Fort New Salem Foundation
Dulcimer Festival
August 7-9, 2009
General Information
Fort New Salem is a representative log house settlement of the frontier period (1800-1900) of West Virginia. It is located in Salem, WV on US Route 50 between Parkersburg and Clarksburg. It is currently owned and operated by the Fort New Salem Foundation.
The dulcimer weekend features hands-on music workshops during the day for all levels of players. The workshops will be primarily on mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer with additional workshops on other folk instruments (tin whistle, autoharp, guitar, banjo). There will be a coffee house style concert featuring many of the workshop leaders on Friday evening. The Saturday night concert will feature Butch Ross on mountain dulcimer and Doug Berch on hammered dulcimer (and mountain dulcimer). Our workshop leaders/performers are experienced musicians from Ohio, West Virginia and beyond. They include Doug Berch, Andy Beyer, Ken Bloom, Ed and Elaine Bray (Northern Cross), Marge Diamond, Jeff Fedan, Neal Koch, Mike and Marlene Oliver (Lower Lights), Jerry Rockwell, Butch Ross, Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, Joni and Gary Sines (AbNormal Sines), and Randy Snepp. Others TBA.
Vendors will be available throughout the weekend to sell dulcimers and supplies. They include JCR Music (Jerry Rockwell), Winsome Expressions (Marge Diamond) and others TBA. There will also be books and CDs available from many of the workshop leaders.
Lunch both days and dinner on Saturday evening will be available at the Green Tree Tavern onsite.
Hotels are available in Bridgeport at the junction of US 50 and I79. A limited
number of spaces will be available for small campers on site. Please register
early.
Pre-Register by Mail (discount if by August 1, 2009)
Festival Information: Linda Sigismondi, Festival Director, 740-446-9244, lsigismondi@att.net
Note: Subject to revision as needed!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Times
Times
5:00
to
7:00
Registration
5:00
to
7:00
7:30
to
9:30
Coffee House Concert
Workshop Leaders:
7:30
to
9:30
9:45
to
?
Late Night Jam Session
Linda Sigismondi/Bill Schilling
9:45
to
?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Times
Office
Old Kitchen
Basket Shop
Meeting House
Times
9:00
to
9:50
9:00
to
9:50
10:00
to
10:50
10:00
to
10:50
11:00
to
11:50
11:00
to
11:50
12:00
to
1:00
Lunch
12:00
to
1:00
1:00
to
1:50
1:00
to
1:50
2:00
to
2:50
2:00
to
2:50
3:00
to
3:50
3:00
to
3:50
4:00
to
4:50
4:00
to
4:50
5:00
to
7:00
Dinner
5:00
to
7:00
7:30
to
9:30
Evening Concert
Doug Berch and Butch Ross
Front Porch Stage
7:30
to
9:30
9:45
to
?
Late Night Jam Session
Linda Sigismondi/Bill Schilling
9:45
to
?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Office
Old Kitchen
Basket Shop
Meeting House
9:30
to
10:20
Song Circle
9:30
to
10:20
10:30
to
11:20
10:30
to
11:20
11:30
to
12:30
Lunch
11:30
to
12:30
12:30
to
1:20
12:30
to
1:20
1:30
to
2:20
1:30
to
2:20
2:45
to
3:15
All Participant Finale
Front Porch Stage
Linda Sigismondi/Bill Schilling
2:45
to
3:15
Potential Workshops (subject to revision as needed!)
Exploring Minor Modes on the Mountain Dulcimer - Andy Beyer - Part
1. Studying Aeolian and Dorian modes Using a capo.
This handy device saves time retuning and allows one to play major chords in
minor modes. It is closer to the way a guitarist would play in the minor scale.
Part 2. So you left the Capo at home but you still want to play that minor song
or tune.
This lesson teaches the fundamental skills needed to play a minor tune without
a Capo. (AB-MD)
Basic Finger Picking on the Mountain Dulcimer - Andy Beyer - This is
an entry level in finger picking, for the student with some playing background,
but little experience in finger picking. Why finger pick? There is this wonderful
world of cascading notes that can be added to the dulcimer by using this technique.
If you have finger picks, bring them, but they are not required. (I-MD)
Beginning Banjo(In the Irish Style---EADG tuning) - Andy Beyer - This
is a REAL beginning class. We talk about care and feeding of the Banjo, what
types of strings and picks to use, and five techniques for muting the banjo.
