Forum Activity for @irene

I'm smiling reading all that is said here.  What a joy to read after reading for days about this CD-19.  I love this site, oooooooooooops, I've said that before.   Singing.  My mother would carry her Martin ukulele in the car, even with it's original case and we as a family would sing together many miles on the road.   My parents had wonderful voices and I learned a lot of old songs and my brother as well.  We get together and SING....and when looking for a man to marry, I had on the top of my list, "he has to carry a tune".....yep.   Married 55 years and 14 children.  All sing and play instruments.  We've loved singing as a family and with others and with our instruments.  Lisa, loved the story of the banjo boy.....

When I've had others come to my house and we have "learning sessions" on the dulcimer....I've had several great singers and others that were just finding their voices.   One used to sing in the Tabernacle Choir and we were in AWE when she'd sing with the dulcimer.   Other women that I've known that have sung in the Tab. Choir have said that a "woman's voice is not developed fully until after the age of 40."  So that should be encouraging to folks that start later on in life.  

When you sing, you develop better breathing, better posture, your body has harmony within.   It need not be perfect, just SING.   Find words to songs you want to learn, write 'em down and put them at the sink where you do dishes.  I have many stories about learning to sing....aloha, irene

I just love reading all that has been written here.  SMILING.  Today watched the first barges on the grand Mississippi.  drove into Nauvoo to have someone put in my car 40# of wonderful fresh chicken breasts.  I'm canning all that now.  I'll save the last batch for tomorrow.   whew.  On that dulcimer, not worth saving.  but is sure has me thinking how I might make a box dulcimer out of aromic cedar wood.   I know it has a tendency to crack....so I'd reinforce the inside of the top and the bottom.  hummmmmmm. creative juices are COOKING like my canned chicken.  ha ha.  Lots of wildlife around here too and I sooooooo love the froggies and critters making their orchestra in the little marsh in front of my house.  I'm making this into a good time....as best I can.   Still miss being with friends and making music together.  aloha, irene

I have now been home for 2 weeks and 2 days.   Missing friends and such, I have my sweetheart.   I had someone come and light the pilot light in my shop so I could create in there without freezing out.   I have an all cherrywood dulcimer under the varnish now and tomorrow I'll "steal" 4 banjo machine pegs from a junk dulcimer.  I think I'll do as Bob Gerard did....burn it.   I paid only $40.00 and it's not even worth that.  ha.  I'm always excited to create things and to have more time to do this is GREAT.   My mother used to sing some ditty of a song to me and I just thought she made it up...till I found that it's a real song.  "Accentuate the possitive, eleminate the negaitve, latch onto the affirmitive and don't mess with Mr. Inbetween."  Her age went through the great depression.   We may too, I think I'll look at those old songs on youtube again as some of the best positive lyrics with great music came from the depression era.  Prayer can get us through anything.  aloha, irene

WOAH, I loved your playing and demo.  I loved that you created such an instrument and most of all.....I loved that you made this video that we could see your smiling face.   NO KIDDING.  you are a creative man that will do many things in your life.   Keep creating and experimenting and show us all along the journey.  I like it even without the water at all....I'd be concerned with water getting on my woodwork and varnish and all that "jazz".  Thanks for sharing with us all.   aloha, irene

ohhhhhhhhhhh, very nice.   I'm asking the same question.  Will we see it in Berea?   I'm making a dulcimer in my shop to take with me there.  I'm sure hoping it's going to happen.  Everything else has been cancelled.   hrumph.  aloha, irene

I love rounds.   This is a good one and when is your book coming out?  When raising our 14 children in Hawaii, we did soooooooooo much music.  While in the car, I learned that kids don't argue when they are singing.  So we have a raft of rounds.  There used to be fuguing Tune societies in England.  marvelous tunes.   It's really fun to play these on recorders.  When teaching the dulcimers, I start them off doing rounds.  As I read more about folks that are able to meet "on line" somehow, (how cool is that?)....I bet rounds could have a good go at it that way. aloha, irene

many years ago in Hawaii, when I first got my dulcimer, I started getting the DPN and she was the editor of these then.  I wrote her several times about questions I had and she called me on the phone and we talked. .  She is a treasure and will surely have groups playing dulcimers in the Eternal Worlds and I hope to join her when it's my time.  aloha to you dear Maddie.   Irene

