MAY 2014 30 YEARS SHARING ACOUSTIC MUSIC July 1983-2013 Issue 349 Website : www.silverstrings.org
PRESIDENTS CORNER ______Marsha Kozlowski
There is much to write about but think I will focus on updating you on the proposed School Assembly project we have started with some letters written to the “members of Silver Strings”.
“Thanks for coming to DuVall school to play your dolcimers, guitars, hurty-gurty-, violins, bass, banjo, tambourine, spoons, and drum! When we clapped, we clapped 1300 times! I counted! We all enjoyed it, and had a good time. My favorite song was Catfish on a Tree. Thanks again and come back soon!” From Kristin at DuVall school.
“My favorite tune was Irish Washer Women. My favorite instrument was a tambourine. I have never heard of the dulcimer and the hurty-gurty. Thank you for coming” Erin Lin
“Thank you for coming to our school. I enjoy your music. I liked it because it has stories with it. I recognized some of the music. I recognized some of the instroments.” Sincerely, Brittany.
“I liked your music and your instruments. I am in 3 rd grade. I am 8 years old. Are you going to come back?” Sincerely, Vlora
“I reley like the banjo and the tambourine. I play instruments too. I play an electric guitar and a drum set. I hope you can come back.” Sincerely, Ian
From Alyssa Wilkins: “PS. You are very good at music.”
From Elham: “I wish you could perform again. I like the bass. I like a other band the Back Street Boys”.
These were written in February 2000, the last time Silver Strings played at a school. Some of the tunes the students mentioned as favorites besides “Catfish on a Tree” and “Irish Washer Women” were “Red Wing”, the “two Irish Songs”, “Whiskey Before Breakfast” and “Turkey in the Straw”.
Fast forward to 2014... It is time to go back into the schools. We have contacted the principals of 11 elementary schools in the area to determine interest and propose presenting a program, most likely beginning next fall. While that is in progress, the program itself is being developed. A proposed tune list has been made. A script is being written out so that various groups and configurations can present it and the program will not be dependent on one person. Numerous people are contributing to this by providing me with information on the history of our instruments, our music and other teaching aspects that will make this a dynamic program. I personally thank all of you who have offered support in whatever way. If you are connected to an elementary school in your area and have the principal’s name and contact information, please pass it along to me. They will be contacted as well. Wouldn’t it be great to respond to “When are you coming back?” with a resounding: “We are back!”
April JAM – what did it taste like? It was good? Many people chose a tune and started it themselves. Doing this gave a lot of variety to the night like triple-berry jam.
Strawberry Jam or Second helpings – we did play several numbers “One More Time” and then “One More Time” again. Never too much of a good thing and it got better the more we played.
Thimbleberry Jam – like something most people have never tasted, we played some tunes rarely played but well worth the time.
Keep up your personal tunes of the month, practicing a start, listening for the bread, oops, I mean bass players and let’s JAM! Marsha
PLAYDATE CHATTER ______VP BUSINESS IT’S MAY...LET’S CELEBRATE ! April was a quiet month for the performing side of the club—only one gig at Canton Heartland Rehab. We BIRTHDAYS perform at Heartland every other month and for those 5....Dave Matthews debating on whether to perform or not, this gig is a good one to start with. The audience is usually small and very 13...Carol Dick receptive and appreciative to our music. It is a relaxed 17...Tim Murphy atmosphere and usually a lot of fun. Please consider 19...Shirley Kaiser joining the “performing” group for this gig! 26...Peggy Kustra At our last Board Meeting, we discussed a “Getting 27...Dawn Hayes Started” workshop for all instruments. We would like to 27...Terry Kozlowski try expanding our starts and starters to other instruments 28...Lyle Thompson besides the hammered dulcimer and the fiddle. The workshop would focus on the monthly playlist and other common tunes played at gigs, and allow other ANNIVERSARIES instruments, as well as the hammered