This is followed by some tune teaching in the "Old Timey" style. Bring
your banjos!!!
Bowed dulcimer- Ken Bloom -Concentrations on bowing, fingering and playing in jams by ear. (All Levels - Bowed Dulcimer)
Chromatic Dulcimer - Ken Bloom- a few ways to approach this new animal with a view to expanding your musical horizons.
Concert Zither- Ken Bloom -lecture demonstration for dulcimer
players. The lap dulcimer and the concert zither grew from a common source,
the old sheitholt. This will show how the concert zither is organized and how
became what it did.
Utah Phillips Songbook - Ed and Elaine Bray, Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi - Ed, Elaine, Bill and Linda will share some of the songs and stories written by sung regularly by, or told by Utah Phillips including subjects like trains, hobos, unions, cowboys and love. (All)
Railroads and Hobos - Ed and Elaine Bray - The difference between a hobo, a tramp and a bum is? What is the connection between Tourist Union #63 and the ACLU? How do railroads figure into this? West Hill Jack and Cherokee will answer these questions and any others you have through songs, stories and the accurate history of the hobo. (All)
Just Past Beginner Tunes- Marge Diamond - Marge will be showing you some fun tunes that are easy to play that will help you add to your repertoire - DAD tuning. (AB-MD)
Beginning to Use Chords - Marge Diamond - Marge will help mountain
dulcimer players go from just droning with the melody to arrangements including
some chords with the melody. (AB-MD)
All players, Join the Jam - Marge Diamond -. This is especially for those folks who have been to shy to join in a jam. Everyone is welcome bring any instrument
Hammered Dulcimer 101 - Jeff Fedan - This class will introduce the instrument to flat out beginners and will include learning about the layout of the instrument, how to tune it, and a real tune or two. (B-HD)
Sweet Songs I. - Jeff Fedan - For intermediate hammered dulcimer,
we will learn some tunes that are so sweet they will make you smile. (I-HD)
Sweet Songs II - Jeff Fedan -. There are more sweet songs to learn and, in this class, we’ll introduce a couple for your repertoire. (I-HD)
Beginning the Hammered Dulcimer. - Neal Koch - This would
include: a brief history of the HD; how the instrument is built, with the differences
between the traditional instrument and the floating soundboard; tuning the HD;
the major keys on a 12/11 or 15/14 instrument, a simple D scale with optional
notes, and a basic tune like “Simple Gifts.” This would include
a graph of the string layout and a simple score of “Simple Gifts.”
(B, AB - HD)
Basic gospel songs and hymns - Neal Koch - Play list: Amazing Grace, Ashgrove, The Church In the Wildwood, I’ll Fly Away, In the Sweet By and By, Precious Memories, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, etc. New titles: Wye Valley (Like A River Glorious); Crimond (The Lord’s My Shepherd) (B, AB, I - HD)
HD Jam - Neal Koch -. It is my feeling that hammered dulcimers
need to have at least one separate jam session in order to be able to play a
wider selection of tunes and in different keys. This not only gives confidence
playing together, but provides a forum for learning from each other. Group members
would provide the titles to be played and/or learned.
Tin Whistle - Marlene Oliver - Basic instruction in playing
the tin whistle. How to hold the whistle proper fingering techniques. Time permitting,
several simple songs may be taught.
Hold String Side Up - Marlene Oliver - Very basic instruction on the
mountain dulcimer. Instruction and suggestions on holding the dulcimer. Basic
strumming and fretting techniques. Good practice suggestions for smooth playing.
