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Ann, it's a joy to see folks learning about and making homemade music!
Forum Activity for @robin-thompson
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Ann, it's a joy to see folks learning about and making homemade music!
MEET THE MODERATORS...
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Thanks everyone for your warm welcome. I'll do my best to help maintain the friendliest place on the internet.
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One thing about moderating is it's a job we want to be boring. Free exchange of ideas and musical friendships are what we want to flourish here!
It's been really fun to see the site develop. I stumbled onto FOTMD very soon after Strumelia put it up-- if I remember right, there were yet no discussions (or maybe one), no groups, no videos.
PS-FOTMD is a Great Group!
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Hello, Moderators. You all are doing an important job, keep up the good work
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Well I add that FOTMD needs almost nothing in terms of 'censorship'. FOTMD members (and dulcimer players in general) seem to be unusually kind and thoughtful.
I like a good spicy debate once in a while, and I am not particularly prudish either.
The moderators' job is really mostly to be there in case a spammer gets through the usual defenses that have been put in place. I might be sleeping late or off somewhere else for the day, and if a spammer gets in and starts posting their annoying posts here, any of the 3 mods who sees them has the ability to kick them off the site and delete all their content. This gives me great peace of mind!
We have had a very few spammers making trouble here in the past, and I've since further tightened up the joinup process to prevent them from joining in the first place. But it's inevitable that one may slip by at some point in time. The good news is that now there are seven of us who can notice them and kick them out. (And keep in mind that even if they do get on FOTMD and post junk, they would never have access to any members' account info or email address.)
updated by @strumelia: 07/07/17 08:22:01PM
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At my age......................?, why, you look just a spit of a boy !!! LOL
My regards
JohnH
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Good morning Bob (sorry, I forget you are 'in front' of us, as we are 'infront' of them, LOL)
So far as I see it the moderators are not there so much as to censor us , tho' of course they may should it prove necessary, but to look after us. I recollect a couple of occasions in the past when the site has had 'dubious' intrusions which have always been dealt with very quickly. As Kathie has already said, humour/joshing is different for everyone, and does not travel well in some instances. I am sure that many members do not appreciate the remarks I sometimes make about my good friend John S !!! (he loves it ,honest!)
my best wishes to you
JohnH
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Are moderators necessarily moderate?
And if you practice moderation in all things, aren't you being excessive in your moderation? If you are excessive in your moderation, then you are not practicing moderation in all things, so you are not excessive in your moderation.
Oh, my head is spinning. Good thing my wife just popped the bottle of California bubbly that we never had a chance to share on Valentine's Day.
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Congratulations to our moderators from 'the group across the pond' , and thanks for agreeing to do the job.
JohnH
ps. Jim, keep your eye on the other two, they do have a tendency to bicker now and then!!!
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Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer is a pretty friendly community. We don't see much bickering in general. But like everywhere else on the internet, you never know what might happen.
It's good to have a few extra pairs of eyes watching over FOTMD in case disaster strikes, a spammer gets by the barriers, or some member suddenly decides to go berserk.
In addition to the site creator (Strumelia), FOTMD has FIVE great moderators. They can eject spammers, watch for any flame battles, are around when I go off somewhere on short trips (or sleep late, as I am known to do on occasion), and generally help make sure things stay on course. I am very grateful for their level-headed presence and generosity!
Visit their pages and get to know who they are. Feel free to ask any of our moderators questions about how things are organized here on FOTMD- they are very friendly and helpful folk.
Meet your Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer Moderators!...
Jim Fawcett
(visit Jim's FOTMD Page, click here)
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DUSTY TURTLE
(visit Dusty's FOTMD Page, click here)
Dusty as a wee babe....
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Jan Potts
(visit Jan Pott's FOTMD page, click here)
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Sam
(visit Sam's FOTMD page, click here)
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Bob Reinsel
(visit Bob's FOTMD page, click here)
updated by @strumelia: 07/31/23 09:32:47PM
You did great, Karen--and you didn't seem all that nervous, either! Being "very nervous all week" is another good reason to move the student performance night to Tuesday....get it over with! Also, didn't you notice that after the concert (and during the break) everyone wanted to talk to everyone and ask lots of questions, etc. It's such a good ice breaker...even if all you're doing is saying, "Wow, I could never do what you just did!"
I just found out that the date of the concert I was going to play in has been moved to a date after I leave Arizona, so some of us are talking about doing another, smaller, one before I leave. It's at a nursing home and they promised me that half the audience will be asleep! I think I can do that.
For me, the best thing is to know my music so well that I can keep going--or jump back in at the appropriate spot--whenever I lose my place in my music. For me, TAB is like rubbing your stomach and patting your head, but I do try to learn it in order to practice with a performing ensemble. It would be so much easier to just play it by ear, but I have to admit that I'm making much more progress in my learning this way.
