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mountain dulcimer
My Christmas Tree is Leaning
We got our Christmas tree up early, because we are expecting company. Well, actually, the company is a surprise for my husband but I’m in on the secret so … I had to get everything up and ready early. My son brought the tree over, and offered to help hang the decorations since he doesn’t want me climbing ladders any more. But I’m a bit OCD so I sad, “No, but thank you. I want to take my time and place every ball and decoration in just the right place.”
So I started with the lower branches, but …
An Encyclopedia of Live Workshops & Concerts Archive
by Steve Eulberg
Linda Ratcliff and I built DulcimerCrossing to be a resource for people like us, who lived beyond the boundaries of the dulcimer world (or sometimes at its edges) in order to support and equip people long to play and enjoy making music for themselves on the instruments they love.
So we have over 200 courses of lessons for mountain and hammered dulcimers, chromatic mountain dulcimers, dulci-bro and fiddle!
And, It just struck me how much MORE rich and full this resource is, ri…
Are You a December Musician?
I was listening to a sermon by Max Lucado, and he was talking about December Christians. These are the people who will tell you that the reason for the season is Jesus, not the gifts or the decorations. And these are the folks who go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. But the rest of the year (well, except for Easter), you don’t hear or see much from them about their faith.
And as I was listening, my conscience was pricked. No, not about being a December Christian, but about being…
It’s Not WHAT … It’s HOW You’re Practicing
Too often, our focus lands on what we are practicing – whether it’s your dulcimer, a sport, a language, or a skill. However, the true essence of mastery lies not just in the act of practicing, but in how that practice is approached and executed. It's a subtle yet profound distinction: it's not what you're practicing; it's how you're practicing that truly matters.
Quality Over Quantity:
Mindless repetition of tunes or exercises does not lead to improvement. The key lies in the quality of pra…
You're Awesome!
I have a self-confidence issue. I never think I’m getting a new tune fast enough, playing it well enough to perform for others, or have practiced it long enough to be completely prepared to share. I’m harder on myself than ANYone else would ever be. And why is that? Maybe I’m just being too critical of myself. Maybe I have unrealistic expectations. Or maybe I need to listen to some positive thinking tapes.
I have had a few full-time jobs playing the dulcimer. When I got the job at the Butter…
Enough with the QUICK FIX
In today's fast-paced world, the desire for quick fixes permeates every aspect of our lives. Whether it's in our quest for physical fitness, mental well-being, financial stability, or being able to play our dulcimers … the allure of immediate results often leads us to look for shortcuts and temporary solutions. However, too often these quick fixes are just Band-Aids
For example, when I am practicing and come across a section that is difficult (usually my own fault, because I “write” all my own …
The Same, But Different
We moved six months ago into a senior community. It is a wonderful neighborhood … peaceful, friendly, and very well maintained. However, when you first drive into the neighborhood, you may think that all the houses look the same. We are hooked together like quadplexes with no steps – same metal roof, same postage-stamp-sized front yard, same double garage, same inset front door.
But when I ride up and down the neighborhood streets in my golf cart, I don’t see the sameness anymore. Every famil…
Live Workshop Archive
In addition to all of our filmed lessons at DulcimerCrossing, we also have been hosting Monthly Live Workshops from a variety of respected hammered dulcimer players/educators for years. Workshop and Mentor Level students have access both to these live workshops AND the Video Archive replay of the Workshops for later. DIY members can upgrade to Workshop and attend for half-the-price of the ala carte ticket.
Others can purchase an ala carte ticket for a particular subject or instructor and also…
Tell Your Backstory
One of the best ways to get someone interested in playing the dulcimer is to tell your backstory. The term “backstory” refers to the history or background, especially one created for a fictional character in a movie or TV series. But your own backstory is valuable too. I have found that one of the best ways to get someone interested in playing the dulcimer is to tell my personal backstory.
Telling your own backstory may …
- Build Connection with Others: Sharing your backstory allows others to…
The 3 P's of Practicing
It’s obvious. I preach (teach) about this all the time. If you want to make any progress in your playing, you’re going to have to practice. It’s unavoidable. It has to be done. But to see nay improvement, I think you also have to have the right attitude. And that’s what we’re going to look at today … the 3 P’s of Practicing.
- Perseverance: There are going to be challenges. At times we’re going to feel like giving up. What separates the people who master playing an instrument vs. t…
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