Kennedy Barn String Band
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Congratulations!!! This is awesome!!! 
Forum Activity for @cindy-stammich
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Stand for playing while standing
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Richard,
I have a keyboard stand that I have used for a long time - to stand while playing my dulcimers.
At first - I used 2 pieces of shelving covered with the rubber shelf liner.
The shelving was heavy, so I found some much lighter paneling and covered it with the shelf liner.
Once you have your "base" just adjust to the height that you are comfortable with, and Voila!
Works like a charm!
Keep strumming and smiling!
Cindy
Bill Taylor
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thank you Jan for your input, and I was really happy to see the response from Mark.
That must have been awesome to have Bill for a week-long class!
Sounds awesome!!!
Bill Taylor
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Mark! Thank you so much for responding to this! I hope all is well with Bill and his family. It makes me very sad to know that he has stopped playing and stopped building dulcimers. I only ever had the privilege of meeting Bill the one weekend at the KADC retreat. He is a truly a wonderful person, and sooooo talented. The dulcimer I have is beautiful and has such a wonderful sound. One of the fun moments (one of many) from that weekend was when Bill played and sang "The Preacher and the Bear".
When you see him again - please tell him I said hi. He won't know who I am, but he made such an impact on me....I was pretty new to the dulcimer, and he showed me what the dulcimer community is all about!
Thank you again! And sorry for rambling.......
Bill Taylor
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Does anyone here know if Bill Taylor is still building and/or playing the mountain dulcimer?
I have one of his dulcimers and I love it! Many years ago I went to a KADC (Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club) weekend workshop. Bill was a part of it. He is a wonderful person and a great player! It would be so nice to hear from him!
Thanks!
updated by @cindy-stammich: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
Leonard Glenn Dulcimer, 1972
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Wow! This is such a beautiful dulcimer!!! Can't wait to hear it 
Rest in peace, Brian Beach
OFF TOPIC discussions
Sorry to hear of Brian's struggles and his passing.
May he rest in peace.
Amazing Grace in Cherokee
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is so beautiful.....so heartfelt.......
Thank you so much for re-posting it!
If only the world had a few more Frans!!! 
Offering sympathy to our dear John Henry
OFF TOPIC discussions
John Henry, I am so sorry that I am so late with this, but I pray that God lifts you up and comforts you.
I hope you find your way back to playing music, and that it can bring joy in your life.
You and your family are in my heart and in my prayers.
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
Capo positions, tunings, chords and other wonderful things
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Dusty Turtle - what a great quote!!! I think we need a tshirt with that on it!
Marilyn, I just want to say you are wonderful!!!!!
Music soothes the soul - and what you are doing for these folks- this is just so heartwarming and touching!
I don't play a lot of DAA - so I am not being much help with your question, but I am so touched by what you are doing that I had to respond!
Keep strumming and smiling 
Cindy
Post your favorite song
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
One of my favorites is "Red Wing"
Nell, I thought I would add that Dr. Duck's Ax Wax is a little costly ( about $ 16 including shipping ) but it lasts a long time. I only use a few drops each time. It cleans and conditions the strings. Also, my fingers slide much easier up and down the fretboard with this great stuff. Again, just my 2 cents 
Hi Nell, another thing that seems to have an effect on the strings is finger oils and other things that "dirty" them. I use "Dr. Ducks Ax Wax" to wipe down my strings each time I play. I have been doing this for a long time, and this doesseem to condition them and help keep them sounding bright.
Just my 2 cents - or maybe just a penny
Good luck!
We'll I won't be any help here, but I am glad you are back in to music!
updated by @cindy-stammich: 02/13/16 08:16:15PM
Enter FOTMD's 5th Birthday Pickled Dulcimer CONTEST!
OFF TOPIC discussions
Great idea! I already have my consolation prize picked out and will order this weekend!!!
Enter FOTMD's 5th Birthday Pickled Dulcimer CONTEST!
OFF TOPIC discussions
356 And a Happy Birthday to FOTMD and ALL the members - this is one of my favorite places
Song quest
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hey Terry,
How about the Crawdad Song? We have a lot of fun with that one.
In fact, tomorrow I will share a pretty funny version (recorded last night when we were all way too tired) and my son-in-law madeup a special verseof his own justfor my mom. (Oh and yes there is a story behind it).
Stay tuned
5,000! What I'm most grateful for. . .
OFF TOPIC discussions
Well Robin - while I haven't tried N/D yet, I sure have to be totally and whole-heartedly in agreement with you! Everyone here understands the passion and love for the dulcimer - in all its wonderful forms and varieties! I know for sure that FOTMD has certainly helped me and helped keep that passion alive!
Just For Fun - sayings regarding the dulcimer or music
OFF TOPIC discussions
It is normal to get butterflies when performing.The trick is to get them all to fly in formation!
I would like to add my 2 cents here regarding strings. I wipe my strings before I put my dulcimer away - I have been using "Dr Duck's Ax Wax and String Lube" for as long as I can remember. It's great alsofor polishingthe instrument, but seems to do a wonderful job of keeping strings clean and maybe I am crazy but I think they sound better longer. Slides andfancy things seem easier too. That's my story and I am sticking to it!
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thank you John! Thank you for looking and comparing, and for your input! I am so excited about trying to figure this out!!!
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
John, you have no idea how exciting this isfor me. I was really close to my dad, and with him being gone so long and topossibly figure this out means SO MUCH to me!!!
