2016 Workshops & Events Information(2017 Detail Coming SOON!)
Click HERE for 2017 SCHEDULE
PAGE!
Sample Tune:
"Keven's
Coma”
Composed & Performed by Joellen Lapidus on Mountain Dulcimer,
Yvette Devereaux on Violin, Gordon Peeke on Spoons on
her NEW CD ‘Dulcimer Music for the Pelican
Ballet’ www.lapidusmusic.com
Click Orange Buttons to go Directly To Workshop Sections
Learn basic skills, get an understanding of the layout and learn a tune or two to start or restart your hammered dulcimer playing.
Jim Hayes
“Christmas in October: Carols for the Hammered Dulcimer
-- Advanced Beginner/Intermediate”
Christmas in October--Carols for the Hammered Dulcimer
(In Conference Room: see Dulcimer/ Other Workshops 1)
Advanced Beginner/ Intermediate – If you have taken even
1 Absolute Beginner HD workshop – you belong in this
class
October is a great time to start working to get your
December holiday repertoire ready. In this class we'll
work with carols and other holiday tunes that adapt well
to the HD and look at some simple variations that can
liven up their arrangements.
Jim Hayes “Fun and Easy Tunes
for the Hammered Dulcimer”
All tunes are fun to play on the HD--right?--but not
all are easy. In this class we'll work on a set of
traditional tunes that are nicely compact, easy to
memorize, and accessible to beginning players.
Cathy Barton “I've
Learned the Tune -- So What Now?”
This workshop will feature a couple of simple tunes such
as "Nonesuch" and will stress how to begin to create
variations and embellishments using droning, dynamics,
chords, octave changes, etc. to recognize some of the dulcimer’s inherent patterns - especially chord shapes - and apply this new knowledge to seeing the ‘shapes’ in melody lines. We’ll also explore some basics of accompaniment.
Karen Harvey “Figgy
Jig"
In this session, you will learn Figgy Jig, a fun to
play, 2 part jig. This jig is an original composition,
written in honor of my good friend, Sharon Loftus, who
loves figs and Celtic dancing. If time permits, you will
learn the popular jam tune, Swallowtail Jig, which also
pairs nicely with Figgy Jig. If you already know
Swallowtail Jig, you will be provided some playing
options during the class including an easy variation,
backup chords or an opportunity to practice the jig in a
different octave, all which will enhance the fun when
the group plays it together. By the end of the class,
you also will have the sheet music and an opportunity to
record both Figgy Jig and Swallowtail Jig.
Hammered Dulcimer 2
Cathy Barton “Play It
Pretty: Ways to Interpret Waltzes"
This workshop will stress not
only interesting waltz repertoire but will include ways to
perform these pieces using dynamics, harmonies, arpeggios,
chords, etc.
Cathy Barton “Up North:
Canadian Tunes”
A primarily repertoire workshop showcasing great
dance tunes such as French Canadian fiddle repertoire
from Quebec and fiddle contest tunes from Ontario. Lots of
playing here!
Patti Amelotte “Fill:
What It Is and How to Do It”
Learn techniques of how to spruce up your tunes.
Cathy Barton & Dave Para “Putting
It All Together for All Instruments”
Team taught with Dave Para, multi-instrumentalist.
This workshop will not only stress fun and
interesting repertoire but how to create medleys, dynamic
variations, and exciting musical touches to make dancers and
audiences respond to your music. Some recordings will be
used to illustrate points, but this will primarily be a
workshop featuring lots of playing both new tunes as well as
some familiar pieces.
Fretted Dulcimer 1 (Fretted/ Mountain/ Appalachian Dulcimer =
different names for the same instrument)
Ellen Hahn “From the
Very Beginning" (2 hour workshop)
We will be starting from the beginning in this class,
learning how to hold, strum, fret, and tune your Mountain
Dulcimer. You’ll learn how to read tab, and use back up
chords, time and rhythm to play fiddle tunes. Bring your
Mountain Dulcimer, a pick and a tuner if you have one. Come
join us!
Robert Force “Holding a
Rhythm”
This workshop is an introduction to the flat-pick and
attendant strumming techniques for strengthening the wrist,
articulating strings, understanding bass and treble angles
of attack, mastering changes in tempo and incorporating
timbre. We will work toward synchronizing the melody and
rhythm hands. We will explore grouping sets of notes which
work sequentially toward building songs and mastering tunes.
