These sequential, in-depth courses are the “core” of our week. They take place from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday-Friday (coffee break from 10-10:25). They provide 13 hours of sequential, well-balanced instruction with at least one master teacher/player. The majority of courses focus on providing “Playing Skills” and there are six skill levels from which you can choose. Participants have told us these skills courses enabled them to take “giant steps” in their playing and enjoyment of the mountain dulcimer. Other choices are this year’s “Special Subject” 13-hour courses, listed below the skills courses. Don’t forget the “Build Your Own Dulcimer” morning/afternoon week-long course!
Understanding these 13-Hour Courses:
These in-depth courses provide a more thorough and relaxed way to learn than at a weekend dulcimer festival (which typically would have a lot unrelated short workshops). You also get to know your teacher – and his/her creative approaches to music – and your teacher gets to know you.
In consideration of all the students in the class, the teacher will progress through the lesson plan described below for each course. If you need help, most classes have tutors and will provide some time for individual help. We also encourage students to get together in non-class times for practice sessions and friendship.
If you want to learn specific skills or music not in the course plan, the best opportunity to “personalize” your learning experience is in our afternoon classes (see ‘Electives’ section). They can provide many opportunities for additional challenge, reinforcement, and variety of music.
When you sign up for a morning playing course, it’s for the 5 days (13 hours), so it’s wise to choose a course with prerequisites, goals and skills taught that suit you. The registration process fills classes on a first-come-first-registered basis. Please be aware that some classes fill up quickly. For quality teaching/learning we limit many classes to 25-30 students, depending on content. After this catalog is mailed to our mailing list it will be put on our website and registrations taken from the general public.
You’ll receive confirmation of your morning course, along with descriptions of Elective classes and a form to enroll in those.
When you arrive at Cullowhee and your morning course begins, you can expect that the first session does not cover a large part of the week’s lesson plan. That will happen over 5 days of in-depth teaching. A good instructor begins a course by laying the groundwork for the week - getting to know the students, assessing the individual skills of the students and making sure everyone is “in sync” to progress through the full 13-hour curriculum.
Participants who feel they have made a wrong choice of course may switch before Tuesday of our week into another course if spaces are available. After this “settling-in” period of the first day we expect participants to remain in these sequential courses.
How to Register:
Take a little time to read the course descriptions and prerequisites so you can select your morning course carefully.
Fill in all the blanks on the Registration Form from that comes with this catalog, marking “1” for your first choice of course. Also mark “2” for your second choice in case you’re first choice course is filled up when your registration is received. Include your payment via check or credit card as instructed. The fastest route is on-line registration at our website, http://dulcimer.wcu.edu, but you can also register quickly via fax or overnight mail.
After your registration is received, written confirmation will be sent to you. Mailed with it will be the Elective classes’ descriptions and enrollment form. (If you register just before the event there may not be time for you to receive written confirmation, so you’ll want to confirm your registration by phoning 828-227-7397.)
Final step is to send in your completed afternoon Electives enrollment form at your first opportunity so your Electives choices can be secured.
Morning Playing Skills Courses:
BEGINNER PLAYING SKILLS
Anne Lough, instructor; Sarah Borders, tutor.
No musical or dulcimer-playing experience is necessary to take this course.
Course goals: To provide in a relaxed environment an opportunity for you to learn basic playing skills and enjoy music and the dulcimer, taking home the ability to play and expand your repertoire more.
Special feature: To ease and strengthen the learning process, after you register you will be mailed a CD of the melodies to be played in class. This will give students and opportunity to hum along to learn and strengthen your ability to play by ear.
Free Loaner Dulcimers – If you do not own a dulcimer yet, we have excellent dulcimers you can borrow (check registration to reserve one). There will also be excellent opportunities to make a good purchase from a variety of dulcimers in our Dulcimer Marketplace.
Skills covered:
• Dulcimer anatomy, how it works, how to hold it.
• Tuning the dulcimer (3 easy tunings will be learned – DAA, DAC and DAD), and learning where scales are in each.
