Forum Activity for @lois-sprengnether-keel

Funny this discussion warmed up again right after our folklore society's newsletter discussed the topic. A suggestion was hold the pick, NOT point down, but sideways. Guy swears by it. I tried it, but am back to point down. Different strokes for different folks...literally.

Last spring was my first real in-depth exposure to the mountain dulcimer at an all-day event. I had my acoustic bass guitar and loved that most playing was in the key of D. By mid-day I was ready for a pick...not the way I play guitar. Settled on the end of some lunch plasticware. I was pleased with the result (although some players saw it and loaned a pick). I was pleased with my inventiveness. My teacher gave me a "Don't mention my name..." reaction.

Now for the funny thing: At the event the loan of a MD for a year was offered and I was sure I wasn't interested.

WOW!

Folkfan, thanks. For the time being I'm still using an old 6_ fret with serious limitations that make it better to stay in DAA. I know our folklore group's sub-group for dulcimer is playing DAd tab & thought it was a problem. This gives me hope until I succumb to DAD (Dulcimer Acquisition Disease). It's coming, but hopefully after Christmas expenses.

Christmas Songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've really been using these simple songs for ear practice and transposing to the key of D. (An easily found, inexpensive source for your songs and others is the Wee Sing for Christmas book, there's even a CD.)

I'd add these:

First Noel

Here Comes Santa Claus (although I have to omit the G# that comes up once)

Up on the Housetop

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

+

Holly Jolly Christmas is in a piano book I have & has a good traditional sound, too.

Holiday Music Recommendations

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

OOOOOOO!

Sounds extremely interesting Dusty. I'll have to look them up. May even have heard them and didn't know it. I catch classical radio as much as possible.

I also see three others that look interesting here: Loreena McKennitt, John McCutcheon, & Odetta.

Thanks & I bet you'll enjoy any of the What If Mozart Wrote CDs. I know I love the 1 I have so far.

LoiS

Dusty Turtle said:

Thanks for posting, Lois. Part of the reason I started this discussion was to get ideas for a CD to buy myself, since as I mentioned, Iallow myself one holiday CD each year. That CD does indeed look interesting, although as you mention,they seem to have not only put out several Christmas CDs, but also movedto other forms of music. Do you know the Turtle Island String Quartet? They are virtuoso classical musicians who play classical arrangments of pop tunes, including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and so forth. They might be right up your alley.

Holiday Music Recommendations

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

O.k. this looks like it's not limited to dulcimer music, so I can confess to being a classical music lover. Years ago I picked up THE CD for me: What If Mozart Wrote Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It's played by the Hampton String Quartet and lots of modern Christmas songs are done in the style of classical composers. It's fun to guess who supposedly wrote each piece. I played it once yesterday and know I'll have lots of fun with it for December.

OH MY! Seeing that other people were showing the illustrations for their music, I searched for mine & see they also did What If Mozart Wrote White Christmas (that piece is on my CD, but presume other songs were added) and What If Mozart Wrote I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. They also did What If Mozart Wrote Born to Be Wild and another called HSQ Does Christmas (Again).

Looks like this discussion just may lead to knowing what I want for Christmas.

O.k. other things I've heard + this discussion convince me: I'd need to be gone for a long time in a location beyond possible driving to it before I'd try to take a breakable musical instrument on a plane.

That said, is there a way to do any kind of practicing without a dulcimer available?

Thanks, Strumelia, I'll look around as much as I can without joining. Right now I want my focus on dulcimer and guitar and bass guitar. As my reply in the multiple instruments discussion shows it's too easy to "go off in all directions."

Strumelia said:

Lois, their seems to be a group for beginners over there, called Pstudents:

http://psalterystrings.ning.com/groups

Maybe that's the group for beginner psaltery players that Grace referred to.

Hi Grace, I don't see any other conversation -- a lot of photos, but not an actual group on the bowed psaltery. Maybe everybody just went over to the group dedicated to psalteries?

I haven't played mine in an age and don't really want to while I immerse myself in learning the dulcimer. I do feel guilty, though, at leaving it unloved. There's another reason I'm ignoring it. Maybe you and any other psaltery folks can help me. I broke a string and need to replace it, but know it will mean tuning all those strings! I have an electronic tuner, but found it is affected by where I place it on the psaltery. It will be a long slow time with the skate key style tuner. May even need to replace a few more strings. Sure hope not.

Any words of wisdom? Nagging me to get it done? Whatever.