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mountain dulcimer
Are You Wearing the Right Shoes?
Mike and I are campers. We lived full-time in an RV for almost 10 years, and today we still go camping for 4-6 weeks at a time. Each time we set up at a new campground, our dog wants to go for a walk to explore. (We like to say she wants to read the newspaper and get the scoop on all the other campers’ dogs.) I always want to go along on the exploration tour, but in hot weather, I’m often wearing sandals or flip flops.
Sometimes I get in a hurry because I’m afraid Mike and Peachie will leave w…
Don't Ride the Brakes
Have you ever been in the car with someone who constantly rides the brakes? The vehicle jerks forward and then abruptly slows down over and over, creating a bumpy ride. Instead of driving at a steady speed that would result in a smoother journey, the driver continues to speed up then tap on the brakes compulsively. Before you know it, your stomach begins to churn along with the lurching, prompting you to casually open a window for some fresh air to prevent any unwanted consequences.
What the …
Mind Mapping
There’s a new (to me) buzzword … mind map. A musical mind map is a diagram that represents the aspects of a tune you are learning. It can include the structure (Parts A & B), chords, melody line, lyrics, history of the tune, and the composer by using colors, symbols, pictures and words.
Simply put, a mind map is a flow chart that can help you learn a tune. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been finding it more difficult to see my music … neither my reading glasses nor my driving glasses help. Rather t…
The Positive Impact of Reflection
Some of you meet with a dulcimer teacher face to face every week or perhaps monthly. Others of you have a subscription to an online dulcimer video-teaching program, like the one we offer at Dulcimer Crossing. Many of us gather at jam sessions, travel to workshops, and attend virtual festivals online. And you may think that’s enough. You have what you need to progress.
Well, it’s true you have the advantage over people who don’t participate in any of the activities above. But I think there’s one…
Mindset Matters
According to psychologists, there are two types of mindsets … the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.
People with the fixed mindset believe that the level they are at in their musical development is exactly where they are going stay. Such people hold themselves back from learning new things and actually stop trying. They believe their skills and abilities are unchangeable, unable to be improved upon, and there’s no need to try.
On the other hand, people with a growth mindset think they…
Find a Music Mentor
FIND A MUSIC MENTOR
by Linda Ratcliff
I would love for every person who wants to learn to play the dulcimer to have a private teacher … someone they meet with every week or at least twice a month. But that just isn’t possible for many (most?) of us. But here’s another option. Find a music mentor.
So you might be saying, “What on earth is a music mentor?” Well, here are some basics.
- A musician who lives or plays near where you live
- Someone whose skills and techniques you admire
- A person w…
Is EGO Holding You Back?
When I think about “ego,” I imagine a person who is arrogant, and thinks he/she is better than the rest of us. We tend to think of a person with a big ego is someone who feels superior to us in some way. However, in my case (and maybe in yours as well), my ego tells me I’m inadequate, that I’m not good enough, and I’ll never be good enough. And that kind of attitude can hold a person back, keep them from where they want to go in their musical journey.
Here’s a few ways the negative side of ego …
How to Fix "I CAN'T"
I think I’ve told you before, I get pretty nervous when I perform. Now I did OK at the craft mall and the Butterfly Palace in Branson where I played 6 to 8 hours a day. While I was playing, people were walking around, and only a few sat down and really focused their undivided attention on what I was doing. But put me in front of a crowd to do a solo and my hammers start shaking.
This goes back to my childhood. My grandmother was a concert pianist who even played for Queen Elizabeth. My mother…
Mountain Born: The Jean Ritchie Story
Thanks to Deborah DJ Hamouris for sharing this video in The Dulcimer Community—mastering the art of dulcimer.
By Russ Farmer.
I built my first mountain dulcimer in Columbus, Ohio in 1980 and took it with me to work at a church camp in Michigan (1982); then to Chicago where I worked at a church in the shadow of Wrigley Field on Addison Street (1982-83); then to the inner city Westside of Denver on Colfax Avenue (1983-84). When I returned to my seminary graduate school the fall of 1984 I had …
4 Equidistant String Dulcimer Resources
We've discovered that every time we host a day-long event that we end up uncovering and sharing a great many resources.
Here is what we want to share with everyone from the 4 Equidistant Dulcimer Day 2024:
Youtube Playlist 4 Equidistant
We had a breakout room during the midday lunch/conversation/sharing time which included people who wanted to explore the DPN Archives with Stephen Seifert.
Click here to see some of what they found:
Another breakout room li…
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