Laurel K Scott

Location:

Location: Richmond, VA
Country: United States

My Latest Followers:

notsothoreau sweetbriar Julia Gabriele Mary hugssandi Salt Springs Mill Branch Dulcimores Dan whocindylou Bob Reinsel Cynthia Wigington Bob Lois Sprengnether Keel Patty from Virginia robert schuler Jan Potts Rob N Lackey Jerry C Rockwell John C. Knopf Cristian Huet Marsha Harris Ken Bloom Ken Hulme Strumelia

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I am a veteran journalist, horsewoman and dog lover who enjoys interpreting different time periods as a living historian and spinning on my 1866 Great Wheel, my ancient Norse flax wheel, and the list goes on! Traditional arts are my passion, and there is still so much I want to learn -- including how to play this amazing instrument. :)

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Laurel K Scott

Shoulder Cramping When Playing


Has anyone else ever routinely experienced cramping in his or her right...
@Laurel K Scott 7 years ago - Comments: 26
Laurel K Scott

"Un" tuning?


Dumb question here ... I've heard various opinions as to whether an...
@Laurel K Scott 7 years ago - Comments: 21
Laurel K Scott

Tuner/Tuning Question


Another newbie question! :)So I sat down tonight and tuned my vintage...
@Laurel K Scott 7 years ago - Comments: 5
Laurel K Scott

Stringing Mystery on Vintage Dulcimer


Hi! Not sure where to post this, but as I am new to dulcimers in...
@Laurel K Scott 7 years ago - Comments: 24

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Comments

Lois Sprengnether Keel
06/02/18 12:26:13PM @lois-sprengnether-keel:

Laurel, in reading last year's discussion of  I Am SO in Over My Head , I was so taken by your comments about how initial piano background affects how you approach the dulcimer.  I think you might feel at home with a really old discussion I started about Piano as 1st Language .


notsothoreau
04/16/18 09:25:40PM @notsothoreau:

I was reading your posts on noter/drone method and you mentioned having a Great Wheel! I have one as well. It has the Morris head and is a bit tricky to spin as the wheel is slightly warped. So far, I've just tried cotton on mine, then the cats messed up my drive band. It's been idle since then, but I plan to start using it again this summer. I mainly use hand spindles. Always nice to run across another spinner!


Laurel K Scott
05/28/17 08:52:46PM @laurel-k-scott:

Just back from an amazing four days at the Crooked Road Dulcimer Festival. So many special memories, including viewing another original Neff dulcimer that looks a lot like my replica!

Special thanks to Jon Pickow for some truly special classes and presentations on traditional dulcimer playing styles and his Ritchie family history, both important American legacies (I even got to play one of his mother's dulcimers -- what a treat!). Thanks also to beginner instructor Nancy Galumbush, for getting me off to a great start. She was so very patient with all of us. :)


Laurel K Scott
05/25/17 09:37:46AM @laurel-k-scott:

Off to the Crooked Road Dulcimer Festival ... looking forward to revisiting one of Virginia's most beautiful regions and taking my first dulcimer lessons. Prayers for safe travels would be much appreciated! :)


hugssandi
03/31/17 12:38:06PM @hugssandi:

Okay, I will try to stop bugging you after this post!  I just read about your newest dulcimer~AMAZING~and a little of your history.  I have family history in the Appalachias, and My Very Favorite Aunt, Linda Goodman, is an Appalachian storyteller.  We have LOTS to chat about!!!!


hugssandi
03/31/17 12:24:59PM @hugssandi:

Laurel, I am so excited to learn from you!  I've never taken a dulcimer lesson and dream of doing so...  I love to play hymns best, but I will try playing just about anything.  I like to sing when I play, even when it doesn't sound great, which is why I'd love to learn to chord and expand the number and style of songs available to me.  