dulcimers and 15...Chris & Mike Hurt...... 43 rd fiddles, the opportunity to practice a start until perfected 17...Ron & Dawn Hayes in a supported, safe environment. Hopefully, some new 26...Kaye Hemmerline starters will emerge from such an experience! Look for more details on when the workshop will be in upcoming newsletters and announcements at club meetings! We have 3 gigs scheduled for May—2 of them are at SECRETARY ______Mick Mastal new venues in Dearborn Heights and Ypsilanti. For a Minutes from the last meeting are on file complete listing of our upcoming playdates, please see and available for inspection. the Events Calendar in this newsletter. If you are unable to attend a club meeting and would like to sign up for a playdate, please email [email protected] FROM THE TREASURER’S DESK __Terry Koslowski or call (734) 455-4085 ...... KT As announced at the last jam, I have taken over maintaining the Medical Emergency cards on SSDS From the VP PROGRAMS ______Marie Naster members. If you have not filed one with us, please do w/ Megan Callaghan and Jeff Despard so. See me to get a card. If we have a card on you and it has not been updated in several years, please check We hope everyone is making plans to attend the with me to review the information. As we stated at the annual campout. The weather has finally started to meeting, this information will be kept private with access moderate a bit and it should make for a pleasant time. If only to board members so if a medical emergency you have not attended this event in the past, now is the should arise at a jam, a gig or event, we know who to time to start. Guaranteed fun. call and pertinent information to give to first responders. Also coming up is fifth Thursday variety night at the So doing this is in your best interests. end of May. Marcia Kozlowski will be our emcee. Brush A reminder, I bring the monthly finance reports to off your acts and show off a bit. every meeting. You are welcome to look at these, if you After that will be the annual picnic , this year held in would like to see them, come up and ask. The money Garden City park, Aug. 7, then the annual banquet, the club gets for the gigs helps to support the various tentative date Oct 16., more details on that closer to the events and activities it has. Membership in SSDS is a event. bargain – having a place to jam, to improve your musical Plenty of music and things to do with your friends and skills, to make new musical friends, to perform and share fellow musicians. music. Unlike gas prices, our membership fees have Enjoy! stayed the same. We have had a couple new members recently and more are always welcome...... Terry Marion Baxter who lives in the Riverview area (Downriver) is interested in the hammered dulcimer. She is looking for two things: ANN'S GROUP
1. A dulcimer to learn on (she has an antique dulcimer th th that has been in the family but may not be a good one to Meetings in May will be 14 and 28 1 to 3pm. learn on.) We will be working on tunes for Evart: “Golden Slippers”, 2. A teacher who lives in the downriver area. “Down Yonder”, “Five Foot Two”, and “Prairie Flower”. All beginner hammered dulcimer players are invited. If you can be of any assistance in this area, let Please email or call me if you’d like to come. Marsha know and she will pass on her contact Phone: 734-744-4255 Email: [email protected] information.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR To print the May play list, please click on our website or this link : MAY http://www.silverstrings.org/sections/tunes/PDF/2014/may14.pdf 1....MAYDAY! Silver Strings May 2014 Playlist 1....SSDS Meeting and Jam ...... 7:00-? Key Tune Play 15...SSDS Meeting and Jam ...... 7:00-? D Whiskey Before Breakfast 3 Whistle Workshop ...... 6:00 Over The Waterfall / Mississippi D 3/3 21... Playdate ...... BC . . 1:30-2:30 Sawyer Berwyn Senior Center . . . . .Dearborn Heights G Westphalia Waltz 2 29... SSDS VARIETY NIGHT ...... 7:00-? G Red Wing 3* 30... Playdate ...... BC . . .3:00-4:00 G Maggie 3 The Gilbert Residence ...... Ypsilanti G Southwind 3* 31... Playdate ...... BC . . .6:00-7:00 Road to Lisdoonvarna / Riding Load Em 3/3 Southgate Co-Op ...... Southgate Hay JUNE Am Cold Frosty Morn 3 13-15... SSDS ANNUAL CAMPOUT D John Ryan’s Polka 5
C=Casual, BC =Business Casual G I’ll Remember You Love In My Prayers 3*
