Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

@lisa-golladay

Let me put on my marketing consultant hat (ow! ow! I thought I retired from this!) You can take this with as many grains of salt as you want but here goes:

1. You can declare any date a "holiday" on social media. The date does not need any significance. However, having a reason why this date was chosen makes a convenient hook for starting the conversation and getting peoples' attention.

2. You can almost certainly convince a member of Congress to introduce a resolution declaring anything an official national holiday, and it will be approved as routine. A representative from Kentucky would be an obvious person to ask.

3. Pick a date that works for your objectives. Are you looking for a good date to hold a festival (summer or early fall)? A date for scholars to argue about (the first documented dulcimer build)? Do you want to trigger an immediate deep dive into history (Ed Thomas)? Or introduce dulcimers to schoolchildren and community groups in a way that's not too intimidating and feels relevant?

4. Birthdays make people feel good. Nobody celebrates the day somebody died unless it's the Wicked Witch of the East. Whom nobody remembers.

5. Piggybacking an established related event, like Music on The Porch Day, will gain you no visibility. Somebody playing dulcimer on a day when lots of people are playing lots of other instruments will not make the dulcimer stand out.

6. Stepping into a season crowded with other holidays will gain you no visibility -- unless you can incorporate your event into other events that would otherwise not have dulcimers. This is leveraging our synergies -- or synergizing our leverage, depending on the preferred buzzword of the moment. Like I said, marketing.

That's my consulting advice, since consultants never tell you what to do, they only spout generalities and ask questions!  Now returning to my preferred persona as a civilian member of FOTMD, I will write a post about why December 8 is a perfect date for Dulcimer Day.

Why tie it to some specific dulcimer event which could be the name anyway? Like 'Jean Ritchie Day' or 'Kentucky Dulcimer Day', etc.

The 'why' the day was selected is irrevelant, just as long as a day is identified and observed consistently.

I suggest the same day as 'play music on the front porch day'. 

so, what if next year they find another old dulcimer with an authentic earlier date?

Aug 1 is 'Uncommon instrument Awarement Day'.

I'll go with the 1st authenticated build date of August 28th.

Another possible date would be June 21, the date the mountain dulcimer became the official state instrument of Kentucky.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I would rather see August 28 as National Dulcimer Day especially because I would rather see December 8 as Jean's birthday and not overshadowing or overshadowed by another celebration. Although Jean exposed many people to the mountain dulcimer she was so much more than that. She was a promoter of the Ritchie family and southern Appalachian songs as well.  I really think we would do a disservice to her by tying her memory only to the dulcimer.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

If Jean's birthday were chosen, her beautiful Wintergrace and the wonderful Ritchie family Christmas movie Dave Garraway introduces could be part of the highlights.  I also submit that it could be an International/Worldwide Appalachian Dulcimer Day we celebrate-- acknowledging both the spread of the instrument's popularity and the region from which it sprang.  Just a couple thoughts.      

I love the idea of Jean’s birthday, but my concern is that puts the day in the midst of the holiday season and it might get lost in all the events going on at that time.  If we wanted to schedule a big event for that day it might be challenging with everyone’s holiday plans.  But, I agree that Jean is certainly the most influential leader of the dulcimer world.  I still play her records every week and sing her songs.

here is another thought, Jean died on June 1, 2015, that would put the celebration in the midst of dulcimer festival season…might be easier for events…just thinking out loud…

San Juan Hill too much for him?

Folks, if we decided on Jean's birthday, the first National Mountain Dulcimer Day would fall exactly on the 100th anniversary of her birth.  That's too cool a coincidence to ignore.

Another vote here for Dec 8.  I understand the significance of the earliest dulcemore, and Uncle Ed; but IMHO Jean did so much for the dulcimer across the country and across the world...  

Well, if you want a poll, then please gather here the suggested dates and reasons for them- once i create the poll I can't change the items or add to them. Discuss this for a bit if you would and somebody make a post to organize the options... then in a day or two I can create/activate the poll from those various choices. Now's the time to make suggestions to add to the choices.

