Workshop Descriptions Friday February 5 & 6, 2021

Organized Alphebetically by Instructor

Abbreviations: HD=Hammered Dulcimer, MD=Mountain Dulcimer, BP=Bowed Psaltery, AH=Autoharp, PW=Penny Whistle, UK=Ukulele, MA=Mandolin, G= Guitar, CB+Clawhammer Banjo, FI=Fiddle

Time is shown: Day (F=Friday, S=Saturday)-Session Number ex: Saturday Session 4 = S-4

Levels:1 = Absolute Beginner 2 = Novice 3 = Intermediate 4 = Upper Intermediate 5 = Advanced All = Non-Level Specific

Title Inst. Lvl. Time Description Karen Alley As hammered dulcimer players, we often get wrapped up in notes and chords and tunes, and How to Hold Your forget about our hammers! The easiest time to start learning solid hammer technique is when you’re Hammers (and Use HD 1 F-3 first beginning. We’ll talk about different types of hammers, holding your hammers, and getting a Them, Too!) good sound out of your instrument. You’ll leave with exercises and concepts to help you build a solid foundation for your hammer technique. Someday soon we will be playing together again, and everyone will want to join in! Jam sessions Surviving a Jam can be intimidating if you’re new to the dulcimer (and even if you’re not!), but they don’t need to HD 2 F-4 Session be. We’ll talk about how jam sessions work, and work on simple melody and chord techniques you can use to join in even if you don’t know the tune. This class will help you move beyond playing single melody lines to building full solo arrangements on your dulcimer. We’ll make sure everyone understands the basics of chords and talk about tricks Using Chords to HD 3 F-8 for finding them on your instrument. Then we’ll add harmony notes step-by-step to a simple melody. Add Harmony You’ll leave with an approach you can apply to arranging many tunes as your skills and comfort level on your instrument grow. We’ve spent our whole lives training our hands to work together effectively, but a whole new world Putting Hand opens up on the dulcimer if you can make your hands work separately. We’ll work on some mind- HD 3 S-6 Separation Together bending exercises and learn some simple tunes that utilize hand separation, and discuss tips for making the process easier and more successful. Do you struggle to keep the beat steady? Or maybe you struggle to recognize whether the beat is steady? You’re not alone! The good news is that there are techniques and exercises we can work Improving Your HD 3 S-2 on to help you improve your rhythm. Even better, an online workshop is the ideal setup for learning Rhythm these techniques – you’ll be able to hear yourself and try some new things in the comfort of your own home. “Jock O’Hazeldean” is a traditional Scottish ballad with a lovely, soaring melody and a beautiful “Jock chord structure. We’ll work on an arrangement of this tune that will push your hand separation skills O’Hazeldean”: A HD 4 F-7 and use the whole range of your instrument. You’ll need a 15/14 instrument to make the most of this Beautiful Scottish arrangement, and there will be opportunities to use your super-bass bridge if you have one (but it is Melody not required!). “Road to Lisdoonvarna” is a lovely and popular Irish tune that lends itself well to the use of double “Road to strokes (two strokes in a row with the same hammer). We’ll use double strokes to help keep the Lisdoonvarna”: An HD 4 S-7 rhythm in the melody and harmony, as well as in drag and valley roll ornaments. We’ll practice Exploration of some exercises to help you hone your technique, and talk about how to apply these concepts to Double Strokes other tunes. Sometimes it’s fun to go beyond the simple backup patterns we tend to use in jam sessions, but it In the Groove: can be hard to know where to start. In this workshop, we’ll find some basic grooves that you can Diversifying Your HD 5 S-4 use for more unusual backup, complete with accents on unexpected beats. We’ll also practice Backup Patterns some exercises you can use for improving your technique. Laurie Alsobrook Try Two Finger Need a recipe for simple harmony? Just by simply adding one more finger to your playing, you’ll Chords: Fret Two MD 1 S-8 amazed at the difference it makes! In addition to learning the simple chords, we will also learn Strings at Once! several simple arrangements using them. Make It Your Own: Take a tune you already know, turn it into a waltz, and make it your own! This class will give you 3/4 Strum Patterns to MD 2 F-4 strumming techniques to put into your toolbox for playing waltzes beautifully. Make Tunes Dance! Your fingers will waltz on the strings as you apply a variety of fingerpicking patterns in 3/4 time. We’ll A-One and A-Two: MD 3 S-5 begin with an delightful original tune designed to practice these patterns. We will also look at other Arranging Waltzes charming waltzes that will make your fingers dance! With a change in tuning, an old familiar tune transforms into something hauntingly beautiful. Ears will New Tuning for Old MD 3 F-3 perk as you shake up these old chestnuts. “Whiskey Before Breakfast” in DAC? Just wait ‘til you hear Tunes: Try DAC! it! Have you ever sat in an old-time jam filled with fiddles? It’s a quick way to discover that tunes you Fun Fiddle Favorites have played comfortably in D, actually have another home. Let’s learn a few fiddle tunes and MD 4 S-1 in A discover why playing is A is addicting. Soon you’ll want to play everything at capo four! Please bring your capo, by the way! Using barred chords in your playing provides a true advantage when considering motion up and Play It from the down the fretboard. In this workshop, you will enjoy playing enchanting tunes from Wales and Barre: Emphasizing MD 4 F-6 Ireland, given the barre treatment. Also included is an original tune, created to practice barre and Economy of Motion back-fretting in your playing. Karen Ashbrook Crossing the Bridges Learn hammering for the dulcimer's basic scale and arpeggio patterns while playing a fun French with a French HD 1 F-8 bourrée. Bonus: ear training included! Bourrée Ireland did not escape the polka craze but they have their own version of them. Polkas are among Easy Irish Polkas HD 2 S-7 the easiest and happiest tunes in Irish repertoire–a must for every dulcimist! Song of the Celtic You will learn a simple arrangement with a descending bass line to this soothing song from the Isle Sea God, HD 2 F-6 of Man. It can be heard on Karen’s solo hammered dulcimer recording "Celtic Shores- Beautiful Airs Mannanan–a Manx & Lullabies for Dreaming." Lullaby Transforming Dance So you want to play for the labyrinth at your church, yoga class, or become a therapeutic musician, Tunes into HD 3 F-2 but all you know are fast dance tunes. No problem! Using "Soldier's Joy," I will show you how to Relaxation Music transform hoedowns into sonorous meditative airs. Fun With Time Taking a few standard dance tunes, we will look at how to alter the tune to become a flowing waltz Signatures–Reels & HD 3 F-4 - creating extra melodic twists and harmony options. Jigs into Waltzes "Woodchoppers This lively French-Canadian reel is mostly 2 octave arpeggios. You will learn a great dance tune Reel" and Diamond HD 3 S-1 while flying up and down your instrument with D and A7 arpeggios! Appropriate for Upper Arpeggios Intermediates too. Paris in Springtime With a Happy HD 3 S-3 "Valse à Bonnejoie" is a delightful but simple café-style waltz from France. French Waltz "Hard Times Will From the original harmonization by Stephen Foster to gorgeous contemporary progressions, we will Come No More" – a HD 4 S-4 take "Hard Times" and explore numerous harmony options. (If you play with a guitarist have them Timeless Anthem sign up for Paul Oorts's guitar class for this song!) Irish Jig With the Irish jig "Lark on the Strand," you will learn how to use long rolls, grace notes, jig triplets, and Ornamentation & HD 4 F-1 Irish-style variations, as well as various chord options. Variations Cascading Learn the strange pattern of chromatics on dulcimer and the whimsical schottische by John HD 5 S-6 Chromatics Kirkpatrick, "Puddleglum's Misery." Aubrey Atwater Aubrey will provide an arrangement for the traditional dance tune, “Spotted Pony" and give “Spotted Pony”: important tips on alternating the direction of the flatpick, fingering, timing, tempo, and feel. We will Flatpicking for the MD 2 S-6 also discuss the functionality of this type of tune, traditionally used for dancing, and the far reaches First Time of this framework in American music. A delightful repertoire workshop with songs Aubrey has learned through her long contact with Jean Songs of Jean Ritchie, the person largely responsible for introducing the dulcimer to the folk scene mid-20th MD 2 F-1 Ritchie century. We’ll cover four songs, talk about Jean’s life and work, address the traditional style of playing with the noter, and easily play in different tunings. Diving Deep with It is easy to spend an hour examining this beautiful 19th-century song. Techniques and skills One Song: “The MD 3 F-2 addressed will include playing in the stunning reverse tuning, D-G-D, chording, fingering, Conscript’s fingerpicking, singing, crooked rhythm, and the song’s historical backstory. Departure” We sure could use a laugh! Enjoy a session of silly traditional folk songs and jokes. Be prepared to Funny Songs! MD 3 F-8 slap strum and play in a couple of different tunings and bring your own favorite short, clean joke to share!! The Slap Strum and Learn Aubrey's percussive slap strum and other rhythmic tricks and patterns including additional Other Percussive MD 3 S-2 ways to mute strings, syncopation, and the "air" strum. Popular traditional songs, "Spanish Lady" and Techniques "The Devil and the Farmer’s Wife" will be among the pieces we play! Aubrey will share a beautiful concept she learned from Jean Ritchie: creating a second, harmony Using the Dulcimer voice with the dulcimer while singing, one of Jean’s signature sounds. Drawing from a selection of MD 3 S-7 as a Harmony Voice traditional songs, the class will explore musical elements of harmony and intuitive ways to create a harmony part by ear. Aubrey will present fingerpicking patterns in 3/4 and 4/4 time for song accompaniment as well as Fingerpicking MD 4 S-1 technique for fingerpicking the melody as an instrumental. We will also explore irregular and Patterns and Styles syncopated patterns. Bring fingerpicks or just your fingers! We will spend time demystifying ways to work out melodies, harmonies, and chords to familiar songs Playing by Ear MD 4 F-6 in the oral/aural folk tradition, tapping into what we already know, which is a LOT, as we explore our relationship to music off the written page—exciting and fun! Explore the wonders of this stunning reverse tuning. We will cover four delightful songs while addressing techniques of fingerpicking, slap strumming, chord shapes, song arrangement, and A Study in D-G-D MD 5 F-5 more: “A Country Life,” “The Conscript’s Departure,” “The Devil and the Farmer's Wife,” and “As I Roved Out.” Through listening, discussion, and playing, we’ll explore the basics of rhythm and its various faces in Unmetered & American folk music—what is common, what is not—including delightful irregularities and the Crooked: Exploring MD 5 S-4 challenges of transcribing folk music. A variety of musical pieces will be presented to illustrate points Rhythm in Folk Music as well as play as a group. Aubrey will also play one of her short Ozark Highlands Radio segments, “Unmetered and Crooked.” Colin Beasley Introduction to In this class, we will learn what harmony is and how we can use it in our songs. We will cover what Hammered Dulcimer HD 1 F-5 chords are, how to figure out the notes in a chord, and how to use those notes to harmonize a Harmony melody. This class will help you take your playing to the next level! Let’s spice up our songs! In the class, we will talk about all kinds of tools we can use to decorate our Melody Decoration HD 2 F-1 melodies and make our songs really pop. From 2 and 3 note runs to block harmony and grace Crash Course notes, you’ll leave this class with plenty of things to experiment with! Playing the hammered dulcimer by ourselves is fun, but playing it with others can be a fantastic How to Accompany experience as well. However, whenever we’re not the lead voice, we need to know how to make with Hammered HD 2 S-1 the other person(s) sound great. In this class, we’ll learn how to accompany one or more other Dulcimer musicians with our hammered dulcimer! Introduction to Have you ever wanted to play a melody AND some harmony at the same time? In this class, we’ll Hand HD 3 S-7 learn some exercises that will help us separate our hands and play two different things at the same Independence time. Then, we’ll use it to play melody and harmony together! Percussion The hammered dulcimer is a percussion instrument, so it’s incredibly useful to learn percussion Rudiments on the HD 3 S-8 techniques and apply them to it. In this class, we will learn what the percussion “rudiments” are and Hammered Dulcimer how we can use them to take our playing to the next level. The idea of improvising your own solo can be quite intimidating to a lot of people. In this class, though, we’ll cover some basic principles of the skill, and I’ll give you some very useful tricks and Introduction to HD 3 F-3 techniques to get you started in improvising over the song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” We’ll even Improvisation talk a bit about using those tricks in our arrangements. Once you get going, improvising can be a ton of fun! We all know chords and harmony give life to a melody, but in this class we’re going to delve a bit All About Voicings HD 3 F-7 deeper into how those chords are voiced. We’ll go over inversions, open voicings, closed voicings, drop voicings, and so forth and how each one brings a different and unique feel to a song.

Arranging for Solo In this class, we’ll look at how we can arrange tunes for solo hammered dulcimer. We’ll talk about HD 4 F-4 Hammered Dulcimer intros, outros, form/song structure, melody decoration, and so forth. Chord Substitutions Chord substitutions are great tools to give our songs a different flavor. We’ll go over what chord on Hammered HD 4 S-3 substitutions are, various examples of them, and how we can apply them to our songs. Dulcimer In this class, we will use hand independence to play melody and harmony together. We will learn to Advanced Hand HD 5 S-2 move around the chords of Jovino Santos Neto’s tune “Hoping for the Day” as we play the melody Independence at the same time. This one will get your brain working! Tina Bergmann Learn the relationships between marked courses, half steps, repeated notes, chords and scales that Hammered dulcimer will unlock a deeper understanding of your instrument, help you to feel more free when learning HD 1 F-1 bootcamp tunes and help you get your money’s worth in lessons, workshops and camps! Handouts will be provided. Forming a new good habit is WAY easier than breaking a bad one. In this workshop you’ll learn Develop good good habits for healthy playing that will enable you to keep growing musically. Oftentimes bad playing habits right HD 2 S-2 habits hobble your ability to progress, so get a solid start and avoid pain and injury through better out of the gate! technique. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Handouts will be provided. We’ll discuss the elements that make a tune sound musical and interesting along with the playing Make Music Instead techniques to support them. These are techniques that need to be in place so you can add of Just Making HD 2 S-6 variations and still have the tunes sound coherent. Time permitting, some of the ideas we’ll cover Sound! are: choosing a hammering pattern, using metric accents in 4/4, ¾ and 6/8 and playing with good tone, dynamics and phrasing. Handouts will be provided. This workshop focuses on using two chord shapes as a jumping off point to learn major and minor Effectively Learn chords using both bridges up your entire instrument, as well as a manner of practicing them that HD 3 F-6 Chord Inversions also provides a beautiful arranging element for you to begin adding to music from fiddle tunes to Bach. Do you think all fiddle tunes sound the same? Then maybe you’re not approaching them in the way that a fiddler would, with an underlying sense of rhythm and pulse. We’ll discuss how to capture Get your groove on! HD 3 S-4 these techniques in your playing through learning “Poplar Bluff” a melodically and harmonically unusual tune that will catch your ear and make you want to pick up your bow... er, I mean, hammers. If you experience anxiety during lessons or performance this workshop is for you! We’ll look at how Hammer Dulcimer your body posture, dulcimer height and angle, and technique can affect your endurance, tone, Ergonomics & HD 4 F-3 and feelings of comfort or fatigue while playing. We’ll discuss some of the physiological habits that Managing create a ripe environment for performance anxiety, and practice techniques that can give you Performance Anxiety more control over the situation. Handouts will be provided. You’ll learn my arrangement of “Greensleeves,” a beloved and well-known tune from the late 1500’s. We’ll be discussing and using different ways to play broken chords, tension and release, Repertoire- HD 4 S-1 generalizing your gaze to play with hands farther apart, flams, dynamics, creating a fluid ”Greensleeves” arrangement, and more. Bonus-this can be played all year and trotted out as a Christmas piece as well! It’s always good to have ways to express your feelings (besides eating the entire pan of brownies,) Playing the blues HD 5 S-8 so we’ll use “Going to Kansas City” to explore the 12 bar blues form, learn a simple accompaniment that can be easily varied, and experiment with improvisation. A common roadblock to faster learning is poor music reading skills. We will cover techniques that Tips & tricks for will increase your music reading speed, and help you memorize & quickly recognize the notes in HD NS F-5 easier music reading those pesky ledger lines above and below the staff. Instruments NOT needed. Handouts will be provided. Tips & techniques for If you have difficulty correctly or easily reading rhythm in written music, this workshop is for you. accurate and easier HD NS F-8 You’ll learn and practice a concrete and simple method to accurately read rhythm in a variety of rhythm reading meters. This method is applicable to any instrument (including voice!) Handouts will be provided. Geoff Black & Duncan Gibbs Smooth Strumming – We’re going to be working on the engine of your playing. First let’s smooth out your strumming Making the Rhythm MD 2 S -1 action, ensuring you strike the strings cleanly in both directions. Then we’ll play some simple tunes, Flow keeping the rhythm flowing, with the odd syncopation to keep us sharp! You will explore three tunes from the distinctive folk heritage of the Isle of Man – a robust carol, a A Manx Midwinter - ceremonial song and a winter tune. The contrasting styles will show the versatility of the dulcimer, as Carols and Tunes MD 3 S-2 we play in drone and chord-melody styles, using different tunings. We shall work on each tune at from an Isle of Man different levels, making the class suitable for confident Novices through to Advanced players. A Winter capo will be required. Songs of War – from Wars can bring out the worst in humanity, but sometimes the best in music. We will make a rapid Heat of War to MD 3 F-1 tour of centuries and continents to play three songs in contrasting styles on the dulcimer. We shall Home Fires make the most of the dulcimer’s versatility, using DAD, DAC and DF#A (1:3:5 or chromatic) tunings.

