NEW PLAYER/BEGINNER SKILLS – Janita Baker
Whether you are a new player or have had just enough experience that you need help progressing toward the next level, this class is designed for you. Janita is the perfect instructor for this class! She will help new players to establish basic dulcimer playing skills and assist the novices in reaching their goal of becoming a better and more confident player. This is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the most patient and nurturing mountain dulcimer instructors in the country. No musical or dulcimer-playing experience is necessary for this class. The only requirement is a desire to play the dulcimer, make music and have fun!

Course goals: to enable you to play the dulcimer with confidence, and to give you the desire and fundamentals to continue your dulcimer experience.

Skills covered:

• Tuning and caring for your dulcimer
• Playing from tablature (an easy form of music notation) and by ear
• Learning to play in time
• Using basic chords to enhance the melody
• Basic right hand techniques for strumming and finger-picking
• Basic left hand techniques for noting (fretting) the strings
• Simple left hand embellishments including slides, pull-offs and hammer-ons

The class will be playing a wide variety of music including well-known traditional, folk and classical songs; we will focus on learning at the speed that suits each individual member of the class — no players left behind!

This morning skills class will continue into the afternoon on Monday and Tuesday with other members of the Dulcimer U staff stepping in to reinforce the concepts learned during the morning session. Contact Janita at dulcimers@bluelioninstruments.com for more detailed info on this class.

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INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SKILLS - Susan Trump
Intermediate skills include being able to read TAB comfortably, play basic chords in several positions, strum different rhythms, be familiar with hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, flatpicking, some fingerpicking, and use of a capo. If you can do, or (have had some exposure to) most of these, then you'll enjoy improving those skills in our week together!

But that's not all. We'll review the basics of each of those techniques and explore ways to smooth out your playing, add variety, and play more expressively. We'll go over some easy music theory to help you better understand the connection between chord shapes and melodies. You'll go home with better skills, more understanding of your dulcimer, and a varied repertoire, from hymns to fiddle tunes, songs and classical music, to beautiful Celtic melodies and whatever strikes our fancy!

Be sure to bring to class a capo, extra strings, pencil, paper, highlighter, music stand and a willingness to learn and develop new playing skills.

This class is always extremely popular and space is limited so be sure to register early! Susan is available to answer any questions you may have regarding her class. You can contact her at SusanTrump@aol.com.

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BEYOND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SKILLS - Larry Conger
This class is designed for players who are comfortable with intermediate level techniques and want to elevate their skills to the next level by learning more about how to apply these techniques  to create more challenging and interesting arrangements. Therefore, the class is not simply a technique and skills class. Rather, it focuses more on arranging, creativity and musicianship. The goal of the class will be to make you a more confident and creative player by giving you the necessary tools to create your own arrangements instead of simply playing those you have collected from other players. Some of the topics to be covered throughout the week include:

• The study of various keys on the dulcimer in DAD tuning
• Adapting basic, well known dulcimer songs to these different keys
• The use of "color chords" to enhance basic arrangements
• Changing tempo and time signature to create more interesting arrangements
• Using a moveable barre chord in the place of a capo
• Compiling medleys
• Changing major key songs to minor keys

Students will be asked to bring one or two of their favorite dulcimer arrangements to "revisit" during the week (as time allows) for the purpose of applying some of the techniques learned in the class to those songs. Useful items to bring to class include a capo, extra strings, pencil, paper, highlighter, recorder and a music stand. For more detailed information regarding this course, you may contact Larry at TNDulciman@aol.com

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BOWED DULCIMER SKILLS – Marsha Harris (advancing beginner and beyond)
It was not unusual to see the mountain dulcimer bowed in its early history. The bowed dulcimer offers another element to dulcimer ensembles and acoustic groups. The course will include bowing techniques, fingering positions, and dynamics. A mountain dulcimer (teardrop shape is best) can be modified to accommodate bowing by raising the middle string from 1/8" to 3/16" with a small piece of wood. Several loaner bows will be available. One of the tunes highlighted will be “The Great Waltz of China” by Mark Simos with parts for all levels. This course will be challenging to experienced bowed players and rewarding for beginners. Tuning: DAD

Prerequisites – Some prior experience with bowing technique is helpful, but not required. Beginners to bowing are encouraged to take the Intro to Bowed Dulcimer elective.

Goals – Develop and improve playing techniques for bowed dulcimer. Skills - Students will learn bowing techniques, bow holds, vibrato, double stops, and scales. Proper bow hold, string attack, and good tone production will be stressed. Repertoire will be taken from traditional Appalachian fiddle tunes and waltzes as well as Swedish music. Parts are arranged for all skill levels. Marsha will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this class. Address questions to pickinbowin@gmail.com

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DULCIMER BUILDING CLASS – Bob Magowan
In this course participants will build a McSpadden Sweet Song dulcimer. Yes, you can do this even if you have never done any woodworking! Bob will guide you on each step of the process and will provide all the forms, tools and materials needed to construct the dulcimer.

This is an excellent opportunity for spouses of mountain dulcimer players or anyone interested in learning the mountain dulcimer construction process and the satisfaction of playing an instrument you personally built. You will end up with a well designed, easy-to-play great sounding instrument that will give you years of satisfaction.

