Dulcimerville Artwork by Don Pedi
2-Hr. Special Subject Classes PDF Print E-mail

A note on the playing skill levels of these 2-hr. classes: We want you to find classes that satisfy your skills and goals. You’ll notice after the title & teacher of each class that skill levels are designated:

  • Beginners
  • Advanced Beginners
  • Intermediate levels
  • Intermediate-into-Advanced and Advanced

This is never an exact science, but the instructor will prepare the ease or challenge of each class to agree with the skill level(s) noted. (Skill levels are defined in the 13½ hr. morning course descriptions.) When you choose your classes, please consider the skill level(s) they address. Some classes are appropriate for more than one skill level.

Suppose you’d just love to take that class of easy songs intended for players below your current skill level?

You are welcome to sign up. We ask that you understand that the class may not challenge you completely and the instructor needs to keep the class at a more basic, slower pace to address the majority of students. You can learn satisfying new music that you can later accelerate or ornament to your personal skill level.

Suppose you’d just love to take that chording class that’s mainly for players above your current skill level?

You are welcome to sign up. We ask that you expect it to be challenging because the instructor is teaching a class intended for the more experienced players. You can still take the challenge and learn a lot. Save the basic questions until class is over and the instructor will no doubt be happy to answer them. Another option is to practice chords before you arrive so you will be right up with the rest of that class!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 2-4 p.m.
(Day One of Special Subject classes)

T1. BEGINNER SKILLS COACHING, with Anne Lough.  For Beginner Course Students. Class members will have a review of the morning’s material. We encourage all Beginner course students to take these afternoon sessions. Anne will give individual help and will direct students to individual practice on their own.

T2. ADVANCED BEGINNER SKILLS COACHING, with Stephen Seifert. For Advanced Beginner Course Students. Class members will have a review of the morning’s material. Stephen will give individual help and will direct students to individual practice on their own.

T3. EARLY INTERMEDIATE SKILLS COACHING , with Paul Andry. For Early Intermediate Course Students. Class members will have a review of the morning’s material, but another special subject class may be taken instead if you feel you don’t need coaching and are ready for the class you choose. Paul will give individual help and will direct students to individual practice on their own. (After today we recommend Early Intermediate students enjoy trying some of the regular special subject classes, specifically those that include your skill level.)

T4. NORTH CAROLINA BALLADS FOR DULCIMER , with Betty Smith. Advanced Beginners & up. Starting tuning DAA. This singing and playing class will introduce students to some of the ballads collected in this region. Ballads tell wonderful stories and have provided the tunes for hymns and fiddle tunes. Betty prefers the instrument's gentle sound because it does not overpower the singer's voice nor the stories the ballads have to tell. Some ballads taught will be "Barbara Allen." The False Knight in the Road," and "Pretty Polly."

T5. SWEET WALTZES , with Lois Hornbostel.  Filling Soon - 1-5 spaces as of  5/6 Advanced Beginners & more experienced players who like waltzes. DAD tuning. One-two-three, one-two-three…Waltzes are favorite melodies the world over and are easier to play than most other dance tunes. The dulcimer’s voice gives them a special charm. Lois will teach waltzes from the U.S. (including Cajun!), along with waltzes from the British Isles, Mexico, and Scandinavia. You’ll learn about the different beat accents in different waltz traditions, along with how to add some simple ornaments and “fills” for those long tied notes we encounter in waltzes.

T6. CELTIC MUSIC , with Doug Berch. CLOSED WITH WAITING LIST AS OF 5/6/10 Intermediate thru Advanced. DAD.   Doug has played Celtic Music since the late ‘70s and was a member of the band “Colcannon.” Learn to play examples of the following, taught at gentle tempos for this class: an Irish hornpipe and a jig, a Scottish strathspey, a Breton dance tune, and more. Doug will talk about the unique musical characteristics of each piece, its time signature, regular tempo, syncopations and accents for authentic sound.

