Renaissance Music

I was a last-minute attendee at Cullowhee, took the place of our instructor who had became ill. Because I wanted to have different afternoon classes than she had chosen, I selected others. Unfortunately, the more "beginner" courses were already filled so, I chose blindly... one I chose was Stephen Siefert's Renaissance music class and, it would be the first day. It didn't take long in that class for me to figure out that I was definitely not experienced enough... the very first tune required a capo...I hadn't had a chance to purchase one (much less learn how to use one). So, I sat with my arms crossed over my dulcimer and tried to soak in what the others were doing. Stephen asked afterward if I had a problem... I told him I was in the wrong class. He asked which one had I signed up for and I told him... this one. Then, he said one of the nicest things... he said he did not expect me to know how to play these songs, that I was there to learn and did anyone have an extra capo. Well, from then on, the Renaissance class took on a new (nicer) flavor. I now know how to navigate those songs and I thank Stephen for being so kind. The Renaissance music is a far cry from what we've been doing here in north-central NC but, I find it intriguing. Has anyone else had experience with it?