Sounds like you are beginning a new family Christmas tradition Terry! It is fabulous you and your boys will be doing this together, I am sure the folks will enjoy your singing.
I am looking forward to the video.
How delightful! If your little vocalist doesn't have experience using a microphone (don't you love kids today?) be sure to spend a minute or two beforehand testing where he should hold it and work out a couple of hand signals for you or Dad to give him during the songs: closer and farther away. Just a few inches can make the difference between hearing him, not hearing him, and summoning banshees :-)
Have a great time. I'm looking forward to the video!
So I bought a brand new (yet old) FolkRoots dulcimer from a fellow in CA. He bought it at a renaissance fair..he thinks back in the 80s. The gal he bought it for never played it. So basically it's brand spankin new. I got it today and it's gorgeous. The case is mint and it looks like Howard just handed it over this morning.
With that said, I want to learn a bit more. The inside label says Rugg & Jackel Folk Roots dulcimers D200 S 170 Nothing is kerfed on the inside. The top is light and the back darker and the fretboard looks to be walnut or mahogany with the little pick marks both woods have. Any info would be appreciated!
I got a nice surprise yesterday. I recently learned a new to me song, "Feliz Navidad". I think this is the same one Jan suggested, but as "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas".
The surprise was: I picked my 6 year old grandson up from school yesterday, and while driving home, I began to quietly sing this song. All of a sudden I hear him singing along with me. He could sing the Spanish part better than I, as he had learned this song in his music class.
The surprise is: He has agreed to sing this song with me at an assisted living home on Tues Dec. 20th. He is very excited about it, especially about holding the mic. His little voice is in tune and sounds so sweet. "His" plan is for him to do the Spanish part solo, and then we sing the English part together.
His dad, my son, plans to video it on a stationary video, and play bass acoustic guitar and sing along too.
We have also agreed to do "Jingle Bells", and "Christmas is Coming". He is not bashful at all about getting in front of people and this brings huge smiles all around.
If all of this really happens, and I believe it will, my son will edit the video and I'll post it in the video section.
Thanks to all for your most helpful suggestions.
Bring a Torch is my very, very favorite! Was "I Wonder as I Wander" mentioned? OH I have enjoyed reading this and what you are doing!!!!
Cat, I hope you find some relief from your finger pain. Splints really help me to play, and I am creative in that I don't grip tightly the pick or noter, my spoon noter cups in the palm of my hand and my thumb rests on top. With my hand splint, the splint itself holds my bamboo noter, works well.
You can get used to the splints, anything to play I say!! 
I've seen plenty, but haven't heard one. I guess you need to let us hear a sound clip? We have several pieces at the Museum of Appalachia displayed and it is said he was a war hero and his people settled here during the Daniel Boone era?
this is SUCH a beautiful well made dulcimer. I love the carvings, the shape and the lovely top. I wish I could hear it played. You have a jewel of an instrument there. aloha, irene
The photos really don't do justice to the size of this thing! 44 inches long, 12 inches at it's widest, 3 inch deep body, 6 string. It is touted as a bass dulcimer, to what should I be tuning this too??
Going to try and do a sound clip after I figure it out a little more, but have to bring someone in to help me do that, technologically challenged here!!
Thanks all!!
I live everyday with pain in my fingers and hands. Due some to arthritis and a lot to injuries suffered in two motorcycle accidents. Like sliding down the highway.
Steroids and prescription pain medicine helps a lot. I still play dulcimer and ukulele most every day, This is the problem.
I took my doctor's advice and Strumelia's advice, and cut my practice time I half. This helps more than anything. To fill this time , I practice harmonica.
I hope that you are able to get some relief for your trigger finger. The trigger finger on both my hands gives me the most pain.
In my opinion, the trigger finger and thumb on the left hand are your two most used fingers while playing dulcimer.
A great big GOOD LUCK to you. Some relief would be a wonderful Christmas present to you.
Ken, I agree. It is fun to see the different finishes. I imagine CN Prichard was quite a character (in the good sense) and probably loved variety.
It is fun to see some of the different finishes on Prichard dulcimers. I like this one and may try it on the next one I make.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks! I will give that a try!
Yes, Paula, what Phil is explaining is that you should not screw the capo on to full tightness. Screw it only tight enough so that when you push the lever down it is really tight. Then it is set and you never have to set it again (unless you switch dulcimers). If you try to push the leverdown and you can't, then loosen the screw a little bit and try again. Keep trying that until the capo is snug when you push the lever all the way down.
Awesome I really think the finish is interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Just saw this on FB and wanted to share with you all. It's a real CN Prichard Dulcimer. I understand it's been on display at Wildwood Music for 20 years. Here is a link to Wildwood Music in Coshocton Ohio (pictures), http://www.wildwoodmusic.com/dulcimers.html?wppa-occur=1&lang=en&wppa-slide&wppa-album=1115&wppa-photo=14773
With the lever down loosen the nut on the end so it will fit on the fret board. Place on the fret board with the lever still down and tighten screw till it fits as needed. Then release lever to remove. It is now set.
