Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
09/12/11 09:37:54AM
1,485 posts

I've Just Bought a BANJO !!!!


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

CD, I wish I could play a banjo!!! Maybe someday I can add a banjo to the stable of instruments I fumble around on. :)
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
06/14/11 12:06:37AM
1,485 posts

I've Just Bought a BANJO !!!!


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Cool, Robin!

For old-time Appalachian tunes, Dwight Diller's play does something for me. Although I don't own a banjo, I have 2 of his cd's and 2 dvd's; one of the dvd's is instructional and it's about rhythm.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
06/02/11 01:51:11AM
1,485 posts

Just curious Aabout what you think of contests?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Paul, ya gotta be happy about your Indians having the best winning percentage in baseball. Although I'm a Reds' fan, I'm happy for the Tribe.
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/31/11 11:01:09AM
1,485 posts

Just curious Aabout what you think of contests?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Although I don't think of playing dulcimer as competitive sport, contests have been a part of community musical get-togethers for a long time. So, I think of contests as being part of a tradition.

I've never competed and don't know whether I would or not. If the atmosphere of a given competition was light-hearted, friendly, maybe. . .

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
06/01/11 02:36:56PM
1,485 posts

Glad to be back online


OFF TOPIC discussions

Kendra,

Yup, Amazing Grace or Southwind. . . Please let me know the preferred keys for the tunes and I'll see what I can do.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
06/01/11 12:07:13PM
1,485 posts

Glad to be back online


OFF TOPIC discussions

Wish you could come, Stephanie!

Got it, Kendra! I'll fiddle around with Old Joe Clark & Golden Slippers on the BD and make some kind of noise. Mark and I will probably play together (guitar & BD) for my demo if that's okay. (I've been struggling with neck problems for months and that's curtailed my music play of late, doggone it. )

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/31/11 10:40:52PM
1,485 posts

Glad to be back online


OFF TOPIC discussions

I think you all had it worse in far southern Ohio than we did, Kendra. Our satellite internet goes out when there's heavy rain and, surprisingly, we had working internet through most of April and May.

Won't be long 'til Coshocton!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/15/11 08:10:36PM
1,485 posts

A Good Night of Jammin...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Jim, we were at the shop a couple hours. Randall did a little shopping before he left and we did, too. (I love my Snark tuner and I got a neat jamming stool that Gary built.)

Yup, we've got to meet somewhere down the road. And get in some jamming.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/14/11 11:02:34AM
1,485 posts

A Good Night of Jammin...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hmm, I dunno, John. You and I have never seen one another.

John Henry said:

Sounds like a great meet Robin (now where have I seen a tee shirt similar to yours before..............LOL)

John

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/13/11 10:48:02PM
1,485 posts

A Good Night of Jammin...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It was so neat to meet Randall! He, Gary Sager, Mark and I jammed for awhile upstairs at Gary's shop-- what fun. (I feel lucky to have gotten to jam with such good players!) Not only that, Randall took a couple of requests; talk about a beautiful, smooth baritone voice. . .

Mark took this picture before Gary got to the shop:

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/12/11 01:19:27PM
1,485 posts

A Good Night of Jammin...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I learn a lot jamming! Makes me a better listener, I think. I hope it does, anyway.
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/12/11 12:21:01PM
1,485 posts

A Good Night of Jammin...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Great photo, Jim! You two guys look like you just got everything you'd circled in the Sears Wish Book for Christmas.

Tomorrow it's mine and Mark's turn to meet Randall.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/13/11 11:07:28PM
1,485 posts

Snark tuner


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Mark and I each got a Snark from Gary's shop. We give the tuner ! I love that it's so sensitive.
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/12/11 12:06:55PM
1,485 posts

Snark tuner


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I can't go wrong with red or blue. And I'll be at Gary's Prussia Valley shop tomorrow-- I get to meet Randall McKinnon there!

My biggest complaints about the tuner I use most now (Tune Tech clip-on) are a rattling button and the tuner's not as sensitive as I'd like it to be .

