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mountain dulcimer

How Many Dulcimers?

by Linda Ratcliff



If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you.
If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.



How Many Dulcimers is TOO Many Dulcimers? I recently watched a video in which Vince Gill talked about his collection of antique Martin guitars. He has still quite an impressive array of guitars, although he lost 50 in the Nashville flood of 2010. But, of all the rare and valuable guitars in his collection, he said the guitar he treasures the most is his father's guitar (…

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The Iceberg Illusion

We see the trophies, not the sweat.
We see the diplomas, not the years of study and homework.
We see outstanding performances, not the hours and hours of practice. 



by Linda Ratcliff





The Iceberg Illusion 
I came across this illustration and it really resonated in my heart. There is this glamour around success that seems to appear when you have "made it." Although I work behind the scenes - writing newsletters, uploading lessons, and answering student inquiries, the rest of our Dulcimer…

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30 Days of Dulcimer Joy

If you practice correctly from the beginning, you will save yourself a lot
of time and frustration later on.  Don't practice bad habits.
— MusicNotes



30 Days of Dulcimer Joy with Steve Eulberg





We are excited to let you know about a new Master Class thatSteve Eulberg developed for Mountain Dulcimer players.



30 Days of Dulcimer Joy is a systematic approach, using progressive fingering patterns, in exercises to develop:



  • Confidence
  • Accuracy
  • Dexterity
  • Arranging

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New Dulcimer Club Listing

by Linda Racliff & Steve Eulberg



Dulcimer Club Listing: https://www.dulcimercrossing.com/dc_clubs.html
on DulcimerCrossing.com


As we’ve been watching all the dulcimer groups on Facebook, we have noticed the same question keeps popping up everywhere.  



People who are new to playing the dulcimer, and those who have just moved to a new community, are looking for a dulcimer club to join.  Since EverythingDulcimer.com is no longer active, our handy list for finding clubs has gone away.  



And so w…

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Concise Guide to Chord Symbols

by Steve Eulberg



These questions get asked frequently so here is a guide to help you decode the chord symbols that you may often see above the musical notation:







A Chord (by definition a triad) is made up of 3 specific pitches (1-3-5 steps of the scale.)



A Chord Symbol is short hand for which steps are intended.



1. When a Single Capital letter is used, it indicates a Major chord (no alterations in the 1-3-5 plan)



e.g. C = C-E-G



2. If there is a low…

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3-D Playing Lesson by Deborah J Hamouris

by Steve Eulberg


We are excited to announce a new Mountain Dulcimer Lesson Series by Bay area teacher Deborah DJ Hamouris.  Deborah teaches at the famed Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley and is the Director of the annual Berkeley Dulcimer Gathering which takes place in May.


In this lesson, Deborah takes us beyond playing melody only with a drone. You will be playing melody, harmony, and ornaments - and she calls this the 3D Method.



Amazing Grace, 3D Method is…

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Dulcimer Lesson Deal from Erin Mae



by Steve Eulberg



DulcimerCrossing is pleased to have Erin Mae as one of our instructors.



NEW! 6-Week Online Mountain Dulcimer Classes



Sign up for six weeks of intensive learning from the comfort of your own home.   



You get:



  • A weekly live 45-minute class taught by Erin Mae
  • Practice assignments each week
  • Handouts provided as .pdf files
  • Video archives of each lesson


Register TODAY:



  • Registration for 6-Week Online Classes is $120 [just $20/week!]
  • Pay in full at the time of registrati…

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Dulcimer Articles Archive

by Steve Eulberg

Since appearing on the cover of Dulcimer Players News in 2002 (see above), Steve has been writing articles to share what he has learned with the dulcimer community.

Dulcimersessions.com was a website hosted by Mel Bay Publications and was coordinated and edited by Lois Hornbostel.  Sadly, the website is no longer hosted and all of the resources published there are lost to the bits and bytes of time in the internet age.

Dulcimer Players News is a quarterly magazine for enthusiasts o…

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Tam Kearney Dulcimers

by Steve Eulberg

I was picking through my photo archives and was so delighted to uncover these photos!

TamKearneyHeadShot Tam Kearney, co-founder of Toronto's Fiddler's Green and dulcimer-builder

Tam Kearney was a mainstay in the Toronto folk music scene after growing up in Glasgow and then moving to Canada in the 1960s.  Unfortunately for us, he passed in 2013.  (Read Ian Robb's eulogy in SingOut! Magazine here.)

I was on tour in Toronto in March of 2017 and was able to play a house concert for Lynn Westerhout, Tam'…

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Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

by Linda Ratcliff
Your Thanksgiving dinner will not be complete without sharing these jokes!

What kind of music did the Pilgrims like? Plymouth Rock! Why did the guys let the sweet potato join the band? So they could have a yam session! What is the most musical part of the turkey? The drumsticks!
 
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, I have almost too many blessings to count. Being able to work with all of you who love dulcimers, and having the opportunity to share my thoughts abou…

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