I can't thank you enough for your help!!!
John Henry said:
Cindy, the vid is taking forever to load, and I need to get to bed (will no doubt be up a few times In the night ) but I have just looked at your latest pics and I would be prepared to bet folding money on yours being a 'kissin cozin' to mine, almost certainly a hand made kit job !!! I don't know where Folkcraft are now, but they were in Winstead CT in '85, if they have moved then records may not have moved with them ?Will review things in the morning, if you think it worthwhile, contact me with a pm ? Exciting, ain't it !
John
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Attached are a few more close up pictures of my treasure!
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Attached are some close up pictures of my treasure!
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi John,
WELL! I am getting excited - I will post pictures shortly! The small slot underneath the head(scroll) and at the heel end are EXACTLY as you described! Also, the head/scroll and the fretboard are all one piece, and the head/scroll is a very shallow housing for the tuners.
Hmmmmmm
Thank you so much for the details!!!!!
I will post the pictures - please tell me what you think!
Cindy
John Henry said:
Hi Cindy, as you see, John is making the same suggestion as I did in your earlier post "My Treasure" ! I am an absolute duffer when it comes to transfering info quickly on this infernal contraption, so do me a favour, look at (i) underneath the head(scroll) where it joins onto the body. Can you see a small horizontal 'slot', approx 5/8" x 1/8" ? (ii) and then look for a similar slot at the heel end of the instrument, where fingerboard joins body ?
Also, can you tell us/show us if the head/scroll is formed by just the simple flat extension of the fingerboard carried thro' and channeled to provide a very shallow housing for the tuners ?
I have a 1985 Folkcraft (Winstead CT) teardrop, T 39 W, sitting in front of me now and apart from a rather more complicated finish at the tail, it looks the same. The shape and position of the sound holes cetainly are !!!
On balance, it would seem to me that it was either a simplified kit version of the instrument I have, or your dad may have made a close copy of one he had maybe seen ?
I really feel this answer deserves a Deerstalker and a magnifying glass !!! Just hope this helps?
one of the other 'Johns'
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi John,
Well,a couple of others have said the same thing. I emailed some pictures to Folkcraft but they didn't seem to think that this was the case. I do have to wonder if maybe they didn't have picturesor info going back that far, as I know the company has changed hands.
I am still thinking this may be a Folkcraft.
Thank you for your input!
Cindy
John C. Knopf said:
Cindy, it could be a Folkcraft teardrop dulcimer kit.
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Frank,
Do you still have the dulcimer? Just wondering if we could compare photos.
Thank you!
Frank Ross said:
back in the early 70's I bought a kit from the RemBranD Company (their spelling and format) in Newton, Iowa. They sold Appalachian and hammered dulcimer kits. I have searched the internet for more info on the company but find very little. I still have the assemmbly instructions and a 6 page brocureon how to play it.
Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I have a dulcimer that my dad built from a kit sometime between the mid-1970's and early 1980's. I don't know where the kit came from and I am not sure we could ever really figure out just when he built it, but I would love tofigure out where it came from. If anyone has any ideas about who may have sold kits I would really appreciate it. My dad passed away in 1991, so this dulcimer is truly a treasure.
Thank you
updated by @cindy-stammich: 06/11/15 07:40:16AM
This is what came in the mail.
OFF TOPIC discussions
Wow that is beautiful!
Keep strumming and smiling!!!
RIP Pete Seeger
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is so true Robin!
Robin Thompson said:
Thank you for the links, friends.
I can't help but think how, in some ways, Pete Seeger was to the banjo what Jean Ritchie has been to the mountain dulcimer. If each had done nothing but help popularize those two instruments, it would've been a lot. They did much more. . .
I think of how many people have been encouraged to realize a dream of playing a musical instrument and have been helped along the way by folks both at Everything Dulcimer and here at FOTMD. Life can be just plain hard sometimes and making music or sharing music can help along the way.
What to call your dulcimer collection?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Regarding how many....what to call your collection?So I have a....A litter of dulcimers?A herd of dulcimers?A flock of dulcimers?A gaggle of dulcimers?A collection of dulcimers?A family of dulcimers?Just what is the proper name here???
updated by @cindy-stammich: 07/31/23 09:29:15PM
How Many
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I have really enjoyed reading folks answers to this!I have:A dulcimer that my dad built in the early 70's (He passed away in 1991 so this one is very special)A Mcspadden dulcimer - that my grandsons playA Mcspadden baritone dulcimer that is amazing for hymns and "Little Drummer Boy"A Bill Taylor dulcimer that has a soft beautiful voiceA Blue Lion dulcimer - that is probably my favorite all around dulcimerA Clemmer dulcimer (wormy chestnut that I had the privilege of hand picking!) with an amazing bear carved in the head and the neatest old time soundA 3-string Ron Ewing dulcimette? It is 26" long. It sure has a sweet soundAnd a Clemmer banjammer with a story behind the wood. A dear friend had this piece of Burmese Teak that he had been saving from a project back in the 70's. He wanted to do something special with it. It was a gift to me. I called Mike Clemmer and asked him if it would be possible to make a banjammer out of this wood......and the rest is history! I have this awesome banjammer that means so much to me!Along with my dulcimers I have a 6 string and 12 string guitar, my dad's fiddle and banjo, a mandolin that was my moms and.......Yup I love it!!!