Forum Activity for @dusty

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

@UserNo4, that sounds like life here in Northern California.  I have been working from home for about 10 years, so my work is not affected. But otherwise . . . The schools are closed, although my daughter is already working with her teachers in Google Classroom.  The churches are closed and offering some services online, but that doesn't help elderly, tech-ignorant folks like my mother-in-law.  My wife is working (mostly unsuccessfully) from home as are most other state workers. Bars and cafes have been closed. Restaurants have been asked to reduce capacity by 50 percent, but most are closing as few people feel safe in such establishments.  Many retail shops have closed, including some music stores.  Gyms have all closed.  My daughter's soccer club has suspended all games and practices. 

It had been raining for the past few days, and I'm happy to see some sunshine today, for at least we can get outside for a stroll or some yardwork.

I think I have no choice but to cancel my monthly dulcimer club. The music store where we meet is trying to stay open, but since we have been told to hunker down in our homes, I don't want to give conflicting advice and suggest we all gather together.

 

updated by @dusty: 03/18/20 01:01:53AM

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

1. All in-person church activities cancelled, including our small group meetings. It's on-line, which ... well, is better than nothing.

2. I participate in two music groups, one where I take a hammered dulcimer and one where I take a mountain dulcimer. The venues of both have shut down / shut us out.

3. My wife started working from home today. Daughter's school is out for two weeks, officially, but I expect it to be out for the rest of the year. In two weeks, she will probably start some sort of distance learning.

4. I like to go skiing and snowboarding. The season ended at least a week early, perhaps two.

5. I work at home, remotely, as a contractor. In late April, the client is having an all-staff retreat. Well, it was. Not anymore. The cancellation makes my life easier, but it also means I'll go at least four months before I see any of my colleagues in person.

6. Sigh. I'm an introvert who over the last couple of years has become less introverted. Guess I picked a bad couple of years to start that transition.

That's just a start. There are other things.

updated by @userno4: 03/17/20 07:59:00PM

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

"Coronstipation" and "Skip by the Loo" -- y'all are too funny!

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for your post, DoC!  Sorry things are gloomy across The Pond.  Things are somewhat gloomy here as well, what with the pesky COVID virus preparation shutting things down and generally making a nuisance of itself.  We need to rise above it, and dulcimers sure help re-focus us on nicer things!  I'm confident that you'll make the McSpadden modifications with no trouble at all.  Best wishes for a successful outcome.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

"Coronstipation", that's funny but I actually thought how to cut down on trips to the loo. Maybe sing a few rounds of "Skip by the Loo my darlin" as needed.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

A few months retired, both Jean and I are already used to being at home alone, with ham radio for me, art for her and music for both of us keeping us busy outside of the normal routine. Enough supplies here for a while.

On a lighter note, something I put on Facebook this morning:

Suggested new word for 2020:

Coronstipation: When you're afraid to go to the bathroom because you don't want to use up the last of the toilet paper in the house.

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hello to y'all from a gloomy United Kingdom.  I tend to go by the name DoC, reside in Derbyshire.  I recently acquired a '84 or '86 McSpadden that was originally intended as a 4 string dulcimer but was finished off as 3 string.  Whilst I love it as it is, I find it lacks something that 4 strings add - so I've ordered a few extra bits and am going to revert it back to being a 4 string.  Fingers crossed I don't mess it up in the meantime, but I have worked on and built guitars before so am hoping for the best.

Just want to say thanks to all those who have already welcomed me to the forum, even though this is my first post here.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

Oh, and the vacation (2-week) we had planned for May is more than likely toast.  As well as the 1-week we had planned for July (to Canada).  

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I work in Seattle and live in a suburb, so it's been stressful.  We don't have kids, but all the schools K-12 statewide are shut through 4/24.  Both BF and I have been telecommuting for nearly 2 weeks now, don't see an end in sight on that.  They just shut down restaurants/bars/etc. until the end of the month, no gatherings of 50--statewide.  We're in high risk group mainly just due to age, so we're being super cautious.  (My normal commute involved crowded buses.)  I've only been out for groceries, and one vet visit.  We don't tend to go out much normally, but the idea of all this going on--and being afraid of catching something by merely picking up groceries is daunting (and going to the grocery store and having them be out of stuff).  I actually wore gloves yesterday (place was picked over, all TP sold out), and of course, have been washing hands, etc.  I've laid in a good supply of things, hopefully enough.