Two or three simple songs will be taught. Basic chords for the key of D will
be taught if time permits. (B-MD)
Repertoire for Beginners - Marlene Oliver - Introduces several simple
songs for the mountain dulcimer. Good playing techniques will be taught as well
as the songs. Basic chording will be included. DAD tuning (B, AB - MD)
Playing for Others - Mike Oliver - Discuss the various aspects
of playing and performing in front of other people. We will explore the different
formats this can take, how to prepare for each and how to determine if you even
want to try to play for others. Time permitting, the entire class or individuals
can try their hand at playing for the small group this class will be. Nothing
will be required of anyone beyond what they want to do.(AB, I - MD)
Chords for the Mountain Dulcimer (DAD Tuning) -Mike Oliver -
Description of what chords are and how they can make music more beautiful. We
will learn the parts of a chord and how to find them on the dulcimer. Fingering
techniques for playing chords more efficiently will be included. ( AB,I - MD)
Civil War Songs - Mike Oliver- Songs from both sides in the
Civil War. Fast and slow paced tunes.(I-MD)
Oxford Carols- Mike Oliver-- Several songs from The Book of
Oxford Carols. Carols were written to celebrate many events and functions in
the church. Some of these songs include changes of timing. (I-MD)
Presidential Campaign Songs - Mike Oliver-
Several familiar and not-so-familiar tunes that have been used over the years
to promote presidential candidates. It seems mud-slinging is not new to American
politics. (I-MD)
Intro to Two-Handed Tapping Techniques - Jerry Rockwell - Two handed tapping is using your right hand forefinger to hammer-on to fretted notes and then plucking by pulling off to an open string, or a fretted note held by the left hand - this is an EASY, FUN way to get more stuff happening on your solo dulcimer! In this class, Jerry will demonstrate this very easy technique and will drill on it until you can do it in your sleep. Then we'll get into the more complex "interlocking and overlapping" style of tapping that Jerry developed in the late 1980's. (I,A - MD)
Improvising Through Simple Chord Progressions - Jerry Rockwell - In this class, we will immerse ourselves deeply in a few of my all-time favorite chord progressions. These are so entrancing and circular that you just can't help being drawn into them. Don't let the word "improvising" throw you; we'll be having a great deal of fun just trying different ways of playing the arpeggios and varying the order of the chord tones. We'll also try connecting the chord tones with the passing tones found in-between them. You may well find yourself becoming a composer by the time we're done. (I,A - MD)
Modified Travis Style Finger Picking and More for Guitar - Bill Schilling - . Students will work on this finger picking pattern for guitar and explore some variations of it. These styles make great accompaniment for singing or for other instruments. They can also be helpful in developing the more complex fingerstyle guitar methods. (AB, I - guitar)
Beginning Melody Autoharp - Bill Schilling - The purpose of
this workshop is to help participants understand how to find melodies for playing
the lead on the autoharp. Participants will be encouraged and instructed on
playing by ear and on playing by finding the notes written from written music
as we understand how our chord bars are related to the notes of the scale. (AB,
I - autoharp)
Getting Fancy With Your Fingerpicking - Joni Sines - Are you
tired of your fingerpicking always sounding the same? Learn how to vary your
technique, octave or key to make your playing more interesting. (Intermediate/advanced
MD)
Beginning Fingerpicking - Joni Sines -This workshop is for
the advanced beginner to intermediate player that can play in DAD and knows
a few chords, but has never fingerpicked. Participants will learn some simple
techniques that will enable them to fingerpick a variety of music. (Advanced
Beginner MD)
Intermediate Fingerpicking - Joni Sines -This workshop is for the intermediate player that has fingerpicked some and would like to learn to fingerpick more than just slow pretty songs. It will cover such things as playing across the strings and playing rounds or part-songs. (Intermediate MD)
Easy Rounds - Joni Sines -Playing rounds is
the easiest way to get a budding musician used to playing something different
than his neighbor is playing. This workshop teaches several easy rounds so that
students can not only learn the songs, but also play them as rounds in the workshop.
(Advanced Beginner MD)
Using Hammer-ons and Pull-offs - Joni Sines
-This workshop is designed for the advanced beginner. It uses a couple easy
songs to lean how to use hammer-ons and pull-offs to make their playing less
choppy. (Advanced Beginner MD)
Come Share the Music - Joni Sines - This workshop
is for the intermediate player. Joni will help the participant learn to play
some of her original compositions from “Green and Growing”. (Intermediate
MD)
Red, White & Blue - Joni Sines - Music has always been a way of showing our pride in our country. In this workshop participants will increase their repertoire of patriotic and/or historic songs. (Intermediate MD)
Just For Fun - Joni Sines - This workshop
is a repertoire-building workshop for advanced beginner players. Joni will help
the participant learn to play some easy songs that are fun to play (while sneaking
in some instruction on technique also.) MD
Cross-string Advantage.- Joni Sines -3 fingers,
3 strings and 3 notes in a chord!!! Fingerpicking is the easiest way to play
melody across strings. This workshop is an introduction to cross-string playing.
