Thomasina

   Left Hand Embellishments – Nov

Left hand embellishments will help you to “dress up” your music once you are familiar with the basics of playing the mountain dulcimer. Once you get some of these techniques under your belt (or should we say “under your left finger tips”?) you can even make a simple song like Bile Them Cabbage Down sound exciting. Techniques we will explore are: Hammering-On, Pulling-Off, Vibrato, Slides, and Harmonics.

   Singing with the Mountain Dulcimer – Int

If you can walk and chew gum at the same time then you can play the mountain dulcimer and sing with it too. In this workshop, we will sing some songs together, discuss some relaxation techniques to get the best out of your playing and singing, talk about chords, finding the right key and learn some new songs. This is for 3 or 4 stringed dulcimers. Come tuned to DAd or DAdd.

   Playing a Four String Dulcimer - Adv

In this workshop, students will be introduced to playing and chording a four stringed mountain dulcimer. Come tuned to DAdd and bring a capo.

Rob Brereton

   Smoothing out your playing - Int-Adv

Tired of choppiness in your playing? This is a step by step approach to seeing where your choppiness comes from and how to fix it. Tune D-A-d.

   Arranging chromatic music in the 1-3-5 tuning - Adv

Although we all love traditional music on the dulcimer, what if we could play contemporary music on our humble dulcimer? Using the 1-3-5 tuning, we will discover how to arrange chromatic music on this "simple" instrument. Tune D-F#-A.  You should know how to read music and have some knowledge of chords to get the most out of this course.

   Spice up your strum - Beg

Bum-dittys? That’s all well and good, but let’s spice up our strumming with calypso, syncopation, and other fun strums. This class will teach you how to figure out some new strums on your own too. Tune D-A-d.

Bonnie Leigh

   Beginners I - Let’s Begin! - DAA

While being introduced to your dulcimer, learn the basics of how to hold it, hold the pick, understand dulcimer tab and begin playing.

   Beginners II - The Next Step - STRUMMING! - DAA – Beg.

Take the next step with strumming; we will work on 3 different strumming patterns with 3 different songs.   Improve your basic skills while playing together as a group.

   Healing Music and the Dulcimer – Nov/Int  (but all levels are welcome) 

Learn how music can provide a form of healing for sick and dying patients.  See how different songs are used for different stages of illnesses and how it helps patients.    Understand how different types of music can affect the patient.  

Carol Lehrman

   Rounds and Canons for Dulcimer Ensembles -- Beg/Int

Familiar tunes that will give a sense of playing in a large ensemble

   Variations on the Tune -- Int/Adv

Ways of adding interest to the same old tune -- adding a countermelody, using different chords or positions, using the entire fretboard

   Slow Jam -- all levels

Gentle guidance will be offered to ensure that each group of instruments gets a turn, and that everyone can play something, either melody or chords.

Art “Cuch” Cucinotta

   Friday Night “Jam-Meister!”

   Discovering non-traditional keys - Adv

   How do they do that on the Dulcimer? – Nov-Int

Learning to play by ear!  What - “No tabs?”   I "gotta" look at my fret board!  I don't know all those chords (i.e. cord formations ILO cord names / parallel cords / 2/3 of a cord)!  I can't play that fast! Tunes played in two different keys?  Watching others play?

Knowing when to take the lead?  Alternate ways to start and stop a tune.

Sam Edelston

   Chord Boot Camp - Nov

   3 Strings, 2 Voices - Adv

Getting melody and accompaniment out of your dulcimer at the same time

Steve Miklos

   Care and Feeding of the Mountain Dulcimer (or, I Broke a String!  Now what? ) – ALL levels

How to take care of your instrument, including tuning (and retuning) in the different keys, changing strings, where to put strap buttons, how to fix minor problems, how to recognize major problems (to take them to a Luthier), and answers to your questions about your instrument.

   Timing, Notation, and TAB - Nov

Reading TAB is great for learning new songs from all over, but TAB does not always exactly show you the timing or rhythm of the phrases in the song. Fortunately, most TAB comes with music notation written above it that spells out the timing. Begin to learn to read the notation, count beats, and decipher phrases using phrases you already know.

  Slide Dulcimer - Int/Adv

You play it on your lap, so why not slide it? Playing slide adds a new dimension to your playing and helps you really get at the blues and rock and roll like never before. A slide solo really cuts through a multi-instrument jam, and can sound great in familiar DAD tuning.  Slides supplied for the class. (I'm working on a book, currently a booklet, of instruction and tab for this delightful pursuit)

A.J. “Alf” Bashore

  Introduction to Two Handed Tapping - Adv (only please)   

Prerequisite skills needed are hammer-on, pull-off, chord, and arpeggio knowledge. We will add the technique of hammer-on and pull-off to the right hand. (DAD)

  Traditional Noter Style - Beg

Hear the zip and zing as you move your noter on the dulcimer to make your melody, and listen to the hum of the drones.  Refreshing  (DAD, DAA, DAC)