“Shinga Shing Shinga Shing Ching Chang”
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
My wife didn't mind the dulcimer, but when I got a bowed psaltery....
Forum Activity for @steven-berger
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
“Shinga Shing Shinga Shing Ching Chang”
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is funny to me because it is similar to my wife’s comments. She just doesn’t get my love of old time traditional music, especially music played noter-drone style on a traditional dulcimer. Either I play very poorly or it is such a different sound to her ears that she doesn’t “get it”. Hahaha I have been playing guitar and singing for over 30 years. She likes and understands that. She also doesn’t understand that my music room is slowly being overtaken by so many different dulcimers. Soon I will have to take over more closet space in another room. But...I love it. Isn’t music great?!
“Shinga Shing Shinga Shing Ching Chang”
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
That’s how my wife described my dulcimer playing earlier this week. I am a beginner, and I only began playing about a month ago. That was the first time she had heard me play the dulcimer. I have been waiting until she goes to bed to play, so as not to bother her.
Later that evening, I asked her what she meant by that. She said she didn’t mean it in a bad way, but that “it was really different than your guitar”.
How did your spouse/significant other react when they first heard you playing?
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here is a link if anyone wants to leave a tribute to Mike: https://www.nelsonfrazierfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Michael-Stephen-Slone?obId=3981475#/celebrationWall
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hello, Lisa. And, again, welcome to FOTMD. Looks like we have something else in common besides Marquette; I was a hospice chaplain for 28 years. I played my dulcimer for patients and for staff/volunteers. I played for our annual volunteer banquet, for our annual memorial service, and our annual tree lighting. The dulcimer is a good instrument for help in decompressing. Enjoy it.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Lisa, I'm in Gaylord. If you ever have the time, you should consider attending the Evart Dulcimer Fest (ODPC Funfest) in July. It is full of workshops for all levels and all instruments. I offered to meet another new player there many years ago, to help her along, and now we are great friends. If you choose to go, my sister and I will be there this year. BTW, I'm about your age, I'm 55. I play many instruments, including the Native American Flute. There are usually several workshops for NAF at Evart too. If you have questions, feel free to PM me.
updated by @susie: 01/04/19 09:11:45AM
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi Lisa; Welcome to the wacky world of dulcimers. I think you're going to fit right in! A Cardboard dulcimer is a good, inexpensive place to start -- the frets are accurately place which means the notes are true. Later, if you like, you can have a wooden body made (or make it yourself) and put the fretboard from your cardboard dulcimer on new body. I did that recently for a student of mine, and it was pretty inexpensive to do.
Here's a link to an article I wrote several years ago, called I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What? It's an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terms (so we all speak the same jargon) plus answers to many beginner questions about the tuning, playing, care and feeding of your new friend. Good reading while you wait for your dulcimer to arrive...
https://fotmd.com/strumelia/group_discuss/2316/ken-hulmes-i-just-got-a-dulcimer-now-what-article
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Lisa, welcome to fotmd.com. You will meet many new friends here, who will help you in your journey with this wonderful instrument, called a dulcimer.
Often, I use a NAF in my assisted living home ministry. There are others too.
Good luck to ya.
Introduce Yourself!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi, I'm Lisa. I love in Marquette, Upper Michigan, two blocks from Lake Superior. I enjoy playing musical instruments, mainly woodwinds until now. clarinet, recorder, Native American flute, irish penny whistle and simple, cheap bamboo flutes. I was terrible at improvising until I took up NA flute five or so years ago, I couldn't let go and just play.
I've always loved string instruments, but have been frustrated by the learning curve. I'm not a singer, and just strumming chords was boring to me, and finger picking a six string or even a ukulele was beyond my level of patience and time. I do love playing the kalimba or thumb piano, I have a small collection of those. Very easy and fun to play.
I remembered in the 80s, one of my friends got a dulcimer kit for Christmas, which she and her dad built. I vaguely remember playing it a few times, but I was too into clarinet to be interested.
Now, my musical tastes have matured, and I enjoy world music, especially Irish traditional music, slow ballads, music along those lines.
While surfing youtube, I stumbled upon the dulcimer, and knew that's what I've been looking for.
I've got a cheap cardboard dulcimer on the way to use until I find a nicer one to purchase.
I'm currently reading the forums heavily to get a grasp of what I should be looking for, as whatever I get will come in the mail. There's nothing local for sale, and I don't know any players.
