Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

@Sharon-Day Great question!  I know what songs I've sung to/with a little niece or nephew yet have no clue what songs kindergarteners today know.  

It looks cool, John, and I bet I could get plenty of tunes out of the little critter. 

I met Ruth in '09 at Ken Bloom's Pilot Mountain Bowed Dulcimer fest.  She was generous, gracious, a prolific knitter, and all-around good gal!  Ken called her Saint Ruth for her work transcribing his chicken scratching on paper to music.  Ruth was a treasure. 

That sure is a pretty instrument-- happy strumming! 

Though I'm a by-ear noter/drone player, I think my approach to bringing variety to practice would work for anyone no matter the style.  I like to try different, really different types of picks or even fingerpicking on tunes to give variety to the sounds which can be got from a single tune.  It may not be to everyone's liking as an exercise, I imagine, but I also like to know the essence of a tune so well I can vary the tune slightly each time I play it through.  

You've built a lovely instrument, Kusani! 

Jeannie, I offer healing wishes for your health and all good wishes for the many things with what you must be dealing with.  Take care.  

Jeannie, I'm happy for your being able to enjoy playing music again!  That MMD is gorgeous. 

Whatever difficulties are ahead, my wish is for you to have strength to meet them.  

I've done a bit of looking in Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer People and not found a maker working under that label name. 

Entrapment!

I probably have about three hundred favorites! Yet I'll name three here.  :)

And Can It Be - Charles Wesley

Peace Train - Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)

Hard Times Come Again No More - Stephen Foster

Yup, what @Bob said.  :)

David, Sally Ann looks to be studying how she's going to play with her new acquisition.  :)

@david-bennett I remember that video!  It's such a fun idea, I'm hoping to get somebody(s) to join Mark & me on the porch this year.  

Mark your calendars, friends, for the last Saturday in August to join folks around the world heading outdoors (if possible) to make music!  

I neglected to state (along with my Corian idea) that I wouldn't put the Corian on a wooden instrument.  A cardboard box or a tin for a soundbox? 

I'm thinking a fretboard made of a material such as Corian (used as counter material in kitchens, baths, etc.) might hold up? 

@jp Perhaps those posted free tabs are not legal? 

Copyright law is complicated.  FOTMD makes every effort to demonstrate good faith with regard to protecting composers and holders of copyright, entities entitled to compensation for their work. 

I've bowed both lap dulcimer and bowed dulcimers. . . I couldn't imagine bowing this critter.  In my view, the design doesn't seem to lend itself to bowing.  

Wow, Lisa, I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like this!  Do you know anything about when and where it was built? 

For what it's worth, I strum just to the left of the strum hollow most of the time.

Is there, by any chance, a date on the label?  

I took a look-- looks like Albert Hoffman to me.  

You've got a great photo, Charles-- a treasure! 

Should we start a GOFundMe page for an air mattress for you & Brian?

Strumelia, is there really room for a human on that bed?  :)

Don, something which served me well was attending several jams to observe & listen before I ever tried to play in a jam.  The skill of jamming-- playing called tunes 'on the fly'-- takes time for some of us to acquire.  I know it took me awhile.    

Hazel is a lucky dog!

Don, my guitar-playing husband says for the Keys of A, C, D, and G, especially, it is good to know the I, IV, V chords. 

Pets are family!  

@maddie It sounds as though you have a treasure!  

Lisa, I do not re-tune my instruments with zither pins by turning the zither pins.  I think lots of re-tuning would strip-out the holes in which your pins are seated.  

@irene You are a marvel!  What a beautiful family! 

In the poetry of James Still, he included mountain dulcimers sometimes.  As I recall, Mr. Still lived for some years in the Amburgey cabin and worked at Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky.  I highly recommend his writings! 

I'm ate-up by mountain dulcimer.  My husband is ate-up by guitar.  I think mountain dulcimer can be an acquired taste.  I've forced my husband to acquire a taste.  

https://www.humansofcentralappalachia.org/stories/2016/1/22/mike-slone

Rest in peace, Mike. 

Hey, Fodderwing!  

For years, we had a crippled doe in our neck of the woods-- one of her hooves was turned under and she hobbled along on that first joint.  She lived a long time and I don't know what became of her. 

@hoodoo If you are a fan of the music of Phyllis Gaskins, check out decades-old recording by Bonnie Russell and the Russell family. 

I've had interest in the use of mountain dulcimer in a string band context. Two records, both released this year, have been delights:  

-The Long Point String Band- Piney Woods 

-Roger Netherton 

The mountain dulcimer player in both recordings is Hunter Walker.  Though dulcimer isn't played on every cut, when it's played, it is tasteful and in the service of getting a great overall ensemble sound.  The Roger Netherton record was recorded at the home old-time musician Rachel Eddy with friends in support of Netherton, a fiddle champ at Winfield in a recent year. 

Lucky dogs!  

It's obvious Gracie loves snow more than I do!  haha