schedule
TRANSCRIPT
1/5
Schedule
(Last Update: Sep 12, 2021)
Instrument abbreviations: MD = Mountain Dulcimer HD = Hammered Dulcimer
Friday MOUNTAIN DULCIMER HAMMERED DULCIMER Other
PDT MDT CDT EDT Room A Room B Room C Room D Room E Room F Room G Room H Room I 8:00am- 9:15am
9:00am- 10:15am
10:00am- 11:15am
11:00am- 12:15pm
Carol Crocker (B/B+)
Easy Hymn Arrangements
Sarah M.-Toler (I/A)
Classical MD
Karen Mueller (N)
Getting Started Right!
Irma Reeder (I)
Fingerpicking 101
Colin Beasley (I/A) Playing Music in Odd
Time
Carrie Crompton (B)
Bell Ringing in an Empty Sky
Nate Pultorak (N)
A What-i-mer?
Scott Reeder (I)
Ye Banks and Braes
9:45am- 11:00am
10:45am- 12:00 noon
11:45am- 1:00pm
12:45pm- 2:00pm
Carol Crocker (All*)
Spirituals for Children
Sarah M.-Toler (B)
Getting to Know your MD
Karen Mueller (B+)
Using the Capo
Irma Reeder (I) Deck the
Halls with the Dulcimer
Colin Beasley (I)
Learn the “Coleraine Jig”
Carrie Crompton (B) Sparks of Lightning in a
Cloud of Sound
Nate Pultorak (I/A)
A Workshop About Nothing
Jim Ruff (N/B/B+) Let’s Play Ukulele!
11:15am- 11:45am
12:15pm- 12:45pm
1:15pm-1:45pm
2:15pm- 2:45pm
Coffee with Carol
Coffee with Colin
Coffee with Carrie
12:15 pm- 1:30pm
1:15pm- 2:30pm
2:15pm- 3:30pm
3:15pm- 4:30pm
Carol Crocker (B+) Strumming Fiddle and Folk
Tunes
Sarah M.-Toler (I)
Flatpicking
Karen Mueller (B)
Rhythms, Fills & Chords
Colin Beasley (B/B+)
HD Number System
Carrie Crompton (I) Harmonizing Melodies with Double Stops
Nate Pultorak (B+/I)
The Road to Lisdoonvarna
Scott Reeder (I) Salley
Gardens on Bowed Psaltery
1:45pm- 2:45pm
2:45pm- 3:45pm
3:45pm- 4:45pm
4:45pm- 5:45pm
Jam Come play along as instructors lead some of our favorite jam tunes!
3:00pm- 3:30pm
4:00pm- 4:30pm
5:00pm- 5:30pm
6:00pm- 6:30pm
Open Mic Come and play your favorite song, or just listen and enjoy the music.
4:00pm- 5:30pm
5:00pm- 6:30pm
6:00pm- 7:30pm
7:00pm-8:30pm
Concert Scott & Irma Reeder, Sarah McWhirt-Toler, Karen Mueller, Nate Pultorak,
Saturday MOUNTAIN DULCIMER HAMMERED DULCIMER Other
PDT MDT CDT EDT Room A Room B Room C Room D Room E Room F Room G Room H Room I 8:00am- 9:15am
9:00am- 10:15am
10:00am- 11:15am
11:00am- 12:15pm
Carol Crocker (I/A)
One Tune 3 Keys
Sarah M.-Toler (N)
Dulcimer 101
Irma Reeder (B+)
Taming the Timing
Colin Beasley (I)
Intro to Improvisation
Carrie Crompton (I/A)
Triadic Geometry on the HD
Nate Pultorak (B+)
Vespers
Scott Reeder (N)
Absolute Beginner HD
Karen Mueller (All*) Autoharp Old-time Songs
& Tunes 9:45am- 11:00am
10:45am- 12:00 noon
11:45am- 1:00pm
12:45pm- 2:00pm
Carol Crocker (B+)
Play that Tune by Ear
Sarah M.-Toler (B)
Use Your Whole Hand!