• Basic left-hand finger work (plus an explanation of traditional noter playing – bring one if you have one).
• Strumming and different rhythms.
• Playing by ear and from dulcimer tablature (playing by fret numbers). Memorizing music.
We will put these skills to work as you learn simple folk songs, hymns and lovely mountain tunes.
Extra coaching: On Mon., Tues. & Wed. afternoons from 2-4 p.m., coaching and practice guidance will be offered to nurture the new players of this class. (We encourage you to take one of the easy electives on Thurs. afternoon at this time – or earlier if you’re ready.)
We also encourage all students to get together with classmates for practice after classes.
BEGINNER-INTO-NOVICE PLAYING SKILLS
Paul Andry, Instructor; Paul Henderson, Tutor
Goals: To provide a relaxed environment in which you will have the opportunity to learn a number of time proven, easy methods of playing that will strengthen your abilities, build confidence and encourage your progress from Beginner to Novice (Advanced Beginner). To expand your music repertoire and ability/confidence to join in the “jams.”
Prerequisites: You should be able to hold your dulcimer, strum and play a few simple melodies.
Skills covered: The first day will be a review of Beginner skills (listed above) to reinforce good playing techniques and to make sure that you are comfortable and confident to learn new skills. We will then concentrate on, tuning, smooth strumming and playing in time (and in time with other players). We will learn to read and play from different types of tablature. We will also work on “playing by ear” and techniques to play without tablature (memorize music). We will learn a variety of fun new “jam” songs without chords; then add simple cords to reinforce each lesson as we progress. Emphasis will be placed on having fun while learning at a relaxed pace – see you there!
Extra Coaching: Coaching and practice guidance is being offered on Monday and Tuesday from 2-4 pm. We will focus on strengthening the day’s lessons. For those who have played primarily in Ionian (D-A-A) and other students in this class, we will offer extra help with playing in Mixolydian (D-A-D). We encourage all students to get together and play with fellow students after class. We also encourage you to take one of the easy electives on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons – or earlier if you are ready.
NOVICE (Advanced Beginner) PLAYING SKILLS
Bill Taylor, instructor; Paul Henderson, tutor.
Prerequisites: If you have your skills through Beginner-into-Novice described above and can play simple melodies, can tune your dulcimer in DAD and maybe some other tunings, you should be ready.
Course goals: To build your skills enough to eventually progress to Intermediate playing level. For students to have fun while learning, using a variety of music to help gain skills and confidence.
Skills covered: The first day will be a quick review of the skills through Beginner-into-Novice above to make sure you are comfortable at this level. From there we will cover:
• Further development of strumming and different rhythms
• Basic fingerpicking
• Basic flatpicking (and using some strums with it)
• Further development of left-hand techniques.
• Playing back-up chords
• Chord/melody style playing that blends melody notes and harmony.
• Memorizing music from the page
• Building speed gradually and smoothly
Each day will begin with playing easy and fun songs to help build your confidence and skills.
Extra coaching for members of this class is on Monday from 2-4 p.m. to help students in this course settle in. This session is not mandatory if you’re ready for the many electives that include students of Novice skills. We also encourage all students to get together with classmates for practice after classes.
NOVICE skill level players may also want to consider the following “Specialized” courses (described at the end of our course listings):
1. 2009 Edition of “Traditional Music for the Mountain Dulcimer” with Don Pedi, Wilfried Ulrich, Joe Hickerson and Susan Boyer Haley (Novice & up)
2. Novice & Intermediate “Ensembles for Mountain Dulcimer” course with Larry & Elaine Conger
3. “Playing the Bowed Dulcimer” (experience required)
4. “Build Your Own Dulcimer” (building; not paying)
INTERMEDIATE PLAYING SKILLS/FINGERPICKING
Linda Brockinton, instructor. Nina Zanetti, tutor.
Prerequisites: You should have your skills described for Novice (Advanced Beginner) skill level above. Basic experience in fingerpicking will be helpful, plus a basic knowledge of chords in DAD tuning, some experience in “chord-melody” style playing, with some experience in left-hand techniques (efficient fingerings, hammer-ons, slides, and pull-offs).