My dulcimer and my guitar are lifesavers. When I play, I can actually forget about all this for a while.  They take me away like nothing else.  (Reading is a problem, since I usually enjoy-and write--post-apocalyptic novels!  No stomach for them at the moment.)

Stay safe and well everyone!

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I'm retired, but Lady Sally still works as a Clinical Pharmacist for our local VA.  Other than that we don't do a lot of going out.  As Hurricane Preppers (i.e we live in Florida) we always have a far amount of canned goods; and we get most of our veg from a local farmer's co-op (order on-line and either go to a pickup location or they also deliver).  

Lots of projects to work on in my "copious free time" as Tom Leherer once said.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

Just staying home with the better half. School is canceled for two weeks, so that means that we have three grand daughters at home with us. They have on line home work to do. But living out in the boonies, leaves little for them to do. Going to have to break out the board games and have some fun time with them. 

Just bought a bowed psaltry for my wife for her birthday. So we'll be teaching each other how to play it. So we have things to do. Making the best of a bad thing.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

We are retired and live in a rural area. So that helps a lot. Currently we are in the middle of our annual maple syrup production, so that is keeping us busy out in the woods and in our sugar house. So, we are staying very busy with that. The maple trees don't care about all this and it's one event that has not been cancelled.

updated by @susie: 03/17/20 07:28:54AM

What's the deal with Aquavinas?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I'm with Robin. I like to hear how it sounds, too.

updated by @jim-fawcett: 03/17/20 06:33:48AM

What's the deal with Aquavinas?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

The best I understand it is that as the water moves around the pan, it alters the vibration in the places it is in contact with the pan. What I think this means is that to get the most effect you want the water to be moving around as much as possible. When i fill the pan nearly all the way it 'muddies' the tone and as it sloshes does not change the tone very much at all. Just enough water to go across the bottom has almost no noticeable effect. Putting about 1/2" of water at the bottom of the pan seems to have the most pronounced effect of any level. I have also noticed that the thinner the metal of the pan, the louder the effect is. 

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I, too, live in a rural area. All our dulcimer activities are cancelled because the nursing homes where we usually play are not allowing visitors. Also, a community Lenten service were to play at was cancelled. So I just plan to stay at home, play music, and work in the workshop. I have a PA German zitter to repair and a few instruments I hope to build. I should keep fairly busy. Oh, and I have some writing to do. The more I think about, the busier I will be.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I'm retired, so, until I run out of necessaries I don't need to go to town (except for a couple of doctor appointments I made well in advance of this current health issue). I also live in the country, so my contact with people is minimal. This is all good, because I'm at high risk health-wise.

Anyway, I hope everybody stays safe and healthy.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

@dmvtatter, what a coincidence that you retired right at this moment.  Congratulations!  I work from home about 90 percent of the time, so my work life has not changed. But schools have shut down so my daughter is home every day, and my wife was just told that she will be working from home, too, which will be a big change for her whole office.  The house will be busier than normal, and the dog will just love it!

I, too, am expecting to play a lot of dulcimer during this down period, although I think I have no choice but to cancel our monthly dulcimer gathering.  I could easily configure our space so that we were not too close together, but I would never forgive myself if someone got sick because of our group.  

updated by @dusty: 03/16/20 08:48:25PM

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I’m very fortunate. I just retired on Friday so I was already prepared for staying home for a while. I got excused for my term of jury duty so until the groceries I bought today run out I have no reason to leave home. I’m in the at risk category so I really appreciate everyone who is self isolating to reduce the spread of the virus. I’ll be spending some time with my dulcimer-it has been neglected for the past year due to my high stress job situation.

How is the COVID-19 coronavirus affecting you?

