Forum Activity for @ken-hulme

Back before al the cellphones had digital recorders built in, I bought a small handheld DR for something like $30, and recorded every minute of every class.

You may want to record the instructor playing the pieces you are working on.  Usually, he or she will demonstrate each piece once before going over it section by section. It can be really helpful to know what things should sound like at full speed.

Did Aaron show you the spider exercise where he moves the fingers of his left hand two-at-a-time?  That's pretty tough at first.  The only person I've met who could do it perfectly the first time is my daughter's piano teacher, and she could do it with both hands.

Thanks for all your suggestions.  What do people record on a device?  I actu8llay took a workshop from Aaron at Pine Mountain where you gave us a funky finger exercise.  Still trying to do that.  I am going to get out of my comfort zone.  Thanks for the encouragement to do that. Nina

Ken, This is such good advice. I am going to 2 workshops within the next two weeks. I did exactly what you advise, but have been nervous that I 'overeached'. Your words have helped me. Thanks

Yup.  That's what I learned to call wires that plug into things at both ends -- a cable

Take the workshops that sound interesting to you, regardless of level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced).  Whether you can keep up, or do everything the others are doing is irrelevent.  You will learn something whether you use it immediately or not.  And the fun part is that six weeks or a year later you'll have these great Ah Ha! moments when something you learned sinks home or suddenly makes perfect sense.

I strongly advise bringing some kind of recording device. If your phone can do it, great! You don't need anything too fancy. I recommend this not just for workshops but for the jams as well... which can be just as educational as the workshops.

Also, don't feel too overwhelmed by classes! Workshop based festivals, especially weeklong festivals, are not intended for you to show up with the ability to play everything that's presented to you by the end of the week. I think a good workshop is one that sheds new light on musical ideas you can explore for weeks and months. And if something is not making sense, most teachers like when students ask questions. So don't be too shy...

See you there!

Me, too, Ken. How about pickup cable?

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

a spare set of strings might be handy if needed.

A tuner and a capo.  Maybe some clothespins or something to clip music onto your stand.  And bring some kind of recording device; a smartphone will do.  I would also bring something to write with and on in case you want to take notes.  

Bring some cash so you can buy CDs and books and stuff.

And I would agree with your dulcimer group leader. Challenge yourself. I lead a free beginner's workshop every month and too many people have been coming for a long time, refusing to accept the fact that they are really intermediate players now. The beginner material is comfortable to them but no longer challenges them.  A good workshop should be just beyond your reach, so that you have to go home and work on the stuff for a while.

I need advice from veterans of instructional festivals.  This is my first time at a long music week and I wonder what I should bring with me besides my dulcimer, music stand and picks.  Are there things you always take or wish you had brought? I'm already feeling overwhelmed by the classes.  I've been playing a year and my dulcimer group leader said I need to start taking intermediate classes. Dulcinina

I've gotta laugh.  Everytime I see the subject of this thread I think "Pick Up Cord -- that should be "pick up NOTE", not "CHORD".

Yes -- at least go tune it and play it.  If you like the sound, it is a good value for the money.

Jessica, I was the one that inquired about this MD and thanks to everyone for their help and info. I just got an email from the people having the estate sale and they said this was on the instrument: "The dulcimer is from the Dulcimer Company in Fredericksburg, Texas. It is priced $125.00 and appears to be in excellent condition."

So I suppose I should go buy it?

Yes, it does look very similar to a "The Dulcimer Factory" (Fredericksburg, TX) instrument that I own. It looks like this...

 IMG_1804.JPG.jpg - 198KB

john and shirley naylor did work for cripple creek.  they left there and started the dulcimer factory in friedricksburg texas.  they built a lot

of instruments selling them in their own shop and in arts and crafts festivals.  they wholesaled as well.  for a while they supplied dulcimers

to the autoharp company of oscar schmidt.  this instrument could be one of thiers or maybe a cripple creek although i think both of these

would have identifying lables

You're right Ken H. They are said to have learned from Bud Ford. I think I read the Dulcimer factory produced close to 30,000 dulcimer's . that's a lot of building.

Yeah -- yer right.  Probably Ducimer Factory.  Didn't they study on the Fords, or work for them, or something like that?