G March of St Timothy 3 Kay Rowe will have a Whistle Workshop Em Tamlin 3 for all interested at 6:00 on May 15 th before the D Hey Polka 5 Jam. Bring your pieces you want to learn Em Missouri 3 and we'll work on them. D Coleman’s March 3* G/D Jamie Allen / Road to Boston 3/3 Em Dancing Bear 3 TWO’S COMPANY – THREE IS A COMMITTEE Bonnaparte Crossing Rhine/Flop D/D 3/3 In getting feedback on the desire to have a Eared historian, it appears that a committee is a better D Simple Gifts 3* approach than a single person because there is a D/D Endless Medley: Ragtime Annie / synergy of talent and desire and working together D/G Soldier’s Joy / Golden Slippers 2/2/2/2 creates a sum greater than the individual parts. Again, the duties would include: periodic articles Extras for the newsletter involving our history, taking photos G You Are My Sunshine 5 and memorabilia of our current activities, sharing A Red Haired Boy 3 history of the tune we play, etc. We have quite a few Seneca Square Dance/Mairi’s scrapbooks of photos from the early years of the club G/G 3/3 in the cabinets downstairs. The committee might Wedding consider scanning these so the photos can be put into nd our website in our on-line photo gallery. They also *2 time: If instruments are available-- might consider how to incorporate the history we have Fiddles, Harmonicas, MD or Whistle with technology so the albums and other historical take it with backup; HD’s softly documents are accessible and not just collecting dust in the top of our storage cabinets. Silver Strings Dulcimer Society Music: A few people have expressed interest but not yet a We have been given permission, by several composers, to play their music in our club. We also pay for a license that allows us to play some of our favorite commitment. Think about it some more. Let Marsha tunes. We want to protect our Silver Strings members and respect the know if you would help and how your help might look composers who have generously shared their music with us. In consideration of the composers and SSDS, do not sell, copy, give away or share any of our Silver as part of a committee. Strings music.
Rick Thum is teaching his A to Z three-day pre Evart workshop again this year July 14-16 at a nearby church on First and Cherry St. Rick was voted in 2009 by DPN readers as the most influential dulcimer player of the past decade. His class is fun and packed with useful information. The cost is $175 and $165 for alumni and includes the learning jams each evening. What a great opportunity to build a strong foundation prior to the world’s largest hammered dulcimer festival. Sign up now at www.rthum.com or email [email protected] or call 314-406-0690 .
FESTIVALS-WORKSHOPS-JAMS Mel Bay Publications Author for Hammered ______Dulcimer – Linda G. Thomas will offer: UNCLE CARL’S DULCIMER CLUB 2nd Saturday of month 12:30-4:30pm ( next is May 10 th ) 3-Day Comprehensive Workshop for Hammered Dulcimer For info. call Pennye 517-547-7448 ______NETTLE LAKE MUSIC JAM July 14-16, 2014 - Free Methodist Church rd 6153 95th Avenue, Evart, MI First Saturday of Month – 6pm (next is May 3 ) For info contact Jack & Marilyn Mullins 517-270-2870 This 3-Day Workshop will be open to: ______Advanced Beginners, Advanced Level Players, MAUMEE STREET MUSIC JAM “Readers” and “By Ear” Players (formerly called West Adrian Jam) Forth Saturday of the month – 6pm ( next is May 31 st ) The Workshop includes a wide variety of tunes Melody, embellishments and backups For info. contact Jack & Marilyn Mullins 517-270-2870 Tuition is $150 and includes all handouts st Or Larry Roper 248-437-5403 Pre-registration is required by May 1 ______SUGAR (Saginaw Ukulele Gurus and Rookies) Space is limited to first 25 participants rd For questions or to request flyer/registration form First Saturday of the month 10:30-Noon (May 3 ) Contact: Now at Sullivan's Restaurant on Gratiot in Saginaw, MI Linda G. Thomas – [email protected] or Songs are posted beforehand on the internet 816-941-7834 or 816-519-3840 For info email: [email protected] ______MT. HALEY JAMBOREE th Last Friday of every month (May 30 ) Greetings, Mt. Haley Township Hall, Midland County For Info contact Alice Perry at: I'm Darlene Hackett, a [email protected] dulcimer player, teacher, 1:00-4:00-Folk and Traditional Music Jam performer from Fort Clubs and