OFF TOPIC discussions

Perhaps some of you have seen some of the videos of Italians quarantined at home singing from balconies (like this one with encouraging videos from China as well).  All around the world people are facing challenges dealing with and trying to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.  How is it affecting you?  Are you still going to work?  Children and grandchildren home from school?  Dulcimer festivals closing?  

Please do not offer 1) any political commentary or 2) any medical advice.  We want to ensure that FOTMD remains a space free of partisan bickering and never offers false or misleading medical information.

updated by @dusty: 07/31/23 09:20:35PM

What's the deal with Aquavinas?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Never seen, played, or heard one, but, I suspect the amount of water in the pan would affect the sound quite a bit....something I'm sure you must've found out. 

What's the deal with Aquavinas?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Nate, I'd love to hear how your bundt pan instrument sounds! 

What's the deal with Aquavinas?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Heard of it in passing, on one of the Farcebook pages and thought it was a joke at first.  But someone thought it sounded neat.   Sounds just a bit too cumbersome for the ordinary player -- something you'd want on a stand rather than your lap I suspect.   I'd certainly listen to a recording, to hear these, but I would never personally build one.

What's the deal with Aquavinas?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

At some point I found myself on the Wikipedia page for mountain dulcimers where I saw a description of a mountain dulcimer variant called an "Aquavina." The description given went as follows: "... essentially a variant of the Appalachian Dulcimer , but with a metal resonator body partially filled with water. The player would agitate the instrument while playing, resulting in a constant acoustic phasing effect within the instrument's  harmonics"

I had already made dulcimers out of things like coffee cans, cookie tins, and frying pans so immediately this seemed right up my alley. A bit of googling later I was only able to find indication of one actual song recorded by the inventor called "Naïades" which I was unable to find any recordings of. The only audio I was able to find at all was a video of a so-called "junk aquavina" which had very primitive design, two strings, was played with a slide, and seemed to have audio effects added on, as well as other instruments played over it. Basically I have no idea what this thing is supposed to sound like.

I figured if no one else knows what it sounds like, maybe I can find out for myself, and when I considered the definition I quickly thought of an idea that's been bouncing around my head for a while that utilizes a bundt pan as a resonator. Once I built it, I poured some water in the bundt pan and started playing and WOW. Very difficult to describe. The best I can articulate is that it's a lot like having a mild "wah wah pedal" electric guitar effect every time you slightly move the instrument. It adds a dreamlike ambiance. 

The first adjective I thought of was 'dreamy' yet the wiki page uses the term "eerie" and the 'junk aquavina' video also sounds quite ominous, though I am not assuredly convinced that either of those are definitive. I'd love to find out more. As it stands I've made a few using bundt pans filled partially with water. I'll include an image of one of them, and will make a video soon to show how mine sounds, but I'm very curious about what you guys know. Have any of you folks ever made any? Played one? Ever heard one? Seen one in person? Does anyone know where I can find any videos of them? Images? 

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I think the point of the original post was not to give up and think you can't do something, but to accept that you might not be able to do it "yet."  That is certainly good advice.

I've told this story before, but when I was first starting on the dulcimer I bought some tab from Tull Glazener to learn a song I had always loved, but there were some chords in the very beginning that I just could not play.  It seemed I could not force my fingers into those shapes. I got frustrated, tossed the tab up in the air and walked away.  I didn't give up on the dulcimer, but I just gave up on playing that song.  About 6 or 8 months later I was cleaning up a bit and moved a book case to clean behind it.  A piece of paper had fallen there, and I picked it up to see that it was the tab I had tossed in frustration.  I sat down to try to remember what it was about the song that I was unable to play, and you know what?  I was able to do it!  What had once seemed impossible was, some time later and with no conscious effort, now fully do-able.  I'm so glad I didn't decide initially that I couldn't play the dulcimer or couldn't play chords or whatever.

