2009 Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival
LAST YEAR'S
Click the workshop leader's name to see biographical information
Hammered Dulcimer 101 ... Jody Marshall (BEG) This workshop is designed for those starting from scratch, as well as those who may have had their instruments for a while but who want to review the basics, including exercises designed to increase skill and confidence. If time permits, we’ll also learn a simple tune to play together as a class. Rental instruments will be available – see registration form. 10:00 Sat.
Hammered Dulcimer 102 ... Jody Marshall
(BEG) In this class we’ll focus on some simple chord patterns and
learn the basics of accompaniment. We’ll also work on learning to hear chord
changes. 11:30 Sat.
African Music 1 ... Max ZT
(ADV) We will use the hammered dulcimer to explore traditional Senegalese
music, where a basic underlying structure complements, or accompanies, an
improvisational lead, in order to create an ensemble sound.1:45 Sat.
African Music 2 ... Max ZT
(ADV) In this workshop we will continue with our look at traditional Senegalese
music, but will do so from a improvisational and compositional standpoint. We
will look for patterns within the instrument to develop a way to improvise and
compose effectively. Understanding these patterns can open a lot of doors in
terms of composing one’s own pieces.3:15 Sat.
Chord Smorgasbord ... Jem Moore (MID) Once
you’ve reached a certain level of proficiency on the dulcimer, there often
comes a thirst for knowledge: What do these shapes mean ? This workshop is
designed to take on the wide variety of chords, and how changing small elements
in them can help create large changes in the feel of a piece. Avoiding the
dreaded word, “theory,” I use simple analogies and demonstrations to help
people reach a deeper understanding of chord structure and usage. 4:30
Sat.
"Comping" -- Chord Progressions ... Max ZT
(MID) The hammered dulcimer is mostly used as an instrument that takes
a melodic lead. But because of it’s natural sustain and resonance, it’s an
ideal candidate for playing a backup role, as well. In this workshop we are
going to learn what it means and how to “comp,” and what can happen when we
transfer to a new way of seeing the dulcimer and its patterns. 11:30
Sat.
Deck the Dulcimer ... Jody Marshall
(ADV)
We’ll use the dulcimer’s bell-like tones to their best advantage as we work
on both festive favorites and rarely heard gems. Techniques such as plucking and
hand independence will be covered, and arrangements for more than one instrument
will be provided. Ability to read music is recommended. 4:30 Sat.
Flash & Pizzazz ... Jem Moore (ADV)
This workshop focuses on those moments in my playing when I hear people say,
'How did he do that ?” We’ll talk about things like 14-note chords,
cross-handing, buzz rolls, giant leaps, harmonics, and other stuff that you only
get to learn if you know the secret handshake. 10:00 Sat.
How to Speak Freygish ... Joshua Horowitz
(MID) The Freygish scale used in a lot of Klezmer music is also common
in a number of other cultures in Europe and the Mideast. Learn how to
recognize it, how to play and use it, and how it gives much Jewish music its
distinctive sound. 10:00 Sat.
Klezmer Tsimbl on Your HD ... Joshua Horowitz
(ADV) Klezmer sticking patterns, accompaniment patterns, ornaments and
melody, arranging all into a class finale of the tune(s). 11:30 Sat.
Map of Your Dulcimer ... Jem Moore
(BEG) This workshop was designed for absolute beginners, but even
players with some experience can benefit from it. It starts at the beginning,
with how to hold hammers and striking technique, and then moves on to naming the
courses (strings) and discussing the layout of the dulcimer. By the end of the
workshop, even total novice players are able to name, and play, every major and
minor chord available on their dulcimer. As a bonus, we discover the Grand
Unified Playing Pattern, Y’all, or GUPPY. 1:45 Sat.
My Favorite Things on HD ... Mike Kachuba (ALL)
Mike will share what has worked for him in 30+ years of playing and
encourages participants to share what works for them when it comes to learning a
tune, tune selection, learning hammering patterns, etc. 3:30 Fri.