Thanks, everybody!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/11/11 10:01:32PM
1,485 posts

Snark tuner


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I appreciate the replies, friends! Mark and I are thinking we'd like to get Snarks. For my part, the tuners we have just aren't sensitive enough. It's not bad when you're in a quiet place so can fine tune by ear. But lots of places aren't quiet . . .lol

Red or blue? Hmm. Seems like I can't go wrong either way. I'll be using the tuner on both mountain dulcimer and bowed dulcimers.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/11/11 07:09:05PM
1,485 posts

Snark tuner


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Do you have a Snark tuner? If so, which one do you have (blue or red) and how do you like it?
updated by @robin-thompson: 07/31/23 07:39:28PM
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
05/11/11 01:31:11PM
1,485 posts



I'd love to see what you've uncovered, Kyle!
updated by @robin-thompson: 02/17/16 02:48:56AM
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
04/29/11 12:02:11PM
1,485 posts

Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer


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

Hi, Melissa! Since what one wants in sound is so subjective, I'll pass on offering a specific luthier. (I have instruments built by Gary Sager, Keith Young, Jerry Rockwell, the Bakers (of Blue Lion), Rod Hensley, and Paul Conrad.) That said, I'm so happy I had a false back put on my Timbre Hill (Paul Conrad) dulcimer!
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/27/11 04:24:38PM
1,485 posts

New instrument from OVG


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

Keigh, that looks perfect for travel! (Saw it on the pets thread.)
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/02/11 05:01:50PM
1,485 posts

What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Appalachian old-time fiddle tunes for me! Hope I'll be able to play 'em 'til the day I die!
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/23/11 07:40:33PM
1,485 posts

Dancing!...(feet as instrument)


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

That looks like so much fun! (I've only watched the first video and will watch the second one some other time-- line speed tonight's not all that great.) It was impressive that so many people knew what they were doing-- and if they didn't they made it look good.

It'd be neat to learn to dance. I was raised in a church where dancing was a no-no. I learned lots of great hymns, though. And I wish I could dance. Maybe someday!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/18/11 11:56:00AM
1,485 posts

How to Write a Love Song (humor)


OFF TOPIC discussions

These guys do for love songs what a documentary of bologna-making would do for eating bologna! lol
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
12/09/11 07:45:06PM
1,485 posts

MEET THE MODERATORS...


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?


John,

I'm afraid you're on your own with this one! Perhaps you & John K should arm wrestle to settle this.Grin.gif
John Henry said:



WHO..... ME ? What have I done? (except use a noter !) I try to help people where possible......... sometimes complement them on their dress sense......... always apologise for my inept use of the computer, and yet get landed with the troublemaker label !!! I really must find out who the moderators on this site are.........!

JohnH



Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
08/03/11 08:45:20PM
1,485 posts

MEET THE MODERATORS...


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Ann, it's a joy to see folks learning about and making homemade music!
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/17/11 06:56:14PM
1,485 posts

MEET THE MODERATORS...


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?


One thing about moderating is it's a job we want to be boring. Free exchange of ideas and musical friendships are what we want to flourish here!

It's been really fun to see the site develop. I stumbled onto FOTMD very soon after Strumelia put it up-- if I remember right, there were yet no discussions (or maybe one), no groups, no videos.

PS-FOTMD is a Great Group!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/08/11 02:28:04PM
1,485 posts



Doug, I look forward to hearing "The Winding Banks of Nith"!

Last year, Mark and I played the open stage at Harmony Harvest dulcimer festival in Lancaster OH. How it came to be? Mark's sister, Jane, a singer/songwriter, had been asked to play a gig at Marietta College. (Thirty-plus years ago, when in college, the two of them performed together a lot.) Jane wanted to play at Marietta and wanted her big brother to play with her. Mark agreed to do so and, with that looming on his calendar, Mark said he wanted to play the open stage at Harmony Harvest. And since Harmony Harvest is, after all, a dulcimer festival, some kind of dulcimer needed to figure into it.

We practiced and played a couple tunes-- Huntin' the Buffalo and Star of the County Down -- with Mark on guitar and me on bowed dulcimer. The audience was enthusiastic and encouraging!

I'd been playing bowed dulcimer about a year and a half before getting on a stage to play. (I'd bowed a mountain dulcimer in the fashion of a bowed dulcimer for some months before getting my first bowed dulcimer.)

