Then again, I was asked if I wanted to join a jam recently, and did so reluctantly because I did not know the tunes they were playing and I was carrying a new (to me) dulcimer with which I wasn't fully comfortable. However, insistence of the people prevailed over my common sense and I joined in anyway. I chorded along using my thumb and fingers not a pick, didn't try to take the lead and played a little "fill" type harmony. I was asked several times to lead a tune, but I begged off. NEXT time, hopefully, I'll have an instrument I've played more and which feels comfortable and I can more fully participate since I had a GREAT time just being with those folks!
Keep looking Thanna and you'll find a place to fit!
Ken - You know what I meant, didn't you ?.
I just am shocked that 3 enthusiasts who bit the bullet and went to a jam or session and ran into a brick wall instead of being welcomed thro the door - hopefully as we would welome newcomers. Thanfully they are probably the only 3 sessions (jams) like that. And I also agree with Foggers and the bullet points she makes.( Only 'cos I met her & her partner is bigger than me ), treat the newbie like you would want to be treat in the same situation.
I fall into the DADist and Chordist camp tho. I know no better (Bad education -- beer mats )
Hi - good topic choice Lisa!
Thanna - I would add my support to that offered by others. If there are no other specific dulcimer sessions in your area then look for an old timey, folk or acoustic session. You may have to try a few places until you land on one that is flexible and welcoming. I have certainly had my share of trials since I decided to get back into some public music via sessions about 3 years ago. It is worth persevering to find sympathetic others to play with as it will speed your learning immensely; I know that jamming and playing in public (alone and with others) has been a real shot in the arm for me. But first, a cautionary tale....
When we moved house a couple of years ago we were thrilled to find that a pub just half a mile away had a regular folk music session every week. However, having tried it a few times, it is not one we attend regularly, and I will tell you why.... The core members of the group have known each other a long time and know all each others' material, so they all launch in to everything without really listening. This can be a REAL problem. For example, once I was up to speed on a few american folk songs, we did "Shady Grove". Within 30 seconds of playing and singing, one of the regulars shouted "Oo its just like 'Matty Groves!' " and they all waded in on guitars, mandolin and melodeon. Well actually, the melody we use is NOT exactly the same as 'Matty Groves' and the harmonies we use ( we sing together with banjo ) are not the same as the famous version of Matty Groves these chaps all knew. The result was that we could not hear each other, and the discordant clash between what we were playing and what they were wading in with was HORRID!!
So to add to Strumelia's list of guidelines for welcoming newbies to a jam :
Happily, we know other great places to go now for playing and singing; so I guess the moral of my tale is that you may have to kiss a few frogs before you find the perfect match.....
Thanna said "I'm probably too new for most people to wantto play with LOL!"
You are welcome to play around here any old time! Frankly I enjoy watching the Light come on as new players "get it" and
New-ness is never an excuse for that kind of behavior. We're supposed to be about helping new people find, enjoy and come to love our non-mainstream instrument, not dictating that you will play in a specific manner. Thank Murphy there is no such thing as the formalized Suzuki Method for dulcimer! If there was, I'd take up something really obscure like left-handed cimbalom or fretless ukulele!
David - I hope you realize that the vast majority of dulcimer players over here are not like those described above. Every barrel has its bad apples (to twist a few metaphors). However it is also true that the overweening attitude here is that DAd is the tuning and that there should be no sticks in the left hands of dulcimer players.
As a noter & drone player for over 35 years I've experienced my share of of Dadism and Chordism. Is it any wonder that I sometimes sign myself
Uncontrite Modal Folker
I do not believe what I have just read. Thanna , Folkfan and R N Lackey have just shot down in flames the idea that dulcimer players are friendly, even- handed and open to new things . It seems that the 3 of them have run into a group of dyed -in -the wool diehard reactionaries. I understand that the States is the home of Trad Appilacian dulcimers . Talk about " how to win friends " Two choices then , 1 . face them out and stick with it until you win them over or 2 as has been said find a new group or start one yourself. In my neck of the woods( N E England ) we (dulcimer players ) are so few and far between that we are only too pleased to see each other. I put my hands up and confess ,I have never played noter,nor tried any other tuning other than DaD. Now I have more than one dulcimer, I may in future experiment,but I doubt it . Its taken too many years and too many blistered fingers to get this far. DO NOT GIVE UP.
I am more than 3,000 miles away and I feel quite angry about this,(not an easy thing to do) Thank Heaven that it (so far) hasn't happened to me.If it has, I never noticed (Thick skin ,or too much Guinness )
Well Thanna,
As a noter drone player, you need to find yourself a good old time banjo player to jam with. Banjo and noter drone go together like ham and eggs Much better than trying to fit in where your playing style is not appreciated.
Thanna said:
Justreturned from my first - and very likely my last - jam with the local dulcimer club and wish I'd printed this out to take with me. I just endured a 2 hour lecture on why I should play DAD, why I should chord and how I need to play without a noter. To say that I didn't feel welcome would have been an understatement. I left at the lunch break because I'd had enough.
Sad because I felt pretty good about my ability to keep up with the music itself.
Back to playing for my own enjoyment!
Sorry to hear about your problem with the local dulcidiots club.
