Forum Activity for @sheryl-st-clare

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
10/05/16 11:33:38AM
259 posts

Wondering Who Built This Dulcimer


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Dan, only a bad experience (Bowed Dulcimer- upgraded to Perfection planetary pegs). You make a good point. Still, I am intrigued. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
10/05/16 11:04:18AM
259 posts

Wondering Who Built This Dulcimer


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

My next obvious question is, what should I expect to pay for it if I can get it? I'd just like to recognize a deal, if there is one here. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
10/05/16 10:55:42AM
259 posts

Wondering Who Built This Dulcimer


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I see what you see Phil. How about these? Same sail, maybe same maker... Raleigh NC, if that helps. 


Another Dulcimer with a friend.jpg Another Dulcimer with a friend.jpg - 44KB
Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
10/05/16 10:35:12AM
259 posts

Wondering Who Built This Dulcimer


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I'm seeing this dulcimer at a sale this weekend, and wondering if anyone recognizes it and who may have built it. I can look inside it when the sale starts, but I am hoping to have an idea before I go to the sale. This is the only photo I have. Thanks!


Who Built Me.jpg Who Built Me.jpg - 47KB
Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
09/08/16 07:59:10AM
259 posts

Sheet Music Orgnizer Software


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Get a tablet. Look at the Astro tablet made in CA USA for $79 on Amazon.com. I recently loaded all of my sheet music, for 4 local groups I belong to and my own collection, to my Android tablet. I couldn't be happier with this app. But go for the pro version, for an extra $4. I use Tiny Scan on my iPhone to scan sheet music on paper, load it to Dropbox, and then to Mobilesheets. If it's on the web, I just load it directly to Mobilesheets. Be sure to backup your library. I love the edit function while I'm learning a song, and the ability to erase my edits, once I have learned it. I make collections for each group, and one for "Practice" that contains my "backpack" songs.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
09/02/16 04:34:55PM
259 posts

Back up rhythm devices


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lisa, You may have invented a new shoe style. winker  But seriously, this is a neat idea. I wish I had saved all the little percussion "toys" from when my boys were little...

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
09/01/16 04:43:03PM
259 posts

Determining string gauge


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

 Brian, Interesting, and good recommendation. If I can ever find plans for a guitar head dulcimer, I'll give these a try. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
09/01/16 02:00:43PM
259 posts

Determining string gauge


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Strumelia:

Ken makes a great point.  It's not desirable to go around the post or peg eight or ten times.  
I approach it a little differently than Ken, but we both get the same results.  I trim the string before I even put it on-  holding it over the instrument and trimming it to leave only about 2.5 inches for winding.  Typically this means I'm trimming off about 6" from the original string length.  The length from tailpiece to cut end will vary by an inch or two depending on which peg you are going to.
Once the string is on and tuned, I trim the little end at the peg to a short length and then I take a pocket-sized needle nose pliers and kink the cut end back on itself so it can't prick my fingers...or you can leave a half inch and with the pliers just tuck the cut end back into the hole out of the way.  I hate getting stabbed while restringing!  cryrun


 



This is my method too, but I leave 3.5-4 inches for winding, because somehow, I always end up short. I like to go around the post 3-4 times.  Looks neat, but holds well. My hand from pointer to pinky is 4 inches, so I just lay my hand over the post and cut the string there, then wind. I like to keep my face back from the instrument when I am tuning. If I do break a string, I won't end of with the nickname "Scarface". The more you change strings, the more comfortable you are doing it. And practice makes perfect. Isn't that what they say?

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
08/29/16 01:58:19PM
259 posts

Native American Flutes


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Nice, looking forward to hearing how it sounds. enjoy!

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
08/27/16 03:06:18PM
259 posts

Native American Flutes


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Susie:

I'm thinking my next will be a HS F# mid-tone in walnut or ebonized walnut, with the turquoise. 

Thinking about that too. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
08/27/16 07:13:13AM
259 posts

Native American Flutes


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I'd like to jump in and suggest watching the instructional videos on the HS website. I found them helpful when I began my NAF journey. flute

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
08/24/16 02:56:25PM
259 posts

Tabor Pipe and Drum


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Lisa, Good good start on the pipe and drum. Is there any instrument you cannot, or will not eventually play? I see your calendar is full. bigsmile

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
08/06/16 09:15:22PM
259 posts

Help! (dulcimer acquisition disease)


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Charles, a few people I know own twice as many. I think you should step it up. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
08/05/16 10:50:17AM
259 posts

Advice on a Homer Ledford w/ violin fine tuners


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Estes George:

I just got lucky enough to come into a Homer Ledford YP-1900, in great shape.

  Lucky you! It's beautiful. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
07/19/16 06:17:04AM
259 posts

A folk artist - enjoy the photos!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Where there's will, there's a way. If only we could hear one of Stilley's creations.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
07/17/16 05:30:43PM
259 posts

Native American Flutes


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

 Caleb, I have heard that's a good key for playing with md. I have also heard Am will sound good with md too.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
07/17/16 04:05:09PM
259 posts

Native American Flutes


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Lisa, Great question! I saw a bowl of plastic tubing that was cut into about 1" pieces, next to the flutes. "What's this?" I said. A man next to me explained that we should stick them into the end of the flute we want to try, to solve the sharing issue. 

