Western Carolina University

MONDAY:

1. “Beginner Review of Morning Skills” with Sarah Morgan (Level 1) - A continuation/review of the beginning morning skills class. This will give the participants time to ask those questions they thought of over lunch or get extra help.
2. “4-Equidistant Fingerpicking Classical Repertoire” with Janita Baker (Level 3-4) No prior experience with four equidistant strings necessary, but you should be comfortable with fingerpicking. We'll play a variety of classical music arrangements and explore ways in which the four equidistant string dulcimer makes it easier to play the compositions of "the masters"! 
3. “Stephen Foster Songs” with Anne Lough (Level 2-3) – To sing or play, these tunes capture the essence of Americana through the inspiration and genius of a true folk poet. These sometimes jaunty, many times beautiful, nostalgic melodies transcribe beautifully to the dulcimer.
4. “Mindful Practice leads to an Enjoyable Performance” with Lorinda Jones (Level 4) -- Learn tips and techniques for practice that enables you to share your music with others in a non-threatening environment.
5. “Modes and Modulation” with Sue Carpenter (Level 4) -- Tuning DAd -- Working with “The Foggy Dew,” learn how to play in the key of Bm and then modulate to the key of Em without a capo.  Music is arranged for fingerpicking or flatpicking.
6. “Music Theory” with Jim Miller (all) -- basic music theory for mountain dulcimer. Good class for the teaching certificate seekers.
7. “Songs of Scotland” with Maddie MacNeil (Level 3) -- These beautiful songs and tunes bring memories to many of us.
8. “Blues in E” with Gary Gallier (Level 2) -- The shuffle rhythm, chord progressions, easy improvisation.  Feeling the groove and having fun.
9. "Leveling the Playing Field with Joe Collins" - (Teacher Certification Elective) – Choosing the right music for your student or even for yourself can sometimes be a challenge. Using the Playing Levels for Dulcimer U as a guide, we will be analyzing tablatures to determine their appropriateness for different levels of players. Participants need to have good tab reading skills to get the most from this course.
 
TUESDAY:

1. “Beginner Review of Morning Skills” with Sarah Morgan – (continued from Mon.)
2. “How to Play Anything You Can Find Music For” with Janita Baker (Level 3) -- The mountain dulcimer has unlimited potential and this class will help you to understand the instrument and how it works, musically.  With a very simple and easy method, you’ll be able to play almost any song you can find music for (and in any key!).  Along the way, you “accidentally” learn about chord theory, modes, modal tunings, and scales.  This is a course for those of you who want to expand your musical repertoire and comprehension; if you can count to 8 you can do this!  (Bring a pencil with a good eraser.)
3. “Playing in G with the 1.5 Fret” with Gary Gallier (Level 4) -- G scale no capo, finding the melody working out of the G, C, and D chord positions.   We’ll learn a tune in G as well.
4. “Ear, Nose, and Throat" with Lorinda Jones (Level 3) -- Learn a simple melody by hearing it, seeing it, singing it, and playing it, and add simple chords for harmonic changes to the tune.
5. “Fingerpicking for Beginners” with Sue Carpenter (Level 2) – Whether you're a first-time player or have been playing for years, if you want to learn how to fingerpick, this class is for you.  Focus will be on right hand technique and basic fingerpicking patterns through a step-by-step approach using simple exercises to get you started and some easy tunes to make your dulcimer sound oh, so sweet. 
6.  “American Folk Tunes to Sing and Play” with Anne Lough (Level 2) -- From voices and hearts of the past, our tapestry of American Folk songs “sings” our history. From colonial times, through the Revolution, Expansion, Civil War to the Civil Rights movement, enjoy joining those voices with the dulcimer and song.  Many tunings and Capo
7. “Tablature Reading and Writing Skills” with Larry Conger (All) -- This class covers the basics of correct tab reading and writing, including time signatures, tempo indications, proper note duration, rhythm, etc. The goal will be to create tablature that can be easily read and played by anyone without the benefit of audio reinforcement. This class is a must for those seeking certification from the teaching class.
8. “Back-up and Accompaniment” with Maddie MacNeil (Level 3) -- back-up and accompaniment for other instruments and even for your voice.
9. "Analyzing How You Play So You Can Teach Someone Else" with Joe Collins - (Int/Adv & Teacher Certification Elective)   Analysis is the process of breaking down what you do into “bite-size” elements.  In this workshop, we will work on analyzing some different aspects of your playing (strumming, picking, noting, chording, etc) so that you can work on your playing and/or teach others how to do what it is you are doing. Both productive practice and good lesson plans should start with such analysis.

