Afternoon Electives
Participants will choose 1 each day.
MONDAY
- Level 1 Review & Reinforce - Carol Crocker - Beginners on the mountain dulcimer will simply stay with their morning instructor for the remainder of the week to avoid confusion with a variety of instructors. We want you to learn comfortably without feeling overwhelmed! (This class meets every afternoon.)
- Intro to the Banjammer - Mike Clemmer - All levels (repeats on Wed)
- Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab - Level 3 and up - Deby Libby, Jim Miller, & Cheri Miller -Here is a great opportunity to practice playing your bass with Jim and Cheri Miller providing the music. Jim has been a bass player in a band (and has the picture to prove it) and has also written the book “Bass Dulcimer Basics”. Jim and Cheri have a wealth of experience and information on jamming. Bring your bass dulcimer questions and receive additional coaching from Deby in a relaxed environment. The goal is for you to leave Dulcimer U feeling comfortable playing your bass dulcimer in a jam session! (This class meets every afternoon.)
- Improving Your Left Hand Skills! Jeff Furman, Level 2. This workshop will focus on your left-hand techniques to improve the sound and variation of the tunes you play. Specifically, we’ll work on: 1) understanding and practicing the intervals between notes; 2) chord formation and variations to increase the quality of sound you produce; and 3) applying these techniques to some great tunes! All exercises and tunes will be in the key of D for familiarity and building a strong foundation for whatever you play. If you want to improve the quality, accuracy, and smoothness of your left hand, this workshop is for you!
- Jean Ritchie: In Song and Story – Laurie Alsobrook, Level 2+ Inspired by Jean Ritchie’s book “Singing Family of the Cumberlands,” this workshop offers recollections that transport us to another era. Consider these songs to be front-porch favorites as you imagine a family gathering at the end of the day. Several tunings will be presented, including DAD and DAA.
- New England Contra Dance Tunes – Susan Trump, Level 3. Contra dance tunes are among the most beautiful in the repertoire, combining influences from Celtic to Cape Breton, Old-time and Scandinavian to French Canadian. We’ll learn my favorites: “St. Anne’s Reel,” “Jamie Allen,” and “Coleman’s March.”
- Waltzes for Two Standard Dulcimers and Bass – Elaine & Larry Conger, Level 3+. Elaine and Larry will present two country waltz tunes that feature a melody part and a harmony part played on standard dulcimers with a bonus part for bass dulcimer players. The melody part can stand alone as a solo, so no duet partner is required. A 1+ fret will be needed to play some of the parts.
- Look, Ma! No Capo! Joe Collins (Level 4) Play in minor keys without using a capo or leaving the DAd tuning. There is no reason you cannot do it. We will learn minor tunes and discuss ways to use these skills to create interesting arrangements of tunes you already know. A 1½ fret is not required, but you can bring it along if it is already on your dulcimer.
- Chopin’s Prelude Opus 20, No. 15 (Raindrop) on a Dulcimer - Steve Eulburg, Level 5. It is very satisfying to be able to arrange and play a cherished classical piano solo like this on the 3-string mountain dulcimer and keep the characteristic raindrop continuing throughout. All we need is a 1+ fret for that minor section. While this piece is accessible, it does require dedication and the acquisition of some additional skills (artificial harmonics and unusual chord shapes). In our focused time, we are going to have some good fun and have a project piece to take home to hone and polish over the next year.
TUESDAY
- Level 1 Review & Reinforce (This class meets every afternoon.)
- Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab (This class meets every afternoon.)
- Bluegrass is accessible and a way to develop more skills! Steve Eulberg Level 2. We will dig into the tools that define the Bluegrass genre: the chop, the boom, and the lick. These are all accessible to Advanced Beginners and can broaden the horizons of fun we can have playing music. We will be in DAd tuning, and a Capo is required. Students will have sound files to prepare and play with after the class.
- Heavenly Harmony – Laurie Alsobrook, Level 2+ Rounds, canons, and partner songs are fun ways to bring harmony to your dulcimer! Have you ever thought about “When the Saints…” and “Swing Low…” as partner songs? Yes, and you’ll love it!
- Harmony Basics for the Mtn Dulcimer Joe Collins (Level 3+) This is a workshop on playing basic harmonies on the mountain dulcimer. In addition to learning some harmonies to popular dulcimer tunes, we will investigate how to develop harmonies for other songs. To get the most out of this workshop, it is helpful to understand basic chords and be willing to experiment.
- Americana Songs for Two Standard Dulcimers and Bass – Elaine & Larry Conger, Level 3+ Classic American folk songs for two standard dulcimers with bass dulcimer reinforcement. The melody part can stand alone as a solo, making the duet part optional. A 1+ fret will be needed to play some of the parts.
