Hi Jamie. Welcome to the wonderful world of FOTMD. If you stick around a while, you will make many new friends here.
The dulcimer. One of the world's oldest instruments.
I have read or heard several times that the dulcimer is written about in the Bible. But never could find it, as the NKJ only uses the word harp. However, I got my hands on my wife's deceased brother's very old KJV.
Sure enough,in Daniel, chapter 3, tis written 3 times the word dulcimer. It doesn't say mountain or lap dulcimer, just dulcimer.
It tickled me to discover this today. Now, with authority, I can state, "I play one of the world's oldest music instruments known to humankind."
Just thought I would share this very special information.
Thanks to Dusty for writing his heartfelt feelings 8 years ago, and Lisa for bumping it up to present day. I began my dulcimer journey 04/2012. Not sure, but I think I discovered FOTMD around 06/2012. It's been a wonderful journey. Changed my whole life. I have often pondered what singular word best describes this journey. "Peace". Always comes to mind. There is something about playing a dulcimer ever so gently, very softly, that just transfers you to another zone. Life is indeed good, with a dulcimer in my life
Welcome Pondoro. You will find many new friends here. While this is a dulcimer forum, there are many who play ukulele and harmonica. Bodhran? Now you lost me. I'll have to Google it.
5 min later: Now I know. A one sided shallow drum. Interesting.
"A fond kiss." (by Eddi Reader) Smitten by the whistle, the very first time I heard this song. I don't know if it's a penny whistle or tin
Lisa, I always smile when you write about your whistles, if I may. Especially today. You will appreciate this: Our senior group at our church hosted a noon dinner for all church members and guests. Afterwards, I directed bingo games with prizes. Speed bingo. Through in 45 minutes. Guess what? Okay, here it is. I used my Tabor Drum as part of the entertainment. When someone won, they had to agree to talk like a pirate, as in "Arrrrr r." And then walk around wearing and beating the tabor drum, all the while saying "Arrrrrr", for 10 seconds. Fyn. Ayeee, the ole tabor drum. I still have my tabor whistle. The one with two holess on top and one under. Made of wood. Me thinks you have one.
It's really nice to be able to play by ear, not a "slave" to tab. But the main question is: Who's having fun? Hopefully, everyone. I've only been to two dulcimer jams, and that was in my 1st year of playing. I'll tell you what's what. I've never seen such a large group of people having so much fun. And 90% were looking at tab while playing. Do it your way.
Terry, ages ago I gave away my harmonica and the book I bought as I just couldn't get it. Wish I could as it's a small very portable instrument.
My 2 cents: And I've stated this before, as it worked for me. If you want to play the dulcimer by ear then do the following : Buy yourself a D or C ten hole harmonica, practice for 30 min a day for three months, and bingo, you begin a new life The Harmonica is a "by ear" musical instrument. Put in honest practice time for three months, and then without fanfare, a still small voice speaks to you; "Wow, I'm playing this dang thing by ear." I don't need harmonica tab, just know the tune in your head. Don't even attempt to play the lower or higher octave. Just concentrate on the middle octave, beginning at hole four. Same scale as dulcimer. Do it!!! Spend $25.00 and change your musical life.
Beautiful tomatoes. Our tomatoes didn't do so well this year. On the small side. Lisa, did you grow the cucumbers too? Some friends gave us 2 quart bags of the largest blueberries I think I have ever seen. Sweet. Oh my yes. Good for you, Lisa. Your goodies are much better for you than my meal of deep fried Bluegills last night. Then leftovers today. You gained 6 months of life, while I lost a year. Oh well.
This is a good and useful discussion!
In reading the Berkeley guidelines, I have to say that some of those criteria for being Intermediate seem more suited for Advanced however. I'd never meet those standards, especially the parts about " to play in and modulate to different keys with and without a capo or retuning; to flat-pick and fingerpick a tune"..... sigh... I guess I'll be an eternal beginner. 
Also, is it not possible to be considered an advanced player without ever reading either Tablature or sheet music?- an intriguing question.
NSThoreau, I think you are right about the fact that there is often less info geared towards the huge segment of people who have just gone beyond the beginner stage. There must be good explanations for this but I can't think of any right now.
One would think that by the time one is an 'advanced' player they'd be at the point where they could be teaching most of the workshops at festivals. Maybe there should only be one advanced workshop- called Teaching Advanced Playing Workshops... but then would they just be teaching each other how to teach the workshop? hahaha
Sorry I don't mean to make light of this, but the problems and ironies of this classification system have always struck me. I've always found workshop festivals to be a mixed bag, partly because it's hard for me to know where I even fit in, and often by the time I figure that out, it's over.
I don't know what I am. But I think, from 0-100, I am perhaps a 57. Yeah, I like 57. In 6 years, never been to a work shop. Jammed with other dulcimer players two times. Have never ever much thought about hammerons....and the other nifty skills mentioned. I still use tab some, but also play by ear. Use two octaves regularly. Love to strum. Play a lot with one and two strings. Have introduced dulcimer to adults and children. Even when I was a 30 rank. So why a lowly 57? You might ask. Well, most every time there is a new video posted, I am faced with the truth. I KNOW SO LITTLE AND HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. If the many members , for example, like Mark and Dusty and Christine, weren't so doggone good, then maybe I could be a 63.
Ohhhh… that's TOUGH!!
After much consideration..... Leonard Cohen's Suzanne a.k.a Suzanne Takes You Down
Lisa, I am glad you like "my" song. I agree, it's a beautiful song. Irene, like you, I have lived on a river, the Flint, for many years. I love "my" river. I love it so much, that almost always, while motoring slowly up or down, early in the morning, I feel haunted by it's beauty. That's a good reason to love this wonderful song. Congratulations for your 54 years, Irine. Fifty years for us. Dusty, it feels good to know there are other men, and women, who don't mind admitting, that they too get emotional with certain songs. I'm glad you pulled yourself together and we're able to play this song. I love playing it on dulcimer, but I do believe the guitar is the right instrument for this song.
About 3 months after I began my journey with the dulcimer, I drove 100 miles to my first of only two D Jams. The group of around a dozen played "River (take me along), instrumental. I'd never heard of it. I thought it was the prettiest song I had ever heard. And then when I discovered the words, I was blown away again. I've been working on this song now for 6 years. My wife told me a couple of years ago, that I am ready to play the song out. However, I love the song so deeply, I just don't want to blow it for someone else hearing it for the first time. "River", is a metaphor for the life we have each lived, and tomorrow on. If I told you how many times tears have flowed while practicing this song, one would say; "You need to get a hold of yourself, boy, or get institutionalized." One day, just maybe.
