Laurel K Scott

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 .

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!

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. :)

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! :)

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!!!!

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.     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. 

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

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. :)

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. :)

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

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.  

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.

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

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

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

Hey Laurel, welcome aboard. Glad ya found us.

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

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

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