Skills covered:
We’ll begin with an overview of general Intermediate playing skills. We’ll do some playing with a pick but will focus in-depth on the many aspects and beautiful sounds of fingepricking the dulcimer. Attention to right-hand picking and strumming techniques will bring a sense of style and rhythm to your playing. We will also learn to fingerpick your favorite strummed tunes!
Left-hand instruction will include arpeggios (‘broken’ chords) and playing melodies across the strings. This will ensure the most efficient way of moving up and down the fretboard. We’ll play minor keys without capos, duet parts and/or chord progressions to go with all the music. Fingerpicking through the given chords is a nice way to accompany others on the dulcimer. We will use printed music and also play by ear. Learning to play by ear is an important part of playing with others. This will be an enjoyable class with some small group work. We also encourage all students to get together with classmates for practice after classes.
INTERMEDIATE skill level players may also want to consider the following “Specialized” courses (described at the end of our course listings):
1. 2009 Edition of “Traditional Music for the Mountain Dulcimer” with Don Pedi, Wilfried Ulrich, Joe Hickerson and Susan Boyer Haley (Novice & up)
2. Novice & Intermediate “Ensembles for Mountain Dulcimer” course with Larry & Elaine Conger
3. “Playing the Bowed Dulcimer” (experience required)
4. “Build Your Own Dulcimer” (building; not paying)
INTERMEDIATE-INTO-ADVANCED PLAYING SKILLS
Leo Kretzner, instructor. Jerry Rockwell, tutor.
Prerequisites: First and foremost, please be an intermediate player already. In other words, be sure you meet the pre-req’s for Intermediate itself and have basic familiarity with most of the skills covered in Intermediate, as described in this catalog. That’s important because to some extent we’ll cover many of those things ourselves, but with several additions, detailed next!
Course Goals: To help you strengthen your musicianship and offer you tools for more creativity on the mountain dulcimer.
Course Description:
• A huge emphasis on rhythm and rhythmic variations; daily playing of accented patterns, syncopated rhythms, and an intro to “world” music meters such as 5/4 and 7/8.
• Emphasis on chordal/melodic variations leading to varying your playing as you play through a piece – i.e., knowing and playing a piece in several chord voicings.
• How flatpicking/strum variations are also key in keeping your pieces alive.
• Single-note melody line playing; playing across the strings; working the lower octave and bass runs.
• Playing blues, swing, and later twentieth century music; improvisation.
• More ornaments, more playing in other keys with/without capo.
• There will be specific pieces given – i.e., repertoire - for all of these main points of skill.
This won’t be a class for fingerpicking.
Students are encouraged to get together with classmates for practice after classes. A reasonable amount of preparatory material will be sent to you with your registration.
ADVANCED skill level players may also want to consider the following “Specialized” courses (described at the end of our course listings):
1. 2009 Edition of “Traditional Music for the Mountain Dulcimer” with Don Pedi, Wilfried Ulrich, Joe Hickerson and Susan Boyer Haley (Novice & up)
2.“Ensembles for Mountain Dulcimer” course with Larry & Elaine Conger (This is aimed at Novice & Intermediate playing skills, but can work well for more advanced players who are new to ensemble playing.)
3. “Playing the Bowed Dulcimer” (experience required)
4. “Build Your Own Dulcimer” (building; not paying)
ADVANCED PLAYING SKILLS
Stephen Seifert, instructor. Jerry Rockwell, tutor.
Prerequisites: To be ready for this course, you should have progressed beyond Intermediate skills and should already be fairly comfortable with the elements taught in Intermediate-into-Advanced. If you do not have the following skills we recommend you choose an easier course. You will need to be adept at tuning the dulcimer, have good strumming and fingerpicking skills, be comfortable using chords in different inversions, be able to play melodies at different places on the fretboard, and have the confidence to play for the class. Experience in playing for others in open stages or for your dulcimer club is a plus for taking this course. Experience in creating or adapting arrangements of pieces of music will also be a plus.
