John Huron, instructor and Homer Phillips, assistant extraordinaire.

No previous building experience required.

If:

• you’ve got a sweetie who would love to play music on a dulcimer made by the love of his/her life;
• you like the idea of magically transforming a stack of wood, four strings and some tuners into a musical thing of beauty;
• you don’t mind a little glue on your fingers and sawdust in your hair …

have we got a deal for you!

Along with his faithful Texas companion, Homer Phillips, John Huron will be guiding a group of students through the ins and outs of mountain dulcimer construction at this year’s Dulcimerville. The course is open to the first ten enrollees and is taught “apprentice-style,” much the same way John learned from legendary dulcimer builder Robert Mize. No woodworking experience is necessary, although experienced builders may find some useful “tips and tricks.”

Students produce a standard size 4-string dulcimer with black walnut back and sides and a sassafras top. The tuners are chrome Grover Minis, 14:1 ratio. Some optional wood selections may be available.

In addition to the tuition for the week that covers the instruction and all the Dulcimerville activities after class, the materials fee covering all the dulcimer materials (a kit of choice native Appalachian hardwoods prepared by John) is $195, payable to John Huron on the first day of class.

All the tools are provided. Participants learn wood joinery and finishing, fretting (metal not mental) and dulcimer set-up techniques for playability. A good bit of the boring (watching glue dry) and all the dangerous (table saw, router, etc.) shop work is completed ahead of time. But not to worry, there is still plenty work available to fill up each day’s morning and afternoon session times and all pre-assembly operations are explained and/or demonstrated. Things for students to bring from home: an expendable towel for a work table cover, pencil & paper for taking notes and tracing patterns (optional), and a smile.

In addition to going home with a brand new handcrafted instrument, included free of charge is a wealth of mountain dulcimer history, stories and southern mountain folklore John has collected over nearly 20 years of instrument building. The week concludes with the builders introducing the newest residents of Dulcimerville, their “newborns,” to the rest of the community.

Although registrations are only taken through the Dulcimerville website or mailing registration/tuition to Lois Hornbostel, P.O. Box 907, Bryson City, NC 28713, as explained in the Registration page of this website, any questions about this course can be directed to John Huron at 423-764-3332, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or through his website, http://noteworthyjohn.com