Maybe you should print all this out and go back again to thank everyone for your previous visit and hand them a copy of this !
Where do you live; maybe we can find you a couple of sympathetic unbigoted, unprejudiced folks to play with...
Took me a while longer to give up on group playing. Having gone through the DAd can't play with DAA lecture from a member of the group I used to go to, I hear you. Of course, my response to the individual was to inform her of certain facts, i.e. that I was playing the same blasted notes in DAA that she was in DAd. That's when I got the chords sound better routine. ARGH!!!!!!!!
Speed of play was also a problem for me. When ever the music got too fast, "Why does it always become a race?", I'd turn my dulcimer over and drum. Usually the group stopped playing when at least half of the players were drumming, so I wasn't alone in not caring for the speed. Songs like "Simple Gifts" shouldn't be hurried, but played to a singing speed not a gallop.
So, now, as stay at home player, I enjoy the music I prefer. The only way I'd join a jam is with a shaker egg.
Thanna said:
Justreturned from my first - and very likely my last - jam with the local dulcimer club and wish I'd printed this out to take with me. I just endured a 2 hour lecture on why I should play DAD, why I should chord and how I need to play without a noter. To say that I didn't feel welcome would have been an understatement. I left at the lunch break because I'd had enough.
Back to playing for my own enjoyment!
It's a shame some groups are so hide-bound! I was talking to some in a group (after they had played) and they also didn't know any other tuning other than DAD. When I showed them my dulcimer was tuned to DGD, they acted like it was something strange and unusual or maybe from Mars. Only one person was brave enough to try it, and they used mine instead of re-tuning theirs.
Hopefully you'll find some other more welcoming
Yes, I have seen that happen a few times- where a new jammer starts their own tune at a slow pace which is the only way they can play it, and some hotshot starts speeding it up until the beginner simply has to drop out. How rude is that?!
So yes one thing is to ask the newcomer if they have a tune they'd like to play, and to make a point of saying they should play it at their own comfortable pace.
It's always nice to ask the newcomer if they have any favorite tunes they'd like to play.
We often hear about jam etiquette in terms of what we should do if we are trying to join and fit in with a jam, but what about looking at it from the other side?
I thought I'd toss this out there for folks to share their own ideas...
When you're playing in a jam or session, and a new hesitant person approaches, what things do you do to make them feel comfortable and welcome?
What if they are a beginner player and are having a little trouble keeping up with everyone else- what things might you do to help them out in some way?
On the flip side- what kinds of things would tend to discourage a new person and make their initial jamming experiences unsuccessful?
You're all more fun than a barrel of monkeys! :)
Happy 2nd birthday to us all!!
Hayom yom huledet
hayom yom huledet
hayom yom huledet
Shel FOTMD
Todah Rabah, Lisa
I always sing Happy Birthday in Hebrew. It's "Tradition!" And Todah Rabah is another way of saying, Thank you, Lisa.
Happy Birthday to us...
Happy Birthday to us...
Happy Birthday everybody!
Happy Birthday to u!!!
Happy Birthday FOTMD From all the dulcimer players in the North East Of England .... Known or unknown .....members or not
Keep Up The Good Work(s)
Happy Birthday to us all indeed, and we are beginning to think about that 2000 members mark!
Can we also offer some birthday cheers for the person who started it all ! Now, who was that.....................? 
JohnH
Strapped for time. Didn't see a thread right away .... soooOOOOOOooooo .....
A group from the health food store: Slim Pickin's
A group of clowns: Three String Circus
A group of firemen: String of Fire
A group from a ski lodge: Hot Buttered Strum
I have a sign I put out when playing in parks etc. It reads
Will STOP PLAYING for money!
That's the name of my Group of One...
In a moment of randomness I was thinking of some of the creative names invented by rock bands in the 60's and 70's and thought that it might be fun to create similar names for dulcimer groups that we'll probably never see. I'll start with a few and encourage y'all to add to the list if you feel compelled. I feel that a giggle or two never hurt anyone in this ol' world.
A group of Coca-Cola Bottlers: Diet Coke Replaced My TAB
A group from South Bend, Indiana: The Noter Dames
A group of cosmetic reps: Made-Up on the Spot
A group from Canada Dry: The Diet Tonics
A group from a pet shop: Pick of the Litter
A group from an arts district: Beat of a Different Strum
Here's a few to get started. Please feel free to join in!
WhoooooHoooooo! Im lovin that! Congratulations Dana. Let us know how it plays and sounds! 
BJ
Ouch! (but maybe true Robin)
John
Ouch! (but maybe true Robin)
John
or minor repairs, you might as well 
it 
! 
Hey Dana, just to let you know that should you want any minor repairs , or adjustment to action 
etc done to your new baby, just ship it over here, I am ready, willing and able to help 
. Of course, it may be some time before you get it back, what with me being old and slow 
, and the instrument having to be played in an all 
. lol
John
And I want to hear her play that Ledford!
OK, OK, I'll leave it where it is , 
, there's no need to get heavy 
, but it was played in commiseration with Dana's 'Lack of a Ledford' 
. ( Robin, ain't you glad you know someone of her distinction, 
)
John
If he takes down Dirge for Dana, we just might have to head across the ocean-- we can either fly
or swim 
--and persuade him
to put it back up.