My first dulcimer is a Walnut Creek by T.K. O'Brien/Craggy Mountain Music.  I bought it sight unseen, because Beverly was so amazing to talk to on the phone.  inlove   Recently I got my little Wren (thank you for your comment!) and am over the moon!!!  I am in Church Hill and come with a gaggle of kids, but I'd be open to meeting/playing sometime.  dulcimer


hugssandi
03/31/17 10:39:08AM @hugssandi:

Laurel!  We both live in Richmond~WOW!!!!  That's pretty exciting...  We'll have to share all we know with one another!!!


Laurel K Scott
03/01/17 10:47:33PM @laurel-k-scott:

And you do your own photography, too? Awesome. I used to do that when I was first starting out, in the old b/w 35mm days. Processed and printed my own film, too. I continued to photograph horse sports for many different equestrian publications for 20-plus years after that, but hung up my cameras around the time everyone switched to digital. :)


Laurel K Scott
03/01/17 10:44:27PM @laurel-k-scott:

Ben, that sounds wonderful. I used to have beats like those in my "general" reporting days for a weekly newspaper in Fauquier County, Virginia, and I miss it sometimes. Sure got to meet a lot of interesting people and learn a lot about the area in which I grew up. I also feel like at that level, you can really make a difference with your writing ... you can really help folks. I miss that, too. :)


Ben Barr Jr
03/01/17 10:13:14PM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:

Hi Laurel, I have a variety of articles that I write as a small town news reporter/photographer.  I do the sometimes interesting/sometimes not so interesting school boards and town council.  Once in a while, I may get to do a sports feature, but other writers usually cover that circuit unless something happens on the school board side, then I might get one of those.  I will also cover business openings and business profiles.  What I enjoy most is writing articles on positive news such as festivals and events that are taking place where I might write a feature on a individual.  Once in a while, I might interview a Veteran or someone who has hiked the Appalachian trail or write on an author releasing/signing a book.  Ben


Ben Barr Jr
02/28/17 10:10:07PM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:

Hi Laurel, I noticed on your description that you are a journalist.  Do you work for a major paper, daily, or weekly?  I work for a small town weekly as a freelance journalist.  


Strumelia
02/28/17 09:56:30PM @strumelia:

Laurel, the dulcimer you have pictured looks like a really wonderful vintage instrument- you are lucky to have found it I'd say!  Does it have the makers' name anywhere inside or outside?- it looks like a highly skilled dulcimer maker made it long ago.


Ken Longfield
02/26/17 09:53:06PM @ken-longfield:

Welcome to FOTMD, Laurel. It's good to have you aboard.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


Ben Barr Jr
02/26/17 09:06:26PM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:

Hi Laurel, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer.  It's a good place to come, spend some time, learn about the dulcimer, and to meet some good people.

Ben


Jim Fawcett
02/26/17 07:57:31PM @jim-fawcett:

Hey Laurel, welcome aboard. Glad ya found us.


Cynthia Wigington
02/26/17 07:05:54PM @cynthia-wigington:

Excellent - no 6.5. High action is good for N/D. There is a noter/drone blog on here. Have fun.


Rob N Lackey
02/26/17 07:04:13PM @rob-n-lackey:

Welcome, Laurel, to this little corner of dulcimer heaven.  Looks like a really nice instrument you got there.  I like it that it has no "extra" frets.  I'd love to hear her sing!  Hope you enjoy it here.

Rob

 


Cynthia Wigington
02/26/17 05:17:48PM @cynthia-wigington:

Greetings from Vermont Laurel and welcome to the site. Noter/drone - yes! If you have to get a ready-to-play dulcimer on the cheap until yours is ready, go to Backyard Music and order his 3 string, no 6.5 fret tuned DAA that will even come tuned. They are cardboard, and you will have a blast with it. I play mine out in full sun, or cold, makes a great banger for when you need one to just toss in the car too. They were $75 inc. shipping last I looked. Then at least you could get going. He'll send you everything you need too to get going, tab and all. Have fun whatever you do. Best, Cynthia