Participants need not have previous fingerpicking experience, but they must
know at least a few basic chords
From Rock to Cabbage - AbNormal Sines -. This is kind of like a sampler platter of all of the chording workshops AbNormal Sines has ever given. Chord and sing traditional, Celtic and even some rock and roll songs. While having a great time you will also painlessly increase your knowledge in the areas of chording, rhythm and transposing. (All levels of MD)
Celtic Chord and Sing - AbNormal Sines - Many
of our early settlers were immigrants from the British Isles. The music that
they brought with them from England, Ireland and Scotland has become a part
of our heritage. This version of our chording workshop series helps the player
enter the world of Celtic music. It is a fun way to learn to chord and sing
for anyone who likes the music of the British Isles. (All levels of MD)
Meet the Mountain Dulcimer - AbNormal Sines - Come and learn a brief history of the mountain dulcimer and then get to experience what the dulcimer is all about. Sing, play rhythm instruments and have a good time with AbNormalSines.
Featured Performers
Doug Berch
Hammer Dulcimer
(and mountain dulcimer)
Doug Berch is a folk musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His music has an original sound that shows the influence of Old-Time, Celtic, British, Rock and other styles of music from around the world.
Doug is best known as a masterful player of both the mountain and hammered dulcimer.
He also plays clawhammer banjo, tinwhistle, harmonium and other instruments,
In 1983 Doug took first place in both The National Mountain Dulcimer Chanpionshop
and The National Hammered Dulcimer Championship in Winfield, Kansas.
Through the years Doug has toured and performed as a solo act as well as with
a number of bands. He was a member of the Colorado based Celtic Ensemble Colcannon
for 10 years. After taking a break from full time performing (during which time
he worked at Elderly Instruments) Doug announced his return with two solo recordings:
“Songs From My Past - Music With Mountain Dulcimer” and “The
Sadness of Common Objects - Hammered Dulcimer Instrumental.s”
Doug’ is a dynamic and entertaining performer who can have the audience on the edge of their seats with a haunting ballad and have them laughing moments later! Doug is also a maker of fine dulcimers. He has been performing and teaching nationally since the 1970’s. Doug's Website
Butch Ross
Mountain Dulcimer
Butch Ross can't do anything right.
Despite all this wrongness, somehow it all sounds just right.
Okay, sure, he plays his own funny, poignant songs and some traditional mountain
tunes, but somehow, in Butch's hands, they rock, too.
Besides, it's pretty clear that Led Zeppelin always intended for "Stairway
to Heaven" to be played on the dulcimer. It just took Butch to figure it
out.
Butch Ross was given a mountain dulcimer for his birthday a few years ago, at
the time the regionally touring singer/songwriter had no idea of the impact
the instrument would have on his career. "I thought it's be cool to have
one around the house, but I found myself playing it more and more. It had made
music fun for me in a way that I hadn't felt since I first picked up the guitar."
More than "making music fun," this primitive mountain instrument began
to open doors for him too. Not long after adopting the dulcimer he met Robert
Force a musician, producer, independent label owner and all-around hippy who
had once written a best-selling book on the mountain dulcimer. He saw in Butch
"a spirit, talent and vision" that he last saw in his own idol; 60's
folk-icon Richard Fariña. Almost immediately, he offered to sign
him to his Blaine St. Records and produce, for free, his debut CD "the
Moonshiner's Atlas."
The dulcimer has opened other doors for Butch Ross as well: a full-ride scholarship
for a graduate degree in folk studies, a quickly-earned reputation amongst the
dulcimer community as one of the most innovative and exciting players on the
scene, endorsement offers, including one builder who working with him on a "Butch
Ross Signature Model,," opening slots for wide variety of performers from
Hayseed Dixie and Little Country Giants to the Jazz Mandolin Project, Great
Big Sea and the legendary Jean Ritchie. Additionally the dulcimer has found
him invited to play festivals and clubs in England, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden,
Belgium, Germany and most recently Budapest, Hungary.