So if you find a technique or a chord beyond your abilities now, don't fret ( ). Just keep playing and you'll see that over time your skills (and the muscles in your fingers) will develop and you'll improve. It might take a while, so be patient and find joy in what you are capable of playing even while you hope one day to be able to play more challenging stuff. About five years ago I realized that my pinky was really weak and near useless.  So I developed some exercises and some songs that emphasized the pinky.  I worked on that stuff regularly, but it took a long while.  About two years later I was playing a tune and realized that my pinky had become just as strong as my other fingers.  I now find chording fairly easy and natural, but it was certainly not that way at the beginning.

If you join a gym with the goal of running 5 miles on a treadmill, you wouldn't decide on your first day that because you tired out after 1/2 mile you were incapable of running 5. You would understand that it takes time to develop the skills and abilities to reach your goal. The same is true of playing music.

The real trick, I think, is to avoid letting the frustration overwhelm the joy we get from playing music.  Learn to play the simple stuff well, even if you still have ambitions to play more challenging material.

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I was having trouble hitting the 1-2-4...then I got an acoustic guitar in December.  One day some weeks later I casually reached down to my dulcimer and nailed the 1-2-4 with ease (I had thought it would be forever unattainable).  I'm thinking it's not just practice and use, but the acoustic requires more finger strength to fret than the dulcimer.  I'm thinking use/practice + additional strength to be able to lay out that hand has done wonders!

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Agreed, Strumelia! Your insights are eloquently stated. I am thankful that I do attend a dulcimer group as often as possible. They have been very helpful on the economy of movement when going up and down the fretboard. I was fortunate that a teacher from the group helped me with that right at the start of my playing. This site is wonderful. The dulcimer and the dulcimer community are a true treasure. 

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

@silverstrings, that is inspiring about your hand stretching more over time!  I imagine others will have renewed hope after reading your story.  :)

There's yet another factor helping people with small hands who practice or play often-  I don't think most folks think about how our hands get more nimble with more playing.  New music makers move the hands stiffly or somewhat awkwardly of course, and they also simply think too much before each note. With time our hands learn how to more swiftly and gracefully move, jump, or slide from fret to fret or string to string. We learn how to hammer on, slide a bit, or lift off the string.. all of which facilitate smooth moving along the melody of a tune without needing to purposefully stretch quite as much.  So even if your hands don't stretch very much, it will get easier with time and patience.

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Thanks for this thread on small hands and VSL. All of you have such good insights and it is much appreciated. I am a newbie to the dulcimer and love learning from those who are much farther down the road on this wonderful music journey.  I agree that it takes practice to get the stretch that you need. I have been playing the dulcimer daily for almost a year now. The first couple of weeks, the top of my chording hand (left) hurt. I wear a size 4 ring! I pushed through and now can stretch my very tiny hand flat 7 inches! I really don’t know what is was before.  I have a Redwood/Black Walnut 26” VSL McSpadden, as well as, an all Black Walnut 26” VSL McSpadden. The all Walnut is pretty loud and the harmonics and sustain are wonderful. Same with the Redwood/Walnut but a warmer, somewhat lower sounding instrument. I can do a 1-2-4 chord but it was hard at first. It does take practice but I am delighted and don’t think I would not want a dulcimer with any shorter than 25.5 or longer than 26.5”. I guess what I like is being able to pick up other people’s dulcimers. If I had decided to “give up” and settled for a very short VSL, I would not get the joy of trying out different dulcimers. Only time I had trouble playing one is when it was 28.5 VSL which was the standard McSpadden. 

updated by @silverstrings: 03/14/20 10:13:44PM

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have several things I want to work on, but one in particular. Learn more songs with the dulcimer and harmonica played together. The good folks seem to love this combo, but I’ve been lazy and neglectful. Also, finally take the time to memorize all the verses on Wildwood Flower. What a beautiful song it is,  High time I add some words with it.

updated by @terry-wilson: 03/14/20 08:18:42PM

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@dusty-turtle. Guess it's time for us all to work on our "High Lonesome" sound.

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Heck, folks, it's YOUR dulcimer...play it any darned way you please!!!

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Now that we're all likely to be staying at home more than usual, I think musicians will have an easier time than most.  At least we have a hobby that you can do by yourself and from which we derive immense pleasure.

