Forum Activity for @janene-millen

Giving the photo tutorial a try ...here's my "pretty music room" off of the living room, closed with pocket doors, kept simple with the least amount of clutter and bookshelf with musical history, theory, FAKE books etc. A laptop computer (with some music apps) and printer/scanner.  On the left, my little "video recording booth" in my basement music room.  A folding screen, PVC pipe suspending a camera overhead, a clamp light, a cork strip to pin sheets of music, a some storage pockets for picks, tuners, water, pens, READING GLASSES. I've since encased it in quilts and throw rugs as an experiment after seeing Robin's music room.

THANK YOU..I was attempting that but only saw it offer up photos I already had posted on this forum, to embed...carried it out further per your instructions and included resize instructions....works perfectly.  So appreciate!

Charles, you did the same thing I did.  I had to DOWNLOAD your photo fully, then open it into a PAINT program to see it, then resize it.  Look at Robin and Strumelia.  Their photos appear full-size in the message, not a little postage stamp to be downloaded like ours.

Dulcinina, another person who plays on a stool!  I love the "little guy" sitting on a shelf of your desk area.

Charles, that is a very elegant-looking creative area.  I use a folding wooden screen in my music room too (not pretty like yours) as a recording "booth". I'll try to show how I do it.  I just draped fabric all around it, inspired by Robin's set up..haven't tried it yet though.

The people whose pictures are inserted in the message...I don't know how to do that.  I used to.  Everyone else, you have to download the picture, and then open it with an app on your PC to see it.  Because we are using ATTACH FILE maybe?  I tried EMBED LOCAL MEDIA and it didn't work.  What are we doing "wrong"?

Robin, I think I'll have to try the textile-megaphone thing in my music room...I have a bunch of quilts folded up...might as well hang them up somewhere. I have a (almost phone-booth sized) nook I use to record vids...I'll hang the quilts and rugs there. Good tip.

Robin...love seeing your "nook"...the sun pouring through that lovely deep large window..and you play on a stool?! Must have a strong core :-) I'd have my feet propped up on that window sill too.  Your textiles on the wall...does that impact the sound...in any case, it warms up the room. Thanks for sharing

I have one of those PC-spots too, papers everywhere...love the highlighting and red marks on the sheet music, the measuring tape (?) and you're messing around with a sheitholt (6 strings)? Interesting...

Was finally able to see your photos Susie...in my Paint program.  You are AMAZINGLY neat and organized...and anyone would be proud to have you own one of their instruments...they look so well cared for!  OMG, I'm sure your pets feel the same way. You are an inspiration :-) !!!

Susie..I can't open your JPGs. What am I doing wrong...anybody?  I'm prompted to SAVE then OPEN...when I indicated OPEN I'm prompted further for which app etc....this is on my PC.

I did go to a program to reduce the size of the photo I offered from 5MG down to 1.4MG ...is that the difference? I would really love to see your pictures. 

Although I have a music room in the basement (where I record vids) and another small (rarely used) one off the living room...I find myself most often sitting in my "Cozy Corner" to do some spontaneous playing.  I also love to see individual music rooms too...get some tips on features and organization. Any places you love to play. I love that you include your fur-babies and family history.

I would love to see where you most like to sit and noodle around on your dulcimer.  As colder weather approaches I think these little nooks are so important. 

I'll start with my favorite spot.  A (cluttered) window seat area between my kitchen and living room.  A sunny window seat for my pups, a cage stand for my birds (their day time perch), a glider (with arms unfortunately). A little stand for a cup of coffee, pencils, glasses..phone, e-reader etc., added a little book shelf under the bird cage. I print out songs I want to learn (predominantly lyrics) on 11 X 17 sheets of paper and hang them with a "pants" hanger on the PVC cage frame.  Wild bird bath (just plugged in for winter) and bird feeders a few feet away on the deck.  Can monitor the laundry in the mudroom, the soup on the stove, and the front door from this spot.  My Echo dot is close by and can take a break to listen to an audible book...or draw from my Amazon music playlists.  Retirement is lovely and my house is never clean.  I'm spoiled. 

