High Spirits and Dana Ross flutes are usually right in tune with a tuner. We've experimented with some that were okay with other instruments, but just a little off when played with the previously mentioned flutes exclusively.
Garland Coulson said:
Do you run into tuning issues, John?
We find Native American flutes are usually a little out when compared to keyboards and stringed instruments.
Dulcimers and Native American flutes go GREAT together! We use them all of the time. We threw in some percussion and didgeridoo for this one:
I have played a few of the Folkcraft hickory instruments and highly recommend them! I think that you will be pleased! 
That was really nice. Thanks for posting this!
Song of the Wood in Black Mountain is a great shop, and you can play every dulcimer in there as long as you need to.
I couldn't agree more. Wood choice can be just as important as the size and depth of the instrument. The density of woods like walnut or cherry (or the like) has provided that traditional sound for many years. The caution comes when selecting a wood that is possibly too dense. Ebony looks great (and is expensive), but a dulcimer made of a dense wood like ebony would sound like a brick with strings on it. If you ever have a chance, sit down and play multiple dulcimers in one sitting made of as many materials (and shapes, sizes, etc.) as possible. That is the best way to determine what your ear is truly looking for...hearing it right in your lap!
Dusty Turtle said:
A dulcimer made entirely of walnut or some other hard wood will have a slightly more traditional sound.
Practically every dulcimer player that I know (who sings while playing "chord/melody" style) plays accompaniment chords without playing the actual melody when they are singing the melody during a song. I've heard some play and sing the melody together (even harmonies between the two), but not many, and certainly not most by any means. Melodic lines for intros and breaks? Sure...all the time. Purely instrumental tunes would be a different matter, where the chords and melody would be played simultaneously.
Ken Hulme said:
Fact of the matter is that most dulcimer players do not play 'accompaniment style' that way. They play Chord-Melody style - one chord for each note of the melody - and sing along with that.
That's neat when stuff like that happens!
John Henry said:
(and would'nt you just know JK would be in frame somewhere's ???)
That is a fascinating read. I hope that it's all true, but it does have a little "April 1st" feel to it lol. Bonnie & Clyde had their criminal careers ended 35-40 minutes from my house, and the small town of Arcadia houses a Bonnie & Clyde Museum very near the ambush site. Karen and I should drive over there one day this summer and see what we can find out (if anything). This is pretty cool stuff!
Dusty...me too. I have no earthly idea how I can decide what I like or dislike personally without trying new things. We (as dulcimer enthusiasts) can become our own worst enemy by type-casting ourselves into a specific genre. It can then lead to extremely poor public relations for the instrument if we criticize and ostracize those who don't "do it and play it as we do" so to speak. The key is having the desire to grow. I have personally attended workshops where I was taught how to play tunes that I have no desire to play. The part that escapes some people is that we can take the PROCESS used in learning those tunes and apply it in our own homes, learning tunes that we actually DO want to play. It has just become too easy to gripe and complain about things outside of our comfort zones rather than testing new waters. I think it is rooted in a "I might make some mistakes if I get outside of my comfort zone" mentality, but I don't know how to get better without a few brain cramps along the way...I call it growth. I have never attended a workshop where I didn't learn anything (even if it's what NOT to do), but the BIG picture that is so often missed is what we can learn at a workshop OUTSIDE of the classroom! If we get that many dulcimer players together in one place, we can find folks who can show us how to do things that we find helpful, AND we are bound to run into folks who like to play the same style/genre/song that we do. There are fantastic learning opportunities that we cannot take advantage of if we don't attend the event. As I approach my third anniversary of playing this wonderful instrument, I hope to have three years of experience rather than the same experience three times.
Dusty Turtle said:
What I find bothersome is the refusal of some dulcimer players to attend a workshop that does not address the specific style of play they prefer.
Mal, I have one of those as well. With those string gauges, I highly suggest staying away from G and F using the 1-5-8 tunings. D or C should work just fine for you.
I dunno...I'm not much for labels. If there's a class with a subject matter of interest to the participant, then take it. Even if it is above or below a particular perceived ability level, there is valuable information to be gained when there is a genuine interest in the material covered. I also feel that personal improvement can be delayed if one consistently stays with classes within their "comfort zone" so to speak. It's refreshing to see folks just step through the door in search of a new challenge. The journey becomes much less mysterious if there is a knowledge of the road ahead. For me personally, I'm too dumb to realize that there is stuff out there that I can't eventually do with a reasonable amount of practice and desire. I say keep it fun, keep it forward, but don't keep it a secret! Share this wonderful instrument with others!
Karen and I have met more FOTMD folks than we can count. Great folks one and all (even Rob Lackey lol), but there are two that I only got to say "hi" and "bye" to that I would love to visit with: Pop Miller and Leonard Griffin (both from Texas). Everyone else we've been able to visit with, go eat, take a class, or SOMETHING, but there was only time for introductions with those guys and I'd love to chat and get to know them a little better. Our FOTMD family is a treasure to us and we wouldn't trade these friendships for anything. Y'all are just some awesome rockin' people!
No tune suggestions (just play what makes you HAPPY), but congrats on the new Folkcraft!
Aw Sam...that would have been some pretty stuff. 
That's just incredible...good for you!
That's an interesting link. I've often wondered about that myself.
Very proud of you David!
That's already taken!
Geekling said:
Since you're receiving two McSpaddens, one being a Ginger, I think the other one should be named Mary Anne!
Time to warm-up the dancin' hillbillies video...3,000 approaches!
Randy, we enjoyed seeing you again VERY much! Thanks for everything you bring to an event like Dulcimerville. It's folks like you who make it what it is! We miss ya already!
Cool find! The only one I've seen "in the wild" was at a pawn shop in North Carolina, but the staff was too busy visiting and drinking coffee to offer any assistance to customers. Congrats on your find!
Bow cases too. Can you tell we have a Bass Pro Shop nearby?
I hope this makes sense to y'all...the one I want to post as a "favorite" isn't a "favorite" because it entertains me the most...it's because it's the song encouraged by Geekling and Strumelia many months ago when I was trying to learn how to play dulcimer and sing at the same time. Their encouragement made a HUGE difference for me and will forever be appreciated! 
It's silly (of course), but it has really opened some doors and I offer my sincere thanks to them for making me see it through.