We just got back from Hawaii on Friday.....(wonderful time, we were there for 4 weeks)............and went through 3 very busy airports.  Picked up our van Friday morning and it started right up in St. Louis, MO.  Drove to Keokuk, Iowa and did some shopping...and yep. Both of us feeling very very good!!!  (gonna make more fermented foods, sauerkraut stuffs) They were out of all sorts of stuff, but not the fresh foods.   That is what I was  there for.  We are self isolating just because it's wise after so many airports.  however, no CV-19 gonna keep me from voting.  quick in and out and back home.  washing hands etc.   I split a bunch of wood on my electric log splitter and my husband chop sawed a bunch of dry drift wood from the Mississippi banks.  A beautiful sunny day.  I'm looking forward to playing more music (made 2 dulcimers in Hawaii)....gonna work in the shop....get to some wonderful books on my shelves....oh so much to do.  I love being home, smack on the Mississippi.  I found out that #56 grandchild coming....so gonna look at making a quilt......... Looking forward to the big barges going by.  Trains are running over in Iowa and I hear and see them.  I miss seeing my friends, dropped off some bread I made yesterday so I could just wave to them after I ran the doorbell.  Lost in Scrabble tonight....going to beat him good tomorrow night!!

I love this thred and enjoyed all that you folks wrote here, from all over.  

aloooooooooooha, Irene

Robin, love your commento.  Now the "guess" is on.   ha ha ha.   Well for my instruments.  I've lived in a rain forest in Hawaii for many years.  I had more trouble with moisture then dryness.  We now live in Nauvoo, Illinois and in the summer....woah.....it is HUMID.  I have had trouble with humid much more then dryness.  I think my instruments are happy for the dryer winter...but a log house and wood floors .....LOTS OF WOOD....it all breaths.  I've had no trouble with cracking of instruments.   When i make instruments I use Tight-bond glue.  Glue is important in understanding where the instrument is going to live.  I've found that to be the best for me.   aloha, irene

YES....DAILY.   I have them everywhere.   In the winter time, they get more dusty as we have a fireplace.   But we play our music often several times a day.  yeah.  aloha, irene

wow folks, I read through all of this thread....and learned tons.  I need to learn more about an "unwound" bass string.   thanks so much for all this information.....just in one thread....I'll be making a dulcimer to take to Hawaii with me....materials coming tomorrow.   yeah.  all excited.   now when I get to Hawaii, I'll learn again how to post a photo.   wonderful granddaughter taught me....13 steps.  now I lost that paper when cleaning off my desk. oh well..............  aloha, irene

Thank you Strumelia for your clear and wise words here.   I can't count all the things I've learned on this site.  I used the E.D. site mostly for the fast way I could get old songs in notation and words.   Maybe that will happen again.  Thank you for owning this site.  Thanks to all who moderate and communicate here in.   aloha, irene

Robin,  thanks for posting this one.   I wanted to hear what his songs were like and he told of the song where he "found his voice".  I really really enjoyed it.   Monday Morning video, David Olney.   Aloha 'Oe to David. 

and she is just beautiful.   All that fast playing and she is calm as a summer's morning.  I loved this one.  Thanks Robin. aloha, irene

While I smiled writing the last post....on a more serious note (pun intended)..........I thought of the reasons to go to Church for me.  Leading the singing for a congregation is a sure JOY and being with friends and hearing words taught in sincerity and Love of our Savior.   To keep me from getting callous's of the heart, to partake of the Sacrament and renew my covenants is the real reason I love to attend Sabbath Day Meetings.  So go to church folks where ever you live....and don't get callous's on the heart.   aloha, irene

Oh, how I needed such a good laughing post here.  "fess up Irene.........."   It's been a hard day in that I can't go outside.   Already a 1/2 inch covers my car of ice and no can open the door.  It's now 10 degrees....wind chill is blowing to the max................ So that means no church going for now 2ed Sunday in a row.   bummers.   Oh yes, I've got plunty to do at home....reading and playing music...but meeting with my friends at Church and leading the music there is a joy.  

Okay, I'll "fess up".  I've made 55 harps........all nylon stung.  No need to get callouses for playing these.  One thing that appealed to me about the mountain dulcimer....30? some years ago...NOTER AND DRONE....that's how I play...no need callouses to play this way.  I play with  a triangle pick with my right hand.  I've used various other picks, but go back to the triangle one I can get at the music store.   I've cut up credit card sends....they make great picks.  

someday someone reading this may need this info.   If you get stung by a centipede or any bad bug bite....bees and wasps....Urine can take away most of the pain.   Hawaii learned 

Thanks Ferrator for your question.  aloha, irene

THIS THREAD CRACKS ME UP LAUGHING. 