Playing & Arranging Waltzes ...
Jon Weinberg (BEG) We'll learn to play a simple waltz and then add
embellishments that you can be used to dress up any waltz. 4:30 Sat.
Playing Jigs ... Jon Weinberg (MID) Players
are often intimidated by Jigs, but they can be fun to play and really round out
a performance and your repertoire. We'll investigate what makes a jig a
jig, different types of jigs, and techniques to make playing them easy.
3:15 Sat.
Smoothing Out Your Playing ... Mike
Kachuba (ALL) Many dulcimer players play fast and furious, making playing
the dulcimer look like a chore. Mike will present ideas and tips to make
playing the dulcimer look …and sound….like it's the easiest thing going!
4:45 Fri.
Tunes in F (F is for Fun) ... Tim Van Egmond
(MID)
The key of F is a less-frequented section of the hammered dulcimer, but
there are some lovely tunes that dwell there. We'll get acquainted with some of
them, exploring hammering patterns and jumping octaves when needed. A range
extending up to at least B-flat on the bass bridge and C/F on the treble will be
helpful. 1:45 Sat.
Tunes You Know ... Tim Van Egmond (BEG)
The easiest tunes to learn are ones we already know well by ear, which
allows us to concentrate more on developing skill! Using familiar melodies such
as “Frere Jacques” and “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” we’ll learn to
locate the notes on the dulcimer and develop “muscle memory” until we’re
playing smoothly and easily. 3:15 Sat.
Mountain Dulcimer 101 ... Sandy Lafleur (BEG) Let's get started! A "from the beginning" workshop on holding the instrument & pick, fretting and strumming. DAD tuning. 10:00 Sat.
Mountain Dulcimer 102 ... Laurel Schwartz
(BEG) Now that you know the basics, come learn some easy tunes.
We'll continue what was covered in 101 with an emphasis on understanding
tablature. DAD 11:30 Sat.
Adding Variations to Fiddle Tunes
... Stephen Seifert (ADV) You’ll learn how to add variation to tunes you
already know. Variations will be split in into rhythmic, melodic, and
harmonic variations ... and then put together into a fiddle tuney collage of
awesomeness. 1:45 Sat.
All Around the Fretboard (4 strings) ...
Lucy Joan Sollogub (ADV) Participants will play traditional and
baroque tunes in various octaves and styles on their dulcimers. The
arrangements will emphasize the flexibility, waterfall-like, and colorful sounds
of using four equidistant strings, as well as the lush sounds of 4-string
chords. We will play 2 arrangements of “Cinncinnati,” which employs
cross-picking, one or two movements of a Telemann canonic sonata, a round by
Purcell, and a winter carol. Techniques include cross-picking, slides, pull-offs
across strings, hammers, chord/melody playing, and melodic harmony lines. Bring
your dulcimer set-up with 4 equidistant strings and a capo. (Lucy will bring an
extra 4-string instrument to share.) Tunings: A-A-d-d and D-G-d-d. 3:15
Sat.
Beginners Round Table ... Lori Keddell
(BEG) After playing all day, this will be a good chance for you to
have some of your questions answered, as well as to share what you’ve learned
with other beginning dulcimer players. We’ll even learn a few new tunes, if
time permits. 4:30 Sat.
Dazzling Harmonics ... Nina Zanetti
(INT-ADV)
Harmonics are those bell-like high notes that can add dazzle or mystery to
an arrangement. We'll first discuss how to produce a clear sound, both
with natural (not-fretted) and artificial (fretted) harmonics. Then we'll learn
some tunes that show how they can be incorporated into an arrangement.
DAD. 11:300 Sat.
DGD, Capoed Up 1 ... Sandy Lafleur (NOV-INT)
DGD is a great tuning, let's see where else it can go! A-minor tunes
at your fingertips with that awesome "reverse" tuning drone.
1:45 Sat.