WEDNESDAY:

1. “DAA/DAd” with Maddie MacNeil (Level 1-2) – There is some confusion about DAA and DAD tunings. They both work and can easily work together. Each tuning has its advantages and we’ll explore. For just about anyone except the very beginners.
2. “Elementary Fundamentals of Flatpicking” with Gary Gallier (Level 2) – getting started in the style for the early player, scale study and pick technique.  Simple tunes that rely on cross string scales.
3. “Crossing the Celtic Lands” with Lorinda Jones (Level 3) -- Discover music from the six Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany.
4. “Heavenly Harmonics” with Sue Carpenter (Level 4) – Harmonics are bell-like chimes played by lightly touching a string at the same time that you pick the string.  Learn how to play natural and artificial harmonics and discover ways to use them in your music.  Enjoy the zen-like magic of playing “Westminster Chimes” and “Amazing Grace” using all harmonics.
5. “Music Theory” with Jim Miller (all) – repeat of Monday session
6. “Tabledit” For Windows with Denise Borens (All) – 2-day session spent learning the in’s and out’s of the popular Tabledit program for creating dulcimer tablature. Participants will be asked to bring a laptop, IPad, etc., with an updated copy of Tabledit already loaded. This class will focus on the Windows version of Tabledit. While Mac users are welcome to attend, please be aware that some of the Mac's menus will be different from those discussed in the class.
7. “Irish & Scottish” with Sarah Morgan (Level 4) – In this repertoire class you will learn several performance arrangements of some mellow and beautiful Irish and Scottish music.  We will also cover how to perform a song with feeling, expression, and finesse.  DAd
8. “Hang out with Janita Baker!” – an intimate Q & A with one of DU’s most popular instructors. Registration limited to only 4 participants.
9. "Developing Good Practice Habits & Helping Your Students to Do So" with Joe Collins - (Beginners and up & Teacher Certification Elective). This workshop covers basic principles of good practice, offering advice and useful exercises to get the most out of one’s practice time. While this course is open to anyone, we will also be discussing how teachers can use this information to guide their students. Bring one of the pieces of music you are presently working on from other workshops you are taking during Dulcimer U.

THURSDAY:

1. “It Just Takes Time!” with Janita Baker (Level 2) -- Using arrangements with different time signatures, the class will look at ways to improve your understanding of timing and how to incorporate techniques to help you keep better time. 
2. “Performing Ideas and Techniques” with Maddie McNeil (Level 3) -- Ways to prepare via “stage” setups, set lists, etc.
3. “Melody in B minor” with Gary Gallier (Level 3-4) -- We’ll learn the chords that fit, various chords progressions, and how to pull melody out of them.  We'll learn a tune, but we'll also discuss how natural Bm is on the dulcimer for creative exploring and composing your own music. 
4. “Minor Mode, Major Fun” with Sue Carpenter (Level 2) -- Tuning: DAC - Kick back and have some major fun with the minor modes of D and A by learning some tunes that will bring a smile to your face, a tap to your toes, and some “swing” to your strumming.  You may even learn a thing or two about music theory. Repertoire will include, but not limited to, “Tum Balalaika” and “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho.”
5. “D-G-D” with Sarah Morgan (Level 3-4) -- The haunting DGD tuning opens a new pallet of chords and harmonies. It's dronal, bagpipe-like sound makes it a perfect tuning for the dulcimer. Traditional, contemporary, and chord-melody style pieces taught. We will also go in-depth into the music theory behind this wonderful tuning.
6. “Tabledit” with Denise Borens (All) – 2-day session continued from Wed.
7. “Intro to the Bowed Dulcimer” with Marsha Harris (All) Bowing a mountain dulcimer gives another element to your playing. How to set up your mountain dulcimer to bow, how to bow, how to finger or use a noter. This class also welcomes bowed players who own a bowed dulcimer and are getting accustomed to the instrument.
8. “Groovin’ on the Bass Dulcimer” with Elaine Conger (Level 3-4) -- The bass dulcimer will be your instrument of choice once you find out how much fun they are to play!  Learn how to incorporate it into an ensemble setting and/or perform with it as a solo instrument.  Don’t have one yet?  A limited number will be available for rent from one of our vendors.