Kyle,
I'd be interested in learning what you find in your research if you have opportunity to post any of it in future.
Good luck-- hope you learn lots!
Forum Activity for @robin-thompson
Kyle,
A point I neglected to include in my earlier posting:
Lily McGee Ward Swick's (Kendra Ward's grandmother) dulcimer had been made for her about 1895. To quote from the Grimes Collection work: "So John Wright may have been the earliest known maker in this tradition." (61)
Here's a link to a 1955 photo of Mrs. Swick holding her dulcimer (posted by Kendra on EverythingDulcimer) that's included in the Grimes book:
http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14334&p=183850&hilit=Kenneth+Ward#p183850
Welcome, Kyle!
Although I am not not particularly knowledgeable about dulcimer history, the best source of information I know of on WV dulcimer history (and one with which you're likely familiar) is Gerry Milnes's Play of a Fiddle.
FOTMD member Kendra Ward's family has lived in Gallia County OH, an Ohio county bordering the river near Huntington, and she may be able to point you to some helpful source(s). On a related note, in Stories from the Anne Grimes Collection of American Folk Music, two southern Ohio makers are mentioned in a chapter that includes information on Kendra's father and grandmother-- the makers are a man named George Butcher who modeled his dulcimers after those of an earlier maker from Eno OH named John Wright.
Good luck and it's good to have you here, Kyle!
updated by @robin-thompson: 02/16/16 05:38:45AM
Guess Who's Coming to Christmas Dinner~From Tumble Creek Tales
OFF TOPIC discussions
Sam,
When I got to the part about Foo Foo being, uh, born breach, I laughed so loudly it caught my husband's attention. And it's still funny! And don't be making too much fun of Aunt Holly's moustache-- I'm working on growing a fine one. ;)
Like Paul said, a yarn can go on. . . :)
Have a good one, fellas!
Guess Who's Coming to Christmas Dinner~From Tumble Creek Tales
OFF TOPIC discussions
"Foo Foo was a breach!!!" LOL
Sam, I enjoyed the tale-- thanks for the posting. An entertaining Christmas dinner is a treat!
John Henry..thought I'd share
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Is it good to see you, John Henry! I confess to being jealous that you've been made good as new. :)
Take care and heal well, friend.
John Henry..thought I'd share
OFF TOPIC discussions
Thanks for letting us know, John S! Our friend will be in my thoughts.
Good to have the address-- thank you, Rod.
John Shaw said:
I've just been to see John Henry in hospital this afternoon. He's very cheerful - but rather bored! His operation which was due last week was delayed because of equipment failure, and has been rescheduled for tomorrow. He was tickled pink by the interest and concern of his friends on this site, and would love to hear from them.
John Henry..thought I'd share
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Yes, a swift recovery for John Henry! (I've missed him!)
Thanks, friends, for passing this along.
Turnup's Christmas Card
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Oh, Sam, thanks for sharing this! Yes, a laugh at poor Turnup's expense. Pet kitty for me, please. :)
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Your dulcimer and that smiley must be twins who were separated at birth, Strumelia!
Strumelia said:
Here are my sound holes....
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Lori, I love your flowers-- really cool!
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sam, I must give a tip of the hat to the luthiers-- MD made by Paul Conrad of Timbre Hill Dulcimers and BD is by Ken Bloom. Paul knew my taste was for a simple sound hole design (this design can be seen in the beautiful, fancier intarsia back on the instrument) and the sound holes on the bowed dulcimer is Ken's standard sound hole.
It's pretty cool that the poplar top on the MD was once exterior siding (that had gotten covered over at some point) on Paul's house that was built in the 1840's.
Sam said:
Striking;
The Mountain Dulcimer is exquisitely understated. Both instruments are just beautiful.
updated by @robin-thompson: 06/30/15 10:19:58AM
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Great solution, Dusty! You can always stuff socks and other small articles of clothing in the case, too.
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
http://www.prussiavalley.com/TKOBrienMountainDulcimerCases.htm#TKO009
The O'Brien is a good bag for toting to festivals. If you want a great, highly-padded custom gigbag, I recommend one of Lee Felt's (Thistledew Acres) cases:
target="_blank"> http://dulcimerbaglady.com/
I own two of Lee's cases in which I carry my bowed dulcimers-- the bowed instruments being more fragile than my mountain dulcimers.
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
OFF TOPIC discussions
Thanks, ladies! There have been few occasions in my life where I've been applauded for being chatty.
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
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Thank you, Sam, and I'm glad you're part of this great community!
Jane, I got such a kick out of your 2nd(?) post on ED. On what may have been your first posting you posed a question and I saw it, apparently, right after you wrote it and replied immediately. In turn, your quick response went something like, "Blimey, were you sat atop the computer?" LOL I responded that I was.
Friends, I'm going to risk sounding overly sentimental to say that you all have given me roses while I'm living, cheering me on. And if I could, I'd give each of you a hug.
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
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Congratulations to you & Jim, Dana! 34 years? I think it'll last.
And I'll keep my eyes open for Mountain Lullaby. (Little Dulcimer Darlin' is wonderful!)John Henry-- 57 for you & Mrs. John Henry-- a belated congratulations! It'll be awhile before I even turn 57 so I know that's a good long time to be married.