Hobbyhorse....your builds pictured here are just marvelous.  I know your N.Z. wood and the history of that swamp Kauri wood.  But your building such fabulous musical instruments is a marvelous thing.   Do you play the rubic and the hurdygurdy?   I've always wanted to make a hurdygurdy....wayyyyyyyyyyy too many parts.....Did you do that hurdy gurdy with plans from somewhere?   aloha, irene

sorry about the "slice" but the rest of these posts are a crack up.  Yep, I have counted it a blessing when I did a number on my right and said, "well, I can still strum, so it's okay."   aloha, irene

I've been away down in Tyler, Texas with my brother that has also taking to making instruments.   He's made several ukulele's and guitars and his intruments are awesome.  So we finished 2 dulcimers and had sooooooo much fun working in his shop.   He has a big shop and one shirt that says it all, "I'm one tool away from greatness".  I missed going to this site daily like I do when I'm home.  I've loved using a little hammer, Lois displayed the one that I use now.  I'll see if I can get someone to film me playing THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY while using my striker.  I LOVED seeing the videos of folks using the "fiddlesticks" I Use that expression ALL THE TIME........now I have a visual of how they are used and what they're called.  OH TOOOOOOOOOOO FUN.  aloha, irene

I used to sing this song when I sang and played guitar in a pizza parlor in Canada when my husband was in premed school.  I was paid more in 1/2 hour of singing then working all day.....I just loved this song, but was not my life....being so happily married and with our new baby girlie.  That was 54 years ago.   sigh....time flys.  but my love for that tune never wains.   I sang many of Joan Baez's songs.  I loved all of the Child Ballads...and old folks songs. aloha, irene

Another suggestion is to get a kit.   Just type in "mountain dulcimer kit" in google and many come up to choose from.   I've heard that cardboard kits are also good to learn on.  Do your own research and see what one calls your name.   IT'S A JOY TO BUILD YOUR OWN DULCIMER.   After you build one, then...............oh oh..........you'll build another.   aloha, irene

OH YES YES YES....and I can hardly wait for the next Berea, Kentucky gathering.  I consider all that were there my friends.   If fact, a great blessing.  I smile even typing this note.  I've called several and asked how to solve a problem I'm into with dulcimer making and the problem gets solved.  That's friendship.  Then I've gone to the OLD PAL Festival in Palestine, Texas and what a blast that is.   YES, friends with many there and I'm looking forward to going to my 4th festival there.  Marvelous entertainment and classes and jamming there.  my brother and I have gone for 3 years in a row and we figured "that's our family reunion"   aloha, irene

TERRY, can I quote you....more smiles on this one....aloha, irene

I just CRACKED UP LAUGHING on these posts and read them all.  The best book I've found on the UKULELE is written by Jim Beloff.   The info is a gathering of many years of research.   The name of Ukulele is like this.  When the Hawaiian's saw the Quatro being played by the Portigee folks that came to Hawaii said in Hawaiian of course, "wow, he's playing so fast it's like a jumping flea!!"  Uku=lice lele=fast. A type of Tenor ukulele was popular in a "tenor banjo" or a banjolele in Hawaii 1910-1930.  You can find 'em on sale on ebay.   I've made 7 of them.  These were also called TENOR BANJO'S.   They are not as loud as a big banjo.....and fit in with Hawaiian music.  The Tahitians still have as their national instrument a banjo uke.  When that was popular, England and other places made these banjoleles. plunty of them on ebay now. ha, I'm going to check out the UU site.   sounds really fun.  My mother had a Martin ukulele and played it in the car while I was growing up with my brother.   My brother has that ukulele.  He took it to Martin Guitar co. to see what it was worth.  He about fell over....$55,000.   He still has the original case.  FYI....there are more ukulele players in the United Kingdom then all of the USA and that includes Hawaii.  We lived in the islands for over 30 years.   aloha, irene

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you John.  I wish I had your phone number and I'd sing a bunch of birthday songs.   soooooooo lovely is walnut.  Will this be a possum board that can be removed or are you going to attach it to the dulcimer?   aloha, irene

Being that I don't have much lap.....and don't like using a bum strap....I put 3 little clear plastic bumpers on the backs of my dulcimers. (they have sticky backs)  I play on an adjustable table.   Nice and loud just right. I can control volume, and bow it and hammer it....easy cheesy on the adjustable little black table that you can get at Walmart.  Daughter in Hawaii has a white adjustable table and that worked just right too.  A dulcimer is ALWAYS set up in my living room so I can just stop and play anytime I want....