T7. GOOD OLD-TIME JAMMING TUNES , with Jeff Furman. Intermediate thru Advanced. DAD tuning. Bring a capo. This repertoire workshop will help you prepare to participate in old-time music jams with other instruments. Jeff will teach traditional tunes you are likely encounter, in the keys typically played by the fiddler, such as: “Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine” in D, “Sail Away Ladies” in G; and “Hangman’s Reel” in A. These and other tunes will be played out of DAD tuning, with a capo used for the G and A tunes. Playing your dulcimer further up the fretboard for variation will also be covered.

T8. CREATING HARMONY PARTS , with Nina Zanetti.  Filling Soon - 1-5 spaces as of  5/6 Intermediate thru Advanced. DAD tuning. A good knowledge of chords on the dulcimer is recommended. Harmonies can enhance a beautiful melody, in the form of simple accompaniment chords, or in the form of separate harmony parts to accompany singing or in duet with other musicians. This class will cover creating simple back-up chord parts, determining what chords to use, and using different back-up styles for different music types in arranging for the dulcimer. We’ll also cover counter-melodies, descants and some simple counterpoint. Music demonstrating the above techniques will be distributed.

T9. BLUES AND IMPROVISATION, with Bill Taylor. Intermediate thru Advanced. DAD tuning. Lots of playing. Musical inhibitions must be checked at the door - we’re all friends here. There will be basic instruction on different styles of the blues, typical chord progressions, and patterns and scales used as a starting point for improvisation. We will learn a couple of songs together, but mostly we will all be the rhythm section for others to improvise over different types of blues progressions, and we will all take our own turns at it. Music will range from country blues to the 12 bar blues, and who knows where in between.

T10. BEGINNING BOWED DULCIMER, with Kenneth Bloom. Open to all who are interested in the revival of this unique way to play. There will be some history, but most of the class will focus on playing from the very beginning. This would be a good choice if you are very new to the instrument or want to find out more about it. Everyone will get a chance to try playing the bowed dulcimer and this will also be a good place to review the basic fundamentals of playing.

Wednesday, June 9, 2-4 p.m.
(Day Two of Special Subject classes)

W1. BEGINNER SKILLS COACHING , with Beginner course tutor. For Beginner Course Students. Class members will have a review of the morning’s material. We encourage all Beginner students to take these afternoon sessions.  Tutor will give individual help and will direct students to individual practice on their own.

W2. ADVANCED BEGINNER SKILLS COACHING , with Adv. Beg. course tutor. Adv. Beg. For Course Students. Class members will have a review of the morning’s material, but another special subject class may be taken instead if you feel you don’t need coaching and are ready for the class you choose. Tutor will give individual help and will direct students to individual practice on their own. (After today we recommend Advanced Beginner students enjoy trying some of the regular special subject classes, specifically those that include your skill level.)

W3. MOUNTAIN HYMNS, with Don Pedi. Intermediate levels & up. Starting tuning DAC. Don will teach some lovely and uncommon hymns that sound just right on the mountain dulcimer and are and pretty simple to play. Selections will include: “Prodigal Son,” “Rainbow Around His Shoulders,” “Idumea,” and “Chased Old Satan.”

W4. WHAT CHORDS TO PLAY WHEN, with Paul Andry. Advanced Beginners & students of higher skills who want to know more about chords. DAD tuning. Bring your dulcimer and a pencil with an eraser. Blank tablature will be provided.  What is a “triad”? What is a “chord”? When do you play them and when do you change them? Paul will teach the answers. Students will have practical experience spelling chords, finding where chords are on the dulcimer’s fretboard, and related primary notes (root of the triad) in chords. Students will learn how to look at a melody, define its notes, and find chords to go with the melody. An important part of chords is hearing chord changes, so the class will contain listening experience and exercises.