individuals are welcome. Wayne, Indiana. I've taught 9 years at Evart Come to play or listen. Admission is free but donations to the Metamora Historical Society are appreciated. and 11 years at Midland. Metamora’s 1888 Old Town Hall is part of Many years ago I was a member of Uncle Carl's and an historic community. know a number of Michigan players. Now that I've introduced myself, I will explain my purpose for writing. For info. Call Alice Gajewski at 248-628-5287 or go to FolkJam.com I have a Michael Allen dulcimer for sale - must ______downsize. It is a 16/16 Michael finished at Evart in 2011. GREAT LAKES UKULELE GATHERING It comes with case and a K & K external pickup for First Wednesday of the month 7:00 (May 7 th ) tuning AND AMPING. Incredible sound. Dark stain Good Hope Lutheran Church, spruce soundboard and walnut trim. 28680 Cherry Hill, Garden City Ukulele players of all abilities can strum and sing. Since Silver Strings is a Michigan dulcimer club, I A donation of $3.00 is requested for the church. thought you might know someone needing a nice HD. If Contact: Bob at [email protected] or you do, my phone is 260-616-0320. My email is David at [email protected] [email protected]. HD & Case & External ______Pickup: (new $1355 - HD $1095 - Case $185 - Pickup PITTSFIELD OPEN BAND $75) Would sell for: $975 ($380 savings) It really is in Pittsfield Grange 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann new condition and has an incredible sound. Since I'm Arbor, First and third Saturday from 3-6pm. just in Fort Wayne, Indiana, shipping would not be Our jam sessions are free and open to all interested necessary, but I'd ask mileage cost if my husband and I musicians. We play jigs, reels, and waltzes as played for were to meet someone part way. contra dancing. The goals are to have fun, learn more Thanks so much for your consideration. tunes, and develop our contra dance musician skills. http://www.aactmad.org/sa/pob.html Darlene Hackett ______LAMS - Livingston Acoustic Musical Society rd th Evart FunFest Players 3 Saturday of the month (May 17 ) Our club will be playing on Thurs. evening at 6:40 p.m. Fowlerville Church of the Nazarene The tunes selected to play are: “Bellman’s Jig”, 8040 Country Corner Drive, Fowlerville “Coleman’s March” and “Snake River Reel” . Share musical talents and appreciation for music, song Please work on these. and other forms of joyful noise on the 7:00-11:00 Contact: Tony Miceli 517-223-9590 We will make sure they are played at each of our jams.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU -- MARGIE MEINZINGER
Hi everyone, my name is Margie Meinzinger and I have been coming to Silver Strings since 2003. I play the comb, mountain dulcimer, harmonica, autoharp (my favorite), and a little bit on the banjo and guitar. I was born in Detroit when it was a beautiful city filled with friendly hard working families, good schools, and opportunities. My mother and dad worked hard raising my three brothers, one sister, and me. I started the piano when I was 6 and continued until I was 12. When I was in the 3rd grade I also started on the violin at my school and had fun playing in the orchestra. My friend Glory encouraged me to sing and play the piano and violin and we still JAM together even to this day. We moved to Mississippi in 1959 but there were no school orchestras so I stopped playing violin. We returned to Detroit in 1962. A lady in my neighborhood, whose name was Elizabeth Shearer befriended me. Mrs. Shearer played the banjo and allowed me to learn to play on her instrument. She taught me to play "Wildwood Flower" which was the first folk song I ever knew. I graduated from Cody High School in 1965 and in the fall of that year I became an accounts clerk for an insurance company. Then I could afford to buy my first guitar and take lessons for a short time. A friend of mine invited me to a church youth gathering where I met my future husband Dave. He was drafted into the Army and we became engaged during one of his first leaves. The day my wedding dress arrived at my home, Dave received orders for SE Asia- Viet Nam. We were married a year later when he returned. Within ten years we were blessed with four daughters who we raised in Detroit and Allen Park. In 1986 I began working at Greenfield Village as a Historical Interpreter, Discovery