Course Description:
After you register, you will receive in your registration confirmation a letter from Stephen. The letter will tell you how to prepare ahead of time at home for the course by knowing the 3 main chord shapes and doing some right and left-hand exercises. After you arrive at Cullowhee, Stephen will be sharing with you how he approaches the dulcimer to play in the improvisational style for which he is known. These are the same skills he uses when arranging a piece for performance. You will learn his style of improvisation and arranging through a series of clear, step-by-step building blocks that include:
• finger exercises
• scales, chords (based on those you will have prepared for), and arpeggios
• playing short melodic phrases (i.e., riffs or licks) to embellish a melody
• how melodies relate to the underlying chords
• melodic variations
• knowing exactly which notes to use when improvising and which notes will sound good with a given chord.
These improvisational techniques are especially good for playing bluegrass versions of American fiddle tunes, but adapt to other styles of music. The goal is to help you play expressively and accurately in many musical styles and settings. Other elements of this course will include advanced strumming, crosspicking, and flatpicking; positional approach to thumb and non-thumb fingerings; one and two-string bends; harmonies; duet and group playing. Students are encouraged to form study groups with classmates for practice and friendship during non-class hours.
Specialized Morning Courses:
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday-Friday (coffee break from 10-10:25).
New This Year!
Novice through Intermediate Level - “ENSEMBLES FOR MOUNTAIN DULCIMER” Novice through Intermediate Level
Larry & Elaine Conger, Instructors
This ensemble class will use DAD tuning. It will feature parts for 3/4 size (‘Ginger’) dulcimers, standard dulcimers, baritone dulcimers, bass dulcimers, and bowed dulcimers. The class will be repertoire-based, but Larry & Elaine will also offer tips and suggestions for adapting arrangements for use with the various dulcimer “voices” available to your particular ensemble. This class is also a great opportunity to learn how to play with other dulcimer players and should prove to be a lot of fun! The goal of the course will be to provide participants with new material for their enjoyment and performance opportunities. Come prepared with questions regarding how you can improve the music your ensemble is currently playing. Participants are asked to contact Larry at TNDulciman@aol.com to inform him of what dulcimers you have available and would be willing to bring to class. Handy items to bring include: highlighter, pencil, extra strings, music stand and tuner. A workshop reference CD will be available for purchase. This course is limited to 30 participants.
*2009 Edition!
“TRADITIONAL MUSIC FOR MOUNTAIN DULCIMER”
Teaching Team: Don Pedi, Joe Hickerson, Susan Boyer Haley, Wilfried Ulrich. Novice through Advanced level.
It’s important that the exciting traditional voice, music and colorful background of the mountain dulcimer be enjoyed and not be lost. This year’s “Traditional Music for the Mountain Dulcimer” course you will learn:
Traditional Music & Background (different music from last year):
• Southern dance tunes, songs and hymns with Don Pedi.
• Slide show and recordings of historic dulcimers and players with Don Pedi.
• The intriguing background (and words) of some of your favorite mountain dulcimer tunes, with Joe Hickerson.
• Ballads and other folk music with Susan Boyer Haley.
• One of the mountain dulcimer’s European ancestors is the German hummel. Wilfried Ulrich is one of the best hummel builders, and he will introduce you to some hummels, their music and playing techniques, along with their history and continuing traditions.
Playing Techniques:
• Straightforward single-string, melody/drone style playing.
• Both noter style playing and simple finger noting as well - no intricate left-hand work or complicated chords.
• Right-hand work will focus mainly on strumming skills.
• Basic traditional tunings will be taught and used to bring out the dulcimer’s varied voices.
• Emphasis will be on developing clear, rhythmic playing.
• Some harmony playing and basic accompaniment chords will be taught.
• There will be music taught from paper, but true to tradition, there will be training in picking out music by ear and memorizing.
You will go home playing 20 pieces of traditional music not taught last year- a rich mixture of songs and dance tunes from Southern Appalachia, the Ozarks, the British Isles, and traditional European melodies.
