Matt Berg wrote, in part: I may seem pedantic when referring to parts of an instrument, but really, I would like to our instrument take its rightful place as an American treasure.
@matt-berg I share your desire to see our instrument take its rightful place. And I don't see your approach as pedantic at all.
@Ken-Hulme & @Dan Those instruments look great! It'd be fun to have a go at playing them.
I've been working on a yet unnamed original tune and am playing it mostly on my Blue Lion Jean Ritchie model instrument. Playing mountain dulcimer is a comfort in these days.
Thank you, Ariane, for this wonderful project! And thank you, Alan and Dusty for your kind comment. Playing music together is one of the favorite activities here at our house.
@terry-wilson I'm close to absent from the singing bunch. Maybe 3 times I've sallied forth. . .
There are folks here who have sung a lot on recordings and have done it well!
We've had lots of mountain dulcimer players & singers here at FOTMD on video and audio through the years-- we're most fortunate that way!
Though I don't sing much, I've decided I don't want my lack in abilities to stop me if I really want to go ahead. It is not easy. I sang a lot when I was young. My brother's wife was the person who, after coming into the family, became "the singer"; people wanted her to sing at their weddings, funerals, and other occasions. I let that quiet me a bit. After I married, my husband's sister was who had always been considered "the singer" in his family. I let that quiet me, too.
It is my doing that I didn't sing much for a lot of years. I compared my singing to theirs and that was a mistake. I hope to sing more now and in future! And know that to become good at anything takes practice.
I think anybody who has a song in their heart would do well to go ahead and sing it! :)
Friends, here is Maddie's obituary. Included is a video of the memorial service-- a simple outdoor service and, appropriately, a song from Maddie was played.
https://www.endersandshirley.com/obituary/madeline-macneil
Butch, I'm grateful to you for putting this lovely piece together. And to Doug, too, for playing on it. I read Doug's tribute to Maddie on fb-- it was most touching.
Jan, I hope you are able to get an accurate diagnosis whether COVID-19 or something else!
Though I did not know Maddie MacNeil, I have been aware of her influence in the mountain dulcimer world in the years I have been part of the mountain dulcimer world. I have seen where many people have posted Facebook tributes to her which are wonderful. If any FOTMD members would like to share a remembrance of Maddie, please feel free to do so! Mr. Bing Futch made a video in which he pays tribute to Maddie and I post it here:
Steven's post reminded me I thought it sounded great with no water, too.
Nate, thanks a million for this demonstration! And your play is really nice. I could hear what you were saying about the smaller amount of water giving more of that tremolo like sound. Such a cool experiment. I look forward to hearing more from you!
Nate, I'd love to hear how your bundt pan instrument sounds!
Ariane, Mark & I have been working on our tune and waiting on nicer/drier weather so we can go record at a cave not far from our home. If weather doesn't cooperate, we'll make a recording someplace other than the cave and send it to you.
I'll be over tomorrow for leftover chicken soup, Robert, and some porch picking! :)
Hey, come on over, Dusty! We've eaten already but there's plenty more in the soup pot. :)
There's a pot of tomato-based bean soup cooking on the stove now for lunch. It is a sunny and warm-ish day here in our neck of the woods. So, maybe lunch out on the front porch. :)
I'm happy you folks enjoyed seeing this!
I've tried a striker yet wasn't very good at it. I've tried to make my husband use a striker on the mountain dulcimer (much like a person would use fiddlesticks) while I played it yet he wasn't interested in sticking it out with me. 
Oh, yes, please post a photo if you find it, @rob-n-lackey! I have a little Jeffreys and it has a cool sound.
According to my fb friend Ryan, McCoy Tyner passed away today. Ryan posted this recording to honor Mr Tyner's passing.
Y'all are most welcome! I know I enjoyed watching.
I'm glad you fellows liked the piece. I just listened to it again. Wow.
I love the tone of this instrument and the tune he plays. And it's cool to hear Gary discuss the build.
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I wish you the best with your very cool project!
Put on your headphones and shut your eyes. :)
https://www.npr.org/2020/02/22/808404928/listen-the-sound-of-the-hagia-sophia-more-than-500-years-ago?fbclid=IwAR3qDRNITCCc5EpzyjeMYAWrLO9w76JHn1CBcunLC2ln1j4Ii_qGh6fRrjs
I have a little 3-string banjo built by Michael Fox, called a Dulcijo. The dulci portion of the name refers to the tunings used-- typical mountain dulcimer tunings-- but it is definitely a little banjo. Nice & cool little instrument!
That looks cool, Hobbyhorse-- if you were my neighbor, I'd be knocking on your door to ask whether I could borrow it. :) I've never tried to play an epinette yet would really like to.
Your J Amburgey looks great, @appalachiandreamer! Thanks a million for sharing the photos-- I enjoyed seeing them!
@Appalachiandreamer Yes, please post your Amburgey photo! Also, I misread your comment about MJAmburgey-- my mistake.
Welcome, @scott-collier & @Appalachiandreamer!
Scott, Bob G makes beautiful instruments-- enjoy your visit!
AD, A Jethro Amburgey and MJethro Amburgey-- wow! Enjoy them!
I'm happy your bass string buzz was remedied!
Susie's posting reminded me how I should have added that most of our instruments live in cases when they are not being played. Yes, I keep 3 out. I never said how many are in cases. 
I keep 3 instruments out. As far as humidifying goes, a large pan of water is on our free-standing gas stove (heater) all the time and I fill old coffee mugs with water to keep by the instruments themselves. I know the humidity level in the house is pretty good because I'm not getting snapped with sparks when touching some objects or petting the dogs.
Mark keeps 2 guitars out-- a steel string and a nylon string. Again, I keep a coffee mug with water right by those left out. He rotates his steel string guitars so none of them are out all the time; those in cases are humidified in-case.
As far as dusting them. . . Well, I brush stuff off my instruments from time to time with my hand. :)
Wow, Ken, that looks really good-- I should know because there are lots of its relatives around our house here. :) Mark really likes his 12-fret design guitars. I look forward to seeing further photos!
Anne Bowman shared this on fb and I enjoyed it lots! Mountain dulcimer, whistle, bass, and vocals.
Truly, that's sad about your best buddy.
Though I was just an elementary school kid, I remember the name Arthur Rubenstein.
Wow, Salt, that's pretty special how you got to meet lots of performers for your college's newspaper! Nice for you to have such memories.
@marg Thanks for the report! I'm nowhere near a store that might have an E-Bow to try so it's nice to get your take on trying it out.
@salt-springs Did you ever see David Olney play in person?
@irene I'll have to check out the video you recommended.
