At the moment, I have 8 mountain dulcimers here in the house and soon the number will be 7. (My oldest niece is interested in mountain dulcimer and I will be giving one to her when life allows.) Over the past year or so, I've passed several instruments along to a couple young people and hope they enjoy them for a long time!
In addition, I have 3 Ken Bloom bowed dulcimers and one Michael Fox Dulcijo.
Wow, Ken, that's pretty cool you got to visit Mr. Rugg! And you have a fun story about how it came to be, too. :)
Mr. Rugg is 86 years old and has been building mountain dulcimers again.
I remember that day he tried to play fiddle...brought tears to my eyes too!
Yes, the beauty of it moved him to tears. 
Lisa, I got notifications for all your most recent responses-- yay! Thank you!
Thanks, Strumelia!
I realized I was not getting notifications, maybe, a couple weeks ago? Yet thought it may be a temporary issue involved which would resolve.
I received notifications for the Group discussion, the Forum discussion, and this thread. No notification for a comment on a photo.
You're right, Strumelia-- I was notified about the "likes"!
Look at lots of video clips of folks playing a variety of music on a variety of different fretted dulcimer configurations and, perhaps, that will give you an idea of what approach you'd like to take to making music. First and foremost, lean into what music is in your heart to make and get the tool (instrument) with which to do it best. It's a process and it can be lots of fun to explore.
Strumelia, I have left comment on one of your videos and one of your audio clips.
I looked at my settings for notifications and all looks fine there.
Hey y'all--
I've noticed I get no notifications for comments posted on my audio and video clips. They've always shown up in my private messages yet in recent weeks, no notifications. I'm wondering whether others are not getting notifications from audio or video, too?
Thanks!
It's a beauty-- I love seeing Ohio-built dulcimers. :)
I enjoyed your song, @jimmy! And your Ron Gibson instrument sounds great!
Though this isn't from this year's virtual Hindman Homecoming fest, I want to honor Cari Norris in this thread. I share this from Molly McCormack-- I especially love Cari 's singing on the Jean Ritchie song Sweet Sorrow in the Wind in which she is joined by Molly. I'm guessing Cari could be playing her grandmother Lily May Ledford's guitar in the song.
I've enjoyed the segments I've watched of the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming! The fest continues today (Sat 9 April '22) and ends with an evening concert.
Folks, I hope y'all have the last Saturday in August marked on your calendars for the annual worldwide celebration Play Music On The Porch Day! Here at our house, we are practicing the one we think we'll play for PMOTPDay. 
@alphie There's no accounting for tastes in music or anything else. :)
@canadian-dulcimer-boy Yes, you're right-- lots of difference in the two! Perhaps it's because I have heard so many different versions of the Reuben's Train/900 Miles tune(s) I hear the two versions as close kin done in different styles & genres.
Perhaps it's in the ear of the listener whether they're the same tunes or not? I hear them as two different takes (genres/styles) on the same basic tune (in the Reuben's Train/ 900 Miles family).
When I am learning an old-time/traditional tune to play on mountain dulcimer, I, likely, will listen to fiddle and/or banjo versions then translate the tune to mountain dulcimer. A big part of my music education is and has always been listening to different versions such as you've presented here, @canadian-dulcimer-boy, and figuring out where I hear the essence of the tune (absent ornamentation) and translating that to mountain dulcimer. It's a fun process.
Ah, wonderful, @sunvalleylaw!
I haven't decided what classes to view yet know I can't make a bad choice. Fortunately, I was able to attend a portion of the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming in '15 and it was a wonderfully memorable experience.
The Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming is coming up soon! It looks to be a great fest and can be attended from the comfort of your own place. I inquired as to whether one could sit in on a class just as a listener-- this is how I absorb information best-- and was assured it wold be fine.
@sunvalleylaw, you will enjoy your Blue Lion! And, yes, Janita is great to work with.
I'm not a great player so measuring whether my skills were good enough to own a BL wouldn't have worked for me. Yet I own two and enjoy them ever so much. 
In a couple weeks, Joellen Lapidus is going to be teaching online at the free Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming and will, I think, be teaching a percussive technique with the mountain dulcimer. Information for "attending" the fest can be found here:
https://troublesomecreekguitars.com/2022-hindman-dulcimer-homecoming/
Good to have you here, @canadian-dulcimer-boy! Enjoy that new-to-you mountain dulcimer!
As far as I know, there were folks from 5 or 6 different countries who participated in IADD-- yay! It has been a joy to see so many deriving joy from playing Appalachian dulcimers.
@macaodha Val, I hope you had opportunity to make music to celebrate International Appalachian Dulcimer Day!
Wow, @dusty-turtle you had a great group for IADD! And your cover of Lucinda Williams's Lake Charles is so good!
@slate-creek-dulcimers Your Hand to the Plow is just right on that pretty instrument you made! And your singing sounds old (you know I mean that in a good way).
@steve-c So good you could share the good word of the joy of Appalachian dulcimer music-making!
How I enjoy seeing music from lovers of the Appalachian dulcimer from places near and far! Wonderful music, friends!
Friends, it's International Appalachian Dulcimer Day! I wish you all peace and joy and lots of happy strumming!
@ken-hulme it appears to be a chorded zither (autoharp). It is surprising to see a steel pin shear that way!
Friends, this is a free virtual fest sponsored by Troublesome Creek Instruments in Hindman. I've signed up and look forward to this event. I'm not in any way connected to the organization of the fest so share it here in a discussion thread in case any of y'all may have interest.
https://troublesomecreekguitars.com/2022-hindman-dulcimer-homecoming/
Tomorrow's THE day!
Enjoy your new beauty, Richard!
I'm glad y'all enjoyed the article!
I imagine we have many FOTMD members who own a McSpadden.
Thanks a bunch, Dusty!
@dusty-turtle, I like your sticker image and wonder whether I may share it on social media?