Fast-Track Jump-Start Intro ... Steve Miklos
(YOU) Do you play a stringed fretted instrument already? Guitar,
Banjo, mandolin, charanga, tiple, sitar? If so, you already know a lot of
what you need for dulcimer playing. This course will jump-start you through
chords, accompanied melody playing, history and theory and practice of mountain
dulcimer. Much progress, many tabs, in a short time. 10:00 Sat.
First Steps in Fingerpicking ...
Nina Zanetti (NOV) Learn to fingerpick and how to make this style of
playing sound pretty. We will also talk about how to take tab arranged for
strumming or flatpicking and turn it into a fingerpicked arrangement. DAD.
1:45 Sat.
Getting Creative ... Laurel Schwartz
(NOV) Tired of playing songs the same way but don't know how to change
things? This class will show simple techniques to modify songs. We'll cover 1)
creating easy harmonies, 2) varying tunes and endings, and 3) strumming patterns
and accents. 4:30 Sat.
How to Learn Tunes ... Rich Carty
(BEG-NOV) The workshop will show the techniques of learning tunes with less
effort and remembering them more easily. A recording device will be
helpful. 3:15 Sat.
How to Play Cleanly ... Nina Zanetti (NOV-ADV)
Approaches to practicing, smoothing out tricky passages, and more.
We'll work out some examples from provided arrangements, but feel free to bring
along your own pieces, too. We’ll brainstorm alternate ways to play them and
discuss how to create good habits for them. 3:15 Sat.
Japanese Music ... Moto
Fukushima (INT-ADV)
Japanese traditional string instrument "syamisen" has 3 strings
and same tuning as mountain dulcimer. I'd like to show the potential of mountain
dulcimer which can lead you to world music. Learn some simple melodies from
Japanese traditional/folk music. 11:30 Sat.
Learning Tunes from Recordings ...
Sandy Lafleur (ALL) Develop your ear and learn new tunes "off the
page" from the start! Tips and tricks to help you decipher what you
hear and then play it. 4:45 Fri.
Liberate Your Playing ... Moto Fukushima
(ADV) Approach to mountain dulcimer with different point of view. Right hand
finger picking technique, two / three notes voicing, open string technique, and
so on. 4:30 Sat.
Playing in a Minor Tuning ... Lucy Joan
Sollogub (NOV) With the invention and use of capos and extra
frets for our dulcimers, players might not “venture” into the (wonderful)
world of minor tunings. Historically dulcimer players have re-tuned their
instruments to achieve other keys, scales and modal qualities. In this workshop
for novice players we will tune our first string down from DAD to DAC. We will
play minor melodies, often described as “haunting,” that sound beautiful
over the dulcimers drone. We will use slides, hammer-ons and pull offs, and a
few chords. Tunes taught may include a Bengali lullaby, a Hebrew round, an
Appalachian lullaby, and an American banjo tune. 11:30 Sat.
Playing in Multiple Keys ... Lucy
Joan Sollugub
(INT-ADV) Playing in multiple keys is a big topic, there are many
reasons for doing so, and we will try to cover a big slice of it. We
will be based around DAD, and will discuss and demonstrate alternate tunings,
use of a capo, extra frets (such as the 1/2, 1 1/2, and 6 1/2), and
related baritone topics including playing nicely together. The focus will
be on traditional music, but the techniques can be used for anything your
chromatic heart desires! Bring your instruments, bring your questions.
10:00 Sat.
Restoring Your Dulcimer's
Elegance ... Dwain Wilder (ALL) We’ll cover how to care for your
instrument’s finish, repair dings and scratches, make sure floating bridges
are intonated correctly, deal with buzzes, whatever other problems you bring to
the table, and anything else that keeps your dulcimer from sounding and looking
as good as when it was new. 3:15 Sat.
Reverse Tunings ... Liz Hanahan (INT-ADV)
A reverse tuning is a tuning where the notes of the middle & bass strings
have been swapped, putting you into a different key. We use these reverse
tunings to change keys without going beyond the range of the instrument … or
to switch to a key you can sing in better. EAA, DGD (plus handouts about
DGC and EAG,). 3:30 Fri.