Sean Phipps of the Chattanooga Times Free Press says, His set consisted of folk
songs and various instrumentals, including blistering version of Richard Thompson's
1952 Vincent Black Lightning and The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." We're
lucky to have such a talented, interesting musician living in Chattanooga. Butch's
Website
2009 Workshop Leaders
Andy Beyer is a mountain dulcimer player and teacher from Worthington, Ohio, who has been "instrumental" as Teacher of Dulcimer in central Ohio. He was on the board of The Olentangy Dulcimer Co-Operative, and COD Fests(and taught through both events). He has worked with The Central Ohio Folk Festival (the last 13 years) in one capacity or another. He taught for The CAP program at OSU for 16 years and has taught for The Lifelong Learning & Leisure program In Upper Arlington, Ohio for the last 14 years. Andy hold two degrees in Education, and a degree in instructional design(which he sometimes uses in his music education programs for adults and children).
Ken Bloom has given solo concerts all over North America since 1974. These have included appearances at many major Folk Festivals and clubs in the U.S. and Canada. In the past he has been a regular performer at the Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Owen Sound, Philadelphia, and Mariposa Festivals as well as appearing in major venues across the country and appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. More recently, his appearances have been closer to home. His North Carolina presentations include: The Stokes Stomp, Hiddenite Center, Turkey Festival (Raeford), Red Springs Highland Games, Mt. Airy Storytelling Festival, and many others. These programs include the traditional music of this country as well as Celtic and Eastern European selections. He usually uses Concert zither, Northumbrian-smallpipes, guitar, clarinet, bowed dulcimer and Minstrel banjo, but he will often include other instruments and traditions as well. He tries to introduce audiences to unfamiliar sounds in an entertaining way and expand their musical view of our ever-shrinking world.For the last twenty two years, Ken has been building a wide range of instruments for people. These include those instruments not commonly available from other sources. He has done a tremendous amount of research on these and, wherever possible, has consulted with native builders and players. Ken also participates in 18th century Living History events, providing period music on period instruments, as well as acting as Sergeant for the Royal Highland Emigrants, 84th Foote. He has presented these programs at National battlefields, Living History sites, Highland Games, and schools all over North and South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Many of these presentations focus on the role of Scottish Highlanders in the 18th century. this interest in history has led Ken to go back and reconstruct many of the instruments of the time and research the music that would have been played on them. This includes the gourd banjo and a detailed study of early antecedents of the mountain dulcimer. Ken's bowed dulcimer is the result of some of these studies. Ken's Webpage
Marge Diamond began playing mountain dulcimer in the mid eighties
with virtually no music background but tons of enthusiasm. Through attending
dulcimer workshops and getting in touch with the playing styles of established
dulcimer players from all over the country, she found the greatest tool for
making friends and having a great time. That is what she teaches others to do.
Her early efforts emphasized the playing of fiddle tunes and taking part in
a square dance band, ‘The Bentwood Rockers’. She then moved on to
playing songs that required a little more arranging. Currently Marge plays with
“The Oberlin Dulcimer group”. Marge has performed and taught dulcimer
workshops since 1987. She has been on hand teaching and performing at all of
the Dulci-More festivals, at the past 14 Fort New Salem Festivals, at several
of the Kent State Folk Festivals and has been on hand for some of the COFF festivals.
Marge has one recording “Beyond Cabbage” which is now available
on CD. She also sells T-shirts featuring original dulcimer and other instrument
designs. Marge's Homepage
Jeff Fedan lives in Morgantown, WV and learned to play the
hammered dulcimer from his teacher and mentor, Patty Looman, also from Morgantown,
who has given him the gift of music. He has been playing for nearly eleven years,
loving every minute of it. He is especially interested in the old time repertoire
of northern West Virginia, the music of Worley Gardner, Russell Fluharty, Patty
Looman and others. He helps organize Pattyfest, a music festival in honor of
Patty Looman. He will be doing hammered dulcimer workshops this weekend.
Neal Koch grew up in the midst of church choirs and in an
accomplished musical family. Early in his middle school days he took lessons
on the trumpet and later the sousaphone, winning awards and playing in his high
school and university bands. In 1997 he was introduced to the hammered dulcimer
at a craft festival in Ripley, WV, and heard the music of Worley Gardener. After
that Neal, built nine hammered dulcimers for his own enjoyment, writing and
publishing a well respected “how to . . .” book on building hammered
dulcimers.
