum banjo, the five-string banjo and the guitar.

"People think a banjo is a banjo," he said. "But they're played differently for different styles and sounds."

Kerhin said he thinks banjo music is becoming more popular locally because of the Picturing the Banjo exhibit.

"Bluegrass has always been popular, and it's a fun kind of music," he said. "It's fun to play; you meet a lot of people, and you can just play together."