If you took last year’s course, this year’s will give you different music and new knowledge of dulcimer history and culture. If you’re new to the class, you will walk away at the end of the week a better traditional player with a better understanding and ability to play traditional music. The class environment will be non-competitive, sharing, and both the music and the dulcimer’s traditions will be savored. The music will be taught in a relaxed, personal way, with some discussion of the background of each piece (as has been done through the ages), rather than just an impersonal transmittal of musical data. Each morning will conclude with a gentle jam session to help students practice and enjoy the music taught that day.
Our teaching team brings almost 200 years of learning and loving traditional music! Each instructor has a unique wisdom and an individual way of relating to the music and the mountain dulcimer - giving students a rich and diversified musical experience.
• Don Pedi will host and moderate the course. He will be presenting a special new slide show of historical dulcimers and players. This slide show will be repeated as we gather for classes and take coffee breaks. Don, a champion old-time dulcimer player, will teach Southern dance music and songs, sharing his style of finger noting and strumming. He will also focus on helping students improve playing-by-ear skills.
• Joe Hickerson is one our country’s favorite folksinger-collectors and former Head of the Library of Congress Archive of Folk Song/Culture. In 1971 he compiled an extensive bibliography on the mountain dulcimer. With his extensive knowledge of American folk music, he will help us understand more about our favorite traditional dulcimer tunes and songs.
• Susan Boyer Haley, from one of America’s most outstanding folk music families, will teach her traditional mountain dulcimer style, honed from childhood. With songs and ballads from the Ozarks to the British Isles, Susan will cover singing with the mountain dulcimer, which is both a strong part of its traditions - and a valuable tool for memorizing and playing tunes by ear.
• Wilfried Ulrich is a German luthier and musician who does expert restorations of precious antique instruments for German museums and designs replicas and innovations of traditional string instruments. His work can be seen at his website (for an English translation of it Google ‘Wilfried Ulrich hummel’). To see Wilfried’s instruments and hear him play, visit:
http://de.youtube.com/results?search_query=ulricus&search_type=&aq=f
PLAYING THE BOWED DULCIMER
Kenneth Bloom, instructor.
Prerequisites: Some bowing experience highly recommended. If you are a complete beginner at bowing it is recommended that you take the “Introduction to Bowing” afternoon elective, for which you need no prior bowing experience.
The Class: The current revival of the bowed dulcimer began here at WCU and we continue the tradition. This dedicated class covers both technique and repertoire of the bowed dulcimer. There will be equal emphasis on both areas and attention will be given to proper bow holds, relaxed hand positions, and especially good tone. This year, the class will focus on using the bowed dulcimer in a variety of playing opportunities so that even less skilled players can participate in a wide range of jams and performing situations. We will use pieces taken from the old-time repertoire as well as traditional music of other lands.
“BUILD YOUR OWN MOUNTAIN DULCIMER”
John Huron, instructor; Homer Phillips, assistant extraordinaire.
This outstanding course is taught “apprentice-style,” with lots of individual help from teachers, and no previous building experience is required. John has nicknamed this course “Southern Spousal Day Care,” because it’s an opportunity for spouses to have as enjoyable and productive a week as their dulcimer-playing husbands and wives! But you don’t have to have a spouse to take this class.
This course occupies both the morning and the afternoon sessions of our schedule and is limited to the first 10 enrollees. Students learn traditional, time-tested techniques for building dulcimers and at the end of the week take home a beautiful, accurately-fretted, smooth-playing, and acoustically-excellent instrument. Experienced students are able to hone their skills by concentrating on the finer points of building. John says, “There are no secrets; questions are encouraged; and I love watching the interaction among the students as the class progresses through the week.”
John brings all the necessary building materials and tools. Things for students to bring from home: an expendable towel for a work table cover, pencil & paper for taking notes and tracing patterns (optional), and a smile. Much of the pre-assembly “grunt work” is already done, including fret installation. All of these steps and procedures will be explained, and fret installation will be demonstrated. This eliminates a lot of “sitting and watching glue dry” and the use of large power tools. The class begins with the identification of the parts of a dulcimer and progresses through the final finishing and set up of the instrument. Sources for building materials and tools are supplied.