Karen Mueller (I)
Fun with the 1.5 Fret
Irma Reeder (I)
Singing with the MD
Colin Beasley (All*)
Learn to Flow on the HD
Carrie Crompton (I/A)
Combining Embellishments
Nate Pultorak (I)
Snowflake Breakdown
Scott Reeder (B/B+)
Star of the County Down
11:15am- 11:45am
12:15pm- 12:45pm
1:15pm-1:45pm
2:15pm- 2:45pm
Coffee with Sarah
Coffee with Karen
Coffee with Nate
12:15 pm- 1:30pm
1:15pm- 2:30pm
2:15pm- 3:30pm
3:15pm- 4:30pm
Carol Crocker (I)
Falling for Fall
Sarah M.-Toler (B+)
Some Great Folk Tunes
Karen Mueller (I/A)
Arrangements & Variations
Colin Beasley (B/B+)
Simple Harmony on HD
Carrie Crompton (I)
The Magic of Universal Chords
Nate Pultorak (I/A)
Accessorize!
Michele Spiro (N)
It’s an Autoharp
1:45pm- 2:45pm
2:45pm- 3:45pm
3:45pm- 4:45pm
4:45pm- 5:45pm
Jam Come play along as instructors lead some of our favorite jam tunes!
3:00pm- 3:30pm
4:00pm- 4:30pm
5:00pm- 5:30pm
6:00pm- 6:30pm
Open Mic Come and play your favorite song, or just listen and enjoy the music.
4:00pm- 5:30pm
5:00pm- 6:30pm
6:00pm- 7:30pm
7:00pm-8:30pm
Concert Scott & Irma Reeder, Carrie Crompton with Eclectica (Trio), Carol Crocker, Colin Beasley
Suggested skill levels: N = Never played before, B = Beginner, B+ = Advanced Beginner, I = Intermediate, A = Advanced, All* = All levels except absolute beginners. (See www.NMDulcFest.com Schedule page for skill level definitions.) Attendees can take any workshop regardless of skill level, but class will be taught at the advertised skill level. If you’re interested in a class topic, we encourage you to take it!
2/5
Workshops (Last Update: Sep 12, 2021)
Carol Crocker Workshops
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B/B+) Easy Hymn
Arrangements
Yes, you can learn to play hymns as a beginner player. In addition to playing only on the melody string, let’s expand your
skills with learning how to add a few easy partial chords. This workshop will also incorporate an introduction to chord
melody style of playing.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(All) Spirituals That Can Be
Used for Children
Children love to sing. Some of my favorite songs I used with my children’s choir (and I sing them also), are African
American Spirituals. The call and response, and rhythmic style of many of these songs lend itself to create lots of
opportunities for performance variations. Nothing sounds so beautiful as children also singing a beautiful slow melodic
spiritual. Bring your capo.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B+) Strumming Traditional
Fiddle and Folk Tunes
This workshop will focus on reinforcing and expanding mountain dulcimer playing skills for those of who are just
beyond beginner players. We will learn some well-known traditional fiddle and folk tunes. Also, we will learn a few left
hand fingering techniques to help with efficiency, and right hand strumming to help your playing sound smooth.
Mountain Dulcimer (I/A) One Tune 3 Keys Forgot your capo for the jam, or you just want to learn something different? In this workshop we will focus on playing a
few traditional folk tunes in the keys of D, G, and A without using a capo. We will be doing some retuning to change
keys and look at how that works. (DAd, DGd & EAd tuning)
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B+) No Tab! You Can Learn
to Play That Tune by Ear
Have you heard a great new fiddle tune, but don’t have the tab for it? We will explore a few techniques for picking out
simple melodies by ear and how to find them on your dulcimer. No tab necessary for this workshop.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(I) Falling for Fall For many of us thinking of the Fall season means thinking about Homecomings, fall festivals, revivals, etc. In this
workshop we will learn a few tunes suitable for autumn including fiddle and hymn tunes and “Shine On Harvest Moon”.
Bring your capo.