I'm glad there's such an active forum to read, it's very helpful for someone in my position.
In real life, I work as a care aide for a home health and hospice company. I'm kind of the jill of all trades, I work half in the office, half in the field doing visits and training new aides. Music is necessary for me to decompress, it can be extremely stressful at work.
I have a husband, 21 yr old stepson, three rescue dogs, and take care of my 89 year old mother, though she lives alone, for now. I'm 51 years old, and my job has taught me not to wait too long to do something important to you, life can get messy really fast. This is important to me, I'm really looking forward to my dulcimer journey.
Best regards, Lisa
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
What a great Mike Slone story! His personality comes shining through his words. It would do us well to read this! Thanks for sharing, Robin!
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks for posting that link, Robin. It was something I was going to try to do this evening. I think that a nice piece on Mike.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I, too, was saddened to hear of Mike's death. We used to chat quite a bit on here. He helped a lot of people come to know and appreciate the mountain dulcimer. My prayers go out for his friends and family.
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I don't know what to say to this news.
To me, Mike was the embodiment of the old-time Kentucky dulcimer spirit. A quiet and knowledgeable man who wanted to help others understand dulcimer history and mountain music. He did his part to perpetuate the best of tradition.
Rest in peace, friend, and may God bless your family left behind. Too sad...
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
So sorry to hear this, Ken. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Aw, that's terrible news. A great loss for so many music loving folks. My heart goes out to Mike's family.
Sad News
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Friends, I just received word that Mike Slone who worked with the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming in Hindman, KY died. I copied this from the Appalachian Artisan Center Facebook post:
Arrangements for our dear friend and accomplished luthier apprentice, Mike Slone will be at Nelson Frazier Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday January 4th six to nine p.m. and visitation on Saturday. Funeral will be Sunday January 6th at eleven a.m. with burial in the Slone Family Cemetery.
Mike Slone was a tenacious student of local musical heritage and in particular, of the dulcimers of "Uncle Ed" Thomas and McKinley Craft. In 2012, he began making quality replicas of these significant instruments at the AAC Luthiery and in 2014 was granted a KY Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant to further this work. He became a certified Community Scholar through the Kentucky Arts Council. He was a major contributor and curator of the Museum of the Mountain dulcimer, on permanent display in AAC's Cody building, and he coordinated the Hindman Dulcimer Festival in 2014 and 2015.
Mike Slone was the co-recipient of the 2016 Kentucky Governors Award in the Arts on behalf of the AAC's Hindman Dulcimer Project.
We hold Mike Slone's family in our hearts as we honor the memory of a "true original". A strong voice in the telling of the story of this region.
My sympathy goes out to Mike's family and friends. He was an enthusiastic proponent of the mountain dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
updated by @ken-longfield: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
What songs were you taught in kindergarten/grade school?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
"This Land Is My Land"
"Oh, Shenandoah"
"Old McDonald"
"She'll Be Comin' 'Round The Mountain"
"On Top Of Old Smokey"
"The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomand"
I know there were more, but these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head.
My favorite one, of which I can't remember the title, went something like this: " There was a little princess a long time ago". If anyone can remember this song, that would be great.
what was your first song on the dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I just got my first mountain dulcimer a couple of months ago, so I’m still wet behind the ears. But, being a songwriter, my first song was an original entitled “What’s It Look Like?”. I didn’t write the words yet though, because I’m still trying to get the chords worked out. I thought It sounded pretty darn good until I recorded it. Holy cow is it slow! There are long breaks between chords, because I don’t have that muscle memory yet. Whew! Hey, but that’s why we record right, so we can hear our mistakes?