This “Bootcamp” crash course condenses the first five
chapters of In Search of the Wild Dulcimer and is a dynamic
foundation course in rhythm, tempo, strumming and melodic
structure. Worksheets: Bootcamp for Dulcimer.
Joellen Lapidus “SLAP
TECHNIQUE -- FD as Percussion”
Play upbeat and sleepy Rock’n Roll rhythms. Play the strum
that Joni Mitchell used on California, A Case of You, and
Carey Get Out Your Cane. Jazz up nursery rhymes and
Appalachian tunes. Use the dulcimer as a percussion
instrument. An hour of fun and discovery.
Fretted Dulcimer 2
Robert Force “The Barre
(Bar) Chord”
Introducing the “barre” chord:
When I wrote Wellyn in the summer of 1972 little did I know
it would become a staple in many dulcimer players’
repertoires. From the vantage of 44 years later I can see
how this came to be. Built around “full-stop” barre chord
positions, it is fun to play. Folks liked the athleticism of
these “power chords” and the rock n’ roll rhythm. We will
start with this tune and then work our way to Norman Blake’s
folksong, Slow Train, where the barrier is used to create
the explosive back beat of a steam locomotive. Finally, I
will teach how these barre chords allow you to quickly and
easily change keys, especially into A and E from the usual D
and G. Worksheets: Wellyn, Slow Train.
Robert Force “The
Dulcimer Roll”
Differing from the flat-pick right
hand technique where a single note is played as part of a
sequence of notes, the dulcimer roll creates an unvarying
pattern from which single notes are emphasized in the
context of the chord or passage being played. This is much
easier than it sounds and has been a fundamental, definitive
technique of my playing for 40 years. It is used alternately
with the strum to emphasize nuances within the melody. Few
techniques will offer as dramatic a new musical landscape
for you as will this. Worksheets: Conversations With The
River, Andy Mackie (You are my Sunshine)
Robert Force “Counter
Rhythms and Syncopation”
We will explore counter-rhythm, alternating the flat-picked
“roll” and the strum within the same song to build
syncopation dynamics. To further understand this effect we
will incorporate techniques such as hammering on, pulling
off and playing the melody with one hand only. We will also
visit a few tricky chord progressions. Using these
techniques we’ll play some traditional and contemporary
compositions and even recast a few folk songs as reggaes and
calypsos. Worksheets: Reuben’s Train, Paradise Boy, John B.
Sails
Joellen Lapidus “Hoe-Downs,
Waltzes, Ragas, and Rock & Roll”
Hoe downs, waltzes, ragas and rock’n roll: how to get your
groove on! A rhythm workshop.
Doug Thomson “Fun with a
CAPO on Fretted Dulcimer"
(In Conference Room under Dulcimer/ Other Workshops 1)
For all levels.
This workshop will cover:
1) Play in four different keys with the capo!
2) Chords in four different keys with the capo!
3) Easy way to find what key they are playing at a jam!
Other Workshops 1
Jim Hayes
“Christmas in October: Carols for the Hammered Dulcimer
-- Advanced Beginner/Intermediate”
(See listing under Hammered Dulcimer 1)
Terry Gucwa “Sing and Play"
Terry will lead the group in singing
warm-up exercises like those advocated by Bruce Molsky in
Singing with the Fiddle, in which we’ll tune our voices in
harmony to our instruments (that is, we play one or more
notes and sing a different note). After that we’ll sing a
couple of easy songs in harmony to our instruments.
Michael Eskin “Hammered
Dulcimer & Accordion Apps for iPhone & iPad”
In this workshop, we'll be looking at using Apps on the
iPhone and iPad for learning and practicing Hammered
Dulcimer and other traditional instruments. (Michael, an App
Developer for iOS Devices and multi-instrumentalist, will
also be giving a demo of his Apps at the Mid-day concert,
preceding his workshop.) Info
seisiuneer@gmail.com
and at Festival Artists’ Booth /Trad. Music Apps under his
website
www.AppCordions.com
Doug Thomson “Fun with a
CAPO on Fretted Dulcimer"
(See listing under Fretted Dulcimer 2)
Other Workshops 2
Dave Para “Beginning
Banjo: How to Frail”
Dave has some good techniques for teaching! Getting the
motion down is such a major plateau that not much else is
teachable until the player gets that. He well use three
basic tunes in this workshop.