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
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Dana, when you're as big a star as I am, you hire somebody to wheel around your head in a wheelbarrel!
John H, one of Dana's originals would be a treasure.Though Strumelia and I may no longer be kids, we're tough dulcimer players-- slappin' and poundin' away. 
Again, thank you!
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
OFF TOPIC discussions
Did I really say that ? LOL What I say and what I mean can sometimes be two different things.
Strumelia said:
Robin Thompson said:PS-Strumelia, your percussive slaps inspired my fat felt pick pounding.
And where else but on FOTMD would one ever read a sentence like that, I ask you?
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
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Friends, your kind words are touching. You all have given me much, made my life so rich. . . There's just something about music and the friends I've met through music that's special.PS-John Henry, Bobby usually starts it !
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
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How lucky I feel to be a part of FOTMD and have you folks as friends! Not so many years ago, I never would've dreamed to have friends I've never met-- individuals for whom I hold great affection. You've been an encouragement to me in more ways than I can express.
And what a surprise-- a pleasant one, to be sure-- to come home after being away this evening and find this thread! Many thanks to you all.
Strumelia, you started FOTMD and it truly is a place for friends. And my brother Bobby.
PS-Strumelia, your percussive slaps inspired my fat felt pick pounding.
"John the Balladeer" Stories
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I never heard of John the Balladeer until your posting, Flint. Thanks for the link-- I've bookmarked it!
Paul,Good-- no, great advice!Just to piggy-back on Paul's comments about listening; be diligent about learning to tune your dulcimer and listening for when it may be out of tune. Hearing when I'm out of tune is a skill I'm always working to hone. Paul Certo said:
Whatever playing style you choose, listen to as much music as you can. Dulcimer music,yes, but not exclusively. The type of music you want to play on your dulcimer is important, whether others play it on dulcimer or not. Listening is one of the most important things you can do to learn music. It let's your ears help teach your hands. No matter how many tabs, or books you use, your ears will tell you when you hit a wrong note. After you have trained them what the song is supposed to sound like. The mistakes you make in reading, your eyes may not catch,but if you've listened to the song repeatedly, your ears will catch those mistakes. Your ears have been in training since your Ma first sang to you as an infant. Every radio you ever heard, every commercial jingle, all have asserted themselves into your mind. And when someone whistles one of these pieces, you recognize it. So help your ears by listening to what you want to play. Then let your ears help your hands.
Paul
Jim H,Hi-- you've picked a wonderful instrument to take up!I can't say what would be easier because I've played with a noter since taking up the dulcimer; I like it and enjoy it. Thus, I would encourage any beginner to play with a noter (on the melody string only)-- stick with this for a few months, anyway, to get the hang of hearing/playing melodies-- then try other styles of play. After you've had a chance to feel your way around, so to speak, you can go with the method that brings you the greatest pleasure. (Basically, I just repeated what Paul said.
)
FOTMD 1000 members almost here...!
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Thank you, thank you, thank you, Strumelia! You know I was hoping one of your tasty JELL-O creations would be part of the prize package. And this is even better-- I don't even have to win to get a spoonful of, uh, the thing.
On second thought, it's toooo pretty to eat. 
(I think this is my first posting using the peace sign smiley.)
FOTMD 1000 members almost here...!
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Visitors, if you've not yet joined FOTMD, you're missing out! Join FOTMD! When you do, you'll immediately become better-looking, have whiter teeth, become ambidextrous, and gain hundreds of friends. Well, only one of these things is true but it's the best thing on the list! :-)
Thank you, Strumelia!!
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I'm with you, Dulcerina!And the good news of mountain dulcimers has spread further thanks to FOTMD.
***THREE CHEERS for Bill Lewis!***
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I've always enjoyed "Another Day in the Life of Bill" posts and appreciate Bill's welcoming spirit.Huzzah-huzzah!
Thank you, Bill, for all you've done here at FOTMD!
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Huzzuh-huzzuh, FOTMD!I've listened to Phil's and Randy's versions of Spider Bit the Baby -- Boy, I like the tune!-- and to Strumelia's amazing cat find. (Somebody get that cat an agent and a lawyer!
) 
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
folkfan,Phil Myers plays a great version of our official tune! And Randy Adams does, too.Oh, it's Spider Bit the Baby .
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
Strumelia said:
Strumelia, I'd play our official tune if I knew it. Who knows, maybe I'll learn it by Thursday.Robin Thompson said:How shall we mark the day?
I'm thinking I'll listen to our official song a time or two.
Ah yes...the official theme song.
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
How shall we mark the day?I'm thinking I'll listen to our official song a time or two.
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Dusty Turtle: . . .I assume we have simply taken on the personality of our beloved founder, Strumelia. . .I haven't felt quite like myself for the past several months so this would explain a lot. . .
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
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Yup, Ken!FOTMD is the place to come for cool dulcimer music on the internet. Ken Hulme said:
Ya done GOOD, girl!
Neat, Diane-- I'd love to see the exhibit! And I'd like to grab a bow and play the "Hybrid Dulcimer" just for fun.
updated by @robin-thompson: 02/16/16 12:30:20AM