Sarah McWhirt-Toler Workshops
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(I/A) Classical Mountain
Dulcimer
Who says you can only play folk music on the dulcimer? Not us! Come expand your dulcimer playing genre with a class
of accessible classical music.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B) Getting to know your
Dulcimer
As a beginner, the easiest way to learn to play the dulcimer is to learn simple tunes. However, learning good
fundamentals will help familiarize you with all the things your instrument can do, unlocking musical possibilities in the
future. Come and learn some simple scales and strumming patterns that will support your musical future.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning) (I) Flatpicking Many dulcimer players are comfortable with playing on the melody string up and down the fretboard, but sometimes we
forget the magic possible through using all our strings as melodic strings. This class will explore an introduction into
flatpicking, a skill which can be applied across many musical genres.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(N) Dulcimer 101 Part of learning a new instrument is paying attention to the way your body works playing the instrument. In this class,
we'll cover sound posture and body mechanics that will keep you playing your dulcimer in a way that's good for your
heart and your body! If you learn good posture when you begin, you won’t have to unlearn anything later!
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B) Use Your Whole Hand! When beginning to play the mountain dulcimer, it is exciting that you can play an entire song with only one finger. Come
to this class and learn the foundations for good habits of fingering melodies that fit your hand and your dulcimer.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B+) Some Great Folk Tunes The dulcimer is a piece of the rich history of the melting pot that is American folk music. Come to this class and learn a
few great folks tunes! No copyright
3/5
Karen Mueller Workshops
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(N) Getting Started Right! Come and find out how easy and fun it is to play the dulcimer, with instruction for tuning, good left and right hand
techniques, ergonomics, holding a pick, reading tab, AND answering any questions you have. You'll be strumming songs
by the end of the workshop, guaranteed!
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B+) Using the Capo to Play in
Other Keys
Capos allow us to stay in DAD tuning and play in the keys of G, A major or minor, and E minor. We’ll play songs in all
of these keys, look at how to play some chords with the capo on. You will need a capo to play along, but are welcome to
observe if you don’t have one yet.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B) Rhythms, Fills, and
Chords
In this workshop, we’ll work practice strumming rhythm patterns that we can use to add fills to melodies, as well as to
play chords to accompany singing or backup others. Basic chord shapes in DAD tuning will be taught, and strum patterns
will be in both 4/4 and 3/4 (waltz) time as we play some fun, familiar songs.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(I) Fun with the 1.5 Fret Just as the 6.5 fret used to be more unusual but is now standard, the 1.5 fret is becoming more popular as players discover
how many possibilities it offers. In this workshop we’ll cover a wide range of styles, chords, and scales made possible
with the 1.5, including the blues, 7th chords, low octave mixolydian scales, playing in minor keys and C major while still
tuned DAD, and more. You are welcome to take the workshop even if you don’t have a 1.5, or you can tape on a wire
(like from a paper clip) to add a temporary fret.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(I/A) Developing Interesting
Arrangements and
Variations
If you have been wondering how to play a tune in different, more interesting ways, this workshop is for you. We’ll look
at how to use dynamics and other techniques, and create variations that will give you lots of ideas to expand your playing.
Autoharp
(All*) Old-time Songs and
Tunes
Enjoy great Appalachian songs and tunes arranged for autoharp, in both strumming and melody picking tab. You will be
welcome to play at whatever level you are comfortable with. Any standard autoharp is fine; keys of C, G, and D.
Colin Beasley Workshops
Hammered
Dulcimer (I/A) Playing Music in Odd Time There’s much more out there in music than just 4/4 timing! Don’t underestimate how much other time signatures and feels
can groove and be fun. In this class, you will learn how to count, feel, and play in odd time signatures such as 5/8, 7/8, 5/4,
and more. We will break everything down into easy to learn concepts and look at a few tunes to play in each timing.
Hammered
Dulcimer
(I) Learn the “Coleraine Jig” In this class, you will learn how to play the “Coleraine Jig,” a very unique jig that uses notes you might have never
touched on your instrument! We will break everything down and learn a cool, unique hammer pattern that makes playing
this tune and reaching those notes a breeze!
Hammered
Dulcimer (B/B+) Hammered Dulcimer Number
System
The hammered dulcimer is an instrument FULL of patterns. One of the best ways to begin learning these patterns is
through what I call the “hammered dulcimer numbering system”. In this class, we will learn what the numbering system is
and how we can use it to easily learn songs, figure out patterns, create exercises, and much more!