Dulcimers in books & films
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here's my collection of shows/movies I know about featuring mountain dulcimers:
CHRISTY TV SERIES https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com/dulcimentaries/dulcimentary-articles-pt-ii/christy-tv-series/
DANIEL BOONE, AKA FESS PARKER, PLAYED DULCIMER IN 1964 & 1969 EPISODES https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com/dulcimentaries/dulcimentary-articles-pt-ii/daniel-boone-aka-fess-parker-played-dulcimer-in-1964-1969-episodes/
JOHN BOY WALTON PLAYS TWO MOUNTAIN DULCIMERS https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com/dulcimentaries/dulcimentary-articles-pt-ii/john-boy-walton-plays-a-mountain-dulcimer/
Chevy Chase Show: KNOW WHAT I MEAN VERN? https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com/dulcimentaries/dulcimentary-articles-pt-ii/know-what-i-mean-vern/
LAST MAN STANDING https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com/dulcimentaries/dulcimentary-articles-pt-ii/last-dulcimer-standing/
SHEFFEY https://athensdulcimerclub.wordpress.com/dulcimentaries/dulcimentary-articles-pt-ii/sheffey/
updated by @david-bennett: 12/31/18 11:18:36AM
Dulcimers in books & films
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
ahhhhh, this is the post to put it in. A day before Christmas I got a DVD of our family playing and singing Christmas songs thirty years ago in Hawaii. I got somethings wrong in my speaking, but you'll see 8 of our 14 children. The older ones were gone....one in the Marines, some in school and some married. Happy new year to you all. &source=gmail&ust=1546298787918000&usg=AFQjCNFF3ALCH5AzPI6rFiLSv9DPO9DZPA"> ALOHA, IRENE
What do we call it?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
My friends always ask, Well just how many do You have ? I call them my Eye Candy they are like a box of chocolates all different but wonderful in their own way. .
Dulcimers in books & films
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Don Pedi played Dulcimer the movie the Tune Catchers set in Appalachian Mountains Not that good but remember it because of Don.playing dulcimer at a barn dance.
updated by @glenda-hubbard: 01/01/19 06:58:26AM
Dulcimers in books & films
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Several episodes of the TV series Daniel Boone, where Fess Parker actually played (rather than just faking) a dulcimer for his wife.
Several music related TV programs where Cyndi Lauper plays her dulcimer. Taught by David Schnauffer. She composes all her tunes on dulcimer.
updated by @ken-hulme: 12/31/18 07:06:47AM
Dulcimers in books & films
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
On the TV show, "The Waltons", one episode featured the dulcimer. One episode (right word?) of the TV show, "Rainbow Quest", hosted by Pete Seeger, featured Jean Ritchie; another episode featured Richard and Mimi Farina (Richard played dulcimer). In the early '60's, I recall seeing John Jacob Niles once or twice on TV.
Dulcimers in books & films
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
The other day I started reading The Urban Fantasy Anthology by Peter S. Beagle and Joe R. Lansdale. The very first story, set in 1970, was "A Bird that Whistles" by Emma Bull about a young banjo player who meets a charismatic, handsome and great musician. I was immediately greeted with a great opening sentence, "The dulcimer player sat on the back steps of Orpheus Coffeehouse." The musician, a fiddle and guitar player, was just trying out the dulcimer, but there were references to "Shady Grove," other folk songs and tuning the banjo to "mountain minor."
Where else have you encountered dulcimers in films or in books?
updated by @tssfulk: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
what was your first song on the dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
"Lincoln and Liberty"...made lots of goofs learning it...still make lots of goofs playing it now (after 30 years, go figure)!
What do we call it?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
"Too many" (7)...but I just ordered a new one, so I guess there are never too many dulcimers!
Randy Wilkinson tab book for Elizabethan Music
Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs
Oh my! I could just kiss you, @Maddie-Myers! 
I've been looking for that book for years and I don't know why it never occurred to me to post a note here. I'll send you a personal message right away. You're the best!
Randy Wilkinson tab book for Elizabethan Music
Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs
Hi, Dusty - I just checked into the FOMD site for the first time in a long time and came across your request for the Randy Wilkinson Elizabethan Music for Dulcimer book. I have a book by Wilkinson entitled "Randy Wilkinson Elizabethan Dulcimer." published in 1982 by Kicking Mule. It says it goes with the album KM226. I would be happy to give it to you. However, I live in Australia and would have to post it from there, so I will need your postal address, and perhaps you real name, unless you regularly get mail addressed to Dusty Turtle and your mailman doesn't get hostile about it.
Cheers, Maddie Myers in Western Australia
Randy Wilkinson tab book for Elizabethan Music
Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs
For several years I've been searching for the book of dulcimer tablature that accompanies Randy Wilkinson's album on Kicking Mule records called Elizabethan Music for Dulcimer. The book came out in 1982, I believe.
Does anyone have a copy kicking around that they'd be willing to part with?
Muchas gracias!
updated by @dusty: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
Attention Ledford owners.
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Difficult to say. Homer made mistakes and you know the registry if far from complete. Those are "special" tuners, maybe you can find a matching description in the time line?