Mark, I think you're doing great. I'm enjoy watching your progress. I'm glad crossing your legs is comfortable for you. For me, sitting like that hurts my back. I have to sit in a chair. Don't give up on a table or a board under your dulcimer. The hard surface gives more volume. I have Prichard reproduction. Prichard made dulcimers in the late 1800s. He put feet on the bottom of the dulcimer so it could be put on a table or board. You might want to do a search on possum boards

Don't let Andr fool all y'all, his rascality is of the highest order! He is just putting on a good show, Oscar worthy indeed.

Thank y'all for the encouragement because it means much. I'm having fun, for sure, but the reinforcement that I'm getting from helps.

Dusty, those lines just put "Old Lady Stink" as my number two song. Of course, I need to add more lines and put it to a tune. I'm still chuckling.

I sent a request to you, Marion.

As to my sitting position, I'm just comfortable like that on our futon--it swallows me in. I do practice sitting forward with Treif, my hog fiddle, sitting where veteran players would expect. But I'm still toying with positioning and comfortability. I may end up being that weird dulcimer guy (The only one?) who sits cross-legged on the floor.

Big smiles to y'all!

Or the "Hokey Cokey", as it is known in the UK, lol, (where we usually perform it with our clothes on)

JohnH

Mark, you are progressing and enjoying the journey...that's what it's all about (not "The Hokey Pokey" as some would lead you to believe).

Well, a long time ago I used to be able to sit like that................! Glad that you are still enjoying the dulcimer, many of us are enjoying sharing your time with it, !

JohnH

(I just hope that the cat feels the same, it looks a mite disturbed ?)

Running naked through the Florida woods

Times were good, times were good

No discouraging word

Bothers thisole dulcinerd

Whocelebrates his wild childhood

Hey that was good. I listened to it, and I cannot do that so am proud for you. You are learning to finger pick,

Well, Mark, your enthusiasm hasn't waned, and that's a good thing. You're progressing nicely.

Week four finds me Home on the Range, still. I kept the dulcimer on my lap this week because I think I'll be able to pick better. It seems that this is the case so I'll keep practicing with it on my lap. I'm really making progress on the tune, and I'm falling in love with it. When I finish playing it I want more. So I think I'll start repeating it at a higher octave--if I can get the tabs and notes right (Do the notes stay the same?). I really do go home to my childhood when playing this, but I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was the buffalo that lived at the zoo I visited as a child. Perhaps it is because I feel free when I play it, like a child, like the ferrel child I was running mostly naked through FL woods. Could be a song here! Visit the Friends of the Mt. Dulcimer ning site to see loads of hog fiddle tunes, vids, etc., and meet folks who are warm with encouragement.