Cynthia,

Love your possum board. I needed one as well so when I was cleaning out my closet I found an old shelf board, about the same size as yours. Works Great. Instead of rubber bands I used felt peel & stick furniture pads. They have stayed on the board for quite some time now and my dulcimers do not slide at all.

Also, when I play at the local nursing homes I use a walker as a dulcimer stand so that I can stand up and play. It's just the right height and the possum board sits nicely on top of the rubber hand grips. The residents think it's a hoot that I found a use for a walker. (Got the walker idea from someone here - THANKS whom ever!!!). It only cost $10.00 at a peddlers mall.

THANKS for sharing !!!

Keeping The Tradition Alive

Wayne

Thanks so much for this Jan, appreciate all your kind comments.

I really enjoyed this, Cynthia--the whole thing! A bit of a house and yard tour, seeing Greta and the snow (although I like seeing my daffodils better!) and then this wonderful segment showing how you made the humble possum board and the difference it make in sound projection. I thought the cardboard dulcimer sounded really good, too--some people may have been surprised by the nice tone on those. Then, the different playing techniques on 2 different dulcimers and using the quill and all. Honestly, I didn't want it to end! It was great visiting you!

Thanks Kevin, for playing it it really helped. I really appreciate that compliment on the quill playing. That is still a work in progress...

You're welcome Ken, I'll just be using it for playing out actually. At home mine sound loud enough.

Let us not forget some other humble uses for a possum board (other than to stretch and dry a possum skin). It is a good place to attach your set list, if there is food being served at the gig it will support your plate so you don't dump food on your lap, and if people don't like your playing and start throwing stuff you can use the board to block the flying objects.

John thank you, here in rural Vermont some wanting to play have humble dulcimers and can use a bit of perk. But you two both with new books! How cool is that?

Patty thanks, I like the cardboard Backyard very much, one is in the hands of a new student now.

Cynthia, they say necessity is the mother of invention and you certainly proved that. Thanks for showing us. I feel a possum board is like high speed internet, once you have used it you will never go back.

Thank you Oliver, I'm sure you have the stuff around your house too.

Great work Cynthia and very clever useing everyday items

Great idea!

Great idea Cynthia!!! Thanks for sharing that. I'm going to be looking around to see what I have. By the way, how do you like your Backyard cardboard dulcimer?

Way to go Cynthia, on both the possum board ,and the quill playing.

Thank you Lynn, Lex, Christine, Jim and John. I hope it will help someone get a little more volume. It made a big difference, I did play out tonight and I showed the folks the difference. They were astounded. I guess everyone doesn't have wood and kindling around though.

Cynthia, an example of not over thinking things and just making them simple. You are too COOL!

It works and makes a difference in the volume of sound. Thanks for your know how to gettin' ur done.

Good thinking, Cynthia. Works well for sure.