Karen Keane said:
Hey Jan, I didn't realize that was your Dulcimer debut! Dulcimerville 2012 was also my solo debut on playing the dulcimer for a live audience. (I don't count videos, since you can do several "takes" Hee Hee). At the time, I had been playing for a year and a half and was very nervous all week long, but I survived. I am looking forward to performing again in the near future. I have played flute for almost 40 years and never remembered having such stage fright.
Hey Jan, I didn't realize that was your Dulcimer debut! Dulcimerville 2012 was also my solo debut on playing the dulcimer for a live audience. (I don't count videos, since you can do several "takes" Hee Hee). At the time, I had been playing for a year and a half and was very nervous all week long, but I survived. I am looking forward to performing again in the near future. I have played flute for almost 40 years and never remembered having such stage fright.
I played in the Florida championship contest after playing a couple months in front of a large audience and judges. Played with one guitarist . Only took second place, though :) actually lost out to John Blosser who got first that year and he was a much better dulcimer player :) I did take first place the next year :)Mzc
I built up my courage by having music parties at my house, so not large crowds. I had one party last fall and another one this spring. But my first time in front of a bunch of strangers was at the open jam at a local pub two weeks ago, I had my back mostly to the audience, but I played 3 songs and played along with 3 others that the guitarist next to me did that were "dulcimer friendly". I haven't gotten the courage to go back, but I hope to again soon.
Well....this may set the record for the longest time between learning to play and performing.
I learned how to play a dulcimer back in 1991 and faithfully practiced once or twice a year.....didn't make much progress!
In 2012, 21 years later, I finally performed as part of a quartet, filling in for an absent member. Just one tune--Greensleeves--and I couldn't decide whether to faint or throw up, so I just played the thing and survived! That was at Dulcimerville 2012 on Student Peformance Night. Now I'm thinking about permforming again--with a larger group--in a couple weeks. This will be an hour-long program, with LOTS of music to learn.
I guess the more you perform, the easier it becomes. At least that's what I've been told! 
Doug, I look forward to hearing "The Winding Banks of Nith"!
Last year, Mark and I played the open stage at Harmony Harvest dulcimer festival in Lancaster OH. How it came to be? Mark's sister, Jane, a singer/songwriter, had been asked to play a gig at Marietta College. (Thirty-plus years ago, when in college, the two of them performed together a lot.) Jane wanted to play at Marietta and wanted her big brother to play with her. Mark agreed to do so and, with that looming on his calendar, Mark said he wanted to play the open stage at Harmony Harvest. And since Harmony Harvest is, after all, a dulcimer festival, some kind of dulcimer needed to figure into it.
We practiced and played a couple tunes-- Huntin' the Buffalo and Star of the County Down -- with Mark on guitar and me on bowed dulcimer. The audience was enthusiastic and encouraging!
I'd been playing bowed dulcimer about a year and a half before getting on a stage to play. (I'd bowed a mountain dulcimer in the fashion of a bowed dulcimer for some months before getting my first bowed dulcimer.)
About 12 years ago, I convinced my good friend Lauren to play music together for a casual party as a gig. Lauren had never played as a performer for an audience before, but she nervously agreed to.
We played simple sing-along stuff like My Darling Clementine, You are my Sunshine, etc. We made some mistakes but everyone had a great time and the audience loved it and sang along.
After it was over, as Lauren and I were walking back to our car carrying our instruments, I asked her "So how do you feel?"
She said "I'm so nervous and rattled I feel like I'm about to throw up."
After a moment she added "So when do we do it again?"
Staying warm mentally or physically
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Now that sounds tummy warming wonderful, but oh, what it would do to my diet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I'll have to stick to the fannel shirt and warm oatmeal with raisins.
Dennis F. Lowe said:
I bake cookies, oatmeal-raisin, molasses-spice, chocolate chip, etc. A cup of spice cider and a flannel shirt don't hurt either.
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Know the FOTMD warmth feeling.
I don't wear wool, but I do have some silk long underwear that helps on the coldest of days. Then comes regular T shirt and a sweat shirt And over that one of quilted flannel jackets that my hubby got for me this year.
Strumelia said:
I have thin base layers of very soft merino wool which really keep me warm and cozy all winter, without the itching associated with wool from years ago.
Reading FOTMD also makes me feel warm.
Staying warm mentally or physically
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I have thin base layers of very soft merino wool which really keep me warm and cozy all winter, without the itching associated with wool from years ago.
Reading FOTMD also makes me feel warm.
Staying warm mentally or physically
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folkfan,
Until we put in a free-standing gas stove a couple years ago I was cold a lot of the year. Now, I go to the stove to get warm and since it has a glass front (a type of ceramic, actually) if you want to sit by it to read, you can see the flame. It's really nice how, along with some other improvements made to the house to keep heat in/cold out, last winter our highest heating bill was about $140 and we were warm.