WHAT YOU’LL GO HOME WITH!
John will offer native Appalachian cherry back, sides, peg head, tailpiece and fretboard with a sassafras top as standard woods this year. Some optional wood choices will be available. Also included, each student will make a beautiful hardwood wall hanger to display his/her dulcimer at home!
NOTE: In addition to the tuition for the week that covers the instruction and all the non-class activities, there is a $200 fee covering all the materials/use of tools to make the dulcimer. This fee is paid to John Huron on the first day of class.
On Friday the class culminates with a special time for the builders to unveil and share the joy of their “newborns” with all WCU Mountain Dulcimer Week participants.
Although registrations are only taken through Western Carolina University Continuing Ed (use the attached Registration Form), questions on more details can be directed to John Huron at 423-764-3332, e-mail jjh@noteworthyjohn.com or through his web site, http://noteworthyjohn.com
Afternoon 2-Hour Elective Classes:
2:00-4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
These 2-hour classes teach different kinds of repertoire, and playing styles and subjects not normally covered in depth in the morning skills courses. There are electives suitable for various playing skill levels each afternoon. They also offer you the opportunity to study with several different instructors!
After you register in your morning course you will receive an Electives Enrollment Form. Participants attend one 2-hour elective each afternoon, Monday through Thursday. Some class subjects planned for 2009 are:
Coaching Sessions:
Members of our Beginner, Beginner-into-Novice, and Novice courses who want extra nurturing in their morning course skills before they venture into afternoon electives can choose the following special tutor-led coaching sessions from 2-4 p.m. at the beginning of the week. (Practice individually and with classmates after class is also recommended.)
Beginner Class Members, Mon., S. Borders
Beginner Class Members, Tues., S. Borders
Beginner Class Members, Tues., S. Borders
Beg.-into-Novice Class Members, Mon., P. Andry
Beg.-into-Novice Class members Tues., P. Henderson
Novice Class Members, Mon. P. Henderson
Music Styles for the Mountain Dulcimer:
The Roots of American Folk Music, J. Hickerson
Galax, VA Style Playing & Music, P. & J. Gaskins
Western NC Songs, Tunes & Tales, D. Pedi
Mountain Hymns, D. Pedi
Novice & Intermediate Songs & Tunes, L. Kretzner
Cajun & Creole Dance Tunes, L. Hornbostel
Medieval, Elizabethan & Renaissance Music, S. Seifert
Christmas Anytime, A. Lough
Classical Music, P.Andry
Music of the World, K. Bloom
Irish Slow Airs, L. Brockinton
Country Blues Dulcimer, L. Kretzner & J. Rockwell
Improvising in the Pentatonic Mode, A. Lough
Tunes with Syncopations, P. Andry
Rounds, L. Brockinton
Children’s Music, M. Anderson
Special Subjects & Styles:
Shaped-Note Singing, W. Peebles
Field Trip: L. Hornbostel
Dulcimer Builders’ Forum, B. Taylor & more
Music Theory I, E. Conger
Music Theory II, E. Conger
Noter Style Playing, P. Gaskins
Introduction to Fingerpicking, N. Zanetti
Playing with Other Instruments, L. Hornbostel & more
Two-Hand Tapping & Left Hand Techniques, J. Rockwell
Playing Expressively, N. Zanetti
Introduction to Bowed Dulcimer, Kenneth Bloom
Learn to Play the “Dulcijo,” M. Fox
Continuing Dulcijo, M. Fox
Modes, S. Haley
Singing with the Dulcimer, S. Haley
Gamelan Orchestra, W. Peebles
Dulcimer Maintenance, J. Shelton
Playing by Ear, teaching team
4-hour Mini-Courses (Two afternoons):
Arranging Music, Part I & II, L. Conger (you sign up for two afternoons)
TablEdit Computer Generated Tablature, S. Seifert (you sign up for two afternoons)