Camp Organizer, Storyteller, and various other areas of museum endeavors. I enjoyed my job immensely although it was exhausting to combine it with raising kids and keeping a house. In the early 90's a friend from Dearborn Chapel (my church) made his first mountain dulcimer and played it one Sunday and I really liked its sound. When my Mother died and left me some money, I decided to buy my own dulcimer. I named my dulcimer "Violet" as a remembrance and in honor of my mother. In 1996 we moved to Illinois and I was able to join The Gateway Dulcimer Society. This friendly and talented group of people encouraged and helped me learn to play the dulcimer. Then we moved back to the Detroit area in 2000. I developed an interest in the autoharp so one Christmas Dave gave me a large certificate "Good For One Autoharp." Eventually we went to Elderly Instruments in Lansing and purchased my first autoharp. The next week I went to a festival back in Illinois and was able to attend some workshops to learn to play it. When my youngest daughter, Melissa was teaching on a Navajo Reservation I had the opportunity to substitute for her class for seven weeks while she recovered from major surgery. I packed my autoharp and headed west. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had! In 2003 I found the Silver Strings website on my computer. I attended for a short time but was unable to continue for very long. My daughter Laura put me in touch with Bev Scott who helped me connect with Marie Naster's mountain dulcimer group. While attending that group and hearing them talk about Silver Strings I decided to return to Silver Strings again. I have enjoyed learning to play new songs, meeting other musically minded and friendly people and also playing at a few playdates. I still enjoy the mountain dulcimer but I admit that the autoharp is my favorite instrument and that is what I play at Silver Strings. Dave and I now have 11 grandchildren. Our oldest grandson plays the guitar, another plays the trumpet, and a granddaughter plays piano and is interested in playing the mandolin. In our house I have a wall of hanging instruments that our grandkids can explore and try out when they visit. Just recently my grandson Benjamin has shown a serious interest in learning the mountain dulcimer but on the banjammer. Someday I'd like to prepare and present a "Fun Music Time" for school kids. The idea is to have 1-3 musicians go to classes and present some fun songs and ballads with touchable instruments so kids can see, hear, and feel them. One particular class I want to go to is my disabled granddaughter's room. Kids with special needs LOVE music and it would be fun to share that with them. Anyone interested in joining me with this endeavor, let me know. I'd also like to organize a group of autoharp players to JAM and share techniques together occasionally. I stay busy editing and writing newsletters, poetry, short devotionals and short stories, helping with missions, Bible Camps, and working at our church. I still like open fire cooking, storytelling, cake decorating, and crafts of many kinds. I also make button-badges for all occasions; (need any?) see me. As you can see Dave and I have a happy and busy life together.
Silver Strings Annual Family and Friends Campout
June 13-14-15
Myers Lake, 10575 Silver Lake Rd. Byron, Mi. 48418 810-266-4511 Group permit number G1301087
Friday, set up and meet and greet. First jam session is at 3:30 and will be under the striped canopy. Lead by Karen Turner. Five o'clock break for supper. Second jam session is at 6:30 in the barn, led by Marcia Kozlowski.
Saturday morning 9 am pancake breakfast provided by Silver Strings. Bob Hlavacek and friends are cooking. 11 am ukelele jam session in pavilion led by Theresa Smith. 12 to 1 lunch or jamming 1:30 hammered dulcimer workshop, Meghan Callahan, in ez up 2:30 mountain dulcimer workshop/jam, Linda Osgood, under canopy 3:30 afternoon jam, harmonicas and all other instruments under striped canopy, led by Karen Turner 5:00 pot luck. Hot dogs, and sloppy joes, pop, coffee, and paper products provided by Silver Strings. Please bring sides and desserts. 6:30 pm jam session in barn, led by Marcia Kozlowski. We encourage individual jam sessions throughout the day. Also feel free to bring musical instruments, books, etc. for sale or trade.