W5. WED. & THURS. 4-HR. MINI-COURSE: FINGERPICKING, PART I, with Nina Zanetti. CLOSED WITH WAITING LIST AS OF 5/6/10 Advanced Beginners who want challenge thru Intermediate levels, plus more experienced players who have limited experience in fingepicking. DAD tuning. To take this class, you sign up for and attend both Part I today and Part II tomorrow evening, because tomorrow’s lessons require today’s learning. In this 4-hour mini-course, the class will learn to fingerpick and how to make this style of playing sound lovely. We'll start with an overview of right-hand technique for fingerpicking, then work on reading tablature for fingerpicking arrangements and on interpreting this tab with respect to chord structure. We'll explore the different patterns of fingerpicking and will learn some tunes to gain practice with these patterns.

W6. DULCIMER MUSIC OF THE GALAX FIDDLE CONVENTION, with Phyllis Gaskins. Intermediate & up. Beginning tuning: DAd (or all d's if you have a Galax style dulcimer). This class will teach some authentic traditional dulcimer repertoire. Since the 1800s people in the Galax, Virginia area have built and played their own style of mountain dulcimer, often as members of string bands with fiddles, banjos and guitars. These dulcimers have been in the winner's circle in both band and individual competitions at the Galax Old Fiddlers' Convention, one of the largest fiddle conventions now in its 75th year! Phyllis has won the dulcimer championship at Galax several times. Her mentor was Raymond Melton from Woodlawn, VA near Galax. Phyllis will play rare dulcimer recordings from the Galax fiddlers’ convention featuring dulcimer families like the Meltons and Russells. She will pass out tablature of some of the tunes (different selections from the morning Traditional Music course) and will teach them to the class at a slower tempo.

W7. COWBOY SONGS, with Stephen Seifert. Intermediate. DAD tuning. These songs are taken from a body of music that existed BEFORE the popular cowboy craze in America that existed between the 1920’s and the 1950’s. All tunes covered here are arranged chord-melody style with lyrics for DAD.

W8. TUNE DECORATION FOR MOUNTAIN DULCIMER PLAYERS, with Mike Anderson. Intermediate levels & up. DAD tuning. Make your playing more inventive with tips on how to spice up a ho-hum tune using hammer-ons, pull-offs, bass walks, chording, and general cheap tricks!

W9. FLATPICKING, with Jeff Furman.  Filling Soon - 1-5 spaces as of  5/6 Intermediate levels & up. DAD tuning. This is a technique and repertoire class exploring different styles and advantages of flatpicking. In contrast to strumming across all the strings, flatpicking involves playing notes on less than three or four strings. Doing this can often emphasize and enhance melody or harmony notes and provide a contrast to basic strumming. Slow and fast music demonstrating the uses of flatpicking will be taught.

W10. THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS, with Kenneth Bloom. Intermediate levels & up. The Circle of Fifths shows the relationships among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale. This theory class will cover the uses and practical nature of the Circle of Fifths and how it relates to playing all sorts of music. This aspect of harmony is very accessible and supremely useful when working out new tunes, writing new tunes, and generally understanding what's going on when you are listening to new material. There will be a discussion of not only how it works, but where it came from and why.

Thursday, June 10, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
(Day Three of Special Subject classes)

H1. BEGINNER SKILLS COACHING, with Beginner course tutor. For Beginner Course Students. Class members will have a review of the morning’s material. We encourage all Beginner students to take these afternoon sessions. Tutor will give individual help and will direct students to individual practice on their own. (After today we recommend Beginner students enjoy trying some of the regular special subject classes, specifically those that are for Advanced Beginner level or All Skill Levels.)

H2. DULCIMER MAINTENANCE, with “Dulcimer Doctor” Joseph Shelton. Any skill level. Bring your dulcimer along and learn how to keep it healthy and performing its best. Joe will teach how to determine string gauges for your dulcimer, to change strings, and how to recognize if adjustments or repairs are needed. Joe suggests if you have internet you first read his article on “Understanding Dulcimer Maintenance” in the August ‘05 Back Issue of www.DulcimerSessions.com . This will allow more time for additional maintenance information and discussions in class

H3. ROUNDS & CANONS, with Linda Brockinton. Advanced Beginners & up. DAD tuning. These are simple, specially-constructed melodies that produce lovely harmony when everyone plays the same music, but beginning at different times. They can be your first step in becoming a good duet player. Emphasis will be on the all-important counting of time and listening to others as you play with them. The music taught will range from “Row Your Boat” to  “Pachabel’s Canon in D, also playing simple parts in different octaves on the fretboard.

