Before choosing your class...
Not sure of your ability level? Below you will find a list of specific skills and
techniques you might expect to be addressed in each of the classes being offered at
Dulcimer U. This information should serve as a guideline to help you determine which
class is best suited for you.
LEVEL I - New Player/Beginner
- Tuning and caring for your dulcimer
- Finding the most comfortable playing position
- Learning to play in time
- Identification of note values - whole, half, quarter and eighth notes
- Understanding common time signatures - 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 time
- Playing from tablature (an easy form of music notation) and by ear
- Introduction of basic chords to help you play with others
- Basic right hand techniques for strumming, flat-picking and finger-picking
- Basic left hand techniques for noting and chording
LEVEL II - Beyond Beginner
- Review and reinforcement of basic beginner level concepts
- Provide a transition between beginner and intermediate levels
- Develop and encourage confidence in playing
- Discussion of chords and ways to backup other musicians in the key of D and other
keys
- Continued improvement of various strumming and picking techniques
- Basic knowledge of the most used chords - two and three fingers
- Ways and means to get away from the tab and play tunes by ear
- Introduction of the capo
- Preparation for future advancement into Intermediate level instruction
Level III - Lower Intermediate
- Review and reinforcement of the Level II Beyond Beginner level concepts
- Improvement of tab reading skills (a separate elective class in tab reading skills
will also be offered for those needing extra help)
- Basic music theory as it applies to the dulcimer (a afternoon theory elective will
help to reinforce these concepts)
- Expansion of more intricate strumming and picking patterns
- Development of the most useful practice habits
- Improvement of counting various rhythms
- Understanding three finger chords and exploration of their various positions on the
fretboard
- Transitions up and down the fingerboard
- Playing music in multiple styles
- Introduction to hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides
Level IV - Upper Intermediate
- Review of 3 finger chords. (this level assumes that the participant already has a
working knowledge of these chords)
- Use of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides to facilitate speed and fluidity - where
and why to use them
- Use of the capo at various locations on the dulcimer fretboard
- Smoothing out your playing - playing more expressively and dynamically
- Embellishment of basic tunes to create a more interesting arrangement
- Enhancing fretting hand techniques, ornaments
- Playing above the seventh fret to generate more interest
- Exploration of alternate tunings
- Hearing chords changes and improving ability to play by ear
LEVEL V - Beyond Intermediate
- Focus on musicality in an effort to make your music sound less "mechanical"
- Rearrange basic tunes in a more dynamic and creative manner
- Exploration of a wide variety of music styles and genres in an effort to add variety
to your performances
- Efficiency and consistency of fingering
- Playing in different keys while tuned DAD
- Performance skills
- Ornamentations, tips, tricks and twists
- Effective memorization techniques