Hammered
Dulcimer (I) Intro to Improvisation This introduction class will teach you the basic building blocks of improvisation, as well as help you become more
comfortable improvising. Most of the class will cover improvising over chord changes, much like when you hear a
musician take a solo during a song. You’ll learn some easy-to-use musical “tools” that will get you off the ground and
starting to create your own improvised melodies!
Hammered
Dulcimer
(All*) Learn to Flow on The
Hammered Dulcimer
“Flow” is just my hammered dulcimer term for “effortlessness”. This class will teach you to play the hammered dulcimer
effortlessly and flow from one note to another. We will go over exercises and some tunes you can use to get your hands
moving with more ease and fluidity. Flow makes everything you play and learn much easier and will even make it sound
better!
Hammered
Dulcimer (B/B+) Simple Harmony on
Hammered Dulcimer
This class will teach you the basics of harmonization and how it specially fits on the hammered dulcimer. You will learn
easy and straight-forward ways to figure out harmony notes and how to use them with a melody.
4/5
Carrie Crompton Workshops
Hammered
Dulcimer
(B) Bell Ringing in an Empty Sky We’ll get started with good hammering technique to get a beautiful, ringing tone. We’ll learn to play scales and arpeggios
in the key of D (the most resonant key on most dulcimers), then use what we’ve learned to play a few well-known tunes
smoothly, rhythmically, clearly. Tunes: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” – “Ode to Joy” – “Frère Jacques”
Hammered
Dulcimer
(B) Sparks of Lightning in a Cloud
of Sound
Good phrasing requires good accentuation. We’ll practice exercises to develop good accenting technique on the dulcimer,
and learn to play a couple of fiddle tunes in the key of D using accented hammering in “reel time” and “shuffle time.”
Tunes: “Whiskey Before Breakfast” – “Wind That Shakes the Barley”
Hammered
Dulcimer
(I) Harmonizing Melodies with
Double Stops
Given the resonance of the hammered dulcimer, it is often simple to suggest a full harmony by striking a single harmony
note along with an accented note in the melody. The question is always: Which note? We’ll explore the use of two-note
chords through exercises and use them to dress up a couple of well-known tunes. Tunes: “The Ash Grove” – “Amazing
Grace”
Hammered
Dulcimer
(I/A) Triadic Geometry on the
Hammered Dulcimer
On the hammered dulcimer, major and minor chords are often played in inversions to support melody notes we want to
accentuate. We’ll explore the use of rolled triads in exercises and tunes. Then we’ll break up the triads to create a
different texture entirely, and try this texture out in some more tunes. Tunes: “Greensleeves” – “Lovely Love”
Hammered
Dulcimer
(I/A) Combining Embellishments For some tunes, no single embellishment is enough to bring out the nuances of a piece of music. We’ll look at ways to
choose the right embellishment –repeated drones, double stops, universal chords, broken triads, rolled triads, etc. – to
create different expressive effects within a single piece. Tunes: “Princess Royal” – “George Brabazon”
Hammered
Dulcimer
(I) The Magic of Universal Chords Three-note chords based on the root of a chord can add a lot of depth to a melody. We’ll explore the use of universal
chords – which are neither major nor minor – as a way to play backup for other melodic instruments (for instance, in jam
sessions) and incorporate them into a couple of tunes to create rich-sounding arrangements. Tunes: “Christchild’s
Lullaby” – “Munster Cloak”
Nate Pultorak Workshops
Hammered
Dulcimer (N) A What-i-mer? So, you have a Hammered Dulcimer! What is this thing, where did it come from, and what can YOU do with it? These
questions, and more will be answered in this introductory workshop, where you might even come away with one of your
first tunes!
Hammered
Dulcimer (I/A) A Workshop About Nothing Serenity Now! Sometimes, what matters most in a song is what is not heard. Learn how to incorporate space into your
playing to improve arrangements, using Nate's song The Wandering as a template.
Hammered
Dulcimer (B+/I) Travel on Down The Road to
Lisdoonvarna
Learn this fun, mysterious, and easy to play Irish tune, The Road to Lisdoonvarna.