- Niel Gow, O’Carolan - Smooth, Stately, and the Scottish Snap – Susan Trump Level 4. Playing slowly has its challenges. Niel Gow’s “The Fallen Hero” is the perfect tune to perfect that skill and learn the very Scottish rhythm known as the Scottish snap. “O’Carolan’s Welcome” will help you smooth out your playing and think about phrasing. Great tunes for your Celtic repertoire! Capo is required. DAD Tuning
- Exploring Arranging and Performing! Jeff Furman Level 5. If you are interested in learning more about arranging and performing, or if you’d like to work on or share the skills you already have in these areas, this class is for you! We’ll review some concepts and techniques to help you with arranging and performing. There is no right or wrong, and we are all different. But discussing ideas of options can benefit us all.
WEDNESDAY
- Level 1 Review & Reinforce (This class meets every afternoon).
- Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab (This class meets every afternoon.)
- Intro to the Banjammer - Mike Clemmer - all levels (repeat from Monday)
- Making Arrangements for Beginners Joe Collins (Level 1 or 2) This workshop takes a simple tune and progressively guides students through several ways to play it. It teaches students to use different octaves, muting, and timing changes to a simple tune. The purpose is to help students learn skills that will enable them to make their own arrangements of tunes they love to play.
- Plays Well with Others – Laurie Alsobrook, Level 3 Have you ever sat in an old-time jam filled with fiddles and banjos? It’s a quick way to discover that tunes you have played comfortably in the key of D have another home in another key! This workshop will give you the tools you need to participate.
- Meditation Etudes with 4 equidistant strings – Steve Eulburg, Level 3 From a DulcimerCrossing workshop by Kevin Roth on his dulcimer meditation practice, I began a daily practice of playing 4 Equidistant Meditation Etudes with the goal of focus, accuracy, agility, a harp-like technique, and a rich, deep tone with every note. In 20 months, I have produced two dozen musical results. We will explore some of these as models for our own skill development and composition.
- Hymns & Gospel Songs for Two Standard Dulcimers and Bass –Elaine & Larry Conger, Level 3+. Elaine and Larry will present two tunes that feature a melody part and a harmony part played on standard dulcimers with a bonus part for bass dulcimer players. The melody part can stand alone as a solo, so no duet partner is required. A 1+ fret will be needed to play some of the parts.
- Old-Time Tunes Not in “D”! Jeff Furman, Level 4 Old time tunes are widely played in dulcimer circles. However, they are often played in D because that’s where dulcimer players are more comfortable and familiar, and that’s how the tune was put into TAB. But, at your levels, you should be able to play these tunes in the keys in which they are traditionally most often played. We’ll focus on learning some tunes and increasing your familiarity and comfort playing in other keys. PLEASE BRING A CAPO!
- Bach and Handel- More stellar tunes for your repertoire! – Susan Trump, Level 5 Learn “Arioso” (in G) and “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” (also used by Simon and Garfunkel for their song, “Because All Men Are Brothers,”) and Handel’s “Sarabande” (the theme to the movie Barry Lyndon). The complexity of this music, the phrasing, and interpretation make learning these pieces so rewarding! DAD tuning and a capo.
THURSDAY
- Level 1 Review & Reinforce (This class meets every afternoon).
- Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab (This class meets every afternoon.)
- Mardi Gras! Laurie Alsobrook, Level 2-3. Let's learn a few classic Cajun numbers! A couple of waltzes and a two-step will help you "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"
- Waltzes and Variations – Susan Trump, Level 3 There is more to a waltz than the oom-pa-pa strum. Not only are there different strumming patterns, but you’ll discover other right-hand techniques for variations to make waltzes as beautiful as they can be. You’ll apply your new skills to a favorite, “Cowboy Waltz,” and an original, “July Waltz for Another Time.”
- Playing with Others! Jeff Furman, Level 3. Playing in a jam or playing with 1 or 2 other people can be great fun! This workshop will focus on concepts and techniques for making this happen! You will learn how to use your ears (listening) and not just your eyes (Tab) when playing with others. We’ll play several multipart arrangements. And, if time allows, I’ll let you decide for yourself what to play with 1 or 2 other people so we can all Listen and Learn! As I am known to say: “it doesn’t matter what you do, but it might make a difference in what you feel!”
- Christmas Songs for Two Standard Dulcimers and Bass – Elaine & Larry Conger, Level 3+. Get a head start on your holiday repertoire with these familiar Christmas carols arranged for two standard dulcimers with a bonus part for bass dulcimer enthusiasts. The melody part can stand alone as a solo. However, the added parts are what make the arrangements sound rich and full. A 1+ fret and capo will be needed in this class.
- Arranging Popular Music for Mountain Dulcimer – Steve Eulberg, Level 4 Using examples from my Hal Leonard book First 50 Songs to Play on Mountain Dulcimer, we will address typical challenges that popular music presents when arranging them to play on a diatonic dulcimer in a three-string configuration. [e.g., moving bass lines, incorporating signature licks, syncopation, meter eccentricities, chord voicings.] You can bring YOUR copy to class, purchase one at the vending table at Dulcimer U, or order an autographed copy from me here:
- Increasing Your Notes per Minute - Joe Collins (Level 5) A workshop for advanced players to sharpen their flatpicking skills while learning to play some new Old-time and Celtic tunes.
Dulcimer U Photos