Sharon's candles sound wonderful!
Staying warm mentally or physically
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I should have mentioned that Sharon Jackson, a member here at FOTMD, made these lovely scented candles. If anyone wants to have a great aroma therapy session just get a hold of her.
Staying warm mentally or physically
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Due to the cold, I've recently been burning a candle in the kitchen. Now a single flame doesn't give off that much heat. However the candle I've been burning has a warm scent to it and that mentally seems to warm me up.
The cinnamon scented soy candle was made by Sharon Jackson who lives down in MO. and gives me the feeling of walking into a room that has had apple pies baking. I love cinnamon in apple pies and this candle has worked at warming me up mentally. Time to get more though. I've had this one going all day.
Anyone else have a trick for warming up mentally, or even physically???? Share please....
updated by @folkfan: 02/27/19 02:01:41PM
Congratulations on your new BL Sharna! I love my Jean Ritchie model...I think it has an even better tone than my rosewood BL....very sweet as you said.
Robin,
You have to add dings to your dulcimers.....adds character and makes it your own! :) I just put a good ding in my Martin taking it out of the case and banging into my quilt frame...grrrrr.
Here are my BL dulcimers...Jean Ritchie on left
Hello Kathy,Have never played that particular model Blue Lion-- but do have 2 blue lions. One is the rosewood/cedar one with the single rose inlay & brass inserts. Don't think that model is offered anymore-- but it is a wonderful dulcimer. It's my lucky dulcimer :) and have the Robert Force model 6 string Blue Lion. It is also a dulcimer of great beauty and sound-- was just playing it on the front porch the other day and it's sweet voice attracted a hummingbird :)Don't think you can go wrong with a Blue Lion :)Best wishes,Mary Z Cox
I'm not on line every day, so this is the first I've seen the discussion.
I don't have a Jean Ritchie style, but I do own 2 Blue Lions. One is a tear drop walnut and the other is a custom hour glass in rosewood.
Janita Baker was good at helping me get the dulcimer that I wanted. She also gently questioned me when I was making requests that weren't in my own best interests.
I love her instruments. Easy to play, a pleasure to listen to and great looking, especially for a traditionalist like me.
Bob, I can only recall knowing of one other person who has a Jean Ritchie model BL.
As far as quality of instrument goes, a Blue Lion is of high quality. I know of one well-respected luthier who, when building his own personal instrument, sent a piece of it to Janita Baker (of Blue Lion) so she could do his inlay work.
Kathy was asking about a particular model of the Blue Lion dulcimers. Not all of us have experience with that particular model. I owned a Blue Lion once for a short while many years ago. I didn't find the sound right for me so I sold it. But it wasn't one of the Jean Ritchie models.
bob atkinson said:
may i comment howsurprisedi was apart from one kind member on the lack ofresponse to the subject Blue Lion.Was this perhaps in the wrong forum ?Living thousands of KMs away from the USA choosing a MD becomes almost an act of faith as we can only see a photo at best and if we are lucky a small sound track of the MD we wish to purchase.This is how FOMD is a great source of advice and knowledge .Any advice welcome.
When glancing at this thread while passing by, I didn't realize that Kathy doesn't live in the US. We Americans are rather clueless about making such assumptions. My apologies!!
Blue Lion dulcimers have an excellent reputation here in the US. Whatever dulcimer you might get from them Kathy is sure to be very well made, will have a good sound and be smooth to play, and will retain its value for resale as well.
I'm not really sure what makes the jean Ritchie model different from Blue Lion's other models though.
Are you choosing the Jean R. model for a particular reason?- to fill a particular playing need, or just because you like the looks of it? (either are good reasons of course).
Is there anything unusual about your playing style or your situation that effects your playing choices? things like arthritis, tiny hands, wanting to play chords or not, whether you play with a noter, etc?
Do you know how long a scale (VSL) the Jean Ritchie model has? That could be an important thing, depending.
Kathy,
I own a Blue Lion Jean Ritchie model. I, luckily, came by it used though in like-new condition. And the instrument was a custom order so is not exactly what you will see on the Blue Lion website. I play noter-drone style music on it and like its ease of play. For fit and finish, the quality of the instrument is very very good.
A photo of my BLJRitchie dulcimer can be seen here:
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/photo/blue-lion-jean-ritchie-model?context=user
The dulcimer can be seen & heard on the videos of Old Joe Clark , Spotted Pony , and Arkansas Traveler from my FOTMD page here:
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/profile/RobinThompson
Hope this helps, Kathy! If you have specific questions, I'm happy to answer them as best as I can.
My biggest 'do-over' wish in learning music
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
My do-over would be to not drop my violin lessons. I really should have stuck with it, but I was very immature and did not practice.