Scales and Exercises ... Stephen
Seifert (NOV-ADV) This workshop is designed to improve dexterity, finger
independence, knowledge of the entire fingerboard, and get your right and left
hands working in sync. 10:00 Sat.
Simple Two-Note Chords ... Liz Hanahan
(BEG) It is such fun to find yourself playing chords and adding a purity to
your playing! In the DAD tuning you will have a chord for each note, from
the open chord, on up the neck to the 10th fret. We will play three
easy tunes using the chords. Hand-outs with diagrams of the chords will be
given to you with the tab for the songs. Come tuned to DAD 1:45 Sat.
Sing-Along Chords ... Lori Keddell
(BEG-NOV) Most beginning dulcimer classes start out with learning to play
simple melodies, but guess what? You can have a lot of fun with just 3
basic (and very simple) chords in DAD tuning, and will soon find yourself
strumming along with ease on many familiar folk songs. (Chord sheets will also
be provided for those who want to “stretch themselves” and try more
challenging chord patterns.) 3:30 Fri.
Strumming AND Flatpicking Fiddle Tunes ... Stephen Seifert (INT) How to play some fiery fiddle tunes on the melody string, high on the melody string, and on the bass string. We'll ALSO flatpick the tunes across the three strings using no fret higher than 3. As we work through the tunes and techniques, I'll go over a number of shortcuts for quickly learning and memorizing tunes. 4:30 Sat.
Workshops for Other Instruments
Ask Drs. Klez ... Joshua Horowitz & Cookie Segelstein. (ALL) In tonight’s concert, you’ll be hearing a lot of Klezmer music. In this variant of the master class taken to the extreme, the audience can ask virtually anything to two genuine experts! Open to everyone, this class seamlessly joins talking, demonstration, performance and the playing of rare recorded examples. Topics can include music technique and ensemble secrets ... the history and politics of the German and Polish Klezmer scenes ... cross-cultural connections (Gypsy, Greek, Turkish, Arabic, etc) ... field work and musicological process ... secrets of ear training and transcription ... and just plain fun anecdotes. 4:45 Fri.
Blues Improv ... Moto Fukushima (All
instruments, INT-ADV) Improvisation is not as hard as you think.
Improv over blues is one of the best ways to learn. How to start your melody and
then develop it. 1:45 Sat.
Guitar ... Sam Edelston Pack more punch into
your playing, whether you’re backing up your own singing or somebody else’s
tunes. 3:15 Sat.
How to Play Well With Others ... Cookie
Segelstein (All
instruments, INT-ADV) Combination of master class and emergency
medicine, in this Bandstand 911 class, Cookie Segelstein takes musicians through
a series of provocative and fun exercises, to explore issues such as: On the
spot arrangement; Secrets for creating and maintaining energy; Communication
techniques; Who¹s in charge? Spontaneous combustion and train wrecks (bandstand
emergencies). 10:00 Sat.
Irish Fiddle ... MinTze
Wu. For beginning and
intermediate levels. We will explore the fundamental bowing and fingering
techniques through learning a jig and/or a reel. 11:30 Sat.
Irish Phrasing &
Ornamentation ... MinTze Wu. For experienced players. All instruments
welcome. We will discover and apply ways of ornamenting and lifting up a tune.
4:30 Sat.
Klezmer Fiddle ... Cookie Segelstein
(Fiddle
All Levels) Cookie will teach students how to articulate, ornament and bow
klezmer tunes. She'll also reveal the secrets to getting the sobbing
effect of Jewish music and teach students techniques how to learn a tune by ear.
Students will come away having learned a whole tune with the earmarks of klezmer
style. 3:15 Sat.
Round Robin ... Don Moore (ALL) Bring
your instruments and your voices if you like to sing, and we will take turns
sharing our music! You may learn new tunes and offer others
some music you have learned to play. Don't worry if you are beginnerish or
advanced... each of you has something to add to this fun circle of songs and
tunes! 4:45 Fri.