Part 1 in Quarantune 2.0 covered the basics of 12 bar blues, together with simple riffs and Blues in DAD – Part II MD 4 F-2 turnarounds. In Part 2, we shall work on more advanced techniques like bending, sliding, muting and playing blues solos. Playing music makes most sense when we play it together. And if we play a tune arranged in different parts, together, we can make even the most familiar melodies sound fresh – and challenge Playing Together – MD 4 S-4 our playing in new ways. We will cover tips and techniques for playing in small groups and work on Duelling Dulcimers! three very different duets for individuals or small groups, selected from the traditional, classical and modern repertoires. We will explore some gloriously haunting Scandinavian dance tunes, played originally on the fiddle, Swedish Tunes – nyckelharpa or Swedish pipes. Let’s challenge our dulcimers to play the sometimes offbeat rhythms Musical MD 5 F-4 of some true Swedish dance tunes – perhaps a polska, a schottis, a gangla, or possibly even a Scandinavian Noir hambo! Pam Bowman We will go through a 10 point checklist of items to bring to your learning forefront when starting out From the Beginning HD 1 S-6 on the Hammered Dulcimer - including mistakes...(mistakes?) We will also put several "points" into Please! practice as well as learn a beginning tune. Here we'll learn a few exercises to get your hands moving in patterns that will reflect in your playing Exercises to Get Your HD 2 S-1 smoothness and enhance your familiarity with the Hammered Dulcimer! (This class is repeated under Hands Moving! Intermediate – as it would benefit both levels.) Hammered Hymns I Will The Circle Be Unbroken – in this class we'll learn just the main melody (no embellishments), with "Will the Circle Be HD 2 F-2 gently paced, step by step instruction. You will have no trouble coming away with this song on your Unbroken” play list - even if you are very new to the Hammered Dulcimer! Here we'll learn a few exercises to get your hands moving in patterns that will reflect in your playing Exercises to Get Your HD 3 F-6 smoothness and enhance your familiarity with the Hammered Dulcimer! (This class is repeated under Hands Moving! Novice – since it would benefit both levels.) Chording Up/Down There is no better way to advance your knowledge of the Hammered Dulcimer than, learning to and Around on the HD 3 F-7 chord your way around! This is a key aspect to learn future improvisation - “in the moment” HD embellishment and embellishing in general. (Novices could also benefit from this class.) When you play through a tune 3-4 times… is it always the same? Do you want to throw in something Learn to Variate HD 3 S-3 different now and then? In this class we’ll look at ways to variate your playing within the “same” Your Playing melody. A beautiful waltz that sounds wonderful on the Hammered Dulcimer! If you’re looking for another “Shepherd's Wife HD 3 S-5 waltz to put into your repertoire, this is a pleasing and interesting one. This arrangement will utilize a Waltz” lot of “doubles” (harmony notes) along with the melody, as well as using chord structures. “It Is Well With My Soul” - A cherished hymn that transcends time. In this session, we will learn an Hammered Hymns II HD 4 F-5 arrangement that has several types of embellishments within it’s framework to add “H.D. beauty” “It Is Well” and variation. We will also use a bit of finger plucking in the introduction & ending. Christmas all year long? Well...if you’re like me, in my earlier years of performing I would have to “re- Christmas All Year learn” the Christmas music each season! So… it’s good to visit Christmas music throughout – AND Long! “God Rest HD 4 S-8 learn/acquire new arrangements/selections, way before you want to actually perform the selection. Ye...” This piece has a “hand dampening” part, as well as variations on the melody line to add interest and skill. An upbeat and lively tune, frequently attributed to Polish composer Karol Namyslowski. A “Clarinet Polka!” (a HD 5 F-3 challenging piece hammer pattern wise, and in 3 keys… which also makes it great fun! We’ll work one anna two…) our way through this selection, a musical phrase at a time. Phyllis Woods Brown Welcome to the greatest and most gratifying musical journey you’ll ever take! Playing hammered dulcimer will provide you with music/enjoyment/therapy for years to come. Learn A Tune HD 1 S-2 This is a common-sense approach to getting started on your hammered dulcimer, music reader or not. We will cover the basics like position, striking the strings, tuning, etc., but will focus on understanding the layout of your instrument. You will leave knowing how to play a tune! This class is suitable for both Novice and Intermediate, and will accommodate both the music reader and the non-music reader. You will learn easy back up chords for jamming, with very little Chords in the Box HD 2 S-3 movement over your dulcimer. Keeping your tune chords within a box you will be able to play a little beyond your normal level, applying these easy methods. Whether you want to play back-up or just keep up, this class will help you out! Music Theory is a somewhat daunting subject for some people. This class is really JUST what you I Chord, IV Chord, V need to know, PERTAINING TO YOUR INSTRUMENT, to be able to find your way around. The layout of HD 2 F-7 Chord, WHAT??? the hammered dulcimer is nothing short of genius, and once you understand that layout and how it relates to your tunes, it gets a whole lot easier! You will learn 10 key elements that are crucial to playing your instrument. Some are elementary, Ten Commandments some you may not have thought of (yet), but all are important to becoming an accomplished for Playing the HD 2 F-5 hammered dulcimer player. Topics will include where to look, good practice habits, exercises, how Hammered Dulcimer NOT to practice, body position, right and left hand leading, economy of movement, muscle memory, and more! If you are playing a few tunes already, but hungry for more, this class is where you belong. Beginning with simple harmony and extending into easy-peasy full chords, you will learn the how-to, Beyond the Melody when-to and why-to of beginning embellishment. We will take a simple tune, learn the melody, and HD 3 F-1 1 then start adding embellishments. This class is suitable for both the music reader and the non-music reader as both music and shapes will be used. This class is an extension of Beyond the Melody 1, but attending the other class is not a prerequisite for this class. We will continue working on the simple melody that was learned in the first class and Beyond the Melody HD 3 S-1 add more complex embellishment techniques, dynamics, an intro, and an ending. You will leave 2 the class with a tune that is jamming/performance ready! This class is suitable for both the music reader and the non music reader. STOP RIGHT THERE! This class isn’t as boring as the name implies! Taking a simple scale and playing it 20 different ways is a very valuable tool in learning to embellish music. We will be covering: Scales Scale Exercises HD 3 F-2 with simple harmony; Scales with triangles; Scales with root chords; Scales while playing a rhythm; Major scales using minor chords-Contrasting scales; Contrasting scales while playing paradiddles, and more! It CAN be FUN to play scales! In creating a really special arrangement of a tune, most will agree that variety is essential. No one wants to eat a salad of just lettuce; likewise, no one wants to hear a performance of just melody. If A Smorgasbord of HD 3 S-8 you choose the most delectable toppings you’ll make a yummy salad. If you choose the most Embellishments delectable embellishment, you’ll create a yummy arrangement! In this class you’ll learn fun embellishments we will use them in an arrangement. Playing back up is a valuable skill to have. Let’s face it, as hammered dulcimer players, we are sometimes labeled as “obnoxious” players, because we play the melody over and over and over Playing Back Up 101 HD 4 S-5 in jams. Learn how to play back up so that other instruments really enjoy playing with you (and it makes your breaks a lot more special)! Let someone else take the lead. You’ve got this! Most of us already play several of Turlough O’Carolyn’s beautiful tunes. If you love the his music like O’Carolyn’s I do, you'll love learning his "O'Flinn". This tune is reminiscent of "O'Carolyn's Draught" crossed with “O’Flinn” is HD 5 F-8 "Planxty Fanny Po-er". We will start with the melody and add embellishments with varying degrees of O’Awesome difficulty as time allows. You will leave the class with YOUR VERY OWN arrangement of the tune. Lee Cagle The mountain dulcimer is very much a rhythm instrument. It is important as you start your dulcimer Strumming Basics MD 1 S-5 journey to have a solid foundation for the right hand. This class will use a simple tune to focus on basic strumming patterns to set you on your path to a lifetime of music. Strumming Up a For those who have been playing for a while but are still struggling to achieve a smooth and varied MD 2 F-4 Storm strumming pattern, we will focus on moving beyond the bum-ditty strum. Exploring your This class will help students view their fretboards as a whole, utilizing multiple strings and octaves in a Fretboard in the MD 3 S-6 simple way to add depth and variety to a basic and popular tune. The exercise will use the tune DAD Tuning Liza Jane. This class will continue exploration of the whole fretboard and all strings when playing a tune. It will More Fretboard be a little more challenging for some than the Liza Jane class and will include some harmonization. Exploration in the MD 3 S-8 Attendance at the Liza Jane class is not required. Each class will stand on its own. We will use the DAD Tuning Wade Ward old time tune Peach Bottom Creek. This class is an introduction to hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides for smoother and faster playing. We Smooth Moves MD 3 F-5 will use Amazing Grace in the DAD tuning for examples and practice of techniques that can be used in any song. DAD and the This class will look at the history of the DAD tuning, how it is used today, and how it was meant to be MD 4 F-1 Mixolydian Mode used. Tune examples for the class are Sandy Boys and Old Joe Clark with a twist. There are several ways to change keys on the mountain dulcimer, and this class will focus on re- Re-tune to the Key of MD 4 S-2 tuning to DGD. We will look at fiddle tunes which are traditionally in the Key of G: Dandy Lusk and G Old Yeller Dog Went Trottin’ through the Meetin’ House. Did you have the 1+ fret added and now wonder why? For those who have been looking for an What’s the Big Deal excuse to use their shiny, new 1+ fret (or for those who have used the 1+ for a long time), we will MD 5 F-6 about the 1+? examine how to use it to play in the Key of G. The tune for the class with be the Celtic tune Skye Boat Song. Joe Collins Fun Tunes for Some easy and fun songs for beginners to begin building their repertoire. We will work on some MD 1 S -1 Beginners fundamentals of playing but will focus on having fun learning these tunes. A repertoire workshop of songs that have been cherished in Appalachia. From the somber “Black Is Appalachian MD 2 F-7 the Color of My True Love’s Hair” to the rollicking “Old Dan Tucker” and several songs in between, Mountain Songs II you will learn some tunes that will bring out the Appalachian in your Appalachian dulcimer! Now that you have some basics down, let’s learn these easy arrangements of classic hymns. These Classic Hymns for include modern standards like “Just as I Am,” but also some old Gospel tunes like “When the Roll Is the Mountain MD 2 S-5 Called Up Yonder.” A few other tunes will round it out and build your repertoire to use at church, Dulcimer nursing homes, or wherever you are called to go and play! Irish tunes that are popular with tourists and natives even today. Regardless of your heritage, songs Bringing Out the Irish like “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” “Galway City,” “Be Thou My Vision,” and others will help you find some Irish MD 3 S-3 in You! inside of you. The workshop will be aimed at level 3, but these are great songs to add to your repertoire even if you are a level 4 or 5 player. The Civil War produced a lot of music, and most of it was used by both the North and the South. Civil War Songs of These songs, however, are identified mainly with the Union: “Battle Cry of Freedom” and several MD 3 F-1 the Union others. The workshop will be aimed at level 3, but these are great songs to add to your repertoire even if you are a level 4 or 5 player. A workshop to develop strumming/picking. Participants will work on several rhythms outside the norm for mountain dulcimers by combining strumming and picking. We will start with basic From Bum-Diddy to MD 3 F-8 strumming and build on that to Calypso and Rock-n-Roll. Level 4 players can also benefit from this Rock-n-Roll workshop. The first half may be review, but the second half may open your eyes to new possibilities for the dulcimer. A repertoire workshop filled with slow-paced, Celtic tunes of lasses, loves and lullabies from Celtic Sweet & Gentle lands. Includes "Irish Lullaby," "Green Grow the Rashes," and a few more. The workshop will be Tunes, Vol. 4 - a MD 3 F-3 aimed at level 3, but these are great songs to add to your repertoire even if you are a level 4 or 5 Celtic Journey player. A repertoire of beautiful waltzes arranged for two parts. We will learn both the melody and harmony It Takes Two to Waltz MD 4 S-6 parts for each waltz. Waltzes include “Sleeping Beauty Waltz” (by Tchaikovsky) and “Life in the Finn – Vol. 3 Woods” (aka “Mockingbird Hill). Some of the prettiest songs in the hymnal come from the little country of Wales. We will be learning Wonderful Welsh MD 4 F-6 some familiar tunes you probably weren’t aware were Welsh like “Ash Grove” and “Guide Me, O Hymns Thou Great Jehovah” as well as a couple you may not know. Autumn's Fancy: An This workshop will help you work on several very useful advanced skills - playing inverted chords, Exercise in Inverted pulling and hammering while playing inverted chords, and keeping a smooth 6/8 rhythm even MD 5 F-5 Chords & 6/8 when things get a little fast. These are great techniques for playing some of those tunes that make Rhythm people go, “Wow!,” but it’s really simpler than it sounds. Linda Weber Collins Start Well for Begin your dulcimer journey with a playing position that keeps you comfortable and injury free. Success: Ergonomics MD 1 S-4 Learn basic strumming and fingering and how to read TAB. Play your first few tunes. and More Develop Steady Learn how your strumming arm creates rhythms and can prevent wrist injury. Then practice forearm Rhythm Using MD 2 F-1 strumming with fun exercises and cheerful tunes written in simple TAB. Forearm Strumming Create Harmony Identify the primary chords in different sections of the fretboard. Use these chord placements to add Lines Using Chord MD 3 F-7 harmony to familiar jam tunes and hymns. Demonstrate your understanding by harmonizing with Placements Linda. Custom chord charts and TAB included. Irish Tunes with Flat- Create distinctive arrangements of slow Irish music by “pulling” the chords from the bottom up. Add picking and “Pulled” MD 3 S-5 flat picking to create delightful tunes. TAB includes O’Carolan tunes and songs Linda learned when Chords she lived in County Cork. Use this technique with any music in a slower tempo. Celtic Tunes with Use hammer-ons and pull-offs to emulate the sound of traditional fiddling in slow as well as fast F-8 & Hammer-ons and MD 4 tunes. Utilize them to create authentic articulations and phrasing in Celtic music. TAB provided for a S-7 Pull-offs selection of Scottish and Irish tunes. Elaine Conger Learning the chord shapes on the mountain dulcimer will add “light bulbs” to your playing. In fact, Let’s Get in Shape! MD 2 F -6 you may see a light or two come on over a few participants heads on the Zoom screen! In this session, you’ll discover the secrets of the dulcimer fretboard as well as the “dulcimer salute.” This class will feature a duet arrangement with parts for two standard dulcimers. It’s more musically Dulcimer Duets With satisfying to play complementary parts than to always play the same part with your dulcimer friends. MD 3 F-3 Elaine and Larry Don’t have a duet partner? No problem because the melody part will be able to stand alone as a solo. DAD tuning. The bass dulcimer, which is tuned the same as a standard (DAd), is a wonderful accompanying instrument in addition to being able to hold its’ own as a solo instrument. Its primary and most It’s All About the MD 3 F-2 practical use in the dulcimer community, however, is in mimicking the techniques used by the upright Bass Dulcimer! or electric bass player, which is the alternating bass line for the bulk of the traditional dulcimer repertoire. Your jams will now sound complete! You’ve obtained adequate knowledge of the alternating bass pattern that’s so useful in the bulk of the dulcimer repertoire. Now you’re ready to take your bass dulcimer playing to another level by It’s STILL About the MD 3 F-8 learning what to do if the song calls for a different bass line, such as the walking bass pattern, or Bass Dulcimer! what to do if you just have chord symbols dictating what you play. A 1.5 fret is required; DAD tuning. Learn how to take your bass dulcimer skills beyond the alternating bass or walking bass patterns by exploring how to make the bass play “back up” while simultaneously adding bass lines. For this first Bass Dulcimer to the MD 4 S-2 of a two-part session, participants will receive a standard and bass duet arrangement of “Aura Max! (Part 1) Lee,” also known as “Love Me Tender,” in addition to an audio recording. A 1.5 fret is required; DAD tuning. This class offers an additional example of how to make the bass dulcimer play “back up” while Bass Dulcimer to the simultaneously adding bass lines. In this second session, participants will receive a standard and MD 4 S-5 Max! (Part 2) bass duet arrangement of “Plasir d’amour” (“The Pleasure of Love”), also known as “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You,” in addition to an audio recording. A 1.5 fret is required; DAD tuning

When not strummed, the mountain dulcimer played in ensemble fashion gives the listener an impression of a harpsichord. Why not capitalize on that feature and play some music from the Go for Baroque! MD 5 S-7 Baroque period?! This four-part arrangement of “Almaine,” a dance from the Lord Hay’s Masque by Thomas Campion in 1607 features parts for two standards, baritone (tuned ADA), and bass dulcimer. Larry Conger Participants will learn some easy old-time tunes that were forerunners to modern bluegrass music. The Roots of These tunes were staples of the first bluegrass bands. Learning the tunes will include suggestions on Bluegrass Music on MD 2 S-1 efficiency of fingering and economy of movement, which will serve to help build skills for advancing the Dulcimer to the next level. DAD tuning. In the way of an introduction, this class will explain and discuss the best uses of the 1+ fret, talk 1+ Fret Introduction MD 3 F-1 about the various chords that can be built with it and apply that knowledge by playing a few songs with the extra fret. DAD tuning. No bluegrass concert would be complete without one or two good old gospel tunes. This workshop Bluegrass Gospel for will present songs that make use of the chord-melody style, utilizing two and three finger chords MD 3 S-3 Dulcimer while picking individual strings in a broken or “arpeggiated” fashion. Along the way, a few hammer- ons and pull-offs will help to smooth out the rough spots. DAD tuning. Defined as two songs played or sung together, this class will present 2-3 duets that are designed to Partner Songs with be “partnered.” Each song will be easy to learn on its own. The fun challenge comes when the two MD 3 S-8 Larry & Elaine songs are played together as a duet. This class always proves to be a lot of fun! Bring a capo. DAD tuning. This workshop will present 2-3 short dulcimer-friendly pieces from some of the world’s greatest Baroque & Classical MD 4 F -4 composers. Along the way, details such as expression, phrasing and smoothness will be discussed, Music Repertoire then applied. DAD tuning. The Scotch-Irish settlers brought the hornpipe to southern Appalachia where it thrived on the fiddle. Hornpipes for the This workshop will explore two tunes, one Irish and one American. The primary challenge will be MD 4 S-6 Dulcimer playing the tunes up to speed. Players will be given the option of picking each note or applying hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides to create the melody. DAD tuning. Take your performance to the next level. This class will explore various medleys of three songs, Themed Medleys for applied to a specific theme and creatively arranged in different keys. A 1+ fret will be useful but not MD 5 F-7 the Dulcimer necessary. These medleys will make your playing more fun and more interesting for the listener. DAD tuning. Russell Cook Play Hammer The HD is easy to “play by ear”. No music theory knowledge is needed here. Do you think of the Dulcimer Without names of the notes you hum when mowing the lawn or singing in the shower? No!!! Discover how F-3 & Reading Music: Stay HD 1 easy it is to: tune your instrument quickly & accurately - learn all about hammers… your connection S-8 Off Santa’s Naughty to the instrument - visualize how the HD is sectioned into small areas to play - Develop dexterity of List! both hands - Pick out a melody - Simple little ways to embellish. And much, much more.