You can try those little plastic bumpers and take 'em off if you don't like them.   You can keep them on even while playing your dulcimer on your lap.   The old style of many dulcimers had wood permanent ones on the backs like many of the dulcimer makers are making now a days.   aloha, irene

I've just spent the last hour viewing Randy's youtube videos.   And he plays those babies hard....and those frets last 8 years?   wow.  I'd like to learn more about this way of making frets.   I like the staple frets that Dan puts on his dulcimers too.  It would be cool to try different kinds.  I love what I learn here!!!   aloha, irene

wayyyyyyyyyyyy cooooooooooooool bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuue.   aloha, irene

Another option is to get some Banjo tuners.   I did put on some ukulele tuners on a small dulcimer and it looks good on that one....but your dulcimer here looks pretty big and to balance out the size of things, you might consider banjo tuners that are pictured in the above photo as you open this site.  I just finished dulcimer #29 today and these are what I used.   I like them very much.  If you get them straight from China...cheap...and you don't know what you're getting.   If you get them from a music store, if they don't work like you want them to...can take 'em back.  I ordered them from a place in Kentucky...got 'em in 4 days.  happy about that.   $59.00.  yep, you'd have to enlarge the holes.   Where is this dulcimer made?   aloha, irene

this is coming along GREAT.....congratulations.   you've not put the frets on the fretboard yet?   hummmmmmm.   Will you put frets on another piece of wood THEN put that part on the dulcimer with glue?  ahhhhhhh, there are soooooooooooo many ways to make a dulcimer.   A JOY FOR SURE.   aloha, irene

Yeah Patty.....you were surely inspired to get that dulcimer.   JUST BEAUTIFUL.  and to use the cheap piano stand.  Can you lower it to a height that you can sit down and play too?   I use those cheap black Walmart adjustable stands and put it at the lowest level and have several of these parked at my kid's houses in Utah when I go there often to be with them and play music.  I love the noter/drone style and the sound.  There are many tunings for modes that will be useful to learn...but stick to Daa or Cgg and then branch out.  Oh joy to learn that lovely dulcimer you just got.  Congratulations on your recovery and living in Oregon, you'll find many others to play music with.  A beautiful state to live in. aloha, irene

Where ever it was made, all the joints are tight and looks great that way.  Good you replaced the tuning gears and strings.  Now the "taste is in the tasting"....of the pudding.  HOW does she sound?   Have you checked with a tuner?   first fret and 7th fret octave in tune the same?   that's a good indicator that it's done good in the "fret department".   I've gotten a few dulcimers that frets are NOT TRUE...and I'm going to rip out those frets and make new fret board and put 'em on it....making sure the VSL fits the frets and be in tune.  a project for another day.   This dulcimer would be really cute some added flowers and tole painting.  aloha, irene

NOTERS AND DRONERS.....YEAH, you all expressed how I feel about what I love to do on the dulcimer.   I'm soooooooooo grateful to have found others that like playing this "traditional style".  Thank you for sharing your thoughts here and expressed so well.   Today I just finished, and tuned him up, another Box Dulcimer.  yep, I made only 3 strings on him because I only had 3 banjo tuning thingies in my shop.  Ha.   I like playing both 2 or one melody string.  (I'll have to try a bacon sandwich.) personally, I don't like playing in Dad because I lose those 3 lower notes.  there's so much I love about dulcimer and playing it....aloha, irene

Thanks Skip....I will explore your idea with some other very good carpenters in this area.  aloha, irene

OH I LOVE THIS SITE....that is what I need to two dulcimers that I got at weird places.   Now that I know how to tune dulcmers...and hear and SEE it with my phone tuner....I want them ALL in tune.  nope...some were never fretted properly.  Great suggestions here and one of them is going to work.  THEN I can loan out these dulcimers with happiness that my students will be playing in tune.   aloha, irene

ahhhhhhhhhh, like it very much!!!   Possum board is not permanently attached.  So depending on the group playing with, in need of a louder sound....the "board" is there.  I wanted to look at it up close, but that option was not there.   I still like playing my dulcimers on a little low table, but I'm a chunky granny....so I have more control of what I can do with a dulcimer on the table....instead of on my lap.  ha.  Beautiful luthery!!! (I don't know how to spell it, but I can sure recognize good work when I see it here or in person) aloha, irene

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AHHHHHHHHHH, WHAT A FABULOUS THREAD.  When I moved from Hawaii to Ashland, Oregon, I went to some Contra Dancing and had never seen it done in Hawaii. (of course)  Loved it.  For some reason, I married the ONLY TONGAN from Tonga that didn't dance.  But he made up for it by playing so many instruments and that's been the best.  In Ashland, there was a harp maker that played wonderful hammered dulcimer and he'd just about dance while he was playing.  I so love live bands like that.  thanks for sharing all about this on here.  I looked at every video.  aloha, irene

Hey Steve, you are in LUCK....there's a FABULOUS dulcimer/banjo/ukulele/"squeezebox"....festival in Palestine, Texas.   I've been there for 3 years and some marvelous squeeze box folks come to that festival.  2 years now there has been this gal from England.  (boy, is she good) she was a champion in England for several years.  such a beautiful clear voice.  Find out about it and you'll fit right in.  AND you can get on with the dulcimer too!!  aloha, irene