I have a metal capo with the quick release handle... My question is how do I set it? when I put it on the dulcimer, I am never sure whether the metal lever that moves should be down when I set it , or up when I set it and then pushed down... It seems hard to push down after the capo is screwed on the instrument, and I don't want to force it down for free of damaging the fretboard.. Hopefully I explained this well enough so you can understand what I am asking :)
Blondie, I saw those. Looks like a great deal. I'm all set for now. Good luck, they should go quickly.
FYI, I would like to direct you to the 'for sale' part of this site. I have two lovely High Spirits Flutes for sale.
Thanks!
Blondie
lol I will the splint...lol...who knows it might work!
I will get my pc to give me a referral to an ortho...Thanks
Cat, I know that trigger finger can be treated. Have you seen an ortho? I'm still playing but I am using a 1.5 inch padded splint and taping it to my finger. It only affects the one joint and my finger is still free to press down a string. I can tell a big difference. I hope you are able to find something that works for you.
Tape the noter to the splint? :)
Oh gosh, I have trigger finger on the ring finger of my left hand. I splint it at night but can't play with it splinted. Perhaps I could tape it' I don't know. Any ideas?
Appalasia will be joining us in a Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast episode next year. We're excited about their music!
Thanks for listening!
I just learned of Appalasia this year. :)
Thanks Jan. you're always so very helpful.
I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In (quite easy and very lively)
O Come Little Children, O Come One and All (they may remember singing this when they were children)
Good King Wenceslas (A good steady rhythm that works well with bells and shakers)
Go Tell it On the Mountain
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
What Child is This
O Christmas Tree
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Ding Dong Merrily on High
We Three Kings
There's a Song in the Air
We Wish You a Merry Christmas! (Good one to end on)
If there's anyone who can sing a familiar tune in a foreign language, that's always nice--but keep it short!
Also, what's familiar to one person may be totally unknown to someone else the same age living in the same city. But keep in mind, too, that the Christmas hymns sung in church in the 1930's through the 1950's might not be the ones sung today, so I'd look for some old hymnals and see what they include. Also, folks who would be clueless about "Holly Jolly Christmas" might be able to belt out "There's a Voice in the Wilderness Crying!" because they always sang that during Advent!
Anyway, I'm sure that whichever songs you choose, it will be great!
I just learned of Appalasia this year. :)
I have a Fred Martin. It was my first one. Intonation good up to about the 10th fret. Mine's mahogany and sounds really good to my ears. Hard to say the value. Just an observation based on stopping at Fred's for a few years. Seems the better ones of his have 4 soundholes. He had one wall full he wouldn't let me play because they were for those who really didn't want to play the dulcimer, just wanted to have one.
2 videos using the Fred.
Either Fred, or Edsel Martin, out of Swannanoa, N.C., know for the carved head stock scrolls, anyone own one as to the intonation, tone etc. Guesses as to approximate value? Looking at a couple that have come available, worth it??
Thanks as always.
Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 20
The Winter Holiday Dulcimer
From a contemporary jazz folk original to holiday staples and medieval music, we present tunes that are joyous, reflective, and capture the essence of winter. With music by Linda Brockinton, Heidi Muller and Bob Webb, Lance Frodsham, Jack and Mary Giger, Mark Gilston, Jessica Comeau, Bing Futch, and Appalasia.
For episode resources, go to: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/020.html
Sharon, You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers..
Sharon, I just want to let you know and I'm sure my fellow Wartz members will tell you the same that you are always welcome to our Wartz gatherings. We love you too!
Thanks for the PDF Rob. Will check it out. I was a featured extra in a film last year called "Dirt Road to Lafayette". It was filmed in Lafayette, LA and they played this song throughout most of the scenes. Actually the song played was "MacPherson's Lament". The film should be out soon I hope. It was directed by a Scotish man and most of the main actors were from Scotland. One of them had a staring roll in "Braveheart" a few years ago with Mel Gibson.
This is Sharon - I just discovered these wonderful tributes to Oliver! Thank you all so much. Today he will be laid to rest at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery with full military honors. Monday night at the viewing the Mountain Dulcimer Players of Lancaster played background music for about an hour....such a wonderful tribute to him - everyone just LOVED it. I did have one of his dulcimers there---most people had no idea what it was. He loved this chat line and LOVED the Wartz group and friends....he struggled to get to the last meeting of that group. In his last week here on earth - we managed to get our our Oblate group at church, the Reptile Club meeting on Friday, friends from the Shell Collectors club here for dinner on Sunday and then one of his friends from the dulcimer group came and played music with him on Tuesday. Wednesday morning he was doing what he loved--feeding his turtles! Thank you all so much for being his friend (and mine too). Thank you to the Wartz group for the lovely plant you sent.
I just heard of Oliver Ogden passing away send my prayers to heaven and hope and pray for Sharon.
I'm setting up a tropical fish aquarium today in my office...the first aquarium I've had in about 40 years.
When I was in the aquarium section of the pet store yesterday, there was an older man happily chatting with the pretty sales clerk about his various aquariums...it was cute to see them avidly discussing their tanks, and her showing him pictures of her tanks at home, on her phone. It all made me think fondly of Oliver and his turtles.