H4. LULLABIES, with Jeff Furman. Advanced Beginner & Intermediate players. DAD and DAC tunings.  Learn several beautiful lullabies to add to your repertoire. These tunes/songs are always a listener’s favorite and are also pleasing to play, whether it is for others, for children, or just for yourself. An ability to sing is not required but singing is welcomed and encouraged!

H5. WED. & THURS. 4-HR. MINI-COURSE: FINGERPICKING, PART II, with Nina Zanetti. CLOSED WITH WAITING LIST AS OF 5/6/10 To take this class, you sign up for and attend both afternoons (Wed. and Thurs.). This second session will continue to explore the techniques of fingerpicking, with emphasis on how to make this technique sound musical. We'll learn some pretty tunes and use them as examples for how to play fingerstyle arrangements with grace and expression. We’ll also explore how to take tablature arranged for strumming or flatpicking and turn it into a fingerpicked arrangement.

H6. PLAYING FOR OTHER PEOPLE COMFORTABLY, with Doug Berch. For players of all skill levels. Bring your dulcimer. From the time we are beginner players, we’re often called upon to be dulcimer “ambassadors,” when our friends and family want to hear how our lovely instrument sounds. Later with practice you may be ready to play in church or in your community. Some may want to do full-blown performing. Doug has been a solo performing artist and band member for many years. He will give tips on dealing with anxiety and "the jitters," choosing appropriate repertoire, how to handle different types of performance situations and most importantly how to have fun while performing!

H7. OLD-TIME SONGS, with Don Pedi.  Filling Soon - 1-5 spaces as of  5/6 Advanced Beginners & Intermediate. Starting tuning DAA. 
A variety of old-time mountain songs learned directly by ear from authentic sources or from field recordings. The songs are mostly arranged in the old-time style of playing the melody while singing. Songs will include: “Bachelor’s Hall,” “Pretty Polly,” “Worried Blues,” and more.

H8. GOSPEL MUSIC, with Stephen Seifert. GOSPEL MUSIC, with Stephen Seifert. Intermediate. DAD tuning. Chord-melody style arrangements.

H9. CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR MOUNTAIN DULCIMER, with Anne Lough. Intermediate & up. Starting tuning: DAD & bring a capo. Enjoy these very accessible classical gems on the mountain dulcimer. Great for weddings, church or ensembles.

H10. VARYING MELODIES, with Bill Taylor. Intermediate & up. DAD tuning. Bill will show how he takes a basic melody and personalizes it by adding variations. Several pieces will be presented on paper, with Bill giving melodic ideas and rhythmic variations, as well as a few bells and whistles, and the class members will have a chance to try thinking up their own variations.  If you have a song you want to dress up, bring it along and we will try to address as many as possible.

Friday, June 11, 2-4 p.m.
(Day Four – final day - of Special Subject classes)

F1. BASIC MUSIC THEORY, with Anne Lough. Advanced Bginners & students of higher skill levels who want some basic training in theory. Starting tuning DAD. The class will learn about:
  • Keys and scales, and where scales happen on the fretboard in basic dulcimer tunings.
  • Time signatures, rhythm notation, and counting time.
  • The notes available on the dulcimer in basic tunings.
  • Tips on hearing pitches.
  • Common chord progressions, and tips on hearing them.

F2. PLAYPARTY SONGS & DANCES, with Betty Smith, Advanced Beginners & up. Starting in DAA. The tradition of playparty songs goes back to the 1800's. When young people were not allowed to dance to fiddle music, they did the dance figures accompanied by their own singing of traditional songs and called them playparties. We will learn some of the playparty songs like “Paw Paw Patch” and “Old Bald Eagle,” and the simple dances that go with them. (Some early churches did not allow fiddle music but we will play the songs on our sweet dulcimers.)