Having just described all this, I can see why my "practice" is so unfocused.

Please share your cozy corners.

 cozy corner fotmd.jpg - 339KB

Country: Someday Soon, Pancho & Lefty, Louise, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, When You Say Nothing At All, May You Never Be Alone Like Me

Pop/Folk: Both Sides Now, Time After Time, Circle Game, End of the World, Let It Be Me, I Will, My Immortal, Up On the Roof, You Belong to Me

Cabaret/Show Tunes: La Vie en Rose, Lili Marlene, If I Only Had a Brain, Over the Rainbow, Goodnight My Someone, When I Fall In Love

Calypso: Brown Skin Girl, Jamaica Farewell, I'd Reveal How I do Adore Her

Always maintain a list of popular songs and tunes to work out.....

My dogs sleep.  My one bird loves it...boogies the entire time...

Birdie Boogie

Did a little experiment to test his reaction

 That is VERY cool! Congrats.  Fun looking group!

My first was a walnut McSpadden with wooden tuning pegs purchased in summer of 86 on a road trip from FL to CA..whilst driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Met the daughter of the owner of that shop at a workshop in northern GA a year or so ago.  She said it was going to close soon.  They got me started...recommended learning materials (Larkin's book) and basic supplies and sent me on my way.  Played at our campground each night for the month-long trip. 

Still have it (had the tuners changed out though).

sorry I have no real insights  on how to make the most of the week because I stay close to my campsite after session 4 each day..no night  time activities at all...but  I'm at White Acres site 5 and will be at the school Sun 5-ish also.

Strumelia--I'll go ahead and buy a button because I could use one anyway...but just wondering if it might get here by this Friday?? I depart Saturday. 

Jan--thanks for stepping up with some ideas for coordinating etc.  I could certainly "do" lunch on Tuesday if that's what is suggested.  I depart for our 3 week trip this weekend but I will check back here for updates while I'm on the road.

I thought there were some open stage "events" at the lunch hour on some days...that I didn't see on the schedule; that's why I wasn't so sure about the schedule....but I think Tues is a great suggestion of connecting with FOTMD folks. 

I hit the road on June 17 but will check in periodically to see if there are any coordinated efforts to meet up one day at lunch.  I'm flexible (I think).  Not fully aware of the daily schedule at KMW at this time.

Kristi..Terrific to hear some familiar names that will be there. My understanding is the state park has limited appeal for multiple dog owners plus they never answered the phone when I called and the online reservations were confusing. How could we not have bumped into each other last year at White Acres. We set up a "compound" of fencing for our dogs. Have 4. The jams had no dulcimers. Mainly country and bluegrass. I joined them 1 night. Maybe you were at the KMW activities all day and night. I am at the RV from 5th period and on. No night activities at all.

Who is going to KMW this year?

  I know the Keanes will be there as faculty, Jan Potts, Jill Geary.  Anyone else? Maybe we FOTMD members can rendezvous briefly somewhere during one of the lunch breaks to meet face to face. 

Anyone RVing it? We'll be at White Acres campground as well. Last year there was a site there that "Jammed" every night but no dulcimers....

I was so saddened to hear about this yesterday.  He was a gentle soul, and mentor to many of us!

TunePal......yahoo, fantastic...I'm in, gotta get it.

Lord Lovel and Shady Grove from Larkin Bryant's book. One fingerpicked, one strummed, both in different tunings...and as I told people before, I felt fulfilled and just played those 2 songs for almost 10 years and had never seen or heard another dulcimer player in that time.

i thoroughly enjoyed that, thanks for posting it!

Such a wonderful gift and I visited some of the tunes I had not heard John Henry play earlier...thanks for making the references...but what a lovely tribute you made to his gift with those beautiful photographs. Stunning!