"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!
Forum Activity for @robin-thompson
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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 !
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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 !
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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 !
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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
BEGINNERS' OLD TIME JAM – DOWN THE PUB
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I enjoy this, Robin-- am listening now. Jamming with another musician or musicians is, in my experience, a great way to learn lots about tunes. Helps hone my listening skills, which are in need of honing. ;-)Thanks for sharing the recording, Robin!
I've had this book and cd for perhaps four years and love it! I could listen to Jean talk and play for hours-- and have! Strumelia said:
Perhaps if you don't like it you can sell it used on Amazon.com
For a whole different approach, perhaps next try Jean Ritchie's recent teaching dvd? She is a good beginner level teacher, and it'd be interesting for you to observe the difference in playing style.
Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Mountain-Dulcimer-Homespun-Tapes/...
Love
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Strumelia & FOTMD family,
In addition to the many wonderful folks I know online, I've had the pleasure and privilege of meeting FOTMD player Julie Elman and playing music with her. Our getting together is truly a joy for which I'm most grateful!FOTMD feels like home-- thanks for all you've done, Strumelia!
800!?!!
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Strumelia and Rod,You both have my undying gratitude.And if Mo's psychotherapy sessions run under a hundred bucks, sign me up for them, too.
800!?!!
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Thank goodness we've hit 800! I'm starving!Robinwho's at the front of the line for the food
800!?!!
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Thanks, Rod, I'll take 'em!I see Strumelia's skillets will be in use-- those 'Dutch Babies' look good!-- so can't borrow them.
800!?!!
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I make a decent whole wheat crust pizza in a cast iron skillet. Trouble is, only got one skillet. So, I'm thinking I'll need to borrow 199 skillets.
Got any for sale? Flint Hill said:
"Ironwood" noter, from a slab collected in East Texas, ca. 1960, by A.L Vawter.
Approximately 6 1/4 x 3/8 x 1/4 in. (15 x 1 x 0.6 cm). "D" cross section.
Dense, extremely hard wood. It sinks in water and is difficult to work.
It made a nice, slick noter that sounds a bit softer than a goose quill.
Probably Big Bend or Eastern Hophornbeam. (Ostrya virginiana var. chisosensis or Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana, 2007)
A toothbrush handle? Now that's something I think I haven't tried! I'm going to, though. . .
My bone noters-- got from Randy Bretz-- yield clear tone on the string. For playing fast tunes, I need a noter that's forgiving, so use my homemade ones cut from a hard plastic jar that once held store-bought fruit. Photo can be seen by scrolling down the page just a bit here: http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/forum/topics/whats-your-favorite-n...
The Kitchen Sink - talk about food
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Ken, that's almost too pretty to eat. I might try this after berries come on this summer. Thanks!
The Kitchen Sink - talk about food
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The cabbage wedges wouldn't make it past the grilling stage with me.
Ken Hulme said: They are easy to do and so good tasting!
So... When are you serving them??? Enquiring minds and all that...
Party Time coming for 700 !!
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Wakes can be fun. Well, in a way they can be. ;) razyn said:
I was afraid we were going to have to have a wake, for the 40.
Party Time coming for 700 !!
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I'll sign Dana up for fried chicken! :)I love her stories, by the way.
Party Time coming for 700 !!
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I don't know what to fix for the potluck. We should have the hootenanny outdoors, though-- was about 80 degrees here today!PS-I went hunting for morels today and came up empty. :( If I had a mess of them. . .
Rebec
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
So glad for you, dear Strumelia! The bowed dulcimer hold along with the underhand bow hold are, to me, comfortable. Have all kinds of fun learning!
Rebec
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Those are cool. I wonder whether a decent one could be made from a gourd?Ken, I believe Toledo OH has a sister city relationship with Toledo Spain-- at least they used to.
Challenges?
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Ken's overview & Strumelia's comments look good to me.Ken, I would use "please" less-- both to clean up wording and so as not to make some actions appear to be optional. ;)