Workshops

I am available for either in-person or on-line "Zoom" workshops 

(I can provide rental dulcimers for in-person workshops)

Workshop Samples Include:

Begin at the Beginning - 1 hour - For Absolute Beginners

This workshop is an introduction to playing joyful music on the mt dulcimer. How to hold the dulcimer, how to tune it, how to place your fingers on your fretting hand and how to hold a pick on your strumming hand for the best sound. This workshop also includes an introduction to reading mt dulcimer Tab (sheet music), where to find tab on-line, and how to adapt it to a beginning-level player. After attending, participants should be able to play beginner-level songs and have a few ideas of where to go to find additional songs to play. No previous musical experience is necessary to be successful in this workshop.

Memorizing Music - Step by Step - 1 hour - For Beginners and above

This workshop will provide a step by step process to memorize music quickly. Almost eveyone has been told that memorizing tunes will help to play them more smoothly but few people can provide you with an actual step-by-step process to do just that. And yes ... it's a bit beyond ... "go slow" and "one measure at a time".  In this workshop we will put the process in action as we memorize a tune together. This workshop is for anyone that struggles to memorize music. After attending, participants should be able to memorize music easier than before they attended. Ability to play a mt dulcimer at least at a "beginners" level and the ability to read mt dulcimer Tab is helpful to be successful in this workshop.

Counting Time - Play well with others - 1 hour - For Beginners and above

When playing with others, do you come in early or too late?  Did you know this leads to feeling like you don't really know the tune when you actually do! In this workshop participants learn how to count and keep time in the popular time signatures for mt dulcimer - 2/4, 3/4, 4/4. and 6/8 time. This is harder to do with a mt dulcimer then most people realize and harder to do than with other instruments!  Specific, instruction will be given on using a metronome as well as  several other techniques like using your stumming hand and finding words to help you to count time. After attending, participants will have several techniques to improve their timeing while playing. Ability to play a mt dulcimer at least at a "beginners" level and the ability to read mt dulcimer Tab is helpful to be successful.

If you are interested in any of the above workshops, please contact me to see how they might be customized to fit the needs of your group.