Hammered
Dulcimer
(B+) Vespers It is a comfortable evening as the church bells quietly toll in the distance and a slight breeze rustles the leaves. Out of the
quiet of the waning day is born the song Vespers. Come learn this peaceful tune
Hammered
Dulcimer (I) Get Crazy Chill with Snowflake
Breakdown
Winter is slowly approaching, so get ready with this fun, slightly crooked reel by Canadian fiddler Wally Traugott.
Hammered
Dulcimer
(I/A) Accessorize! It has been said that the only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize. Whether that is true or
not, there are loads of fun techniques that can add some spark to your playing, and now you can learn them, too!
5/5
Irma Reeder Workshops
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(I) Fingerpicking 101
Fingerpicking adds a new and colorful sound to your music! We’ll practice a couple of picking patterns, work at adding
them to some simple songs, then look at more advanced arrangements that feature this technique. This class is for DAD
tunings, 3 string or double melody instruments. Bring your capo just in case.
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(I) Deck the Halls with the
Dulcimer
Get in the holiday spirit as you learn fresh, original arrangements sure to make you want to deck the hall, no matter what
time of year it is! You’ll be looking at hand efficiency and reviewing chords along the way. Bring your capo just in case!
Mountain Dulcimer
(DAD tuning)
(B+) Taming the Timing
A quick review of time signatures and note values will take us into a fun 'time' of exploring tunes of different musical
styles. We will de-mystify 6/8 time, dotted quarters, triplets, and much more! Bring your capo just in case.
Mountain Dulcimer
(CGC tuning) (I) Singing with the Mountain
Dulcimer
Let’s learn how to accompany our singing with the dulcimer! We’ll add an intro, a break, and use strumming and picking
to back up the vocals. Working knowledge of chords needed. Bring your capo just in case.
Scott Reeder Workshops
Hammered
Dulcimer
(I) Ye Banks and Braes Learn this traditional Scottish song adding arpeggiated chords, harmony notes and runs to embellish the melody. I’ll
emphasize a strong-arm lead as it facilitates adding backup to a simple melody.
Hammered
Dulcimer
(N) Absolute Beginner
Hammered Dulcimer
So, I’m sitting in front of all these strings with hammers waiting to make music. What on earth do I do next? Let’s start
playing the hammered dulcimer!
Hammered
Dulcimer
(B/B+) Star of the County Down This beautiful Irish ballad is a great tune to add to your repertoire. I’ll introduce hammering patterns that will help you
learn this melody (and other tunes) quickly which will prepare you for adding accompaniment backup as you grow in
your dulcimer playing.
Bowed Psaltery
(I) Down by the Salley Gardens
on Bowed Psaltery
Learn how to add bow slurs to your playing using the pretty Irish folk song Down by the Salley Gardens in the key of
D (also known as The Maids of Mourne Shore).
Other Instrument Workshops (Non-dulcimer classes from our primary staff are duplicated here)
(N/B/B+) Let’s Play Ukulele! Jim Ruff
(Ukulele)
Thinking about learning ukulele? Or just starting out and looking to learn new chords and fingerings? In this class we'll
play some simple tunes while exploring how to play in any key.
(I) Down by the Salley
Gardens
Scott Reeder
(Bowed Psaltery)
Learn how to add bow slurs to your playing using the pretty Irish folk song Down by the Salley Gardens in the key of D
(also known as The Maids of Mourne Shore).
(All*) Old-time Songs and
Tunes
Karen Mueller
(Autoharp)
Enjoy great Appalachian songs and tunes arranged for autoharp, in both strumming and melody picking tab. You will be
welcome to play at whatever level you are comfortable with. Any standard autoharp is fine; keys of C, G, and D.
(N) It’s an Autoharp Michele Spiro
(Autoharp)
How many picks do I need? Can I sing with it? And how the heck do you hold this thing? Find out the answers to these
questions and many more in this intro to the Autoharp. In this workshop, we will explore the Autoharp, check out an easy
way to create lead sheets, play some tunes and sing along. Join us even if you don't have an autoharp…yet!