If time permits Bob will teach the basics of playing the dulcimer for those who have never played. Due to the nature of the course the student will require both the morning and afternoon sessions to complete the dulcimer. The class will be limited to the first ten students to enroll. In addition to the class tuition and other expenses each student will pay a $200 fee to cover the cost of materials, supplies, tool usage and the forms on which to build the dulcimer. This fee will be paid to the instructor on the first day of class. If you have any questions regarding this course Bob can be contacted at magowandulcimers@comcast.net

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SPECIALIZED CURRICULUMS

DULCIMER TRADITIONS - BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF THE MOUNTAIN WORLD - Ralph Lee Smith  (all skill levels welcome)
This course will feature rare and beautiful songs that were collected in Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee nearly 100 years ago, and that have been largely inaccessible to dulcimer players. They were gathered by Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles during a 46-week collecting journey in the mountains, 1916-1918, and appear in their famous book, English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians, published by Oxford University Press in 1932, now out of print and rare.

This course will provide Key of D musical score and dulcimer tablature for some of the most beautiful songs in the collection, which were gathered just before cars, roads, phonograph records, and a money economy transformed the mountain world. Learn this American heritage, and share it at your folk club and coffeehouse! Please contact Ralph ralphleesmith@comcast.net if you have questions regarding his curriculum.

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DULCIMER FOR HEALING & THERAPY - AN INTRODUCTION: PLAYING FOR OTHERS IN HEALTHCARE AND RELATED SETTINGS - Lorinda Jones  (advancing beginner and up)
Do you enjoy playing your dulcimer for others? Do you think that you might even like to pursue a certification course that would enable you to do so in a healthcare setting but find yourself confused about all the options?  If so, this is the course for you!  As an introductory class, participants will learn about the varied therapeutic music programs currently in existence, discuss ethics and guidelines of playing for others in a variety of settings, examine why we choose the music we play, and work on performance skills in the classroom, as well as in an off campus setting.  Participants will need to bring music they are already comfortable playing, as well as music they are currently hoping to add to their repertoire.  Other helpful items are a music stand and a portable chair or stool for playing in a remote place.  This is not a course for beginning players, but you do not need to consider yourself an advanced player either, but rather someone who plays several tunes well, and is, or wanting to become comfortable as a solo player.

Feel free the contact the instructor Lorinda Jones, by email if you have questions as to whether or not this course is right for you - info@lorindajones.com.

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LEARNING TO TEACH THE MOUNTAIN DULCIMER - LEVEL I – Elaine Conger
From Player to Teacher: Best Practices of Mountain Dulcimer Instruction (open to advanced intermediate and advanced players).So, you’ve learned some great things on the dulcimer and wonder what the next step is? How about sharing the joy by learning the best ways to teach others what you have learned? It is one thing to become a good player; it is quite another to become an effective teacher. This class will hone a few extra skills on the dulcimer and make you really think about improving your own playing, but it will focus on aspects of teaching others. Whether you are giving private lessons in your home or leading workshops, this class will give you the tools to become a better mountain dulcimer teacher. Some of the topics include:

• Analysis of your student’s level of playing and knowing where to start.
• Analysis of your own playing technique and translating that into great instruction.
• Putting together plans of instruction for different levels of players.
• Putting together plans of instruction for different ages, from children to senior adults.
• Best teaching practices that will make your students want to continue to come back.
• Planning and carrying out an effective dulcimer workshop/class.
• Preparing materials for effective teaching, including the creation of original tablature.
• Teaching by demonstration without the use of materials.
• Promoting yourself as a teacher of the mountain dulcimer.

This class will be headed up by Elaine Conger with input from some other experienced Dulcimer U instructors, a degreed music professional. Questions about this class? Contact ElaineKConger@aol.com. 

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LEARNING TO TEACH THE MOUNTAIN DULCIMER - LEVEL II – Joe Collins
From Player to Teacher (Level II): Best Practices of Mountain Dulcimer Instruction (open to advanced intermediate and advanced players who have completed Level I). The goal of this class is for you to develop and/or enhance a mountain dulcimer lesson that you will actually lead during the course of the week.   Using the principles learning in Level I, participants in this class will develop a lesson (or a workshop) prior to coming to dulcimer week.  As a group, we will work on improving that lesson or workshop during the week.  The week will be built around what lessons or workshop(s) participants bring with them, but among topics that probably will be covered to help in the process will be:

• Analysis of your goals for instruction.
• Designing effective and appropriate instructional materials for your lesson or workshop based on your target audience and the topic.
• Analyzing appropriateness of tablature, if used, for the proposed target audience.
• Creating appropriate, original tablature for your lesson or workshop.
• Analyzing your methods of teaching based on principles learned in Level I.
• Building a rapport with your student(s).
• Promoting yourself as a teacher of the mountain dulcimer.

This class will be headed up by Dr. Joe Collins with input from some other experienced workshop leaders.  You may know Joe as the 2007 National Champion and frequent instructor at festivals and workshops around the country, but in his real life, he has a doctorate in Adult Education.  He has spent the bulk of his professional career teaching teachers how to teach in the context of Religious Education.  He is eager to do the same in the dulcimer world.  Last year, he developed our Level I class.

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MOUNTAIN DULCIMER ENSEMBLE CLASS – Larry & Elaine Conger  (all skill levels welcome)
Enjoy the experience of playing with others in a group setting. This class will provide you with an opportunity to put to use the skills and techniques you will be learning in your morning skills class while offering you a chance to perform with a group of your dulcimer friends as part of a “Dulcimer Band.” The class is being offered to Dulcimer U participants in addition to the morning skills and afternoon elective classes. It will take place each afternoon following the elective classes and before the evening meal, so that it does not conflict with any other classes you may want to attend. All skill levels are welcome to participate. If you have a baritone or bass dulcimer, you are encouraged to bring them with you. A special surprise guest will direct the class one day during the week. Contact Larry Conger at TNDulciman@aol.com if you have questions regarding this class.