Play Hammer The HD is easy to “play by ear”. No music theory knowledge is needed here. Do you think of the Dulcimer Without names of the notes you hum when mowing the lawn or singing in the shower? No!!! Discover how Reading Music: Stay HD 1 F-3 easy it is to: tune your instrument quickly & accurately - learn all about hammers… your connection Off Santa’s Naughty to the instrument - visualize how the HD is sectioned into small areas to play - Develop dexterity of List! both hands - Pick out a melody - Simple little ways to embellish. And much, much more.

Embellishing Slow It’s easy to embellish slow tunes on the HD, even though many find it challenging. Theory not Tunes that Will Put HD 3 S-4 required! Turn simple slower melodies into beautiful arrangements with only a few small patterns. You Santa to Sleep! can do this!!! Embellishing Slow It’s easy to embellish slow tunes on the HD, even though many find it challenging. Theory not Tunes that Will Put HD 3 F-5 required! Turn simple slower melodies into beautiful arrangements with only a few small patterns. You Santa to Sleep! can do this!!! HD Mechanics, S-6 & ALL LEVELS - Terminology - Construction - Sizes of HDs and their purpose - Tuning!! - Fixing a broken Maintenance, HD NS F-7 string - Dampers??? - Stands - Mics - Transporting - MUCH More!! - Bring your own questions! Tuning and More!! Matthew Dickerson Introduction to Learn the fundamentals for guitar picking through commonly known chords. We will be covering G 3 F-5 Fingerpicking the beginner techniques used by the late Frederick Noad. Note Bending & Learn how to slide with ease along with the delicate touch of vibrato to bring you one step closer PW 3 S-8 Vibrato to playing more like James Galway. There is no better way to get started playing a new instrument than learning a very familiar tune. "Ode To Joy" HD 1 S-5 Why not start with a classic? Join us as we have fun getting to know our instruments and answering all your Q&A's, while learning how to play. Stacking Boxes Unlock the fascinating mystery of how the hammered dulcimer is methodically laid out. We will go in- (Learning All the HD 2 S-2 depth on how to find scales and keys as well as how they relate to each other all across the Scales) instrument. Back by popular demand! Smooth Second Nature Playing will show you techniques and exercises Smooth Second HD 3 S-4 to play the dulcimer more fluidly without hesitation. Learn some tips and tricks by honing in on your Nature Playing peripheral vision and musical foreknowledge. Now that you consider yourself an intermediate player, why not up your game by introducing a "The Beautiful Blue HD 3 F-7 classical piece to your repertoire?! More importantly, we'll be introducing the use of intervals fit for Danube" an intermediate player during this class. A regular musical diet of drills and exercises is the best way to improve your playing. In this class I will Drills & Skills HD 3 F-3 be introducing all my favorite exercises that dramatically improved my skills as a hammered dulcimer player. "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." Matthew 6:3b Hand HD 4 S-6 Learn the essentials of hand separation and interdependence through song and exercise. Learning Interdependence these skills will open a whole new world of music for the advancing student. Whether you want to share your music with the world or just your friends or even simply for personal Capturing Audio for use, learning to properly capture the sound of your playing will give satisfaction to not only you, but the Hammered HD 4 F-1 potentially generations to come. Anyone can learn to record their own dulcimer playing right at Dulcimer home. Why not give it a shot? Nobody knows your playing better than you. As we become more advanced in our playing Developing Your learning the importance of custom-tailoring our daily routines becomes vital to developing our Own Advanced HD 5 F-4 skillset as musicians. In this class we will learn how to develop our own unique exercises directly from Exercises our greatest challenges in hammered dulcimer playing. Jess Dickinson New hammered dulcimer players will leave this class knowing all the basics, including enough Fun and Easy Quick- chords and chord patterns to follow along with most songs. We also will have fun learning a few Start for New and HD 1 S-4 simple tunes for students to build on. Lots of questions answered in this no-pressure, easy learning Almost New Players! environment! The most popular class I have taught to many hundreds of advanced-beginner and intermediate DickinsonDulcimer students for many years is Chord Camp. Students will learn to use the three universal chord shapes HD 2 s-6 Chord Camp to play all the major chords, minor chords, and 7th chords in the keys of A, D, G, and C. And if time permits, we will cover how and when to play suspended chords and major seventh chords. We begin with phrases from this familiar jam tune and move through many improve techniques that Easy Improv work for all tunes that have the same meter and pace. As you become familiar with these Techniques using HD 3 F-5 techniques, they will begin to come to you naturally as you apply them to other tunes. This is how to “Soldiers’ Joy” really have fun with the hammered dulcimer—by making tunes personal to your own preferred style! We begin with phrases from this familiar jam tune and move through many improve techniques that Easy Improv work for all tunes that have the same meter and pace. As you become familiar with these Techniques using HD 4 f-8 techniques, they will begin to come to you naturally as you apply them to other tunes. This is how to “Arkansas Traveler” really have fun with the hammered dulcimer—by making tunes personal to your own preferred style! Dizzi Dulcimer Are you new to the Hammered Dulcimer and want to learn how to play? Have fun getting to know The Art of your new instrument before getting bogged down with music theory, scales and arpeggio exercises. Improvisation for HD 1 F-4 Discover your own style of music and allow your creativity to flow. Absolute Beginners This workshop will show you some great ways to make your own music without needing to know a single thing about the layout and musical theory of the instrument! Create Your Own Make practising your scales so much more fun by turning them into traditional church bell peals.Lets Church Bell Peals on have fun working out how may different combinations we can find within a major scale. You will HD 2 S-4 the Hammered learn several ways to make your dulcimer sound just like church bells! Great to play in church, Dulcimer weddings, celebrations or just at home for practice! The Hammered Dulcimer has very special tonal qualities. If played in specific ways the harmonic Melodic Meditation resonance it produces creates a sense of calm in the player and the listener. During this workshop Music for Relaxation HD 3 F-1 you will learn methods to induce states of relaxation solely using the sound of your instrument. By the and Mental end you will have access to the meditative powers of your instrument and have the potential to Wellbeing enhance the mental wellbeing of your listeners. Have you thought about writing your own music but don’t know how to get started? Maybe you Song Writing for All! have a musical idea but don’t know how to flesh it out into a full musical composition. In this Basic Ideas into Polis HD 3 S-1 workshop we will be working on your own musical ideas no matter how basic or unfinished they hed Compositions may be and you will discover techniques to expand them into beautiful and polished compositions that inspire all who hear them! Did you discover the Dulcimer by hearing someone play it? Would you like your friends to Become a experience the beautiful sound but feel too scared to play for them? This workshop will teach you Confident Performer! HD 3 S-5 helpful techniques to combat your fears and give you the ability to share your Dulcimer playing with Tips to Conquer other people. I will also share with you my experiences of overcoming stage fright so I can now Stage Fright. perform in front of large audiences! Are you interested in earning an income from your instrument? We will be focusing on the many Make Money From avenues to becoming a professional musician. From performance to creating social media profiles, Music and Learn to selling courses, youtube videos and creating music for film and television. Next we will practice HD 4 F-2 Compose for Film several composing techniques specifically designed for selling music to film and TV. Finally we will and TV. practice playing to short film soundtracks aiming at creating a complimentary cinematic atmosphere. Learn to play this iconic folk tune first with one hand, then by some adding fabulous harmonies and Learn to Play impressive embellishments. Finally you will learn rhythm variations and figure out a personal “Scarborough Fair” HD 4 S-2 improvisation section to end up with an arrangement that is unique and impressive to all who hear With Flourish and it! This song will be taught by ear at varying ability levels so this workshop is also suitable for Flair intermediates and advanced. We will discover how to use electronic effects combined with modern playing techniques to create Fusing Technology funky dance music on the Hammered Dulcimer! Learn how to effectively use effects like, delay, With Dulcimer Creati HD 5 F-5 flange and reverb. We will also use a Loop pedal fused with funky rhythms to take compositions to ng Dulci- a whole new level! Learn how to bring the Dulcimer into the 21st century with this Dulcidelic dance Dance Music! music workshop! Suitable for All Instruments. Sam Edelston Here's something simple, but useful: Years before I ever learned to play the mountain dulcimer, Easy Harmony MD 2 S-1 somebody taught me how to play harmony on one. Parallel harmonies are a simple way to prettify a tune – and a tool that keep coming back to as you become a more experienced player. The mountain dulcimer is a natural rock & roll instrument. Its fretboard is loaded with “power chords.” You’ll find it surprisingly easy and fun to play some of the songs you grew up loving, and Rock & Roll Basics MD 2 F-8 here, you’ll start to discover how. We. Will. Rock. Out. This class was so popular at past QuaranTUNEs, the students told me to offer it again. DAD tuning. Suitable for levels 2-3. Think of all the folksingers, or singer-songwriters, or even pop stars who just go on stage with their Easy Chromatic guitar and strum chords -- plus maybe a bit of other stuff? You can do that on the dulcimer, too -- MD 3 F-2 Dulcimer and it's even easier with only 3 strings -- but it's easiest if you have a full set of frets! Come learn how to do that! Suitable for any-level player with a chromatic. This is useful in songs with long pauses in the melody ... or in a jam where everyone is playing the Filling the Times melody or chords. One special contribution you can add is “fills” in between the phrases. We’ll Between Melody MD 3 F-7 examine several ways you can add extra interest in those spaces. And – one great thing about Lines being online – everybody will have plenty of opportunity to try things for themselves! "Extra" frets will be welcome, but not needed. Want to learn a song or tune, but you can't find tab for it? No problem! Your computer is a more Learning Songs MD 3 S-5 tireless teacher than the old-timers, and it’s available 24/7. This class will teach you practical, From the Internet dulcimer-oriented ways to learn from it. Want to become a killer flat-picker? I found a real treasure on my sheet music collection – an old Piano Exercises for MD 3 S-7 piano exercise book – and I realized that piano exercises could be adapted and turned into Mountain Dulcimer dulcimer exercises. Learn from the great pianists! DAD tuning. This is essential: What if you don’t have other dulcimer players to play with where you live? Or you Playing in Non- want to be welcomed in a different musical crowd? Or a song isn’t fitting your vocal range? You MD 3 S-6 Dulcimer Keys don’t need to sit out every song that isn’t in D, G, or A. We’ll look at ways to play in a wide variety of keys. Tuned DAD, no special frets needed. Past QuaranTUNE students loved this class. Expand your skills in an unexpected direction: Doing hammer-ons and pulloffs with your "wrong" hand might be most common in rock and heavy metal, but it actually dates back much farther -- Two-Hand Tapping MD 4 S-3 and it's useful in playing many kinds of music. We’ll demystify it and get you comfortable enough to try it on some interesting tunes. DAD One challenge in arranging popular songs is that everybody knows the “hit” recording, and you want your three strings to evoke a whole band. We’ll examine some specific questions and artistic Chromatic - MD 5 F-3 choices you might face. For copyright reasons, though, instead of using classic rock, we’ll go back Arranging Songs in time to Gilbert & Sullivan for some musical examples that are the very model of accessible and interesting – but the lessons apply to all types of music. Steve Eulberg This class features the Map of the Dulcimer, playing in the “box”, playing horizontally, where are my What I Wish I Knew doubled notes, where are the “weird” notes, principles of hammering and learning songs. With all HD 1 s-7 When I Started of these conceptual and hands-on tools in one’s belt, students will be equipped to make significant progress in their comfort and skill in playing the dulcimer. PDF Handouts provided. Once I discovered that there were (2) TWO basic patterns for playing the classical Greek modes on the hammered dulcimer, I was able to uncover a great many tunes that were just hiding in my Modes on The instrument, waiting for me to find them! (Note: knowledge of music theory is NOT required for this HD 2 s-8 Hammered Dulcimer class, but previous experience at listening and singing or humming songs and tunes is a must.) Students will come away with a firm foundation of how songs work and how they work on the dulcimer. PDF Handouts provided. Once told I couldn’t play blues on the hammered dulcimer because everything sounded “too pretty,” I found ways to access both chords and scales (pentatonic minor and blues scales) on a Playing Blues on The standard, 5th-tuned dulcimer. So we CAN play our blues into the corner for awhile! Featuring HD 3 F-8 Hammered Dulcimer examples from Steve’s Playing the Blues on Hammered Dulcimer Joy book/CD (both downloadable and physical book/cd) which will be offered at a discounted rate for students. PDF Handouts provided. Using this relaxed-pace original tune we’ll explore and develop our hand separation skills to play a “First Snow” Hand solo arrangement of this tune which is elegant, interesting and suggests a beautiful winter HD 3 s-6 Separation Tune soundscape. Listen to a preview here youtube: https://youtu.be/aFUCF4vqnd4 PDF Handouts provided. Using Beethoven’s familiar “Ode to Joy” tune, we’ll explore some examples of hammering exercises that let us play mechanically, but musically at the same time. This class features examples from Hammered Dulcimer HD 4 f-7 Steve’s new Hammered Dulcimer Joy book/CD. The complete text for this class (both Joy downloadable and physical book/cd) will be offered at a discounted rate for students. Students will develop facility, accuracy, moving toward hammer independence. PDF Handouts provided. We will be playing in the traditional style, featuring noter technique and the tunes and tunings that fit Playing Noter Style in well together. The old “slidy” sound with drones is balm for my soul and a lovely and accessible way MD 2 F-5 G to play the music in our souls on the instrument of our choice. This class will explore ways to do this in the key of G. Capo and Noter are required. PDF Handouts provided. Using Beethoven’s familiar “Ode to Joy” tune, we’ll explore fingerstyle exercises that let us play mechanically, but musically at the same time. This class features examples from Steve’s Mountain Mountain Dulcimer MD 3 S-2 Dulcimer Joy book/CD. The complete text for this class (both downloadable and physical book/cd) Joy will be offered at a discounted rate for students. Students will develop facility, accuracy, and comfort with fingerstyle patterns that also explore musical arranging ideas. PDF Handouts provided.

The dulcimer is perfectly constructed for playing blues in A. Barre Chords, 7th chords, Pentatonic Playing Blues on Minor Scale, we’ll glimpse at the Blues Scale. Featuring resources from Steve’s Playing the Blues on Mountain Dulcimer MD 3 F-4 the Mountain Dulcimer Book. The complete text for this class (both downloadable and physical (DAd) Tuning book/cd) will be offered at a discounted rate for students. Students will be able to play their blues into the corner for awhile! PDF Handouts provided. Many years ago Ingrid Croce gave me permission to teach my arrangement of Jim’s timeless “Time in A Bottle” classic. This minor-major tune lays very nicely on a dulcimer tuned DAC and lets us further develop Fingerstyle (DAC MD 4 S-5 our fingerstyle skills and play in two different octaves (including the “expensive frets”). PDF Handouts Tuning) provided. The diatonic dulcimer is very versatile and when tuned to an open chord (1-3-5) is quite chromatic 1-3-5 Tuning for in its possibilities. AND, when we tune to FAC, we are playing in the keys of the music found in fake Playing Jazz and MD 5 F-3 books (like the REAL book) so we can join those jams and sessions, too! Students will learn how to More (FAC Tuning) decode “fancy” chords, and play swing rhythm. PDF Handouts provided. Scott Evan Freeman Mandolin 101: An easy quick-start We will introduce you to the wonderful world of the mandolin. We start at the very beginning with MA 1 F-1 guide and tuning, basic chording and rhythms. Fun and easy for all ages. introduction. Easy Mandolin Jam We will explore some basic chord structures and apply different rhythm patterns to help you in any MA 2 S-4 Chords and Rhythms kind of jam session. Having Fun Wih We will explore some very easy and basic concepts of improving your improvisation skills. Turn your HD 2 S-5 Basic Improvisation creative spirit loose. Simple Steps to Do you have a tune running through you mind and can't seem to get it to come out the way you Composing Your HD 2 F-6 want? We will look at easy ways to unleash the creation that lies within. Own Tune Bing Futch An Introduction to Bring your Native American flute, or just your curiosity, to a workshop where music and spirit soar Native American PW 2 S-3 high. Discover the origins of the instrument and the secret of its haunting sound. Learn to sigh into it Flute and play melodies while adding chirps, flutters and other embellishments. Tired of the same old strum for every tune? Want to learn how to create exciting, energetic and How to Become a complex rhythms on the ukulele? Then, join me for a series of exercises and tunes designed to get Groovy Guru With UK 3 F-6 you feeling the groove and laying it down. Hands-on experience with the fan-strum, drop-thumb, the Ukulele: chucks, frails and accents combine with the concept of “rhythmic shrubbery” for a solid and helpful Shrubbery! workout. Hello, there! First time playing a mountain dulcimer? Mine, too. Okay, not really, but I still remember Welcome to the what it was like when I began playing back in 1986. So, bring your dulcimers and come sit-in on a Mountain Dulcimer. MD 1 F -2 low key introduction to the Appalachian mountain dulcimer. I cover the basics of strumming, Now What? playing melody and harmony, tablature-reading and we play a few tunes as well. Many folks enjoy amplifying the mountain dulcimer and using effects, though it can be a daunting The Mountain experience if you’re not familiar with the necessary gear. In this technically-inspired workshop, Dulcimer: PLUGGED- MD 2 F-3 students will get answers to all of their questions regarding pick-ups and microphones, audio IN! interfaces and amplifiers, plus digital effects like reverb and delay. I demonstrate the essential gear and help you figure out yours! Using Major, minor and dominant seventh chords is like painting with primary colors. This workshop 11 Types of Chords explores a wide variety of chord types that can be used to expand your musical palette. Besides With Helpful Tips on MD 3 F-5 learning basic chord-building and popular progressions, students practice adding and altering How to Use Them notes to create a rainbow of gorgeous sounds. A Simple Way to Bring your capo and learn a sweet trick that will get you playing hundreds of tunes easily in three Play D, G and A: MD 3 S-7 different keys! Then, once we practice a bit using “Hangman’s Reel” as an exercise, we discover the Mountain Dulcimer source of the magic using scales to figure out options for melody and harmony. Magic! Whether you’re writing a song or creating an arrangement of a tune, everything you need to know Create is right there in the melody itself. This workshop demonstrates how to take a melody and figure out Arrangements Using MD 3 F-7 essential info like key signature, time signature, backing chords and overall rhythmic feel. Learn how Only a Melody to read and create lead sheets, discover visual patterns to help guide the tune and add a little extra spice to pull it all together. Once you learn to play a song on the mountain dulcimer, the next step is to play it with feeling and Embellishments: expression. Here, we learn to use a number of techniques called “embellishments” that add a little Powerful Tools for MD 4 F-1 spiciness to our musical stew. We begin with slides and vibrato and then explore hammer-ons and Your Musical Toolkit pull-offs, bends and bass lines, plus a quick look at creating intros and outros on the fly. From the islands of Hawaii to the Mississippi Delta, slide-playing is a highly expressive technique. In Learn to Play With a this workshop, students learn how to use both ring and bar slides for playing blues, country, sacred Slide on Mountain MD 4 S-5 steel and more! We’ll focus on hand-positioning, scales, alternate tunings and lots of fun, easy licks. Dulcimer A cylindrical guitar slide that fits over your index finger is highly recommended. In this workshop, students learn to play my original tune, “Day At Trough Creek” from the album Original Tune Study: “Dulcimerica: Volume 3.” What starts off as a traditional-sounding mountain dulcimer tune soon Chromatic Mountain MD 5 S-2 transforms into a dramatic and haunting ode to the natural world. Exploring composition, chord Dulcimer movement and rhythmic technique are all part of this chromatic dulcimer adventure. Guy George Beginning Learn your way around the hammered dulcimer. We’ll learn some easy tunes, chords and sound HD 1 S-1 Hammered Dulcimer good right away. Tune & Technique: Travel with me through the music of Ireland with these beautiful arrangements of some lovely Beautiful Celtic HD 3 S-2 waltzes. Waltzes Sound like a pro with this simple exercise to help you learn all the chords in a major key. Two keys: D Play All the Chords HD 3 F-4 & G Waltz for Nina HD 4 S-8 Learn my arrangement of this beautiful waltz as we focus on hand separation technique. Take it from the “ground up” and have fun learning to play this great instrument! All you need is a PennyWhistle From PW 1 F-8 “D” pennywhistle and we’ll get you started with all the basics. You’ll even learn a few easy tunes, in the Beginning 2 keys! Contact me ASAP if you need a pennywhistle: [email protected] Easy Folk Fun on a Review the basics and then start building your penny whistle repertoire with some great sounding PW 2 F-6 Pennywhistle folk tunes. We’ll work on our technique and get a few practice tips. Pretty and Easy Be ready for St. Paddy’s Day - learn a few of the tunes you’ll need to be a hit at the pub next Celtic Tunes for the PW 2 F-3 March! Pennywhistle Beautiful Waltzes on We’ll learn some of our favorite waltzes with melody and harmony parts for each tune, as well as PW 3 F-1 the PennyWhistle tips for practicing. Jamming on the Learn and play some standard jam tunes to extend your range as a whistle player. Learn how to PW 3 S-6 PennyWhistle add a few simple embellishments “on the fly” during a jam. Easy Chromatics on PW 3 S-4 Learn some easy tunes with chromatics. the PennyWhistle Sharrie George All you need to know to start playing the ukulele in an hour! Learn some basic chords, strums, and Ukulele From the tunes as well as how to tune and care for our ukuleles. Music notation with chord pictures, lyrics, UK 1 S-8 Ground Up! and strum suggestions will be provided for each tune. A fun way to learn to play this happy instrument! This workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with standard (GCEA) tuning. Learn how to add style to your strumming! We’ll take a few basic strums and create new strum Ukulele Strum UK 2 F-4 patterns with just a few changes. We’ll apply our strums to some fun, easy tunes! This workshop is for Building Basics soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A tuning. Learn some ukulele greats from the “early years”! There will be strum pattern suggestions to fit each Ukulele “Great UK 2 F-8 tune, along with lyrics and chord pictures. Workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with American Classics”! G-C-E-A tuning. Learn chord progressions for several “genres” of music! Learn how to change the key to fit your Learn a Song – Play voice range or to be able to play with different instruments! Also helpful for “ear training” to learn to a “Song”; Learn a UK 3 F-2 “hear” chord changes in a tune. We’ll apply this to several tunes. Helpful ‘tools’ will be provided to “Progression”- Play help you practice this technique*. Workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A MANY Songs! tuning. Learn finger-picking patterns on your ukulele to play over chords in a tune. Finger-picking basics, how to read tablature, and some patterns will be taught using some easy tunes and chord Pickin’ on a Uke UK 3 S-3 progressions. You must know and be able to change basic chords easily for this workshop. (New “Basics” tunes will be used in case you have taken this workshop before.) Workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A tuning. Learn some Gospel and Hymn tunes that sound great on the ukulele! All will have chord pictures Gospel Tunes and and lyrics, along with strumming suggestions. If you’re a “newbie”, I’ll show you ways to practice UK 3 F-7 Hymns for Ukulele strums even if you haven’t quite mastered the more difficult chords. Workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A tuning. Quick review of strum basics - and then we’ll change, and create more strum patterns while learning Uke Strums – Beyond UK 3 S-5 ways to create a different sound with just a few changes. We’ll apply our strums to some MORE fun, the Basics easy tunes! This workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A tuning.