Perfect!

If you guys wanted, I could create a Poll here on fotmd to see the number of votes for each suggested date...?

I get the reasons behind the March and the August suggestions.  For me, though, Jean Ritchie's birthday is THE day.  She did so much to introduce the mountain dulcimer to populations of people wholly unfamiliar with the instrument.  

I like Steve's idea even better. Since it is two days from our wedding anniversary I might remember it. So, Dusty, are you volunteering to set up the Wikipedia entry"

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Of course we could consider the earliest authenticated dulcimer with a date of….drum roll please…John Scales, Jr. August 28, 1832 which could also coincide with play your dulcimer on front porch day…which that dulcimer will be 190 years old this summer.  In ten years it will be two hundred years old..big celebration..

I wasn't trying to start a debate about dates. Every day is dulcimer day in my life.

I do wonder how those "national" days get formalized.  I bet if we just decided on a day and then created a Wikipedia entry on National Dulcimer Day, it would become a thing.  We could encourage instructors and luthiers to offer discounts.  Maybe Quarantune could organize a concert on that day. Who knows?

Either date sounds good to me. Actually sounds as good as a dulcimer...Robert 

I agree with Ken.  I like Thomas' birthday of March 19 (1850).

Not to detract from Jean's fame as a popularizer of the dulcimer, I suggest March 19 as that is the birthdate of James Edward (Uncle Ed) Thomas who built the early hourglass style mountain dulcimer. Didn't Jean's father play one of Thomas's dulcimers?

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

That's exactly what I was thinking, @steve-c ! 

Teddy Romeo Roosevelt just chillin'...

Jean Ritchie was born on December 8, 1922….is a possibility. Is that what you were thinking?

February 11 is National Guitar Day. When is National Dulcimer Day?  I vote for December 8. Anyone know why?

Thanks for the great photo!
The headstock, with its 6 strings and sturdy long shape, reminds me of a large version of French epinettes. This fellow is obviously interested in early instruments and their history. I see another headstock in the making on the table- perhaps for a 4 string dulcimer. How sweet those tiny heart sound holes are!
Is that a vielle on the table in the photo? Lovely! I love the very old sounds such instruments produce.

I'm glad that you found and shared that photo. Like Dusty I would enjoy hearing him play that instrument.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I would love to hear him play that instrument, which has partial frets such that the middle strings are chromatic but the bass and melody strings are diatonic.

Thanks for sharing.

Found! It has been so easy that the criminologist in me (I work in that sector) feels disappointed ;)

The luthier is Alfonso García Oliva, from Navajeda, Cantabria, although in his web he has no information about dulcimer, I hope he will correct it soon (I intend to answer him to check prices, although it is true that for the moment I can't afford a new dulcimer, but it's good to have an idea).

He showed first a rebec (not a medieval fiddle) before the dulcimer, and then to the surprise of the presenter and the audience, a nice 6-string dulcimer and strummed a few chords.

I'll see if I'm able to upload a screenshot of the dulcimer.

And hopefully it will get people's curiosity piqued!

It's good to know the folks in Spain had a brief exposure to the Appalachian dulcimer.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Good night!

First of all, I would like to explain that in the public TV in Spain there is a channel, La 2, that although it doesn't have a large audience, it has interesting contents, and a travel program that many people watch (one of the presenters goes with an adorable dog).

Well, I was watching this program and one of the presenters was in Cantabria (in the north) and went to visit a luthier (I didn't catch his name but I promise I will find out sooner or later).

They presented, I think, a medieval violin, and talk a few about it, and immediately the luthier brings out a beautiful dulcimer, and briefly explains that it comes from the Appalachians but its origin is European, you hear some sweet and beautiful strumming.... And immediately they change the scene and it does not appear again.

But for a few seconds we could see a dulcimer on TV in Spain, in a relatively successful program!

I hope that those few seconds will make him known, and I promise to find out the name of the luthier.