Dave Para “Ukulele 1:
Strum, Chords”
Dave will teach a handful of strumming patterns and chord
changes to some simple, well-known songs, similar to what
you might find in the Daily Ukulele book. There are also a
couple of useful chord progressions he will teach as well.
It seems like this is where all beginners start.
Dave Para “Back Up
Guitar for Fiddle Tunes”
The workshop will start with bass runs, strumming variations
and some chord inversions. Dave’s playing is pretty
improvisational, so he is game to show folks anything!
Jim Romano “Ukulele 2:
Intermediate Chords & Songs"
This class will touch on basic chord theory, using uke,
tab, some second
position chords and chord substitutions that can really add
a jazzy sound
to some simple, well known songs.
Other Workshops 3
Lynn Furnis “Autoharp
This is a Beginning workshop and your chance to try
Autoharp! Participants are encouraged to bring their own
autoharps to the workshop, but loaner instruments will be
available for up to eight students during the workshop, as
well. We will cover the basics about autoharps and about
Autoharp! autoharp playing, such as tuning, what kinds of
autoharps there are, and most important and fun -- how to
play one!!!! We will learn a song or two and will provide
words and chords for those songs.
Gregg Schneeman “Bowed
Psaltery”
Gregg will bring his collection of many Bowed Psalteries and
bows for people to use during the workshop. He will cover
from the introduction for beginners to the advanced, two-bow
style of playing. No previous musical experience required!
Gregg was declared the National Bowed Psaltery champion in
2012.
See Gregg’s Bowed Psaltery and Mountain Dulcimer Videos on
his YouTube Channel “Gregg Schneeman”.
Bill Dempsey “Sing
Along With Bill"
Group singing workshop with Bill, master of participation
music! He accompanies himself and others on fretted
dulcimer/ guitar/ 5 string banjo/ harmonica/ trombone/
pocket trumpet/ cajon/ etc! Join in for all the fun!
http://billdempseymusic.com
Kathryn LaMar “Drum
Circle"
Want to have a positive experience with music that is no
work and ALL FUN? Connect with your soul and entrain to the
rhythms of the universe? Come to our drum circle! If you
have a beating heart, you can play drums and other
percussion. Together, we will learn basic sounds, start with
a pulse-rhythm, and go where the spirit flows. No experience
necessary, all instruments are provided (yours is welcome,
though).
“Free” Activities - Participate or Listen -
Open Jams, Mid-Day Concert, Workshop on Jamming, Community Jam
Marianne Scanlon (HD, guitar) “OPEN
JAM LEADER"
9:00 am-11:00 am
All acoustic instruments welcome in this INDOOR jam in
Fellowship Hall, near the food area. Bring your favorite
music resources such as Fiddlers Fake Book or play by ear.
All are fine.
Coloring For All Ages!
“Souvenirs"
9:00 am - 11:15 am and 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Fellowship Hall
BREAK for set-up &
Mid-Day Concert
in Fellowship Hall
11:30-12:45pm
All acoustic instruments welcome in this INDOOR jam in
Fellowship Hall, near the food area. Bring your favorite
music resources such as Fiddlers Fake Book or play by ear.
All are fine.
Doug Thomson and Bob Palmer “Playing
Together - Focus on Fretted Dulcimers" - Beginning/Early
Intermediate
4:00 pm - 5:0pm
FREE WORKSHOP on Jamming. Open to ALL ACOUSTIC
INSTRUMENTS - all levels.
Tips covered on how to: join in on tunes; follow the rhythm;
jam etiquette; simplify tunes on the spot; listen to other
players; build a repertoire; suggestions for tune/song
resources; start a tune when it’s your turn; counting in/
potatoes/ other starts. This workshop will include running
through some simpler jam tunes!!
Barbara Gershman (HD) & Terry Gucwa (Cello)
“Free
Community Jam"
4:00-5:00 pm: All levels.
All acoustic instruments welcome!
Terry Gucwa's Jam Book
Fiddlers Fake Book
Stephen
Seifert’s Join the Jam Book
Your favorite music or ‘by ear’ tunes are all fine!
See the JAM TUNE LIST
on the scdh.org website for ideas.
Information
(2017 Detail Coming SOON!)