Have a rootin’ tootin’ time learning some fun old & new tunes of the wild, wild West! We’ll start with Cowboy Classics a few easier tunes, and work our way up so some more challenging tunes. All will have chord Old and New on a UK 3 S-7 pictures and lyrics, along with strumming suggestions. If you’re a “newbie”, I’ll show you ways to Ukulele! practice strums even if you haven’t quite mastered the more difficult chords. Workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A tuning. Learn to play some fun ukulele tunes with melody & harmony parts as we learn to read tablature for Ukulele Orchestra - ukulele. We’ll also learn how to add some chords with the melody once we are familiar with the UK 4 S-1 Play the Melody! melody. Each tune will feature tablature as well as music notation & lyrics. Workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A tuning. Once you get the basics down, you’ll want to expand those basics for a more stylized sound by Syncopated Finger adding syncopation. The process will be explained and all will be tabbed so that you’ll be able to Picking – Travis Style UK 5 F-5 practice easily after the class. Basic finger-picking RECOMMENDED as pre-requisite for this class. A Picking for Ukulele challenge for sure, but well worth the effort! Workshop is for soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles with G-C-E-A tuning. Tull Glazener There are more tunes out there in the world than any of us will ever be able to learn or memorize, but there are a limited number of chords. The vast majority of tunes can be played with just 3 The Power of Three MD 1 s-3 chords. We’ll spend this session learning how to play those 3 chords on the dulcimer, and then show how to use them to play along with other musicians. D-A-d tuning. Intro to Chords are one of the main building blocks of music. We’ll start with learning basic chord Chord/Melody Style MD 2 F-3 formations up and down the fretboard, and then show how the melody line tends to “fall out” of Playing the chords. The technique of playing individual strings is useful both for playing melody notes across the Intro to Flat Picking MD 2 S-8 fretboard, and also for providing accompaniment. We will drill the basic technique, and then show how we can apply it in playing tunes. A lot of wonderful music originates in the traditions and cultures of countries from all over the world. Around the World in MD 3 F-2 Many of those tunes fit beautifully within the 8 notes of the diatonic fretboard. This class will 8 Notes introduce some of that music, arranged for multi-part/ensemble playing. "Dulcimer Daze" is a tune composed by Gil Anderson, the same composer who gave "Nut Factory Shuffle" to the dulcimer world. With Gil's kind permission, I'll be presenting a 3-part arrangement of Dulcimer Daze MD 3 F-7 this fun and energetic tune. It's a great tune to learn both major and minor chord formations up and down the fretboard, along with how to strum syncopated rhythms. The blind Irish harpist Turlough O’Carolan composed some of the world’s most beautiful melodies O’Carolan for Mt. MD 3 F-5 that are still being enjoyed some 280 years after his death. His music works amazingly well on the mt. Dulcimer dulcimer, especially when arranged for multi-part/ensemble playing. Mt. dulcimer players sometimes get a “bad rap” for only playing in the key of D. We’ll explore how Playing in Other Keys MD 3 F-8 to play in other keys, and unlock the mysteries of using a capo. D-A-d tuning, capo required. This class will demonstrate how to use some simple but effective chord substitution techniques to Chord "dress up" tunes you've been playing for years. We'll learn about 7th chords, related minor chords, MD 4 S-6 Embellishments and "lifting" chords, including how to form them on mountain dulcimer, and how and where to use them. From the late 19th century through the early 20th century, brass band music was extremely popular Marching with the MD 4 S-2 in the United States, especially marches. We’ll work on a multi-part/ensemble arrangement of one of Mt. Dulcimer those tunes. Creating Multi- There is something magical about playing in groups - "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". Part/Ensemble MD 5 S-5 In this class, we'll learn some techniques for creating your own multi-part/ensemble arrangements by Arrangements adding bass lines, harmony parts, counter melodies, and more. Dave Haas Get ready for some fun! Learn how to hold, tune, strum, fret the dulcimer, read dulcimer tab, play Easy as 1-2-3! MD 1 F -5 backup chords, and participate in a jam session - all while learning great songs you already know! You will receive lots of encouragement and be inspired to learn more! DAD Learn how to improve your strum to make your tunes more musical. Learn how to improve your left I’m Past Beginner – hand fingering to more your play more smooth and fluid. Learn how to improve your play of both MD 2 S-4 Now What? fast and slow tunes. Learn how to use a capo and play embellishments such as hammer-ons, pull- offs, and slides. DAD. Learn how to play slow songs in a smooth and melodic style by picking the strings one at a time. The Art of Playing Learn left and right hand techniques which facilitate smooth playing. Learn finger exercises to Slowly – Introduction MD 2 S-8 improve your play. Build your repertoire by incorporating these techniques to popular melodies you to Arpeggios already know. Different tunes than QDF 2.0. DAD Learn the names of shapes of chords along the entire length of the fretboard. Learn fingerings that Chords, Chords, MD 3 S-6 facilitate changing between chords shapes while keeping your fingers on the strings. Learn how to and More Chords! simplify chords to play faster tunes more easily. DAD. You are able to play slow songs by plucking the strings - one at a time - and are ready to improve The Art of Playing your skills. You will learn several popular tunes and learn how to provide backup accompaniment MD 3 F-2 Slowly – Intermediate to others who are playing or singing slow songs. Learn left and right hand techniques which facilitate smooth playing. Different tunes than QDF 2.0. DAD Learn how to use both natural and “artificial” harmonics (chimes) to complement your play. Learn The Harmonics the skills needed to produce these harmonics, and how harmonics can be used to spice up the MD 3 F-7 Workshop tunes you already know. Learn tips and practice exercises to improve your delivery of harmonic notes. DAD. Expand your repertoire with the music of the man known as “the father of American music” He wrote The Music of MD 3 F-8 more than 200 songs - many of which are played and sung today. Learn techniques and fingerings Stephen Foster to ensure smooth play. DAD Expand your repertoire with wonderful classical pieces arranged for the mountain dulcimer. Bach’s Hooked on The MD 4 S-7 “Minuet in G”, “Trumpet Voluntary”, and other popular classical music will be explored. Strumming, Classics arpeggio, and fingerpicking skills will be utilized. Come ready to be hooked! DAD Expand your repertoire with the music of this amazing 17th century Irish The Music of MD 4 F-4 Harper. So many of his tunes are played today. Learn techniques and fingerings to ensure smooth Turlough O'Carolan play. DAD Wow! Create performance-ready arrangements of slow and fast songs on the mountain dulcimer. Arrangements that Learn about the process of arranging, introductions and endings, incorporating melody and MD 5 S-3 Sparkle! chords in a second position on the dulcimer, and special touches that will make your arrangements sparkle. Performance tips will also be discussed. Bring a smile and a “we can do it!” attitude. DAD DJ Hamouris Modal Minor Tunes You can easily start playing the mountain dulcimer in one of many tunings. This class introduces the for Absolute MD 1 F -7 fret board, basic strumming technique, and tunes in the haunting Aeolian mode from American & Beginners English folk genres. DAC tuning Moving from melody/drone style to cross-string technique, you’ll work through this beloved tune, “Amazing Grace” gaining facility on all 3 strings and playing what you want, when you want it. There will be flat- MD 2 S-4 Across the Strings picking exercises, a box-scale, playing all, one, or 2 strings, and a three-quarter time strum to hold it altogether. DAD tuning This classic fiddle tune lends itself to quick or slow tempos and everything in between. Part 1 stands "Bonaparte Crossing MD 3 F-3 alone as a solo -- a good one for your Americana repertoire. Part 2 is a bass-leading line following the Rhine” Duet the harmony & chord progression. A good introduction to duet arranging. DAD tuning A beautiful 14th Century Italian lament, made famous on John Renbourn’s 1970 recording, “The "Lamento di tristano" MD 3 F-5 Lady and the Unicorn”. This languid, minor tune involves flat-picking, hammers, pulls & slides, creating a lovely medieval moment in your repertoire. DAC tuning A good step to getting to know your baritone dulcimer is to take tunes you already play and move Adapting Tunes to MD 3 S-3 them directly over. We’ll explore tunes normally played in the keys of D & A, examining both melody Baritone Dulcimer & chord progressions. AEA tuning Known most famously as the theme for Ken Burns’ “Civil War”, this popular folk waltz was written by Jay Ungar in 1984, and named for the Ashokan Music & Dance Camp in upstate New York. Written "Ashokan Farewell" MD 4 F-8 in D (yay!) this arrangement moves fluidly across the strings with a couple of hammers & pulls. You can do a lot to make it yours. Let’s get it under your fingers for the next dance! DAD tuning Known most famously as the theme for Ken Burns’ “Civil War”, this popular folk waltz was written by Jay Ungar in 1984, and named for the Ashokan Music & Dance Camp in upstate New York. Written "Ashokan Farewell" MD 4 S-8 in D (yay!) this arrangement moves fluidly across the strings with a couple of hammers & pulls. You can do a lot to make it yours. Let’s get it under your fingers for the next dance! DAD tuning

An overview of music literacy for mountain dulcimer players including note & rest values, time Mixed Marriage: Tab signatures, scales & keys, reading the staff & applying it to tab, pitches in DAD tuning, and reading MD NS S-6 & Staff! the road map. Good for anyone who wants to learn the vocabulary of musicians, gain standard notation reading skills, or apply their understanding of notation to the diatonic dulcimer. DAD tuning Neal Hellman Students will tune to the Aeolian mode of D (D-A-C where C is the bass string). This is both a simple and rewarding workshop, especially for beginners. Aeolian Mode for F -3 MD 2 Students will be taught basic melodies as well as how to utilize the dulcimer to back up the voice. the Novice Player & S-7 Selections include “The Praties,” “Breton Tune,” “Kojo no Tuski,” “Goddesses,” “Haikva,” and “The Moon Shines Bright.” In this workshop we will learn both the melody and the backup chords so one can both sing the ballad and play a lead when not singing. I’ve arranged some very lyrical pieces, some of which American Folk Songs MD 3 F-4 are unknown gems, such as “When Adam Was Created” and “The Blackest Crow.” Other selections and Ballad include “Fair and Tender Ladies,” “Poor Wayfaring Stranger,” “Pretty Saro,” “The Death of Queen Jane,” and from Stephan Foster, “Slumber My Darling.” In this workshop we will learn both the melody and the backup chords so one can both sing the ballad and play a lead when not singing. I’ve arranged some very lyrical pieces, some of which American Folk Songs MD 3 S-8 are unknown gems, such as “When Adam Was Created” and “The Blackest Crow.” Other selections and Ballads include “Fair and Tender Ladies,” “Poor Wayfaring Stranger,” “Pretty Saro,” “The Death of Queen Jane,” and from Stephan Foster, “Slumber My Darling.” I have chosen some of my favorite Irish songs that deal with sadness and loss but are oh so Irish Songs of Parting beautiful for the ear. Singing with the dulcimer will also be encouraged in this session. Selections MD 3 F-6 and Loss include “A Stór Mo Chorí,” “Down by The Sally Gardens,” “My Lagan Love,” “The Parting Glass,” “Bonny Light Horseman,” and “When I Was on Horseback.” The Shakers made music an integral part of their daily lives and worship, from lively dance tunes The Music of the and marches to reverent hymns. One wonderful aspect of Shaker music is that it has roots in both Shakers for MD 3 S-3 Europe and Appalachia. The technique involved in arranging and playing these compositions will Mountain Dulcimer be covered as well as the repertoire. Selections include “Love is Little,” “Come Life Shaker Life,” “The Humble Heart,” and “I Will Bow and Be Simple.” Students should be able to perform basic embellishment techniques (hammers, pulls, and slides) to get the most out of this class. I’ve tried to select compositions that are challenging but really fun to Music of the World MD 4 F-7 perform. Selections include “Breton Lullaby” (Northern France), “Bravery, Courage and Fearless Part II Men” (Sweden), “Emma’s Waltz” (Finland), “Waterloo Hornpipe” (Scotland), “Ojos Azules” (Andean), L’Amour de Moy (France), and from 14th century Italy, “Dal Ciel Venne Messo Novello.”

