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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

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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!

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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!