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2020 has been one heck of a mountain dulcimer adventure year at my home so far :)
Would you believe that right in the middle of eye surgery--my husband, Bob, drove me all the way to Petal, Mississippi to compete in the Deep South Mountain Dulcimer Contest hosted by the Southern Strings Dulcimer Club ? And I won 1st Place & now have a ticket and entry into the National Mountain Dulcimer Contest at Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield Kansas this September ?
Right now-keeping close to home because of the virus--but working from home & got a brand new mountain dulcimer CD arriving in April. And busy playing & tabbing everyday for my second mountain dulcimer book which hopefully will be done in time for the Florida Folk Festival & the Gebhard Woods Festival this summer.
Just finished updating my website & hope you'll visit and sign up for my email list. (I won't spam you--I only send out something once or twice a year). But I'm planning an email blurb soon & there may be some bonus specials going on.
Also--have been making some new mountain dulcimer videos outdoors for folks who are trapped inside & will try to get some of those up soon. I post regularly on my Facebook page & everything is set to public so you can view--even if your not a friend
"Easy String Band Method for the Mountain Dulcimer" (instruction book/cd) is still in print & folks from all over the world have been learning this fun & easy method from it for over a decade. And now the instructional recording comes in a digital download that comes with the book. Folks have been telling me they need some more tunes & tunings & they are coming soon.
Chickens Crowin at Midnigh t is a "dulcimercentric" string band style collection of traditional tunes.
All are available on her website.
Mary Z Cox holds 2 graduate degrees from Florida State University and grad level certifications in education for youth & adults. “Folks learn more when they are having fun” is her educational philosophy. “If a dulcimer calls to you— buy it--don't fight destiny--its your duty to add it to your home. " is her motto.
March 18, 2020
Please be safe & healthy during this virus time. Love and blessings to you & your family & remember to sing and play your dulcimers everyday :)
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Latest Forum Discussions
AllNew Timber Hill Butterfly dulcimer arrived...
By: @BethH
Wow, most excellent philosophy and motto, Mary!
Leo
Hey Mary. I ordered a Clemmer TN Sweetie Church-style from Mike and Connie a little over a week ago. Connie said Mike has so many orders that he won't get to start mine until Jan. That's fine, I understand that these great builders are in demand. I had never heard of sassafras on a dulcimer, but after a little checking and talking to Connie, I think it will be a good choice. Mike is going to personalize it with a Maple Leaf on the headstock, since we are producers of pure maple syrup
. Your dulcimer sounds like it's going to be beautiful. I bet yours will be coming very soon. I hope you post pictures of it. BTW, your videos are great. I looked up your books on Elderly, which is my local music store. You are very talented.
Mary, 59 yrs just about equals two life sentences without remission, lol ! Thanks for friend request, John
Mary thanks and have a good day ....dig the dulcimer pics
Love the CD cover.
Thanks for the friends request Mary, I love your timbe hills dulcimers BEAUTIFUL Paul is a geat guy.
Good news--Just got the January issue of Banjo Newsletter and the editor, Don Nitchie, listed his dozen favorite banjo cds of 2011--and whoah--Girl With the Banjo Tattoo was one of the 12! He even mentioned that there were a couple good dulcimer/banjo duets on it--and it isn't often that banjo players will even mention dulcimers--let alone recommend them :)
Thanks Don for listening and appreciating (he listens to several hundred new cds a year)
Mary,
Mark and I were heading to the big city today (Columbus OH) and he put a DPN sampler cd in the player-- he heard your Tam Lin and liked it a lot. I ordered your cd earlier this eve-- I may not be able to keep it wrapped until Valentine's Day.
I had to chuckle when I read you article in DPN. My oldest dulcimer has friction pegs. Like your Checkered Lady, mine will not be played in anything but Ionian. It took a number of snapped strings before I accepted it.
Hello Mary. I'm delighted to be your friend - thanks for asking!Re my Paul Conrad dulcimer: I was so bowled over by the strong dramatic appearance of the red elm dulcimer which was the first photo to come up on his website in early 2008, that I got into discussions with him about making one for me. It was dulcimer lust at first sight rather than sound, as I hadn't heard one at that time! (But I knew from ED that he was gathering a strong reputation very quickly.) My dulcimer has a strong bright sound with a lot of "oomph" about it. I've only recorded once with it so far - you can hear it on the "Oyster Girl" sound file on my page on this site. It's the dulcimer I am playing to accompany the song. (Other multitracked instruments kick in for the tune that closes the song.) This recording demonstrated to me that it has a good hefty bass end too, which I hadn't really been so aware of while playing.It's his Form A type of MD that I went for, with 27" VSL. Paul's movable pedestal bridge set-up works really well and is very stable. You can see a picture of my MD on his website - it's the 3-string red elm dulcimer with double-diamond soundholes and planetary tuners. I marvel at Paul's more complex intarsia wood creations, but it's the simpler, less ornate dulcimers that I really like.
Hello Mary, have you ever heard of a female banjo player for back in the day- Ola Belle Reed. I have an old Kevin Roth lp album from back in 1977 and he`s pictured with her. Says alot of his traditional songs he learned from her.
No - stillat home - unable to get on to the roads - snow and ice. Maybe Sunday or Monday.Thanks for asking. Keep warm.
Hey Mary! I played a little music with John Warren and company last night - what talent! I hope you're keeping warm. It got down to 11 last night and we hear that the worst is yet to come - Give me call the next time you're up this way. We'd love for you to come by - maybe we can jam a bit! 828 787-1586
Hi Mary, I was at the Suwannee Dulcimer Retreat earlier this month and it was great. Then we found out that you were fighting a cold - but you were great and the class was terrific!! I encourage all players here to try to go to the Suwannee Dulcimer Retreat next year - promise you won't be disappointed. Thank you, Mary, for being my friend.
Hi Mary,Don Neuhauser of Indiana made my Galax dulcimer. He does a fabulous job and the sound is great!
Mary,That's a lot of recording for one day! Put your feet up and have a glass of iced tea or mug of hot chocolate-- whichever the weather there in FL calls for in the way of a beverage. :)
Mary,Might you tell us more about your "Easy String Band Method for the Mountain Dulcimer"?Thanks!
Welcome to FOTMD Mary
Welcome to FOTMD, Mary. :)
Welcome to FOTMD, the happening place --Dick Hulan