I have chosen some of my favorite waltzes that “sit” very well on the mountain dulcimer. You must be proficient in executing the various embellishments (hammers, pulls, etc.) to get the most out of Waltzing Around the this class. Compositions include “Hewlett” (Ireland), “Arirang” (Korea), “La Valse des Petits June MD 4 S-4 Globe Filles” (Canada), “Leaving Lismore” (Scotland), two versions of “Westphalia Waltz” (Poland), and “The OokPik Waltz” (Canada). Listen to some versions of these tunes on YouTube In this session I will teach you some of my favorite O’Carolan compositions. This is an advanced The Music of class, and the arrangements will be somewhat challenging but very rewarding. The student will learn Turlough O’Carolan MD 5 S-5 five compositions in five different keys without retuning the instrument. Selections include “Catherine for Mt. Dulcimer Martin” (Am), “The Dark Plaintive Youth” (Em), “Planxty Connor” (D), “Separation of Body and Soul” (Bm), “Planxty Eleanor Plunkett” (G), and “Beauty in Tears” (D). Stephen Humphries Learning the fundamentals of the hammered dulcimer can be a daunting task. Join us as we Beginner’s uncover some simple patterns to help you learn where the notes are on your instrument and how to Workshop: Notes & HD 1 S-5 make the best use of your hammers to reach them. Handouts with tips, pointers, and exercises will Rhythms on the HD be provided. Find the path of least resistance on your instrument by learning a few fundamental rhythm patterns. Basic Rhythm & We will use these rhythms to explore scales and simple melodies while developing effective hammer HD 2 S-4 Rudiments motion. No matter what style of music you want to play, learning a few rudiments will help you on your journey. Handouts from Stephen's book on this topic will be provided. Learning a few basic chord shapes on the dulcimer can open up a whole new world of music to Basic Chord Shapes HD 2 f-1 you. Join us as we explore some simple chord shapes that will have you playing both major and & Patterns minor chords in multiple keys in no time. Handouts with exercises will be provided. Two Hands, One This class will explore three ways to play a melody with one hand and an accompaniment pattern Mind: Hand HD 3 F-5 with the other. We will practice these patterns using familiar songs & scales to help you grasp the Interdependence concepts quickly and easily. Handouts from Stephen's book on this topic will be provided. Expand your dulcimer sound palette by learning different techniques for using dampers on the hammered dulcimer. Don't have dampers? No problem! We'll also look at different ways to Put a Damper on it! HD 3 F-6 dampen and create special effects without dampers. Handouts with exercises & tips will be provided. Learning a few basic chord shapes can help you find useful musical patterns all over your instrument. We will focus on 3 types of chord patterns to help you embellish, accompany, and Chords: Methods for HD 3 S-8 arrange your own music. Whether you want to play better in a jam, in an ensemble, or on your Exploration own, these exercises will help you get more comfortable with using chords on the dulcimer. Handouts with exercises will be provided. Have you ever wanted to play with other musicians but don’t have the opportunity to do so? Do iDulcimer: Looping you ever wish you could play more than one part or instrument at a time? In this class we will with a Smartphone HD 3 S-3 explore how to use apps on a smartphone or tablet to record simple patterns to accompany or Tablet yourself for both practice and performance. Handouts with resource lists and exercises will be provided. Hand This class will help you explore various ways to play a melody in either hand while accompanying Interdependence: yourself with chord arpeggio patterns. These patterns are also useful for creating accompaniment HD 4 F-4 The Magic of patterns in jams, arranging songs, or writing your own music. Exercises from Stephen’s book on Arpeggios hand interdependence will be provided. Speaking with an Have you ever wondered how to make a melody stand out above the other notes in the crowd? In Accent: How to this workshop, we will learn how to emphasize (i.e. “accent”) certain notes while also de- HD 4 S-7 Make Notes Stand emphasizing other notes. Developing this skill will prove useful no matter what style of music you like Out to play. Handouts with practical exercises will be provided. Advanced This workshop will focus on applying Paradiddles in creative ways on the hammered dulcimer. Using Rudimental Playing: time-tested methods from the Percussive Arts Society, we will explore how to use chord patterns, HD 5 F-2 Paradiddles & visual shapes, and rhythmic accompaniment styles to springboard your musical creativity and Inversions further develop hammer control. Handouts from Stephen's book on Rudiments will be provided. Lorinda Jones I Love the Sound of the Harp and Want HP 1 F-4 Size, models, levers, prices, makers/models and a guide in choosing a harp. to Play, How Do I Get Started? Easy Left Hand Patterns for HP 2 S-4 Fingerings for melody and right hand chords for “Lament for Red-Haired Ian” Accompanying a Lament Picks, Patterns and Plucks: Tips for MD 1 S-6 How to choose and hold the pick and where to anchor the right hand for effective strumming. Improving Your Sound Simple Chord Progressions for MD 2 F-1 Explore chord patterns for strumming or picking and learn two songs with these patterns. Meditation, Improvisation and Learn Three Popular O’Carolan (Blind MD 3 F-6 Apply Irish ornamentation and finger style guitar techniques to these harp tunes. Harpist of Ireland) Songs When to Substitute Major and Minor Chords to Change MD 3 S-2 Make subtle or drastic changes to a melody when choosing chords for two Irish songs. Mood, Style and Keys 3 African American Spirituals in an MD 4 S-1 Focus on filling in around the notes in a rhythmic pattern to create beautiful arpeggios Arpeggiated Chord Style How to LOVE, Rather Than AVOID MD 4 S-7 Add a blues sound to two D Major tunes plus a song in D Minor. Your 1.5 Fret Love Songs From MD 4 F-2 Celebrate Valentines with arrangements chocked full of lush chord melodies. the Civil War Era Scottish Airs Arranged With Lush MD 5 F-8 Slides, harmmer-ons, pull-offs and playing across the strings. Chords and Ornamentation Ken Kolodner The key to old-time fiddling are bowing patterns. Old-time fiddlers use bowing patterns to create Old-Time Fiddle: FI NS F-6 groove and increase speed. We will learn a great old-time tune using specific bowings along with Bowing with Groove left-hand techniques. The “Pachelbel’s Using three chord shapes, you will learn to play the chord progression for “Pachelbel’s Canon“ Canon” Exercise HD 2 F-7 along with a piece of the melody. This exercise is extremely value for learning foundational chord Using Chord Shapes shapes and eventually three note chords. And you will soon be ready to play your first wedding! We will review a few exercises to introduce this powerful technique where one hand takes the Hand melody (typically the left) while the other hand plays an accompaniment (typically the right). You Separation/Indepen HD 3 S-4 will learn one lovely composition from one of most influential composers and fiddlers in Scottish dence: “The Cradle traditional music: James Scott Skinner. We will use a “root to fifth” ostinato. It is not scary! You will Song” love it! Learn “Farther Along” and a simple but effective and fun arrangement. “Father Along” has been Gospel Arranging covered countless times (e.g. The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt, Ideas: “Farther HD 3 S-5 Pete Seeger and many others). The chord progression offers us much to discuss with the usual major Along” & minor chords plus a few surprises: one augmented chord and a few secondary dominants. You will gain understanding how these chords function. Jigs can be a little tricky on the HD, requiring equality of hands. We will explore hammering Arranging Ideas for HD 4 S-6 “systems” in jigs, and how to ornament and vary our playing. We will use a well-loved tune in Jigs Scotland and beyond, “The Road to Banff” from Scottish flute player Malcolm Reavell. A Dozen Ideas to Have you ever learned a fast fiddle tune and felt like there was no time to do anything besides play Spruce Up Your HD 4 F-4 the tune? Let’s change that! Using a part of a fiddle tune, we will blast through a dozen Fiddle Tunes ideas/techniques to make fiddle tunes way more fun! “Abide with Me” has a particularly lovely chord progression featuring suspensions, an augmented “Abide With Me”: chord, secondary dominants, diminished 7th chords. You will learn what these chords are and how HD 5 S-1 Arranging for Hymns they function. We will keep our arrangement relatively simple to communicate the richness of the chord progression. Joellen Lapidus Beginners Bonanza: Everything You Need Learn strumming, flat and fingerpicking, reading tab, chord accompaniment and singing with the MD 1 F -6 to Know to Get dulcimer Started Create irresistible rhythm grooves in 2/4(hoedown), 3/4 waltz, 6/8(jigs) and Indian Hoedowns, Waltzes, MD 3 F-4 rhythms(combinations of all of the above). Learn to vary your rhythm patterns by accenting Jigs and Ragas backbeats, doubling beats, playing the mandolin strum and combining rhythms. Create irresistible rhythm grooves in 2/4(hoedown), 3/4(waltz), 6/8(jigs) and Indian Hoedowns, Waltzes, MD 3 S-8 rhythms(combines all). Learn to vary your rhythm patterns by accenting backbeats, doubling beats, Jigs and Ragas playing the mandolin strum and combining rhythms. Beyond DAD: Go beyond Ionian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Dorian. Discover reverse tunings, jazz tunings(4 strings Exploring and MD 4 F-8 necessary for this), bagpipe and major chord tunings. Dare to create new tunings while listening to Creating Alternative a song you want to learn! Tunings The Slap or Chop Play upbeat and sleepy Rock'n Roll rhythms. Play the strum Joni Mitchell used on the Blue Album. MD 4 S-4 Technique Add punch and pizzaz to traditional and non-traditional tunes. Converting Standard Music YOU MUST BE ABLE TO READ STANDARD MUSIC NOTATION FOR THIS CLASS! Write out your favorite MD NS S-3 Notation into songs in tablature. Identify the key, tuning, notes of the melody and chords into tablature. Dulcimer Tablature Thomasina Levy Have you always wanted to learn how to play the dulcimer? Yes? Then this workshop is for you! Mountain Dulcimer MD 1 S-5 Participants will be introduced to basic strumming patterns and terminology. Some simple songs will Discovery Workshop be taught, as well as how to tune your instrument. Let’s be Picky with Step away from your pick and let your right hand fingers do the playing. Some basic finger Beginning MD 2 F-6 placement and easy beginner finger picking songs will be introduced. Come tuned to DAd. Fingerpicking! “Dress Up” your These techniques will help you “dress up” your music. Once you get some of these under your belt playing with Left (or should I say “under your left finger tips”?) you can even make a simple song like "Bile Them MD 3 S-4 Hand Cabbage Down" sound exciting. Techniques we will explore are: Hammering-On, Pulling-Off, Embellishments Vibrato, Slides, and Harmonics. Bring a pick and tune to DAD. Let’s Cavort with a NO MORE RETUNING! Now you can play minor songs without retuning AND learn how to play songs MD 3 F-3 Capo! is different keys such as Em, G, A major & A Mixolydian. Tune to DAd and bring a capo. Yes, yes I know, DAA is the “old-fashioned” tuning. BUT there are some really lovely songs that Let’s Revisit DAA MD 3 F-4 sparkle in DAA like "The Riddle Song" ("I Gave my Love a Cherry"), a Shaker tune – "Love is Little" and that old-timey jaunty tune "Cripple Creek." The mt. dulcimer is perfect for lilting Irish airs. In this workshop you will learn two captivating tunes that have stood the test of time– O’Carolan’s classic "Sheebeg and Sheemor" in two-part harmony Irish Beauties MD 4 F-7 (also known as "The Fairy Hills") and "The Mountains of Pomeroy." If there is extra time we will also play some additional Irish tunes. Bring a capo. If you can walk and chew gum at the same time then you can play the mountain dulcimer and sing Sing! Sing! Sing! with MD 4 S-8 with it too. In this workshop we will talk about chords, how to find the right key and learn some new the Mt. Dulcimer songs. Come tuned to DAD and bring a capo. We will “joyfully” explore the possibilities of playing 4 equidistant strings. In addition to Ode the Joy, "Ode to Joy!" on 4 MD 5 S-2 we will also explore the beautiful chords that emerge by just playing the L-shaped chords in this Equidistant Strings tuning. You will never go back to the DAd tuning again! Come tuned to DAdd. Anne Lough Want to “fancy-up” your tunes? With a beautiful Irish air, we will explore using basic embellishments Finishing Touches HD 3 s-5 and chord shapes that will add excitement and that special, unique sound to your music. As you hone these skills you will be inspired to create freshness and variety in everything you play.