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/06/11 09:06:16PM
1,485 posts

Staying warm mentally or physically


OFF TOPIC discussions

folkfan,

Until we put in a free-standing gas stove a couple years ago I was cold a lot of the year. Now, I go to the stove to get warm and since it has a glass front (a type of ceramic, actually) if you want to sit by it to read, you can see the flame. It's really nice how, along with some other improvements made to the house to keep heat in/cold out, last winter our highest heating bill was about $140 and we were warm.

Sharon's candles sound wonderful!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
03/22/13 05:53:29PM
1,485 posts



Blue Lion makes great instruments!I came-by my Jean Ritchie model used and, like yours, Sharna, it was in mint condition. I've since put a ding in its top. ;)
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/14/11 07:06:46PM
1,485 posts



Wow. Wow.
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/09/11 11:28:59PM
1,485 posts



Kathy,

You'll get a beautiful, high-quality instrument in your choice of a Blue Lion. And please feel free to give us any updates in how all progresses!

Robin

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/04/11 09:55:37PM
1,485 posts



Bob, I can only recall knowing of one other person who has a Jean Ritchie model BL.

As far as quality of instrument goes, a Blue Lion is of high quality. I know of one well-respected luthier who, when building his own personal instrument, sent a piece of it to Janita Baker (of Blue Lion) so she could do his inlay work.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/03/11 10:36:05PM
1,485 posts



Kathy,

I own a Blue Lion Jean Ritchie model. I, luckily, came by it used though in like-new condition. And the instrument was a custom order so is not exactly what you will see on the Blue Lion website. I play noter-drone style music on it and like its ease of play. For fit and finish, the quality of the instrument is very very good.

A photo of my BLJRitchie dulcimer can be seen here:

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/photo/blue-lion-jean-ritchie-model?context=user

The dulcimer can be seen & heard on the videos of Old Joe Clark , Spotted Pony , and Arkansas Traveler from my FOTMD page here:

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/profile/RobinThompson

Hope this helps, Kathy! If you have specific questions, I'm happy to answer them as best as I can.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/29/11 08:57:59PM
1,485 posts

My biggest 'do-over' wish in learning music


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for the encouragement, Mary Z! When I was young, singing came more naturally. Now, I could have a cheap vocal coach if I'd just take the trouble to record myself singing-- when I listen to a recording I can hear when I got flat. On the one hand, I'm grateful I can tell that I'm flat. On the other hand. . . I've got no voice to sing lead yet used to be a decent harmony singer.
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/29/11 06:06:57PM
1,485 posts

My biggest 'do-over' wish in learning music


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

As a teenager I sang a lot and have sung very little as an adult. I wish I would've kept singing because it's fun and I can read music for singing. My ear for singing is no longer good. I go flat a lot, doggone it.

PS-(I can't sight read for playing dulcimer-- either mountain or bowed. Wish I could. Though I am glad I can play by ear.)

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/12/11 02:45:30PM
1,485 posts



I'm a computer idiot and it's mostly dumb luck that I can do anything with the machine that turns out okay.

We're patient here, Dennis.

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/12/11 11:50:32AM
1,485 posts



Hey, Dennis, I didn't own a cell phone until my parents bought me one for my fiftieth birthday! And I didn't want it then-- forget it most of the time when I leave the house. (We don't get cell service here at the house but do when I walk out into Wayne National Forest about a mile's trek or so from the house. For fun, I've take my cell phone with me to call my parents from out in the woods. )
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/11/11 10:58:27PM
1,485 posts



Dennis,

Paul's right-- we love to see stuff!

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
01/11/11 12:07:34PM
1,485 posts



Dennis,

In the years I've been involved with mountain dulcimer, I've seen nothing but praise from folks who have gotten Dave's Student Model. In the dulcimer world, there are a few makers who offer entry-level instruments that would put instruments of other types costing a lot more to shame.

Enjoy your Sweet Woods!

PS-Dave's a nice guy, too!


updated by @robin-thompson: 02/13/16 08:53:46PM
Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
02/08/11 12:04:22PM
1,485 posts

Jouhikko/Tagelharpa


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Lisa!!! You've been holding out on us. Doggies, that sounded good!

I can't for the life of me bow a decent drone on my bowed dulcimers on any consistent basis. For my own amusement, I'll keep trying, though.

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