Thank you, @ jennifer-wren ! I hope if you and others have some recording or reporting of how the '26 edition of PMOTPD unfolded it'll get posted here. 
@shopdad, the last Saturday in March is International Appalachian Dulcimer Day. Folks are encouraged to post recordings, videos, or just share in a message how they marked the day. I'm not sure how many years we've been celebrating-- I'd have to go look for the video I made encouraging celebration of the first IADD.
@ken-longfield I'm not in any clubs so can't provide any insights regarding whether there is broad interest in the history of the mountain dulcimer. In my case, I sought out to learn some mountain dulcimer history. In undergraduate school, I majored in history so it seemed the thing to do was to learn something of the history of the instrument as my interest in the dulcimer grew. Jean Ritchie's story is the one with which I've spent the most time.
Welcome to mountain dulcimer play, @kittiwake1! It's neat you're coming up with your own tunes.
I enjoy making up the tunes my husband and I play-- making music at home is our hobby.
While I'm at it, here's a link for the 2026 Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming:
https://troublesomecreekguitars.com/2026-hindman-dulcimer-homecoming/
@john-c-knopf Correct, the dulcimer in the video is not a Troublesome Creek dulcimer. I only mentioned the Troublesome Creek dulcimers to let Strumelia know Don was playing them a lot lately in the videos I've seen. At least that's what I think Don's been playing.
@strumelia https://troublesomecreekguitars.com/instruments/uncle-ed-series-dulcimers/
I don't know whether it's an older Modern Mountain Dulcimer or not in the video.
These days, I believe Don has been playing the very cool Troublesome Creek dulcimer(s) patterned after, I believe, Uncle Ed Thomas's instruments.
A cool clip of fiddle & mountain dulcimer from Clifftop this year:
https://youtube.com/shorts/tiIaSp8hTZE?si=3SGbSm5sk9KXe99c
I play with leather picks all the time. I don't buy these-- they are leather tabs cut off worn dungarees. So, I imagine folks might've just used whatever was handy to make the sounds they wanted to make on instruments.
Wow, FOTMD has passed 17 years online! This is me now waving around my noter: 
@homer-ross Many thanks! Hoping others will share how they marked worldwide PMOTPD!
Please, feel free to share your recordings for PMOTPD 2026 in this thread!
Thanks for sharing the video @alex-lubet! I'd seen it on YT some time ago yet had forgotten all about it.
A beloved musician, actor, businesswoman, and philanthropist has died. There will never be another Dolly.
This link shows a photo of Dolly with her decorated mountain dulcimer (the body was made by John Rowden of Newcomerstown OH) at an event at the Opry:
You're welcome, @studentofrhythm! It was a cool video to watch.
Mark and I have been playing/practicing a tune to make a video for worldwide PMOTPD.
P.S.- @ken-longfield, I hope y'all have a lovely anniversary!
Wishing lots of happy strumming to the owners of your Box Dulcimers, Richard!
Yay-- the link works! I hope whoever gets your Uncle Will enjoys it-- it's got that old-timey sound, for sure!
John, I got the message the video is private, is unavailable. So, we're getting close to hearing the Uncle Will!
Yikes-- my mistake in not noting John's recording is a "video". I can read, I promise! 
@john-c-knopf You can either upload to the "Audio" from your personal page on FOTMD or you should see a little box below the comment box in this thread which reads "Attach File". I look forward to hearing your recording!
@john-c-knopf When I heard you playing an Uncle Will Singleton design dulcimer on a sidewalk in Hindman. Your new Uncle Will build is gorgeous and I imagine it sounds great-- just like the one you were playing in Hindman that day years ago.
Yay! Many thanks, @ken-longfield, for letting us know!
What a neat Box Dulcimer, Richard! Happy strumming to the person who gets it!
Lisa, "About two in a hill" is, perhaps, a very localized colloquialism. Though we haven't heard the phrase used in years, Mark and I heard it from older people and we take it they were casually downplaying health woes related to aging. We both think the reference was to a hill of potatoes which didn't amount to much when dug.
We have high hopes for our potato crop this year. Last year's crop was poor-- way too wet a Spring here! It'll be nice when time comes to dig the potatoes and find out how all has been growing underground.
P.S.- I don't know whether anyone still uses the response I used to hear older folks give when asked how they were doing: "About two in a hill."
We don't have air conditioning in our house. We have a dehumidifier in the basement and run fans in the downstairs. A couple windows are open upstairs. Yes, it is hot. To some extent, we're used to it yet I tolerate heat better than Mark does.
No plans to spend time in the outdoors this weekend!
Y'all take care!
Folks,
I have learned musician and dulcimer teacher Wayne Seymour was involved in a fatal traffic accident in North Carolina. His wife, Lynn, was injured and is in hospital recovering from surgery and injuries sustained in the accident. Wayne's wishes were to be cremated and it seems there will be a memorial service announced soon.
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Wayne yet know many in the mountain dulcimer world crossed paths with him through the years.
I wish you great success with your project, Richard!
Yes, @dusty, that's the article! I'm glad you were able to locate it so anyone reading this thread can have a look.
For some reason, I'm thinking the luthier's first name may be Vince. Could be totally wrong yet that came to mind.
I think the name of the maker was included in a piece in Dulcimer Players News in the past year or so. And the fellow had been a member here at FOTMD, if memory serves, and photos were posted.
I'm sure it was a treat for your audience to hear you & Ms. Levy!
@alex-lubet Thank you for the correction-- a mistake I shouldn't have made since I have the cd! The mezzo soprano is Ms. Vargas and the long-departed poet, Ms. Levy.
I'm guessing a bad string could be possible. I'm guessing you've checked the winding at the tuner to see if the string could be slipping in the tuner (due to some overlap in the winding).
What an awful tragedy for Christophe! I cannot imagine what he must be experiencing right now. I wish for comfort and strength for him.
I was fortunate to get to hear Gary in Lancaster OH some years ago. He was a great player and luthier.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful PBS News Hour segment on the Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Company! The folks there on the bank of Troublesome are doing wonderful work!
Also, I hope it comes to pass that the 2026 installment of the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming will take place!
Nice, Dusty-- I like "Moonshadow"!
@dusty - Wow, how cool-- and it's especially nice your mom was there.!
Lots of folks participated in International Appalachian Dulcimer Day-- on YouTube, Facebook, The Traditional Appalachian Dulcimore site, I listened to an audio recording on SoundCloud, and here at FOTMD. There was participation from, at least, five countries.
One week from today, folks-- 28 March 2026! The spread of the mountain dulcimer through the US and to many places around the world has enriched the dulcimer world in so many ways.
Such an elegant instrument!