Get your hammers flying and toes tapping with two lively session tunes so well suited for the Shetland Reel hammered dulcimer. We will look at options for mapping melodies in the most efficient and HD 4 f-8 Medley compact patterns, taking into consideration unison notes. You will also enjoy some fun rhythmic syncopation and accent. What a difference Hammer Ons, Pull Offs and Slides can make! With a beautiful Celtic air and a Fancy Fingers MD 3 S-6 lively jig, we will explore left hand technique to dress up, speed up and smooth out our playing. You will be so delighted to be able to take these skills to everything you play. Fill in the Blanks – Ever wonder how to add those extra things that aren’t written in the tab that make a tune so Thinking “Outside MD 3 S-1 special? Start noodling and get the creative juices flowing as we explore ways to embellish and the Tab” smooth out a tune to make it flow and be uniquely yours. Impress all your friends and fellow players with your skills as we practice modulating a tune and Look! No Capo! MD 4 f-6 playing a medley in different keys without a capo, stopping or retuning. We’ll explore options for modulating as well as what to consider in choosing tunes that will work well. Yes we can, even with just 3 strings and a diatonic instrument! This tune is a bit more challenging but Can You Do the MD 5 F-1 fun and rewarding as it moves back and forth from D to G. We will focus on finger placement and “Can Can”? right hand technique to present a smooth and lively rendition of this favorite classic. Erin Mae No Books Required: Erin Mae will orient you to your dulcimer by showing you simple scales on the melody and middle Finding Familiar strings. You will learn to play familiar melodies like “Amazing Grace” and “Happy Birthday” without MD 1 S -4 Songs In Your having to find the tab. This class is all about connecting the sounds you hear to the sounds your Dulcimer instrument makes. Erin Mae will help you find major and minor chords on the dulcimer using four distinct chord shapes. Chords 101 MD 2 S-3 You will learn naming conventions and common patterns to more easily play songs. Improve Your “Mississippi Sawyer” is a dulcimer jam favorite. You will quickly learn to play the basic tune, then add Strumming with MD 2 F-8 a variety of rhythm patterns that will bring the tune to life. Erin Mae will help you strum more smoothly “Mississippi Sawyer” and confidently on this, and every, tune. Crosspicking “Come By studying Erin Mae’s arrangement of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, you will learn to add Thou Fount of Every MD 3 f-5 arpeggios by picking one string at a time instead of strumming through the whole tune. You will Blessing” learn in several different patterns, and how to know when to use them. Jigs are Irish tunes in 6/8 time. “My Darling Asleep” is a great one to play across the strings in the Flatpick the Jig “My MD 3 F-1 flatpicking style. You will learn flatpicking technique for jigs, accent placement, and have a fun tune Darling Asleep” to play for St. Patrick’s Day next month! Learn to sing and play “You Are My Sunshine” and “This Land Is Your Land” on the mountain Sing and Play 2 MD 3 S-7 dulcimer in the keys of D, G, and A. Erin Mae will show you how to use a capo to easily transpose Songs in 3 Keys from one key to another to make songs easier to sing. “Wildwood Flower” is a Carter Family standard that is especially fun to play on mountain dulcimer. Variations on MD 3 F-4 You’ll learn a melody-string version, a flatpicking version, and several left-hand embellishments you “Wildwood Flower” can add to the tune. Chromatic MD: “Presbyterian Guitar” is one of John Hartford’s lesser-known compositions from his 1971 album “Presbyterian MD 4 S-1 “Aero-Plain”. It lays out beautifully on the chromatic mountain dulcimer in the key of F Major. A Guitar” by John capo is required. Hartford Chromatic MD: Erin Mae will show you how to use the Circle of 5ths as a practice tool to master ALL of the major Chord Progressions MD 4 F-2 and minor chords on the chromatic mountain dulcimer. You will learn to put them together in Around the Circle of common chord progressions, so that you can easily play in any key. 5ths Music Theory can be a key to help you unlock a better understanding of how music and your understanding of mountain dulcimer work together. Erin Mae will provide handouts covering the Music Theory Q&A MD 5 S-8 basics of scales, chords, and modes for mountain dulcimer; then open the floor for all of your questions. If you have ever wondered “why does this work?” then this is the class for you! Brenda Mangan Bowing smoothly is an essential key to playing the psaltery really well; it goes beyond merely knowing what note to play. Smooth bowing involves each note getting its full count, getting to the Smooth Bowing BP 1 F-1 next note easily and smoothly, and eliminating any choppiness of sound. In this class we will learn to implement these bowing essentials while applying them to songs we will play in class. There’s no getting around playing this sweet old song without black notes. We’ll learn this song Sweet Genevieve BP 3 S-2 which is riddled with accidental black notes and you will love them. The Joys of Double Two bows are not just for harmony. Playing several songs, we will see how using 2 bows will help BP 3 S-6 Bowing with interval jumps, the technique of anchoring for repeated note intervals, drones and harmony. We will have some fun learning 2 or 3 Celtic songs, or as many as we can fit in. I’ll send you 3 Celtic Tunes BP 4 F-7 maybe 4 Celtic tunes and we’ll play through as many as we can, learning tips, tricks, slurs, and smooth bowing techniques as we go. Playing Hymns- 2 Playing straight from the hymn book, in the key as written (usually means embracing the black BP 4 F-3 Bows notes), and using the harmonies written. Slurs, runs, glissandos, turns, frills and grace notes for embellishing your tunes. We will be learning Embellishments BP NS S-8 these embellishments and applying them to different songs. Ilace Mears Construction Zone Explore playing positions, hammers, tuning, and effective practicing. Train your brain and your for Building Good HD 1 F-7 hands with basic exercises for long term benefits. No hard hat required. Habits Church is often a player's first "public" venue. Explore options of when, what and how to play simple Take Me to Church – HD 2 F-3 arrangements of "Jesus Loves Me;" "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee;" "Come, Thou Almighty King;" and Hymns for Beginners "Be Thou My Vision." DIY Sheds and Other Find basic chord shapes and patterns, then use them to accompany or enhance melodies. It's all Building Projects HD 3 S-1 about the shape! (Chord Shapes) Exercises for Hand Train both sides of your brain and both hands for more even playing and better accuracy. Use HD 3 F-4 Strength and Agility these drills to dramatically improve your playing. What Can I Do With Building good arrangements begins with a well-equipped toolbox. Add some tools to yours to get HD 4 S-6 This Tune? more mileage out of tunes and vary them harmonically, rhythmically, and decoratively. What makes star quality? Discuss performance components such as set list construction, dealing Stagecraft 101 HD 4 S-4 with jitters, entrances, exits, technical difficulties, what to say, what NOT to say, and more. Joshua Messick The hammered dulcimer is an easy instrument to learn and you can begin playing songs within minutes. But it is important you started with proper technique. Topics in this workshop include: how Introduction to the HD 1 S-3 to properly hold your hammers, how to produce good tone, how to adjust the height and play with Hammered Dulcimer proper methods to please your chiropractor, and the fundamentals of the layout of the hammered dulcimer. Workshop will have an open discussion to answer your questions. How to Play With In this workshop, we will learn essential skills that will help you express your heart through your music. Controlled & Fluid HD 2 S-4 Topics include balance for both hands, tone & timbre, techniques for emphasizing the melody, and Dynamics control of volume. Please bring questions and be ready to have fun! Shapes are extremely beneficial for learning chords on your hammered dulcimer. I still use them all Beyond the Shapes: the time. However, I hit a wall when I was asked to read a chord chart that included inversions and HD 3 S-6 How to Map Chords chords that didn’t naturally occur on the diatonic scale. In this workshop, I will show you how I overcame these hurdles by reimagining how I mapped chords. Please bring your questions! Shapes are extremely beneficial for learning chords on your hammered dulcimer. I still use them all Beyond the Shapes: the time. However, I hit a wall when I was asked to read a chord chart that included inversions and HD 3 S-7 How to Map Chords chords that didn’t naturally occur on the diatonic scale. In this workshop, I will show you how I overcame these hurdles by reimagining how I mapped chords. Please bring your questions! The sustain of the hammered dulcimer is part of the charm & natural beauty of the instrument. However, it must be controlled to prevent becoming overwhelming. In this workshop, we will learn Controlling Sustain HD 3 F-7 methods to control the sustain with timbre variation, chord voicings, muting, dampers, and many other tips and tricks. Questions are encouraged. Yes, you can play a chromatic scale on your standard full-size hammered dulcimer, even without the ‘chromatic option’. In this workshop, you will learn how to map the chromatic scale and also Understanding the F-3 & HD 4 learn a tune that uses chromaticism. This will help you visualize & map your entire instrument without Chromatic Scale F-8 any restraints. We will also learn a tune that uses chromaticism. A 15/14 (or larger) hammered dulcimer is recommended. Questions are encouraged. If you have not heard this original, please check it out on YouTube. There are many interesting and “Woodland Dance” exciting things you can do on a hammered dulcimer instead of simply striking it. In addition to the - How to Use HD 5 F-5 piece, you will learn these extended techniques and how to apply them in music: pluck, mute, hand Extended dampen, harmonic, artificial harmonic, chime pull, glissando & valley fifth . Each participant will Techniques receive a complimentary copy of the sheet music, a $10 value. Questions are encouraged. Mary Lynn Michal (formerly Mary Lynn van Deventer Using this familiar children's hymn, we'll explore the concept of swing. When we play with swing, "Jesus Loves the eighth notes are not evenly spaced. As this is a familiar hymn, hopefully your ears will lead the way HD 2 F-5 Little Children" to adding swing. Once you understand the concept, you will recognize swing in other tunes, add it to your playing, and you'll be the coolest cat on the block. Exploring Chords Learn an arrangement of this beautiful hymn popularized by Cat Stevens 50 years ago. We'll With "Morning Has HD 3 S-2 explore the chord progression to create an intro/outro for the hymn, and learn some simple Broken" arranging ideas. "The Black Nag," a simple English Country Dance in 6/8 can be played all over the hammered Learn to Dance All dulcimer. The simplicity of the chord structure (Em and Am) makes it easy to learn and play in 3 HD 3 S-6 Over Your Instrument octaves. It's also a great tune to help you play equally with both hands. As time allows, we'll explore some cool variations using arpeggios. Exploring Chords Learn an arrangement of this beautiful hymn popularized by Cat Stevens 50 years ago. We'll With "Morning Has HD 4 F-1 explore the chord progression to create an intro/outro for the hymn, and learn some simple Broken" arranging ideas. "Bill Cheatham," a popular bluegrass/old-time crossover tune, is perfect for those awkward moments Lost in a Bluegrass when you find yourself in a bluegrass jam, and you have to pick a tune! We'll learn the melody and Jam? Bring "Bill HD 4 S-5 some variations. "Bill Cheatham" is a great example of a melody made up of chords—learning to Cheatham" With "see" the chords helps you play the melody. Seeing chords is a skill that will serve you well in every You! tune you learn. In this workshop, you'll learn how to create your own backup for a tune beginning with the chord Create Your Own symbols on the music. We'll translate the notated chord progression onto the dulcimer using Backup for HD 5 F-6 arpeggios, rhythmic patterns and basslines. Imagine how this will help you develop not only your "Cuckoo’s Nest" own backups for other tunes, but also give you a foundation for creating your own arrangements. Katie Moritz We will discuss good habits in holding your hammers so that you can draw music out of your Get a Grip and Play instrument instead of pounding music into it. Then we will take those techniques and learn some HD 1 F-2 Something beginner's arpeggio and chord patterns along with a fun & easy exercise. *Handouts and access to online support provided. As a novice player, developing good habits is important and stems from practicing methods and How to Make techniques. However, playing scales and exercises can be boring. In this workshop you will learn HD 2 F-3 Practice Interesting creative ways to make simple exercises more engaging and fun so you can advance your musicianship and enjoy your time spent practicing. (Handouts and online support provided.) Get to know your instrument better with some super relaxing and fun ways to get started improvising. We will cover hammer techniques, chord shapes & scales that always sound good. Chill Out & HD 2 S-7 These skills are great for playing 100% improv, jamming to tunes you don’t know, or rescuing you Improvise when you lose your place in a tune. (A quick sell-out in QDF 2.0)*Handouts and access to online support provided. In this workshop we will learn some hands-on applications for "filling-out" your sound and playing Incorporating the F-5 & more accompaniment on the bass bridge. We will also learn a really fun and nifty sounding exercise HD 3 Bass Bridge S-2 for aiming and hitting good notes on the bass bridge that sound nice with whatever you’re playing. *Handouts and access to online support (A quick sell-out in QDF 1.0 & 2.0) Knowing how to play chords can add dimension to the tunes you play as well as give you a great tool for supporting other musicians. The hammered dulcimer has a unique schematic that offers us a Finding Chords Fast HD 3 S-1 predictable map to learning chords and helps remove the guesswork. *Handouts and access to online support provided. (A quick sell-out in QDF 1.0 & 2.0) Whether it’s analysis paralysis, imposter syndrome, or upward comparison, often times the things that prevent us from realizing our musical and creative ambitions are in our own heads. Conquering Get Out of Your HD 4 S-5 these things is no small feat, but there are some methodical things you can do to help work through Own Way your inhibitions. We will look at helpful exercises and techniques to help you get past these common struggles and make the most of your music. A common struggle for hammered dulcimer players is bridging the gap between repertoire, chords, and techniques. Perhaps you understand chords well but haven’t totally figured out how to apply Mixing Chords and HD 4 F-6 them. This workshop will help you begin applying chord theory to your repertoire in order to Melody develop more full and interesting arrangements. We will use a common fiddle tune (Red Wing) as a canvas. (Handouts and online support provided.) The Latin roots of the word “dulcimer” translate to “sweet song” and nothing helps this instrument live up to its name like a good waltz. Throw away the notion that waltzes are “slow and easy”. They Sweeter Waltzes HD 4 S-3 provide the perfect opportunity to showcase this instrument. Using a beautiful waltz called “Son- Shine”as a canvas, you’ll learn a variety of techniques and embellishments that translate across 3/4 time and will have you achieving smooth waltzes, hymns, and more. This workshop is geared toward a player who checks the boxes as “advanced” but isn’t quite sure OK, I’m where to go from there. Learning chord shapes, inversions, theory, and dozens of tunes is the tip of “Advanced.” Now HD 5 F-7 the iceberg. In this workshop I will share tips and techniques for gauging improvement and figuring what? out what you really want to do with this instrument. We’ll also discuss some basic things like booking gigs. (Handouts and online support provided.) Karen Mueller We’ll cover all the essentials, including chord bar layouts, tuning, picks, holding and straps, and Everything You Need AH 1 F-2 then start to play familiar songs using simple but effective strumming patterns. Any type of autoharp to Get Started Right is welcome. Making Melodies Learn new techniques for good tone and greater accuracy when picking melodies on the Sing on the AH 2 F-5 autoharp, including exercises and fun practice tunes. Any type of autoharp is welcome. Autoharp Serenade Your Get into a sentimental mood with songs like “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” as we strum to Valentine with Old- AH 3 S-8 accompany singing and take melody breaks. Chromatic autoharp, any type, but 21 bar will work Fashioned Love best. Songs St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, so it’s a good time to learn those classic songs like “I’ll Tell Every Day is St. AH 3 S-4 Me Ma,” “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” “The Wild Rover,” and more. We’ll strum to accompany Patrick's Day! singing and take melody breaks. Keys of C, G, and D. Travis picking is a guitar technique named after country legend Merle Travis that uses a consistent Travis Picking on the alternating low-middle thumb stroke underlying the melody, and has been heard on songs from AH 4 S-2 Autoharp “Freight Train” to “Dust in the Wind” and “Landslide.” Come and see how create this classic sound on the autoharp. Chromatic autoharp, primarily key of C. Bonding with Your Get your playing off to a great start by establishing good ergonomic positions and techniques for MD 1 F -3 Dulcimer strumming and fretting, while learning some fun familiar tunes. DAD tuning Adding Your Own Starting with a melody-only tab, learn how to add the right fill strums for the timing and style of the Fill Strums to Make MD 2 S-6 song to make it come alive. DAD tuning, favorites like “Amazing Grace,” “When the Saints,” and Melodies Come more. Alive Scottish Tunes and Bring out the sound of the bagpipes and harp on your dulcimer with these classic Scottish melodies. MD 3 S-1 Songs DAD and DGD tuning, chord-melody style, using both strumming and flatpicking techniques.

Enjoy playing beautiful songs like “The Water is Wide” and “Shenandoah.” DAD tuning, chord- Slow Sweet Songs MD 3 F-6 melody style, using strumming, fingerpicking, and flatpicking techniques. If you’ve considered entering a contest or putting together a concert set, this workshop will show Preparing for you how to prepare so you can feel confident and ready. Topics will include selecting pieces, Contests and MD 4 F-8 creating dynamic arrangements, how contest scoring works, tips for practicing, and mental Concerts preparation. Heidi Muller How to Change Are you uncertain how to change your strings? Watch me, I’ll show you how! Learn what size strings Strings and Care for MD 1 F -3 work best for different dulcimers and how to shop for them, and gain practical tips for care and Your Mt. Dulcimer maintenance. Email me your questions and I’ll try to answer them in class. Learn how to grow beyond playing one-finger melodies. You can spice up the simplest tunes with Dress Up Your Tunes MD 2 F-5 two-finger harmony patterns that move up and down the fretboard. Once you discover the With Harmonies fingerings, it will be easy! We’ll explore variations that can make your songs fun and interesting. Build Speed and Want to play fiddle tunes faster and make your slower tunes flow more gracefully? The left hand (or Expression with MD 3 F-7 fretting hand) technique of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides will help you do just that. Come learn Hammers, Pulls, and the basics and see how they can make your music sound smoother. Slides Let’s visit some stately old favorites from the Methodist hymnal while we fingerpick their chord melodies. Combining pinches, arpeggios, and single note picking with suggested chord fingerings, Fingerpick the MD 3 F-8 we’ll learn how our two hands can work together better to make the music flow. Players are also Grand Old Hymns welcome to sing along! Arrangements come from Heidi’s book, Fingerpicked Hymns for the Mountain Dulcimer. (DAD, have a capo handy) Bill Staines is the beloved American folksinger who wrote River, A Place in the Choir (All God’s Critters), Crossing the Water, and hundreds of other fine songs that sound great with the dulcimer. Songs of Legendary MD 3 S-4 We’ll sing and play along to three of his songs and perhaps add a harmony part if there’s time. Folksinger Bill Staines Heidi has published two Bill Staines tab books, So Sang the River and Spirit Song. (DAD, have a capo handy) Explore the interesting chords and fuller fingerpicking patterns of 4-equidistant strings, whether to 4-Equidistant String play chord melodies or accompany singing. Learn how to think through the transition from 3-string MD 4 S-3 Fingerpicking and try picking patterns on two or three songs. Please come with your strings already separated evenly across the fretboard. (DAdd) The Jig is Up! Learn a fun and relaxing way to play jigs by coordinating your strum with hammer-ons, pull-offs, Matching Slower and slides. Rather than strum back and forth on every beat, we’ll leave space that helps bring out MD 4 S-8 Strumming with the melody and toe-tapping pulse. Tunes will be drawn from the Irish and Shetland tradition. Please Ornaments bring a capo. Let’s play two tunes, each with melody and harmony parts, using an assortment of techniques. Fun and Whether it be strummed, flatpicked arpeggio, or fingerpicked arrangements, we’ll focus on Challenging MD 5 S-6 connecting our chord fingerings to create a fluid performance. Tunes will likely include an Irish Dulcimer Duos dance and a classical piece. Paul Oorts Spicing up your Starting with a simple three-chord version of "Hard Times" by Stephen Foster, this class explores how Chords and the song can be given different flavors on guitar in standard tuning. Assuming that students already G 3 F-6 Progressions on know their C, A, G, E and D chords (Major, minor and 7), we will survey where to go looking for Guitar those savory notes to add to the shapes you already know. DADGAD is the guitar tuning of choice for Celtic music. If you want to sound better accompanying 6/8 time (jigs) on guitar, this class is for you. Based on a traditional Belgian Jig we'll explore right Jigging in DADGAD G 4 S-5 hand technique and chord voicings to play a creative and stylistically sound backup. Bring a light pick and a capo. Learn to sound better accompanying 4/4 time (reels) in the tuning of choice for Celtic music. Using Reeling in DADGAD G 4 S-8 common Irish reels we'll explore right hand technique and chord voicings to play backup in a creative and idiomatic way. Please bring a light pick and a capo. Belgium has a very strong tradition of playing the "hommel" or "épinette," cousins of the mountain dulcimer. Come learn (from a Belgian! ) some of the pleasurable and accessible tunes of that Easy Eurotunes in MD 2 S-4 repertoire in a tuning that was once very common in the US: DAA: a stately Menuet from Antwerp, a DAA fun polka from the Brussels area, and a happy "Reepdans" (ribbon dance) from no place particular. Belgium has a very strong tradition of playing the "hommel" or "épinette," cousins of the mountain Easy Eurotunes in MD 2 F-7 dulcimer. Come learn (from a Belgian!) some of the pleasurable and accessible tunes of that DAD repertoire (in a tuning that you are familiar with). If you enjoy playing with another mountain dulcimer player and are looking for some off-the-beaten- Eurotune Duets in MD 3 S-2 track repertoire, you'll enjoy the tunes in this class: a delightfully dorky polka, a contra dance jig, DAD and a marchy tune from the French hurdy gurdy repertoire. Aaron O'Rourke This class will cover the absolute basics of flatpicking technique on the mountain dulcimer and we’ll Intro to Flatpicking MD 2 S-2 work on a few tunes in the process. Exercises for the In this class, we'll work through some exercises to bring your fretting hand to a new level of MD 3 F-1 Fretting Hand awesome. Exercises for the In this class, we'll work through some exercises to bring your fretting hand to a new level of MD 3 S-8 Fretting Hand awesome. In this class, we'll use some common dulcimer tunes as means to explore tricks for creating variety in Fancy Flatpicking MD 4 F-3 flatpicking arrangements and giving them a nice, full sound. It's a lot like clawhammer on the banjo but easier and applied to the mountain dulcimer. In this The Power of MD 4 F -5 class, we'll break down the technique and apply it to a couple of tunes that are common in the Pawhammer dulcimer repertoire. It's a style of fingerpicking which involves alternating bass notes while playing a melody at the same time. If you didn't know any better, you might think you're listening to two musicians playing a duet. Travis-Style MD 4 F-7 Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, and countless other fingerstyle guitarists use this technique as the Fingerpicking foundation of their sound. In this class, we’ll apply this technique to the mountain dulcimer with a few simple exercises and tunes. It may seem like the trick is to move both hands as fast as possible and hope that musical notes come out. The truth is, there are specific techniques that are doable and will help you play fast Rapid-Fire Notes MD 5 S-6 bursts of notes in a very musical way. In this class, we’ll explore some of these techniques and discuss ways to apply them to tunes you already know. The simplicity off the dulcimer fretboard meets the tone of a banjo! We'll explore how you can get Banjammer MD NS S-4 the most out of this unique instrument, whether you're adding a new voice to a dulcimer jam or playing it solo in your living room. Irma Reeder Chords and Whether you are beginning, or beginning again, this is a class that will review the basics. You will MD 2 S-5 Melodies practice chords, timing, combining chords and melodies, reading TAB, and then put it all together!

