Heidi Muller

Thanks for referring me!

Hi Heidi, thank you for the invite! I am in the Twin Falls area which is far from Moscow but I hope you had a fun concert. I am just getting started with the dulcimer but hope to meet other players soon!

Angela :)

01/12/2014

Hewllo Heidi

Thank you so much for your very valuable thoughts and advice.

I will abandon the dulcimer with four equidistant strings and work on the other one for the time being.

Thanks again,

Regards and best wishes

Mike Owens

28/11/2014

Hello Heidi,

Thanks for your response, sorry about the confusion!!

The dulcimer I was gifted has 4 equidistant strings and is presently tuned DAAA.

The new one which has the 61/2 Fret is tuned DADD.

I have been using Madeleine MacNeills book/cd called "Dirt Simple Dulcimer", and I have been trying to play/learn songs from that book in DADD tuning. I have also been trying to learn/play songs from that book in DAAA tuning. The DADD tuning I find easier to play, but I struggle to deal with chords on both instruments.

The dulcimer with equidistant strings I find much harder to play.

I read the articles, and found most of it was understandable, though some technical aspects were much harder to follow. I think that is just lack of appreciation on my part of the technique of dulcimer playing. All of this is very new to me, and I have little musical background. I have taught myself to read music, though only at a basic level.

Does this help?

Thanks for your praise, I am probably at or around intermediate level on all the instruments.

Thanks for your help and understanding,

Mike Owens

27/11/2014

Hello Heidi,

I hope you don't mind me contacting you directly, but I need help, and thought you might be able to assist me.

A year or so ago, my brother-in-law gifted me what he thought was a mandolin, but turned out to be a dulcimer with four equidistant strings. So I set out to try and learn to play it. I bought books, cd's, dvd's etc, but really felt I was going nowhere fast!! One of the DVD's was by Kendra Ward, and I found I could play along with her (I abandoned the noter, but realised I was playing on one melody string only. The dulcimer was tuned DAAA, and still is.

I couldn't get my head around playing chords or doing much else with it. The nearest dulcimer player to me lives two hours drive away, and the nearest teacher is twice that far away. I subsequently bought a new dulcimer with 61/2 fret. I use the learning materials I have, but there is no substitute for personal contact, and experience in teaching an instrument, none of which I can get from a cd or dvd.

I am 67 years of age, and in the last seven years have taught myself to play the following instruments: 6 & 12 string guitar, 4& 5 string banjo; dobro, mandolin, mandola, and now dulcimer. I also play harmonica, tin whistle and sing. I don't say this to boast, and I am not brilliant at any of the instruments I have listed.

I love the sound of the dulcimer, I'd never heard or held one before the first one arrived on my doorstep.

What I want to know is, where do I go from here, with the 4 equidistant stringed dulcimer? Can you give me any advice, tips etc. I realise you must have a very busy life, but any time you could spare me would be greatly appreciated. Alternatively, you may know of someone else who could help me if you are unable to do so.

I didn't mention it before, I live in Australia, I'm from the "land downunder".

Thank you so much for your assistance, and for taking the time to read this.

I am a member of FOTMD but I feel a little overwhelmed by the size of the site, and of talking to strangers on it. and how best to learn from it. I play my instruments every day, six days a week. The second dulcimer is tuned DADD so I alternate between the two of them on a daily basis.

Regards and best wishes,

Mike Owens

email: michaelowens5&bigpond.com.au

Honestly, it didn't occur to me to check Dusty Strings. Is it better if I buy it there?

Heidi,

I've signed up for one of your workshops at Dusty Strings next month. Could you bring a copy of "So Sang the River" so that I can buy it?

Stephanie Stuckwisch

Hi Heidi! I love the songs you've added, you have a beautiful singing voice, and I just adore "Long Winter's Night". Have a lovely rest of the winter!

Hi Heidi,

I love the 3 tracks you have recently added to your profile. Frosty Morning has lovely rolling drones - really evocative! Many thanks for posting the tunes, they are all beautifully played.

Robin

Yes, I'm going to take a deep breath and go - I tend to get the jitters playing in front of anyone but Susan and my daughter.

If Susan has enough fliers, I'll be at her house the Thursday before Folklife starts. Otherwise, what's the easiest way for you to get the fliers to me?

Hi Heidi. Nic Hambas at Black Creek Strings makes bowed dulcimers. You can find the website at: http://www.hambasdulcimers.com/index.html

Hoepe this helps you out.

Ken

Your playing is certainly concert quality. Love it. I'm about 90 miles south of you in Summers Co. I'm 'hunkered down' for the snowstorm too. Wish you and yours a joyous holiday season.

Sam