Ken you beat me to it, I thought that same thing. Great minds.lol

From Texas, I would think it is a Dulcimer Factory dulcimer from the Naylors. The owned and operated the Dulcimer Factory in Fredericksburg, TX.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I don't know if the output jack on your dulcimer is on the end piece, but if it is, I like to use a right angle 1/4 inch plug at one end of the cable and a straight plug at the amp end. Here is a link to one I found at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/KIRLIN-IWB-202BFGL-10-CA-10-Feet-Instrument/dp/B00Y4S67OM/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1460511789&sr=8-5&keywords=guitar+cable

Like with anything else, you get what you pay for. Get the best quality cable you can afford to preserve the quality of your sound.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Go to any Guitar Center or Radio Shack or Best Buy store, and they will have something you can use.

I thought of Cripple Creek too, because of the soundholes.  But they would have marked it, I'm sure.

This was spotted at an estate sale in Texas. No maker's mark anywhere. Not sure of the age.

No maker's mark inside....  Any idea how old it is?    It reminds me of the Cripple Creek dulcimers from Bud & Donna Ford.

We (Pensacola Mountain Dulcimer Wildflowers) have had an inquiry about the builder of this dulcimer. Does anyone recognize it?

 12963420_929117897215361_6922285783508596273_n.jpg - 29KB

A 1/4 male one............and the other end to match your amps input...............what amp do you have?

Sorry, I forgot I posted this! So it looks like the pickup is a 1/4 inch female end piece. What kind of cord do I order (through amazon most likely) to attach to my little amp?

I would appreciate any specifics here (insert clueless smilie face) :) 

Hi all,

This is a great subject! - but I feel strongly that it will be more accessible and will  benefit everyone in the future as well if it's located in our Dulcimer Therapy Group here: http://fotmd.com/strumelia/group/57/dulcimer-therapy

Unfortunately, I cannot move a discussion from a Forum to a Group, so I'm going to close this discussion to new replies and I'd like to ask SaltSprings to please create the discussion anew in the Dulcimer Therapy Group.  That way it won't just sink down into oblivion on the General Forum..instead it will be very easily found in the Therapy Group discussions, and will be very helpful to members in the future who are looking for this specific information!   

 I agree Dusty........I know you have been instrumental, pun intended, in that group.........the reason I thought we might stir this one up a bit is because I am finding that some of my PTSD folk can really get wrapped around the axle when certain songs are played or sung..........btw, feel free to move this discussion if you or Strumelia are so inclined.

You might see what folks in the Music Therapy group have to say about this.

I would stick with instrumentals, myself.

That's true Ken........I have had the same thing happen on more than once..........I also heard a nut job singing I'll fly away while another patient, a child was dying of cancer two beds down...........people are weird........I guess it makes all the difference in the world if we remember whose benefit we are playing for.........yup, harp music no thank you if I'm croaking.......go with "Wild Colonial Boy."

Surprisingly, I've playd both Old Joe and I'll Fly and any number of other "cheerful" tunes as part of a Music For Healing & Therapy program at a hospital near where I lived.  Folks in hospitals don't always (or often) want to hear dolorious music, they wanted to be lifted up and cheered up, not be drowned in saccrine-sweet angel harp music as if they're going to kick off any second.  I actually had a patient tell me that she liked my music so much better than the program director's harp music -- said she wasn't ready to go to heaven yet, thank you very much!

I think there is aspect to music that is sometimes overlooked and that is music's ability to provide a tremendous amount of spiritual ministry, if that is the correct phrase, to many people who are struggling with all sorts of difficulties.   Some of those issues might be related to physical infirmities, long term or chronic depression, grief over the loss of a loved one or any one of a multitude of issues.  As we all know, or at least should know, how a tune is played can have a significant effect on the hearer and it is important to match what we present to the circumstances our listeners or listener might find themselves in.........there are tunes that entertain, tunes that heal and tunes that can either make a situation better or worse.   I know in days gone by Mary Z.  & Lois H. had discussions about this on ED.  It was posted under Music in Service to Others".......there was wisdom in what they  discussed.   After all, who would want to play "I've Been a Wild Rover" or "I'll Fly Away" in a Hospice center.   Any thoughts on with regard to tempo, music choices?  Native flute players feel free to join in too.   I've used both dulcimers, Native Flutes etc. over the years and it might be good to share some ideas and experiences we have had when we focus on the listener and forget about ourselves.

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...

Finally made the decision - my sister and I will go to KMW!  Question, how can I contact a member on FOTMD? I am taking one of John Keane's classes at KMW and I have a question for him. I tried to figure out a way to message or email him through FOTMD but I can't figure it out!

Thanks, Jill

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.

Nice piece, Kevin. I continue to love the teardrop you made me.

Thank you Stephanie, I really enjoy doing it.