Supposedly Robert Johnson was a lousy guitarist and was forced out of a bar where he was performing.  He returned six months or a year later the best guitarist anyone had ever heard.  The myth holds that he made a pact with the devil, selling his soul in exchange for his superior musicianship.  I think he just practiced scales and licks for a year. 

That's what I'm going to do. Practice my dulcimer, learn some new tunes, maybe develop some material to teach beginners, and I'll come out of this a better musician. A lonely musician, yes, but a better one.

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

@pmundy , what a lovely and uplifting post and so well expressed about your journey in the joy of music.  Thank you! 

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Playing outside is fun, like a Farmer’s Market. That’s where a Roland Mobile Cube amp comes in real handy. Operates on batteries as well as plug-in, and can plug in mic and instrument

Opening day our FM cancelled. Little league games canceled too. Try explaining this bit of news to a 10 yr old. Church services for at least a month.

People are swarming to buy up toilet paper. Whoa...when I was a boy, long as we had a Sears catalog we were fine. Bottled water selling like crazy. I fine our well water to be as wet as the bottled stuff.

The "I have small hands" idea

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I usually just read but don't comment but now seems an appropriate time to thank Rob, Dusty and Strumelia (and others) for the encouragement with "suggestions on how to improve" especially being an encouragement. I got my first dulcimer about 2 and a half years ago being motivated by what I heard and saw some friends doing playing chord melody style. I still haven't gotten where I want to be in terms of playing skill but I can vouch that practice makes a world of difference even if I can only find 5 or 10 minutes on a particular day. Some days are really good, some days I have to set my instrument down and try again later. (I use that time to try and learn some music theory because I want to learn the why's of chords instead of just playing by ear.)

In the short time I've been playing I've come to appreciate the different playing styles. I want to learn noter/drone because certain songs seem to lend themselves to that particular style of playing and I enjoy chord/melody playing on certain songs. About 6 months ago I was asked to start playing in church. It took about 4 months for me to start because I was scared of making mistakes while playing. I got over that one real quick thanks to the encouragement from the other musicians. If you had told me 4 weeks ago that I could transpose a chord on the fly (the group frequently capo's to the second or fourth fret on their guitars) I probably would have responded "yeah - right and pigs can fly". I have by no means arrived but this week at practice I was able to transpose simple chords. I have been stretched to learn new chords and new fingering techniques including relying on the "pinky" finger. It is getting stronger with practice. So, practice - practice - practice and don't give up because it seems too hard right now.

Music is a wonderful gift. Sometimes I just sit and wonder how those individual notes can come together to make such a beautiful sound. I love listening to the different players here. I hope you would agree how fortunate we are to have this site and the multitude of contributors playing and posting their songs for us.

Thank you at times seems inadequate but sometimes it's the only words I can find to express my appreciation for all you do. Thank you Rob, thank you Dusty, thank you to all who post their songs here, and especially thank you Strumelia (Lisa) for your insights and for maintaining this site. I hope all, of you have a blessed day.

Phil

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

That's a good idea. I've already played outside once this year, but it's too cold (still) on most days to do that. 

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 

I also play at a senior care facility and yes, the dulcimer group I am with will not be visiting to sometime in the future. Not only our practices but also all our performances and Festivals coming up are cancelled. 

I am disappointed but it is understandable

I thought I would play outside each evening, so my neighbors who are staying home would enjoy. Maybe many of us could fill the air with sweet sounds

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I don’t reckon I’d ever do that.  But thanks for the info.  Now I know.  
updated by @terry-wilson: 03/13/20 09:34:48PM

Idle time. What to do.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

"Live streaming" is the same idea as live television broadcast, except it usually means using the internet rather than the airwaves to transmit the signal. It also includes watching on a computer or smartphone rather than a TV with rabbit ears. 

If you're interested in performing in front of a group, it would be a way for you to to that ... except you'd be performing in front of a camera, not (for lack of a better term) a studio audience.

Eh. I suppose it might be better than nothing. But I suspect it would be less satisfying. Then again, people record themselves while playing and then upload the video to YouTube, FOTMD, Facebook, and so forth.