A quick review of time signatures and note values will take you into a fun 'time' of playing tunes of Taming the Timing MD 3 S-7 different musical styles. You will focus on working through and solving common syncopation problems. There are too many wonderful holiday songs to limit them to December! Learn obscure holiday songs you can play anytime! A good working knowledge of TAB and chords will help you as we do Midwinter's MD 4 F-5 some flat-picking, finger-picking, working both hands as you focus on playing smoothly. Bring your Memories capo! You’ll play new, original arrangements of “Baloo Lammy”, “Drive the Cold Winter Away”, and “Whence Is this Goodly Fragrance”, time permitting. Take a trip back in time with me, as you play songs that evoke bittersweet memories of green meadows, dramatic seascapes, lost love, and fallen heroes. You will consider ways to play ballads Songs of the British MD 5 F-2 smoothly, adding ornamentation and interest to your music. Enjoy original arrangements of three Isles songs rich with historical background: “The Minstrel Boy”, “The Arran Boat”, and “The Skye Boat Song” time permitting. Scott Reeder For single bow playing, learn how to choose bowing directions to make your songs more musical Bowed Psaltery with graceful transitions between phrases. This class will emphasis playing legato which I feel is the Bowing Techniques BP 3 F-6 key to bringing out the psaltery’s beauty (note-to-note transitions are played smoothly, minimizing for More Beautiful intervening sound gaps). Class tune examples will be “Down by the Salley Gardens” in D (4/4 time) Music and “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” in G (3/4 time). Learn two popular English Christmas carols on hammered dulcimer, “The First Noel” (3/4 time in a An English Christmas major key) and “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” (4/4 time in a minor key). You’ll get a refresher on on the Hammered HD 1 S-3 dulcimer major and minor key layouts, learn how to look for repeated phrases to simplify Dulcimer memorizing songs, and how to apply consistent hammering patterns in order to build useful habits. Come learn the melody to the lovely Celtic tune “Planxty Fanny Powers” composed by Irish harper Learn How to Adorn Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). You’ll then learn an arrangement adding simple drones, parallel HD 2 F-2 a Celtic Tune thirds and a bass walkdown to embellish the plain melody. You can apply these approaches to other tunes you enjoy. The Ash Grove with Practice hand independence while learning a new tune! You’ll add a full chordal backup to the Arpeggiated Bass HD 3 S-7 Traditional Welsh folk song “The Ash Grove” using arpeggiated bass chord patterns that can be Chords applied to many songs. Brett Ridgeway Learning to play a tune is far more than just playing the correct notes! In this workshop, you will not only learn this performance ready tune, but you will learn the importance of dynamics, using “Shenandoah” and CB 4 F-6 overtones to enhance your playing as so much more! Hear a sample of what you will learn here: So Much More! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq6GmnyazaQ&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2ntjv_ogMsP5m7N U4ld4W04JmIRSn2v2VpOS9sXsdOOaDCJahToefvZHo The Way-Laid-Back This no-stress workshop will help you understand the layout of your instrument, locate octaves, No Stress, No Fear, duplicated notes, harmony and grace notes, basic chords, and in the process, change “all those HD 1 S-8 Beginner Hammered strings” into something that makes sense! Starting at the very beginning we will define terms, set-up, Dulcimer Work and you will even learn a simple tune for that added boost of confidence! A previous student, an engineer, noted that with these simple ideas, there are over 1,000,000 ways One Million Ways to to play a tune! In this workshop, you will learn how to play without relying on a musically-prescribed Play a Tune – HD 3 S-6 piece of paper and you will learn to “mix it up” learning to improvise and embellish on the fly.This Seriously! will change how you play and give you a new-found freedom and joy in your playing. In this workshop, you will learn the basic bluegrass banjo rolls applied and adapted to the Banjammer banjammer and dulcijo, covering left-hand techniques, rolls, and chords into a smooth, rolling Bluegrass Picking, MD 2 F -2 rhythm. After this workshop, you will be ready to jump into part two of this workshop! Watch the Part 1 video for more info. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smd6fUb8lH0 Learn, Master, and In this workshop, you will learn not only the most efficient ways to learn chords, but also how to Understand Chords invert them just as easily without major repositioning. Using movable chords, it is possible to play MD 2 F -8 up and down the entire tunes! You will also learn how to incorporate tunes into your playing! Learning, Mastering, & Fretboa Understanding Chords is foundation to good solid mountain dulcimer playing! (DAD) Banjammer If you have taken Part 1 of this two-part workshop, you are ready to jump into your first Bluegrass Picking, performance-ready tune. Not only will you learn Cripple Creek, but also how to “mix it up” using MD 3 S-2 Part 2: “Cripple different rolls and techniques every time you play it! Please watch the video for a preview! Creek” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG0NDjfO1o4 Banjammer Learning to play a tune is far more than just playing the correct notes! In this workshop, you will not Clawhammer only learn this performance ready tune, but you will learn the importance of dynamics and other MD 3 S-3 Workshop “My Old techniques to enhance your playing as so much more! Hear a sample here: Kentucky Home” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-RWhJdzBOc Learn “The This original piece was written in honor of my dad who we almost lost a few years ago. After I Unwalked Trail” performed it at ODPC in Evart, Michigan, a man immediately left, found a quiet spot, and called his MD 4 S-5 Where Music Tells a dad to tell him that he loved him. I have received several emails of similar stories. One of my most Story requested tunes and first time taught. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBsUx_rBlQo In this workshop you will learn a tune first in the key of D and then without using a capo, play it in G Playing in Other Keys MD 5 F-4 and then A. Understanding how to play without a capo will expand your playing, knowledge, and WITHOUT a Capo! help you to understand chords in general and above the 7th fret! Ever hammer a nail without confidence? You usually end up hitting your finger instead! The same Learn to Play Any principle applies to playing music. Without confidence in your playing and even in your mistakes, Instrument with MD NS F-1 your playing comes across exactly that way – weak, unsure. Learn practical ideas and techniques CONFIDENCE! and learn to play with confidence! Jerry Rockwell Slow Variations On You will be amazed at how relaxing this familiar tune is when you slow it down. We'll try a bunch of "Twinkle, Twinkle, MD 2 F-2 variations on the basic melody, as well as some easy chords. A few harmony parts will also be Little Star" covered. Tuning DAD. Simple Chord In this workshop, you'll learn some new and magical chord progressions that are easy to play and Progressions You fun. You already know most of these chords, so the challenge lies in learning the sequence of MD 3 S-4 Probably Don't changes. You'll also learn a few of my original melodies that go with each of these unique Know progressions. Tuning DAD. A Soothing, You'll learn one of my original rounds in this session. We'll be playing this as a "Jam-A-Round" here, Meditative Journey rather than as a traditional round. This just means that we have more flexibility to plug in harmony MD 4 S-3 With "Skip's Heavenly parts and chord substitutions. Although the tempo is slow, the harmony parts are complex and Round" challenging in a few places. You'll be able to see my left hand for help with fingering. Tuning DAD. These are the three modes used most often for Celtic music. Here you will have a deep dive into the Dorian, Aeolian, character and feeling of each of these. You'll learn some traditional tunes in each mode, as well as and Mixolydian MD 5 F-6 some orginals in the spirit of the folk melodies. This is not a theory workshop, but there will be some Modes online resources for you to explore for more understanding. Tuning DAD. Butch Ross Blues for Ukulele UK 3 S-4 Learn the basic form(s) of the Blues, some hot licks and some cool tunes. Five simple notes that seem to be in every song. Let this be your launching pad for learning new Just 5 notes MD 2 F-6 tunes. Tom Leher, now 90-something, has decided to put his brilliant songs in the public domain. Meaning the Songs of Tom MD 2 S-2 you and I have the chance to learn his funny, twisted tunes. Songs like “the Vatican Rag”, “The Old Lehrer Dope Peddler” and “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” Almost Crooked Crooked tunes are a fun part of old-time music, but can be tricky to play (that's part of what makes MD 3 F-2 Tunes 'em fun) This tune isn't really crooked, but ain't quite "square" either. Doo-Wop and ...or like every rock-n-roll song from the 50’s, which can be made out of two basic chord MD 3 F-3 Boogie-Woogie progressions. If you know a little music theory, you know that MOST of the time you can get away with knowing From Cabbage to just three major chords (all of which occur in Boli Dem Cabbge). But did you know that you can MD 3 S-1 Cab Calloway also substitute chords? and that there are rules to doing so? And that exploring them will also give you an impromptu history of pop music in the 20th century? You will. Phrases in tunes that have slight syncopations, often due to lyrics. So how to go from "bah bah bah Musical Hiccups MD 3 S-7 bah" to "badup buh-ba ba bada" I almost never use my thumb or my pinky, but when I do I REALLY need it. Learn to navigate all 5 Pinkies and Thumbs MD 3 S-6 digits Rhythms Beyond 4/4 MD 3 F-5 Like the title says, an exploration of jigs, hornpipes and more. Even some odd times as well. Throw a Wrench in Learn how to properly, and cooly, mess up a tune; extra notes, early beats, learn where and when MD 5 F-8 There to add embellishments and “fancy” notes. Play a fiddle tune lke a fiddler would. Bill Schilling The purpose of this workshop is to help participants learn to play clear melody for “Twinkle, Twinkle Twinkle Like an Little Star.” Participants will be encouraged and instructed on playing by ear and on playing by Autoharp Melody AH 1 F-3 finding the notes from written music and tablature. As participants begin to become comfortable Star with basics, we will try other strumming or picking patterns and different keys, and discuss applying all of this to other tunes. Keys of D, G, and C. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce participants to the melody strum method for playing melody and harmony on the autoharp by strumming up to the melody note (recognizing it when it Autoharp Melody AH 1 F-8 is heard) using fingers, a flat pick, or a thumb pick. Since frequent smooth changes of chord bars Strum are essential to melody playing, left hand technique will be emphasized along with right hand strum and listening. Keys of D, G, and C. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the participants to accompaniment playing styles on the autoharp which will allow participants quickly and easily to accompany folk-style singing or Beginning Autoharp AH 2 F-7 lead instruments in a jam by using simple strumming techniques on an in tune autoharp. Participants Accompaniment will play different accompaniment patterns and sing along (if they choose). Feeling the beat and/or counting will be emphasized along with chord changes. Keys of D, G, and C. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the participants to accompaniment playing styles on Basic Autoharp the autoharp for some common hymns. This will allow participants quickly and easily to accompany Accompaniment for AH 2 S-1 singing or other lead instruments playing these hymns. Participants will play different Hymns accompaniment patterns and sing along (if they choose). Feeling the beat and/or counting will be emphasized along with chord changes. Keys of D, G, and C. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce participants to the thumb lead method for playing Autoharp Thumb faster tunes on the autoharp. Participants will practice using an exact striking motion with the thumb Lead Melody AH 3 S-6 and one or two fingers to produce clean melody lines. Left hand technique for quick changes of Playing chord bars will be emphasized. Tight fitting thumb and finger picks are generally used for this style of playing. Keys of D and G. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the participants to the pinch/pluck method of melody Autoharp playing on the autoharp. Participants will use fingerpicks and thumbpick (or bare fingers and Pinch/Pluck Melody AH 3 F-1 thumb) to play the melody while incorporating some backup and/or harmony in this pleasing and Playing useful style. Emphasis will be placed on developing right hand accuracy and directionality as well as left hand technique. Keys of D, G, or C may be used. The purpose of this workshop is to advance accompaniment playing styles of participants on the Advanced autoharp for some common hymns. This will allow participants to accompany singing or other lead Autoharp AH 4 S-7 instruments playing these hymns and to play autoharp breaks during the hymns. Participants will Accompaniment for play different accompaniment patterns and sing along (if they choose). Playing chords to Hymns approximate the melody or playing exact melody breaks will be emphasized. Keys of D, G, and C.

Participants ask questions about autoharping. Subjects may include: holding the autoharp; left hand technique; right hand technique; using bare fingers, fingernails, flatpicks, thumbpicks, and fingerpicks; tuning; playing accompaniment; playing lead; chord bar layout; setup and repair; Autoharp Questions AH NS S-3 reading and writing tablature and music; playing by ear; chromatic styles; diatonic styles; amplification, and other things. Answers may be provided by the leader and/or participants. We may play a variety of things to demonstrate and as time allows. Timothy Seaman The very easy, basic, chord theory idea of how three major chords and three minor chords are built Six Chords in Any out of the do-re-mi scale --- it’s right there to see on the dulcimer! Also, how to choose a chord to HD 2 S-3 Key go with a melody note. (There are always three or more choices!) We’ll use a couple of simple, familiar tunes to “flesh it out.” (Good for any level, really!) Practice free improvisation using the pentatonic scale and several easy shapes on the hammered Ways to Mess dulcimer that always sound amazing without even thinking about the notes! Also experiment with Around and Sound HD 2 F-6 ensemble improvisation using ideas from a repeating series of chords, like Pachelbel's Canon, which Great uses all six major and minor chords in the key. (Good for Intermediate level, too!) Arrange simple, slow tunes using stylized triangle patterns in the right hand --- manageable and Arrange Piano-Like gorgeous, powerful and rhythmic! Start applying it with "Mary Had a Little Lamb," then "When the Solos with a Simple HD 3 F-4 Saints," "Ode to Joy," "Star of the County Down," and "Loch Lomond." (This actually is often easier for Separated-Hands less advanced players, since the "old dog, new trick" factor isn't as strong. Novices through Method advanced may want to look into it!) With a continually repeating pattern of four notes in a certain easy zig-zag shape, you can turn an arpeggio into amazing improvisations and accompaniments! We can apply it to arrangements of Zig-Zag Patterns: HD 3 F-8 classic tunes like 'Star of the County Down', playing chords in an ensemble, or in pure improvisation, Powerful and Easy! and this simple technique actually seems to listeners like virtuoso work! (This is useful to consider at any level from Novice to Advanced.) Explore ideas for how you can make an arrangement special by using one of many different kinds Changing Keys HD 3 S-4 of key changes available on the hammered dulcimer: from D to G, from C to D, from D to A, from A to F, and more! (This is useful to consider at any level from Novice to Advanced.) You Can Compose Composing new music doesn't have to be a daunting task or a mystery! To prove that you can a Tune with Dice or come up with a good series of notes to develop into a tune, we'll throw dice to get several scale HD 3 F-3 with an Alphabet step numbers in a row; for another source we'll use a special alphabet chart to turn any word into a Chart! series of note names to use. It's amazing and truly rewarding! (Useful for advanced players too.) In nine clearly defined musical sections built on the familiar repeating chord pattern, we see how several distinct arrangement techniques are combined in sequence to make this version of the A Solo Pachelbel HD 4 S-8 famed Canon idea into a joyous adventure! It's a compact and epic and dynamic showpiece, Canon Fantasia and good for developing the idea of incorporating a variety of techniques into one arrangement. (Intermediate through Advanced levels.) Two Profound Folk Among the rare gems in Nineteenth Century shape-note books are these mystical, powerful minor Hymns: "Lancaster" tunes with the words "O glorious hope of perfect love" and "Behold, behold the Lamb of God on HD 4 S-2 and "Behold the the cross". We'll explore tangible ways to evoke the significance in the hymns through dramatic Lamb" arranging on the hammered dulcimer, with scores included. (Good for advanced too.) Understand distinct ways to come up with notes to fill the spaces in and between a melody’s phrases, and crafting them for musicality in an intuitive way. How to use counterpoint concepts, Creating Fill Parts HD 5 S-7 chord arpeggios, and melody motifs are part of the secret. We'll apply this to both solo arranging and ensemble playing. Make Common Beloved well-known melodies can be crafted into memorable experiences using a variety of Tunes into episodic techniques that turn them into a narrative kind of development. We'll look at chord and Adventures! HD 5 F-1 key choices, rhythmic grooves, surprises, and more, in special arrangements of "Shenandoah' and "Shenandoah" and "There Is a Fountain", plus "Mari's Wedding", "Broom o' the Cowdenknowes", "Child Grove", and More "Scarborough Fair". Stephen Seifert Five Things I Wish I Knew as a I clearly remember my early days as a beginner. I’m going to share with you five foundational skills MD 1 F -8 Beginning Dulcimer to help you make playing fun. Player A Beginners Guide I’ll bring a number of super simple tunes, but more importantly, I’ll show you how to make a to Fun and Easy MD 2 F-2 beginner version of just about every dulcimer tune out there. Music I’ll teach you exactly how to read hands the way some people read sheet music. While tab will be Learn Like Grandpa MD 2 S-7 handed out at the end of the session, the focus will be learning in a “do-as-I-do” style similar to what Did folks did in the old days. Flatpicking is playing the melodies across the three strings hitting one string at a time. I've developed Fun Flatpicked a new and effective way of teaching this technique and I want to share it with you. Rather than just Traditional Fiddle MD 3 F -1 sight-reading through complex arrangements, we'll make simple tunes sound fancy with minimal Tunes effort. By the end of the session, you’ll know how to convert your favorite single-string melodies to across-the-string hits. The Complete Guide You've got this extra fret. Now what? It's GREAT for backup chords, sprucing up your melodies in to Playing with a MD 3 S-1 simple ways, and playing slightly more sophisticated chord-melody arrangements. I'll show you One-and-a-Half Fret everything I know.

The Music of My I'll share with you some great arrangements from my time with David Schnaufer. These are like candy MD 3 F-6 Mentor to me! Why and How to Capos are necessary and fun. We'll start with what makes a good capo, how to put it on, and how MD 3 S-6 Use Your Capo to use it to get a lot of cool music out of the dulcimer. I'll bring a handful of my favorite capo tunes.

I mean, 7 ways playing backup can bring a RICHNESS to just about any musical situation. We'll 13 Ways Playing cover all the best chords, chops, harmonies, NOT playing, and a whole lot more, including backing Backup Can Make MD 4 F-4 up your own singing. Backup doesn't have to be boring. If you're thinking you don't need to learn You Rich backup, take my other course, How Playing Backup Might Just Save the World. (Kidding about that second course.) Exactly How to Use We’ll work with the three most common chord shapes and use them to generate all kinds of cool Cool Licks to Make MD 4 S-2 licks to spice up everything you play. This is exactly how I do it. Your Playing Unique Playable Fancy The 1-3-5 tuning allows regular dulcimers to play chromatic music. In addition to bringing some cool Tunes in the 1-3-5 MD 5 S-3 arrangements, I'll show you some tips on how to make your own arrangements in this versatile Tuning tuning. Ruth Smith “Fanny Po'er" HD 2 F-4 Let's learn this happy and sweet Carolan tune that's popular in jam sessions! So you've learned all the basics and can play a number of melodies, but how do you start adding Create Your Own notes to create a nice arrangement? We will work on this charming Celtic tune, focusing on those Arrangement – HD 3 S-8 first steps to creating your own beautiful music, including building chord-based arrangements, “Down by the Sally adding those fun "dulcimer-sounding" embellishments, and techniques to make your music more Gardens” expressive. Hymns on the hammered dulcimer are simply inspirational! We will study this favorite hymn, learning Hymns – “Great Is HD 3 F-2 the melody along with arranging ideas to enhance the beautiful melody – methods which you can Thy Faithfulness” adapt to any type of music. Celtic Music – “The Let’s learn to play this fun Celtic reel! Want to make it your own? We’ll discover where and how to Flowers of HD 4 F-6 make changes to the melody and work in some Celtic ornaments. Edinburgh” You will love learning this gorgeous melody by Natalie MacMaster! (Used with permission.) We’ll From Heart to Hands HD 4 S-1 work on playing with greater expressiveness and study specific arranging tools and exercises to help – “Farewell to Peter” make your music sing!