F3. PLAYING IN DIFFERENT TUNINGS, with Lois Hornbostel. Advanced Beginners & up. Starting tuning DAD. Hear new voices coming from your dulcimer that you didn’t know it had! One simple way to add lots of variety and interest to your playing is to try different tunings – an easier process on the mountain dulcimer compared to other instruments! Tips on tuning will be given, and you’ll get to know 3-4 different tunings, learn where the scales are, along with some simple chords in each. Lois will distribute and teach music in these tunings. Bring your electronic tuner, and we’ll also include training in tuning by ear.

F4. CHRISTMAS MUSIC, with Paul Andry. Advanced Beginners & students of higher skill levels that want to build their repertoire with (sometimes simple) arrangements of the music. Tunings to be used: DAA & DAD. It’s always a good idea to start practicing music for the Christmas Season before it is upon us! Paul will teach a simple drone/melody arrangement of “the Little Drummer boy, progressing to his chord/melody arrangement of “Silent Night,” along with other arrangements that include his Calypso version of “Mary’s Boy Child.”

F5. LISTENING, with Nina Zanetti. Advanced Beginners & up. DAD tuning. This workshop will be mostly about listening, but please bring your dulcimer to class. To be good musicians we need to use our ears as much as our hands and voices. Listening is a key component of making music. We’ll explore the importance of listening in a variety of situations: 1) hearing and understanding chord changes; 2) hearing intervals to help pick our melodies by ear; 3) listening carefully to our own playing to improve it; 4) listening for changes in phrasing to add these special touches to our playing; 5) listening to playing partners to help stay together when we play duets or in a group.

F6. SMOOTHING OUT YOUR PLAYING, with Jeff Furman. CLOSED WITH WAITING LIST AS OF 5/6/10 Advanced Beginner & Intermediate players. DAD tuning.  This workshop will explore concepts and techniques useful in getting your right hand and left hand to work more smoothly together to improve the fluidity of your playing.  Practice exercises and repertoire will be presented to help you learn these techniques and enhance your skills.

F7. SCOTTISH FIDDLE TUNES FROM CANADA, with Phyllis and Jim Gaskins, Intermediate & up. DAD or all high-d Galax tuning. When immigrants fled Scotland they landed in Nova Scotia, Canada in a place that came to be known as Cape Breton.  Here in this isolated spot the traditional Scottish fiddling style was preserved and passed down through the generations. This style of playing has been taken back to Scotland and is now being played around the world. The dulcimer's drone is reminiscent of the drones of the Scottish bagpipes. Jim and Phyllis have been learning this style and will teach several tunes from the Cape Breton tradition including an air, a jig, a reel and a strathspey.

F8. “WALKING” AROUND THE DULCIMER, with Mike Anderson. Intermediate & up. DAD tuning. Why let the guitar players have all the fun? Learn to use bass walks and middle string walks to create transitions in your tunes.

F9. CELTIC SLOW AIRS, with Linda Brockinton.  Filling Soon - 1-5 spaces as of  5/6 Intermediate thru Advanced. DAD and CGC tunings. The mountain dulcimer has a sound very near that of the traditional Irish harps that were strung with brass strings, so the music transfers beautifully to the dulcimer. Many wonderful Celtic airs have survived throughout history, and this class will explore a few of them. Ornamentation is a big part of Irish music, and we will be learning about the trills, triplets, and turns (using hammer-ons and pull-offs) that bring this music to life.

F10. ADVANCED BOWED DULCIMER, with Kenneth Bloom. Experienced bowed dulcimer players. Since the revival of bowed dulcimer began about ten years ago, there are now some really accomplished players out there, and thus the need for a separate class that focuses on advanced techniques. This class will cover upper positions on the fingerboard including the third octave and into the fourth (beyond the frets). Bowing techniques of a much subtler nature will be discussed as well as any other issues that the participants want to address. Some improvisation techniques will also be looked at. For more information, contact Ken at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .