Forum Activity for @jan-potts

Cowboy Rob--He roams the range of music genres....

nah?!!! 

"I create and interpret poetry musically in a Scottish/English style"  would be one way to say it with fewer words.

Mary was asking for a way to describe what it is she does...I'm supposing a phrase that could be used on posters and fliers, etc.  This is very different from "titling a CD", but I think the suggestion of using a representative song title, followed by a phrase would be a good way to do that.  Good point, too, to make sure your geographical terms match the borders of your musical journey!

Many of you will remember John Wood who so graciously greeted you when you joined FOTMD.  I just learned that John passed away December 10, 2015 after fighting a long battle with cancer.  John made music a large part of his life and shared that love of music with many by making dulcimers as well as playing them.   He had a great sense of humor and a big heart.  If you would like to read some stories and tributes you can check out this website:

http://www.newcomercincinnati.com/obituary/111279/John-E-Wood

Perhaps, if you knew John either in person or as a member of the FOTMD family, you might want to leave a message with your condolences to the family. 

John's FOTMD member page can be found at  http://fotmd.com/john-e-wood

Siri might get worn out answering the questions, "What's an Alba?", "How do you pronounce 'aulde'?",  and "Where are the New British Isles?"

My vote is for Songs and Poems in tune with the British Isles.

Keep it simple!

Ken's right--an "intonation situation" (sounds like a new song title!) could also include something like bridge movement, which would knock your intonation out of kilter.  If it was fine before you restrung your dulcimer, then you did something to change it.  Even small changes in the bridge placement can make a real difference.

Sounds like an intonation situation to me.  There are various types of intonation--you can do searches on them (just intonation, equal intonation...)

When I tune my instruments, I first use an electric tuner and then double check them by playing a D on the A string and an A on the D string, tweaking the pegs a bit til I get a sound I like.  It sounds like this is what you're doing, too.  When I can't seem to make this work with a particular instrument, it's usually because the intonation of that particular instrument is different from what I was expecting.  You'll probably find you have a preference for one type over another--which is a really good thing to know when you're getting your next dulcimer!

When hanging out with my dulcimer buddies in Tucson, Arizona, we will often go out to lunch after a rehearsal and we take our dulcimers into the restaurant with us.  There's always some space where they can be safely set and it keeps them out of those extreme temperatures.

Old photo...summer...my hair is "up" and held with a clip.

Anyway, yes, this is a game...gets your brain cells revved up.  I think it's cool that you have to figure out what you're supposed to do on most of the levels.  I bring it up every few years and work through bunches of the levels....I can usually go through the first 15 or so in about 5 minutes...then it  starts getting much harder.  I think the guy who started this is really clever!

When I'm at home, I use the Aussie method (as does Helen!)...I lay the dulcimer across the arms of my recliner!

Never a big fan of puzzle boxes...

This kind of sounds like when I try to get people interested in  The Never Ending Level Computer Game  http://www.levelgame.net/ , developed by Clarence Ball in 2005. A simple game with simple graphics.  Starts off very easy...after all, you're just trying to complete the task on the screen so you can hit "Next" and go to the next screen (or level) and the directions are right on the screen and they're very straight forward ("If the password is fire, type it in the box"). 

"It's fun!" I'll tell them. "It will give your brain cells a workout--in an entertaining way!"  It's really hard to convince folks of this, especially when they find out that, except for the very beginning, there are no directions...so you may be presented with a blank screen and have to figure out what to do.  Now, at that point, most folks would leave the computer and go pick up a dulcimer.........

I googled The Room game and read about it myself.  Not my cup of tea!!!

What I'd always heard was, "If you wouldn't be able to sit there for an hour (or two--or eight--ACK!), then don't expect your dulcimer to "be okay with it".

Marg, if you have the time, you can easily spend several HOURS at Song of the Wood, playing all the different dulcimers that are hung on hooks around the room. It's just a short jump off I-40 and well worth the visit!

Thanks, Marg, for that illustrated set of instructions.  I know this isn't the only way to do it, but several people have described this in words and I really needed a close up photo of how it looks when done properly!  The few times I have put new strings on, I end up with a big mess...which I try to ignore as long as I can get the notes I need.  I am going to also bite the bullet and make myself change a few strings soon...I need to get some with odd sizes though, so I'll need to go across town to Guitar Center....that may be awhile...

Interesting that you can only get ball ends because I have a whole drawer full of loop end strings and seem to mostly need the ball ends.

I also like the Sticky Grip picks...I buy mine from Mike Clemmer.  I can set the pick down on my instrument while I'm attending to passing out music or getting something out of my case, or writing notes on my tab, and it doesn't slide off...many folks find that very impressive!

Hmmm.... O Canada comes to mind...must be tab for that somewhere....

It was at Willcutt Guitar shop in Lexington, KY, that I saw the machine.  I figured if they were using it, it must make some sense.  Should have known you would have one, Kristi!

I've seen vibrating machines in guitar shops...kind of reminded me of those exercise belt things you sometimes see in cartoons....

Apparently it is only a myth that nervous people are thin because they shake so much they vibrate off all their fat.  Some sure sing pretty, though!

Have 5 already. Lexie...doesn't mean I wasn't tempted, though!

Perhaps I should have pointed out that at least half of the photos are missing from this discussion from 6 years ago...

I vote we pay tribute to Rod and resurrect this discussion with its glorification of our Younger Years!

I will even try to locate one or two of mine and figure out how to upload them!

John and I had a great day seeing the John Jacob Niles home, touring the Kentucky Artisan Center (where we also had lunch), and spending an hour or so in Warren May's shop, looking at his collection of historic dulcimers (and playing a few!).  Then I sat and played one of Warren's dulcimers for a long while as folks came in and browsed and Warren and John talked dulcimer talk.  I must not have been paying much attention to them because I was very surprised to find out John had selected one to hand carry back to Japan!

John and Karen--love your video!  You make lots of good points.  Buy an instrument that calls to your heart...and if you do that it will make your heart sing!

Great advice!

I pretty much agree with Rob about the approximate value range.  I'm not sure I would pay over $75.

I bought one once off eBay that was clearly made from a kit (said so right on the label) but the seller withheld that information even though I plainly said, "Tell me everything it says on the label"  When it arrived, it was obviously not anywhere near the quality they produce in their shop, and when I saw "from a kit purchased at the Dulcimer Shoppe", that explained the poor quality. 

McSpadden makes a quality instrument and their kits are good, too--but if you don't do a good job when you put it together, you've got--at best--a 10.00 wall hanger!

I returned mine and got a refund.  I wouldn't buy one unless you could return it for a full refund if it turns out to be junk.

The thing about McSpadden dulcimers is they have a reputation for high consistency in quality.  When you buy an instrument online from them, you might not get something that's very unique, but it will be very well made and it will sound good! 

When you buy an instrument from a kit, you're plunking down cash hoping the person at least followed most of the directions and wasn't too messy with the glue!

Having said all that, my husband is going to make one this summer and it will be "priceless" to me, no matter how it turns out!

Just don't spend too much of your hard earned cash on an instrument whose value is determined by someone who's sentimental about it.

After attending your first class on Monday, you may find that you made an error in judgment that is significant to warrant a change of classes.  You may do that Monday. 

If you know a month or a week ahead of time, however, that you seriously goofed, then it's best to contact Nancy at KMW and make the switch before you arrive.

I am looking forward to getting to know my FOTMD Friends that week!  Please stop me and say "Hi!".  You might want to order some FOTMD member pins from the home page so you're identified to others as a member of FOTMD.  It's so much fun to actually meet in person!

Yes, do ask on that first day, if they don't bring it up in their introduction.  Some won't care at all and others may only want you to record parts of the class.

Minimum:  one dulcimer, music stand, electric tuner (sold on site if you don't have one), one set of folders (I have one for each class in 5 different colors), paper and pen/pencil for notes, and some sort of tote bag big enough to carry: your music stand (if it folds up), your class folders, some sort of small bag (Ziploc or a zippered pencil case works well) for your pen, pencil, picks, tuner, noter, capo, Fast Fret, extra strings, etc.

Vendors sell picks and tuners, noters, music stands, cases, etc. etc. so if you get there and discover you forgot something, you can probably get it on site.

Are you and John "following" each other?  Locate his page (do a search under the Members tab at the top of the window) and when it comes up, click on the word "Follow".  You can then go to your profile (at the top of the page near the search icon) and click on "private messages" on the drop down menu.  Click on "New Message" and write John the message and if he accepts you as a follower you can write messages back and forth.  You could also just look up John's page and write him a note on it and maybe he'll get it....at least he'll probably be notified that someone wrote on his wall....  In the meantime, I'll put a bug in his ear that you're trying to connect about KMW...

Thanks for reposting this, Rob!  I think we should all learn this and DRIVE THE COLD WINTER AWAY!  Enough already!

What a great article, Kevin!     Good lookin' guy in the photo, too!  You hold an honored place in the dulcimer world and the article captured and expressed that very well.

My favorite place to play alone is in my recliner with my feet up and the dulcimer resting across the arms of the recliner.  But I also love playing with one or two people, in small groups, large groups, and KMW super jams!  I love playing on the porch at Dulcimer Rendezvous or the lodge at the Great American Dulcimer Convention.  I love having someplace comfortable to sit with a cool breeze and some beautiful scenery.

In the mid-70's a couple came to the elementary school where I worked and performed at a school assembly.  I was familiar with folks songs and various instruments, but had never seen a dulcimer before (not that I could remember, anyway) and I loved the lively songs they were singing, like "Groundhog". Sometime in the next decade I got to hear Jean Ritchie perform in person, and in another 5 or 6 years I was making a cardboard dulcimer from a kit and trying out tunes on the melody string.  I wish I knew who the couple was who performed....I've wondered if our paths have crossed again in the past 40 years.  Could be...

My John Tignor, with geared tuners replacing the hand-carved ones (which were saved, however....but at the time of purchase, I was not considering the historic nature of the instrument--I just wanted something more playable and I like the way it looked and sounded.  Note how dark the cherry has turned over the past 40 years!  Still sounds lovely and I like the workmanship and details like violin sides and trefoil sound holes.  The VSL on mine is 28".  Purchased 2012 at the Folk Shop in Tucson, AZ.

You also need to be careful of how you pick up your dulcimer.  Using 2 hands and evenly distributing the weight, of course, is the smart way to do it.  I can stress this for newbies, having picked up a favorite dulcimer with just one hand at the tail end, resulting in a crack several inches long.  And I knew better.....I just didn't do better! 

Sheryl, I think the confusion is that for making a playlist you DON'T start at your profile page.  You start, instead with the page showing the audio clips people post (using the "Music: tab up top).  You can "preview" them on this page, but they can't be added to a new or existing playlist from this page.  It's just a list of what's been added lately with the play button handy for each one so you can pre-view the song.

If you've previewed the song and want to put it on a playlist, the next step it to click on its TITLE, which will open up a new window with the song, information about the person who posted it, and comments that have been made about it.

Next to your chosen song there is a button there to the right (with eighth notes  on it ) to click to add that particular song to a playlist.  You will need to name the playlist so you can find it on your profile page later.

I made one playlist for my tunes so that they play one after the other (I have the choice  on my profile page to have them play in order or in random order).

I will be making more playlists, named for a particular person whose music I really like, one for great versions of jam tunes, one for easy listening, and one playlist will probably be for tunes I particularly want to learn.  Once these are in my playlists, I don't have to search for them on the main list of music clips. 

I hope this helps.

Strum on!

  One of my big rookie mistakes was not knowing there was such a thing as "jam etiquette"....There is... and it's a good idea to get a heads up before you pull up a chair.  There's probably a discussion of that on here somewhere.....if not, someone should start one.

I had hoped to get to Palestine, TX, and meet and jam with Jerry some day.  My condolences to Margaret and their family.

Jim, that's a good point.  And that's what it means when you see the words "with a compensated bridge" added after the VSL measurement.

Gin Onan had a pick holder specially designed for her since she couldn't hold one any more  with her MS issues.  Other folks have, too.  You might just find a different way to hold the pick...for instance, with your fingers making a fist, and the pick held firmly between 2 of your fingers.  You might need to try picks of different shape, size, and thickness....and you might want to experiment with ones you cut out from margarine tubs, for example.

I've had several injuries to my hands and right now I'm mostly fingerpicking with my thumb lying alongside the fretboard and my 4 fingers doing all the work.  I used to use my thumb, index, and pinkie to fingerpick so that's been a big change in the past year. 

Don't worry what it looks like, just do whatever works for you.