Sunday morning church service on the lake. songs will be: “Amazing Grace”, “I'll Fly Away”, “In the Garden”, “Nearer My God to Thee”, and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” This is a loose schedule. Please enjoy the lake, the boating, the fishing and the companionship available at this event. Day passes are $3.00, basic camping is $29.00, w/air is $33.00 www.myerslake.org or [email protected] .
Camping Jokes Uncle Carl’s Dulcimer Club A hot rock placed in your sleeping bag will keep A group meeting once monthly, near Jackson. your feet warm. A hot enchilada works almost as well, Many of our SSDS members are also but the cheese sticks between your toes.
associated with this group. A two-man pup tent does not include two men or a Their campout is two weeks after ours. pup. We join each other’s weekend, Acupuncture was invented by a camper who found and as with our own, a porcupine in his sleeping bag. you do not need to be a member, and are invited for the entire weekend Bear bells provide an element of safety for hikers in or to drive in for Saturday. grizzly country. The tricky part is getting them on the bears. (Motels are available for non-campers.) Get even with a bear who raided your food bag by kicking his favorite stump apart and eating all the ants.
♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ It's entirely possible to spend your whole vacation on a winding mountain road behind a large motor home.
Lint from your navel makes a handy fire starter. Warning: Remove lint from navel before applying the Uncle Carl’s Dulcimer Club Campout match. Reservation Form Old socks can be made into high fiber beef jerky by Waffle Farms Campground smoking them over an open fire. Coldwater, Michigan Take this simple test to see if you qualify for solo June 27-28, 2014 camping. Shine a flashlight into one ear. If the beam shines out the other ear, do not go into the woods alone. Name______The guitar of the noisy teenager at the next campsite makes excellent kindling.
Address______You'll never be awakened by the call of a loon if you have an unlisted number.
When using a public campground, a tuba placed on City, State, Zip______your picnic table will keep the campsites on either side vacant.
Phone No______
SSDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2014 ...... PRESIDENT ...... Marsha Koslowski [email protected]...... (734) 239-4190 Deposit of $25 due by May 15, 2014 V.P. BUSINESS ...... Karen Turner [email protected]...... (734) 678-7405 V.P. PROGRAMS ...... Marie Naster Mail to: Kathy Culy, 625 N. Union City Rd, [email protected] ...... (734) 981-3772 TREASURER ...... Terry Koslowski Coldwater, MI 49036 [email protected]...... (734) 239-4190
SECRETARY ...... Mick Mastal
[email protected]...... (734) 552-4773
SOUNDBOARD EDITOR ...... Lee Ann Lack www.unclecarls.org [email protected] ...... (734) 612-1172 WEBMASTER ...... Karen Turner www.wafflefarm.com [email protected] ...... (734) 678-7405
Silver Strings Dulcimer Society st rd Everyone is welcome ! Meetings on the 1 and 3 Thursdays every month Come to listen, or come to play. 7-9p.m …. with jamming till …? ------Meeting at Good Hope Lutheran Church In Garden City, Michigan
Featuring the hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, and other acoustic band instruments : banjo, guitar, autoharp, fiddle, string bass, washtub bass, mandolin, folk harp, recorder, tin penny whistle, and harmonica. Learn new tunes and techniques, jam together with other players, receive new music and a monthly newsletter. Participate in workshops, festivals, performances, picnics, fun and fellowship.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT : http://www.silverstrings.org
th Start thinking about getting articles for the newsletter to me by the 20 .
Articles or pictures from any member are always welcome.
Silver Strings Dulcimer Society
P.O.Box 1116 Garden City, MI. 48136
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IT’S MAY... !
SPRING IS HERE !!