The program was broadcasted yesterday (I saw a replay), in their networks they have not mentioned neither the dulcimer nor the luthier (neither the program itself nor the viewers) but I hope it has touched people's hearts. Mine for sure, I jumped off the couch so much that even my dog was surprised!

I have owned two custom builds from Dave at SweetWoods. Each was skillfully crafted, with a well balanced full sound and easy playing.

A friend had one of Ron Gibson's Barbara Allen models. It was a work of beauty with rich wood, excellent craftsmanship and a wonderful sound. It was perhaps slightly louder than some modern dulcimers.

I've owned and played one of Dave's instruments for years, and I've done one or two "authorized repairs" on instruments of his which live here in Florida, rather than having the owner ship the idulcimer to Missouri. 

Although Dave told me last month that he's built and sold over 5000 of his Student models, he  also builds custom instruments to your specifications.  He's 'slowing down' his building career (medical issues) so if you like the look of his instruments, now is the time!.  The website is a "mess" because he's moving/moved to a new server....  Drop him an email and he'll gladly work with you in any way you choose  -- send you pictures, sound samples, whatever you like.  

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I have moved to a new server. Unfortunately, I was not able to transfer all of my previous emails. If I have not responded to your email, please send me a reminder to Harpmaker@SweetWoodsInstruments.com. I will respond to you as soon as possible. Thank you!

Thank you friends.  I do know what I am looking for vis a vis Fret layout, design and sound.  Around the holidays I sold three of my dulcimers, in hopes that I might talk my wife into allowing me to have one built  The two I kept are a Walnut TK O'Brien (which I consider a nice beginner MD) and a Folk roots D-40 from the 70's ( a beast of an instrument). I'm thinking, I'd like a closer action so that Jenny Lind may be the one, but it would be nice to be able to hold/play one prior to plunking down my cash!

I own one of David Lynch's student model dulcimers and used to suggest newbies get one for their first instrument since I think it was the best value on the market. But I haven't heard from him in a few years.

Ron Gibson dulcimers are a great value, too.  I used to have a Barbara Allen baritone he made which I sold to help finance a more expensive dulcimer.  It was very nice and I miss it.  I also played a used Jenny Lind at a music store. I was impressed with the action and went back to get it the next day, but it was already gone.

My general advice for beginners looking for an upgrade is to be patient and develop your preferences before spending a bunch of cash.  Maybe you will find you like an ebony overlay on the fretboard, or an extra fret, or the strings spaced a certain distance apart, or an internal pickup, or . . . The list just goes on and on.  You have to play a while to develop those preferences, so you might want to stick with a dulcimer that's "good enough" until you know exactly what you want.

Of course, if money is not an issue, go ahead an buy several dulcimers, including a bass dulcimer to give me .

I've had several of Dave's student dulcimers and wound up selling them to students who wanted to move beyond a cardboard dulcimer. I have played quite of few of his regular dulcimers and can tell you that they are well built and a delight to play. I have no experience with Ron's dulcimers, but he has a good reputation as a builder.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Morning Friends!

Still looking for the right one, and came across Sweet Woods instruments and David Lynch. I love the look, but his website is a mess and I cant really see much of his work. Anyone have one of his MD's? Thoughts?

Also, Found Ron Gibson's site as well.  I like his deep bodied Jenny Lynn models, and the fact he will build me a custom instrument.  Thoughts on Ron?

Thanks Friends!

It's good to know the correct terminology, so thanks for clarifying that. I would add, however, for the sake of beginners who might worry about getting it wrong, that for practical purposes when playing music in a jam session, it does not matter what you call it. A dyad works perfectly as well as a chord.

The dulcimer doesn't always provide all the notes you need for a chord, but that is no problem when you are playing in a group. You can count on the guitar, mandolin, banjo, uke and bass players to provide the missing notes. Or maybe they won't... as long as it sounds good it won't matter what notes are missing.

In other words DGD is A-OK when it's time to play a G chord ;-)