Celtic Music – “O’er You’ll have fun playing this rollicking reel with 3 sections! Along with learning the tune, we’ll learn the Moor to HD 5 S-4 how to substitute the melody with some little melodic variations. Maggie” Steve Smith Clawhammer Banjo Learn to play clawhammer banjo tunes in the Old Time Double C/D tuning. Many old time tunes Techniques and CB 2 S-5 play better and easier in this tuning. Double C is the most common way to play clawhammer in the Tunes in Double C/D key of D by just adding a capo at the 2nd fret. CAPO REQUIRED FOR CLASS Tuning Starting with the basic terminology of the guitar, how to place your left and right hands properly on the guitar, moving on to begin forming basic open chords in several keys and how to play them Beginning Guitar: G 1 S-2 cleanly so that they ring true. We will go as fast or as slowly as the class needs to build a solid foundation for playing the guitar well. You will learn to play the chords used in many familiar songs. The art of backing up a lead instrument is a very special skill that must be learned and developed over time. In this workshop, you’ll learn the key factors needed to make your guitar and the other How to Accompany G 4 F-7 instrument involved sound as though they are one instrument. How to follow and support the lead Others on Guitar: instrument with complimentary chord progressions and leading runs will be taught, along with how to play with dynamics and expression. Starting with the basic terminology of the ukulele, how to place your left and right hands properly Beginning Ukulele: UK 1 F-1 on the uke, moving on to begin forming basic open chords. Simple right hand ukulele strumming will be taught. Take that next step in your ukulele by playing chords and progressions in a smooth and clean way. Playing Clean Uke Learn more chords in the three most common ukulele keys that can embellish the songs you Chords & UK 3 S-6 currently play and new chords and progressions that will enable you to play new more advanced Progressions: songs. Also learn the basic fingerstyle ukulele roll. Learn to play the Hawaiian way on ukulele. Learn two of the most popular Hawaiian standards “A The Aloha Music of Maile Lei for Your Hair” and “Hawai'i Aloha” (sung at every local Hawaiian gathering). Our Hawaii 3.0: – UK 3 F-3 emphasis will be on playing chords and rhythms for singing accompaniment. Learn the ukulele with Ukulele: Steve, who lived in Hawaii and played music professionally there for 15 years. Bryan Thomas UPRIGHT BASS: You may have just bought a bass, or you’ve had one for a while and you sort of So, you bought a play it now and again. We’re going to do a deep dive into creating a nice round bass sound full BA 2 F-4 bass… of thump and rich tone. We’ll get you set up to have fun supporting tunes and grooving in a way that is physically relaxed and sustainable for the whole jam. Handouts will be provided. ALL CHROMATIC BASS INSTRUMENTS (such as upright bass, bass guitar, uke bass, washtub bass, Playing Bass By Ear Is cello, and marimbula): Train your ears to hear how key melody notes tell us which notes to play. This Like Magic, Except It BA 3 S-3 workshop is about empowerment! We’ll learn how harmonization as a bass player works with Takes Some Work melody awareness over different types of tunes. Handouts will be provided. ALL CHROMATIC BASS INSTRUMENTS (upright bass, bass guitar, uke bass, washtub bass, cello, and marimbula): A great bassline supports and interacts with melody in an interactive dance. We’ll be Playing Better BA 4 S-5 creating basslines for different types of tunes to bring out the fun in fiddle tunes, jigs, rags, and Basslines waltzes. I’ll leave time for a few questions about other styles as well, because playing in any situation is my jam! Handouts will be provided. Rick Thum We will learn the basics you need to start playing your dulcimer. You do not need to read music. I Unlocking Your will show you the tricks to learning a song and your first embellishment. You will understand how HD 1 F-6 Dulcimer your instrument works and will be able to make it sound like what made you want to play it. Come get started. You will learn how to play chords, using the whole dulcimer, without knowing the names of your notes. Chording does not have to be hard. Chords unlock your instrument. This is the first class to Super Easy Chords HD 2 F-8 beginning to understand how to play chords. A fun and easy way to start using more of your dulcimer. See you in class. You will learn a different way to see your scales and how they overlap each other. This will increase Scales in Several your ability to embellish freely. You will also learn an easy way to know where all of your sharped Locations and HD 2 S-5 notes are. This is going to help you play those songs with accidentals. Bring a pen we will be having Sharps some fun. There will be a test. How do you play all the chords in a Key? Have you ever wondered what they mean by a two What Chords Do I chord and how to play it? How about a three chord etc. You will learn how to know what chords HD 3 F-1 Use are in a key and how to play them all. You will also learn how to decipher those code names and more. Become a master of the chords. It's really easy. Horizontal patterns create beautiful arpeggios. Arpeggios flow and make beautiful embellishments. Horizontal Chord You will learn the patterns that fit and enhance most styles of music. These patterns will make you use Patterns Using the HD 3 F-3 more of your dulcimer and will take your music to a new level. I will teach you the exercises to make Whole Dulcimer this a reflex action. Lots of fun, hands on playing. How do you play a fiddle tune repeatedly and not get boring? You will learn how to fill your empty Free Embellishments spots and how to change your tunes without really changing your tunes. This is the art of subtle Enhance Your Fiddle HD 3 S-6 change to create interest. It is what makes playing fun. I will direct you on free embellishing your first Tunes song. Come take your playing to the next level. Thirds make great harmonies until they don't work. You will find out why and how to make them Harmonies and HD 3 S-2 work. Harmonies put together with drones makes your playing sound magical. This is a fun class with Drones Made Easy lots of playing. You will use "Ode to Joy" to try out your new skills. Come have fun learning. This is the "Holy Grail” of dulcimer playing. I have devised a system of finding my embellishments by Embellishing From just knowing WHERE my melody note is. No names needed. This allows you to embellish a song the the Melody Note, HD 4 F-5 first time you play it and to change it up every time. No more memorizing arrangements. Make it up Part 1, as you go. This allows you to play with more confidence and more creativity. Part 1 of 2 parts.

This is the "Holy Grail” of dulcimer playing. I have devised a system of finding my embellishments by Embellishing From just knowing WHERE my melody note is. No names needed. This allows you to embellish a song the the Melody Note, HD 4 S-1 first time you play it and to change it up every time. No more memorizing arrangements. Make it up Part 2, as you go. This allows you to play with more confidence and more creativity. Part 2 of 2 parts.

Playing great music requires several layers of techniques to be used at the same time. Pulse, beat, Using the Layers of rhythm, dynamics, phrasing and more: Putting these layers together and knowing how to HD 5 S-3 Music to Tell a Story manipulate them will make your playing be very expressive. Learn how to tell a story with your music. Susan Trump Join in the Fun Chords form the framework for the tunes we play. Let’s get comfortable with three 2-finger –Simple Chords and MD 1 S-2 beginning chords and the melodies will flow. You’ll be learning new tunes in no time and maybe Melodies singing some too! DAD Tuning Easy Celtic Tunes There are such beautiful melodies from the British Isles. They will tug at your heartstrings and become –“Danny Boy” and MD 2 F-7 your new favorites! DAD Tuning More! Learn easy versions of some favorite tunes. I’ll give you hints for how to learn them, not memorize Familiar Jam Tunes MD 2 F-1 them so you can play faster. There’s a big difference, and you’ll like it! “Spotted Pony” and “Rock Made Easy the Cradle Joe”. DAD Tuning There is a wonderful body of music we call Americana Music including songs composed by Stephen Americana Music – Foster, songs from the Appalachian Mountains, and folk hymns. We'll learn one of each. (Different MD 3 F-2 A Sampler repertoire than QT2.) DAD Tuning The dulcimer originated in the Appalachian Mountains. The settlers brought their music from the Appalachian Songs British Isles and it changed over the years. There are beautiful, simple songs to take you back to and the History of MD 3 F-6 those early times, and they sound perfect on the dulcimer…think cozy around the fireplace, or Our Music twilight on the front porch. DAD Tuning Hornpipes were “step-hop” dances used on board ships to exercise the weary sailors. The “long- Hornpipes MD 3 S-5 short” rhythm is really fun to play and is great exercise for your right hand. These are some of my favorites. DAD Tuning. Medieval Dance Get that beautiful minor sound using DAD tuning and a capo! Bring your capo and find out how. Tunes In Em (Capo MD 3 S-4 We’ll learn “Childgrove,” “Parson’s Farewell” and “Nonesuch.“ 1) O’Carolan, an Irish harper and Gow, a Scottish fiddler composed great music in the 1700’s that we O'Carolan and Niel still enjoy today. You’ll learn a tune or two from each that will challenge you and become your new MD 4 S-6 Gow favorites. DAD Tuning Sometimes it's easier and smoother to play melodies across the strings instead of up and down. It's Playing Melodies MD 4 F-5 not as hard as it sounds. Learn different ways to use this useful technique in an O'Carolan tune and Across the Strings more. DAD tuning The Classical Classical music uses specific techniques for phrasing, and playing with expression. We'll learn “Swan Collection - "Swan MD 5 S-7 Lake” (Tchaikovsky) in Bm, the haunting “Earl of Salisbury Pavane" and another piece. DAD Tuning Lake" and More Mark Alan Wade Let’s learn some fun tunes that teach and reinforce good habits in this workshop! Mark has chosen Old Tunes for New HD 2 F-8 2 tunes that teach really important concepts for mastering the dulcimer. In no time, you’ll learn 2 Dulcimer Players easy tunes AND, more importantly, you’ll have a better understanding of the instrument! We’ll morph simple little arpeggios into easily movable patterns creating spontaneous musical creations in this rewarding workshop! Have fun with me discovering how to take an arpeggio Kaleidoscopic HD 3 S-3 (chord) pattern and create original tunes by shifting just one note at a time. This relaxing, almost Chord Creations meditative, way of composing enables you to weave spontaneous flowing music using familiar chord patterns. We’ll learn the gorgeous, though lesser known tune, “Planxty Scott O’Neill’s”, by O’Carolan. This An O’bscure beautiful tune has all the characteristics of O’Carolan’s harp style you would hope for and it hints at HD 4 S-7 O’Carolan Gem his Baroque influences. This is a fun tune you will love to play on hammered dulcimer and have in your repertoire! Take a trip back in time while we bring to life a curious tune from the Renaissance period on the Renaissance hammered dulcimer! We’ll learn the notes on the page, but more importantly, we’ll learn the style HD 4 F-2 Hammered Dulcimer traits for this pivotal time in music history. We’ll utilize both hands independently to pull in lush harmonies and tricky counterpoint. Before long, you’ll be ready for a Ren. Faire! If you need creative ideas for making powerful arrangements beyond simply changing octaves, THIS class is for you! We’ll learn-by-doing as we play through one of Mark’s arrangements for Arranging for HD 5 S-5 application. You will learn how to arrange your musical ideas to get the biggest musical impact IMPACT! and pick up several handy ideas that are fun to implement. Mark will show you the 5 main areas to address in each arrangement. “Dongles, Zoom, Webcams, and USB, Oh My!!” “Thunderbolt, and WIFI, which cable? OH My!!” “Web-mics, and mic stands, condensers, which cord??” This is a practical workshop for folks who Dulcimers in the HD NS F-6 want to be able to get the most out of their online dulcimer experience. Mark will show you set-ups Digital Age for easy overhead cameras, mic positions, how to switch from one camera to the next, and how to get the best sound. Easy peasy! The most important skill to master to become a better player is the ability to drop in chord notes on Improving Your the fly when the melody clashes with the open drone strings. Mark will lead you through some Melody / Chord MD 2 F-4 exercises so your hands will cooperate, and so your brain will discern when they are needed. Next Playing we’ll apply these techniques in a fun tune that you will want to show off for others! This beloved Scottish song from the 19th century was popularized by the television show, “Outlander,” in 2014. Its poignant melody laments the Bonnie Prince Charlie’s defeat at the Battle of Fingerpicking “The MD 3 S-1 Culloden. We’ll discover how to make our fingerpicking smoother as this plaintive lullaby’s tune Skye Boat Song” requires sustained notes and gentle chords. It’s a charming way to improve your technique without working too hard! Take a trip back in time while we bring to life a curious tune from the Renaissance period on the Renaissance MD 4 F-1 mountain dulcimer! We’ll learn the notes on the page, but more importantly, we’ll learn the style Mountain Dulcimer traits for this pivotal time in music history. Before long, you’ll be ready for a Ren. Faire! The serene Andante movement of the “Concerto for Trumpet” by Joseph Haydn lays wonderfully under the fingers on the mountain dulcimer. I have performed this piece many times on trumpet and Haydn for “Hog MD 5 S-4 can assure you it’s more fun on dulcimer! You will love the simplicity of the melody and the interplay Fiddle” of the chords below as they often move on opposite beats. This familiar-sounding melody is fun to play and easy to learn. Carol Walker Even if you've never played a dulcimer before, you'll be playing a tune after just five -- yes, that's 5! -- The Launch Pad MD 1 F -4 minutes of instruction. We'll start with all the basic elements (comfortable playing position, tuning the instrument, reading tablature, and simple strumming techniques) to get you off to a flying start! As a new player back in the early days of my dulcimer exploration, I started looking for other ways Babysteps to to play the instrument beyond the strumming methods I'd been learning. The answer was to put MD 2 F-2 Fingerpicking down the pick and start using my fingers. We'll practice several different methods of fingerpicking, and apply these techniques to songs you already know. Using the time-honored "Power Chord" system, you'll discover how to play almost any chord you'll ever need in several different keys. These chords will open all kinds of doors for you, giving you Easy-Peasy Chords MD 2 S-6 confidence and flexibility in any setting, including jams and singalongs. No retuning or capo required! This is a repertoire-building workshop that will include several hymns, with each arranged on two Favorite Hymns MD 3 S-4 levels -- "Easy" and "Fancy." Each hymn can be played as a duet and/or a stand-alone solo. These arrangements are designed so that every member of your dulcimer group can play together. Warmups can do wonderful things to improve your playing, regardless of your level of experience. Professor Walker's MD 3 S-5 But if you’ve ever wondered what kind of warmups will give you the best result in the least amount Warmups of time, this is the workshop for you. You’ll also learn how to create your own effective warmups. Warmups can do wonderful things to improve your playing, regardless of your level of experience. Professor Walker's But if you’ve ever wondered what kind of warmups will give you the best result in the least amount MD 3 F-8 Warmups of time, this is the workshop for you. You’ll also learn how to create your own effective warmups. (This same workshop is offered is offered in two different time slots.) We’ll go on a musical journey to the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea, where we’ll explore an untapped source of this beautiful Celtic music, including lively jigs and reels, soothing Tailless Tunes - Manx MD 3 F-6 lullabies, and haunting ballads. I’ll share many anecdotes related to these songs, gathered during Music - Part A my two visits to the Island. (Note - Parts A and B will each have different songs.) Please visit www.musicladycarol.com/manxellaneous.html for more information. We’ll go on a musical journey to the Isle of Man, a tiny island located in the Irish Sea, where we’ll explore an untapped source of this beautiful Celtic music, including lively jigs and reels, soothing Tailless Tunes - Manx MD 4 F-3 lullabies, and haunting ballads. I’ll share many anecdotes related to these songs, gathered during Music - Part B my two visits to the Island. (Note - Parts A and B will each have different songs.) Please visit www.musicladycarol.com/manxellaneous.html for more information. This workshop will give you a fresh approach that will bring your playing to a new level. We’ll The Expressive discuss the various mechanics that will improve your right- and left-hand techniques, but we’ll also MD 4 S-3 Dulcimer explore how to express the feelings that the music brings to you while you play. People will exclaim, “Wow! I never knew a dulcimer could sound like that!” This iconic classical piece composed over 300 years ago has become well known today, thanks to Bach's Cello Suite for cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Translating Bach’s “Prelude” to a 3-string diatonic folk instrument has its challenges, MD 5 S-1 Mountain Dulcimer but for the advanced player, this will be a worthwhile endeavor. We’ll take apart this abridged arrangement, section by section, and put it back together again. Tish Westman Get To Know Your BP 1 F-2 Learn where your notes are and skills to help you play efficiently. Psaltery Good or Bad BP 2 S-1 Improve bowing techniques that will improve your sound. Habits? Don't Want To Be In You will learn more about how to use chords and how to arpeggiate them for playing back up on BP 3 F-8 The Lead? the Bowed Psaltery. "Pachelbel's Canon" You will learn several variations of "The Canon" and the chord progressions used to help you create for the Bowed BP 4 S-4 your own arrangement. Psaltery Another String Side MD 1 F-1 You will learn what the basic skills are and how to use them. Up. Fingerpick, flat pick, strum chord MD 2 S-8 Exposure to and how to play these different styles of playing the Mountain Dulcimer. melodies... What???

How did you do You will learn how to hammer-on, pull off and slide while learning to play "Mairi's Wedding" and "The MD 3 F-4 that? Foggy Dew". What is a Crooked You will learn a few Appalachian tunes that are called Crooked because of not having the MD 3 S-3 Tune? standard number of beats per measure.. Turlough O'Carolan, MD 4 S-6 This class will help you to smooth out the chord changes to sound less choppy. Let's play pretty.. Nina Zanetti Here’s your chance to ask questions about anything related to mountain dulcimers! Come with Welcome to the questions (or send in advance) about anything that interests or confuses you about dulcimers. Wonderful World of MD 1 S-7 Depending on class interest, we’ll consider FAQ such as: how to hold and tune the instrument, types Dulcimer of dulcimers, strings, tuners, capos, tab, styles of playing and much more. We’ll also provide a beginner’s guide to help you feel comfortable in this wonderful world of dulcimer. Mystified by the fingerstyle approach to playing mountain dulcimer? We’ll break it down into three basic skills: right hand technique (how to produce a good tone, how to use different fingers to Fingerpicking MD 2 F-4 create patterns, how to bring out the melody notes); left hand technique (smooth chord transitions); Training Wheels and how to decipher fingerstyle tablature. This brief introduction to the “basics” will prepare you to approach simple fingerstyle arrangements with confidence. DAD tuning. When the pioneers moved West, they took with them some favorite songs, such as “Sweet Betsy Music of the MD 2 S-3 from Pike” and “Shenandoah”. Come learn these and other favorite tunes of the American frontier. Westward Expansion DAD tuning. For experienced players who are already comfortable with basic fingerpicking. This workshop will briefly review different approaches to fingerpicking, and then will focus on how to play fingerstyle Refining Your MD 3 S-8 arrangements with grace and expression. Topics will include how to emphasize the melody line and Fingerpicking Skills how to achieve a good tone. As time permits, we can troubleshoot common problems and can briefly explore how to convert tab strumming-style tab into fingerstyle arrangements. DAD tuning. Music can provide a source of serenity, for ourselves or for others. As we learn some intrinsically gentle tunes, we’ll review techniques, such as phrasing and smooth playing, that preserve the F-1 & Serenity MD 3 serene nature of the music and convey it to the listener. Because we best convey calmness and S-4 “flow” when we are relaxed, we’ll also explore how to increase ease (physical and mental) in our playing. DAD tuning. Playing a tune with variations can enhance a performance or just keep us from getting bored with Variations on a MD 3 F-5 the tune. Using the lovely tune “Loch Lomond” as an example, we’ll explore how variations can be Scottish Tune created from a basic arrangement. DAD tuning. Learn a little about the life and times and music of the great Irish harper. His music sounds wonderful Music of Turlough on mountain dulcimer. We’ll learn some examples of his lovely tunes. These tunes lend themselves MD 4 F-3 O’Carolan well to embellishments, such as trills, rolls, hammer-ons, and pull-offs, so we’ll also work on incorporating these techniques into our playing of the tunes. DAD tuning Harmonics are those bell-like high notes that can add sparkle or mystery to an arrangement. We’ll Those Dazzling first discuss how to produce a clear sound, both with natural (not fretted) and artificial (fretted) MD 4 S-5 Harmonics! harmonics. Then we’ll learn some tunes that show how they can be incorporated into an arrangement. DAD tuning. Alternating Bass: An For experienced players who are already comfortable with basic fingerpicking. We’ll explore a style Advanced of fingerpicking (familiar to guitarists) that creates a two-note bass pattern that keeps the rhythm MD 5 F-7 Fingerpicking going. This style lends itself well to jazzing up familiar tunes with syncopated patterns. As an example, Technique we’ll learn a “cool” version of “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” or “Boil Them Cabbage”. DAD tuning.