There was a baby grand piano, a md, and a bunch of NAF's, but it seemed to me that a solo on any type of flute, or other instrument, would have been welcomed.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
07/17/16 02:42:37PM
259 posts

Native American Flutes


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thanks Lexie, I did not play any of the flutes with other instruments, as there were only flutes there. But a lady played a flute in the key of E while her sister accompanied her on the piano, and then we listened to a recording of the same song that was a flute and guitar. That said, I did try a flute made of Lagustrum in Bb and I really liked the sound. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
07/17/16 10:21:10AM
259 posts

Native American Flutes


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

A friend of mine gave me a Jonah Thompson flute in Am recently. My first NAF. The Raleigh NC area being the wonderful music community that it is, is home to the Neuse River Flute Circle. 

I went to my first meeting yesterday, not knowing what to expect. It was hosted by a couple at their Raleigh home, she gives lessons, he builds flutes. There was a presentation on Taos musician John Rainer Jr., and we listened to some of his recordings. After that we went around the room and whoever wanted to play, played solo. I played the only song I know so far, Cherokee Morning Song. We had snacks, and tried out the many beautiful flutes on display. It was a fun afternoon, and I will be going to the next circle meeting. 

I was expecting something more like our dulcimer jams, but there was no group playing. I had previously been focused on buying a flute in a key that sounds good with a md, but now I think I will get one I like the sound of, because I don't really see myself playing folk music on it at a md jam. I see it more played as a duet with an md, guitar, piano, etc. Anyway, I am hooked. flute

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
04/14/16 08:30:12AM
259 posts

Advice for KY Music Week


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Ken, This is such good advice. I am going to 2 workshops within the next two weeks. I did exactly what you advise, but have been nervous that I 'overeached'. Your words have helped me. Thanks

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
03/31/16 02:52:17PM
259 posts

Where's your favorite place to play?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lexie, Your 'copy me' game sounds like a great way to learn to play by ear, with a willing friend or family member.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
03/23/16 06:05:48PM
259 posts



Our local ukulele store has thin felt picks (thick too), although I don't know any ukulele players who use picks...They are 3mm's thick, tapered to 2.38mms at the picking end.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
03/23/16 04:25:58PM
259 posts

Creating a music PLAYLIST


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?


Hi Jan, I don't see a quarter note anywhere on the Audio page. I have a play button, which turns to pause after I click play. Here is a screenshot. Thanks

NOTE:  I re-worded my instructions after I saw where your confusion was.  Maybe we could get Strumelia to rename this page the "Audio Preview" page.

Thanks for asking your questions!  It really helps pin down exactly where procedures are not clear.

So don't be shy!

 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
03/23/16 02:02:42PM
259 posts

Creating a music PLAYLIST


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

But how do you create a playlist? On my 'Playlist' tab, under my name on my profile page, I have only one option which is 'set item order'. Shouldn't there be a 'plus' button or something to create a playlist? 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
03/03/16 07:37:38AM
259 posts

Amazing marble music machine


OFF TOPIC discussions

Dusty, look on YouTube for Wintergatan and you'll find some videos on the construction of the machine. This is fascinating, thanks for sharing Strumelia.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
03/01/16 08:37:10PM
259 posts

What do you aspire to with your music?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I want to just play at home on my porch for an audience of birds, and get together with friends and other like minded dulcimer players purely for enjoyment and socialization.

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
02/29/16 06:23:20PM
259 posts

Sewers?


OFF TOPIC discussions

Oh, those kind of sewers! blush  Sewing is therapeutic, and it allows your creativity to show. Just think of the cloth possibilities. You'll be searching for coupons for Joanne's and hanging out in the fabric isles!

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
02/20/16 07:48:47AM
259 posts



 Just a thought Cindy, Nelson is in  Charlotte, you are 3ish hours away in Raleigh, if you can't own one of these family heirlooms, maybe you could get some professional photos taken, and hang them as art? 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
02/17/16 09:40:13AM
259 posts

Hard Case Advice?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Dan:
Gun Case This is what I have for my 36 inch.

Click on Dan's link embedded in "Gun Case" I missed it at first too. 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
02/10/16 06:52:05PM
259 posts

Tricked-out Music Stands


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I like them both. I really like the solid surface on the folding stand. Like a portable table!

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
02/03/16 08:54:18AM
259 posts

pocket tunes and maintaining the backpack


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

[quote="Dusty Turtle"]
... I seem to concentrate on a few at any given time and play those pretty often, but not playing the others  just means I get a bit rusty when I do play them.  I've already forgotten songs that I once played well and want to avoid that in the future. /quote]

Mine is Harvest Home, but I completely agree with Dusty, I have to remember to play it or I get rusty. I think I know it, then I get in the middle of it and forget something, and add lib. I know, that's okay, that's Folk, but I'm not where I can do that smoothly yet. 

Glad to know you experienced players mess up. I thought it was just me. surprised

 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
01/21/16 06:39:38AM
259 posts

Tricked-out Music Stands


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

sanstew:
I use an IPAD for my music so I have a stand made for it. 

Interesting, can you share a photo of your stand with us? 

Sheryl St. Clare
@sheryl-st-clare
01/17/16 02:45:11PM
259 posts

Folkcraft Hickory question


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Ken Longfield:
I have noticed that you can change the sound the all of these dulcimers by changing out the nuts and bridges. Replace the micarta nuts with wood and you will get a mellower sound."

Ken, Do you know, is this micarta? It looks and feels like plastic...


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