Since 1997, Neal has taken lessons from several noted advanced players: Bob
Crumm, Dewey Sanderson and Sally Hawley. He has also attended numerous Dulcimer
weekends in Ohio and West Virginia. Neal is a retired pastor living in the Huntington,
WV area. He is a member of the Tri-state Dulcimer Club.
Mike & Marlene Oliver first discoved the mountain dulcimer in late 1988 at a craft fair in their hometown of Lancaster, Ohio. Since then they have become increasingly involved in dulcimer activities, having performed and taught across Ohio and in neighboring states. They founded the Standing Stone Strings & Things dulcimer club and the Harmony Harvest Dulcimer Festival. They perform together as Lower Lights with Marlene singing and playing mountain dulcimer and tin whistle and Mike playing mountain dulcimer and percussion.
Jerry Rockwell is one of a handful of folk musicians who,
since about 1970, have been national and international advocates for the mountain
dulcimer. He is an accomplished player, teacher, and custom builder of this
American folk instrument. His currently available recordings are Favorite American
Folktunes (CD with extra Roots Project tracks recorded in 2000 featuring mostly
solos on historic mountain dulcimers), and The Blackbird and the Beggarman (CD
produced by Pete Sutherland originally for the Wizmak label in 1994). He has
also written instructional texts for mountain dulcimer, including four titles
available from JC Rockwell Music Publishing: Dulcimer Solos volume II, arrangements
for intermediate level players; Beginner's Tunebook in D-A-A and D-A-D, with
emphasis on rhythmic foundations; and Music Theory and Chord Reference for the
Mountain Dulcimer. Jerry concentrated on music theory and composition at Ohio
State University. He lives and works in the Appalachian foothills of southeast
Ohio, and regularly teaches mountain dulcimer at workshops across the country.
Jerry's Webpage
Bill Schilling has been singing and playing various folk instruments (at least 20 with variations of several) for nearly 40years. He has performed for audiences of all ages in many settings from coast to coast. His high-energy performances may include songs, slide programs, and/or stories selected specifically for your group. His performances often involve members of your group with audience participation songs or activities. Bill often performs with others including Linda Sigismondi with whom he has recorded “Songs from Canal Days”. Since Bill believes that his music should be inclusive, he is involved in many groups which share music. A few of them are: Dulci-More: Folk & Traditional Musicians (Bill is the founder and leader (called Fearless Leader) of this group); the annual Dulci-More Festival (Bill is the director); the Canton Folk Song Society (Bill is one of the original members); the Dulcimer Society of Trumbull County (Bill has reorganized and leads this group); Folknet (Bill is a charter Executive Committee Member & President); and Folk Music at Weatherbury Farm (Bill is one of the originators of this program and a workshop leader). His “Dulci-More Public Domain Songbooks “(in several variations) are used by clubs around the country.Bill's Webpage
Linda Sigismondi is a mountain dulcimer player and folksinger
from Gallipolis, Ohio. Her music includes traditional Appalachian tunes, Celtic
tunes, folk dances, traditional and contemporary folk music, and original compositions
that feature environmental themes. Linda has played at Fort New Salem, West
Virginia, for the Harvest and Christmas Festivals for many years. She also organizes
the music and workshops for the Fort New Salem Dulcimer Festival. Linda has
taught workshops and performed at many folk music festivals in West Virginia,
Ohio and New York. Linda is also the leader of the Banks of the Ohio Dulcimer
Club in Gallipolis, Ohio. Linda has written several books (and companion CDs)
of mountain dulcimer tab and has recorded a CD, "Songs from Canal Days"
with Bill Schilling. Linda's Webpage
AbNormal Sines (Dayton) is now Gary and Joni Sines. he original trio has taught and performed at various festivals throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee since 1987. Gary is a guitarist and unreformed rocker. Joni has classical piano background, but was easily converted to a “folkie” as a “child of the 60’s”. In addition to teaching and performing with the group, she has been teaching dulcimer at the University of Dayton’s Institute for Learning in Retirement for the past 13 years. They have 2 recordings to their credit including many of their original songs. Joni has written 7 dulcimer instructional books.
Randy Snepp has been playing musical instruments since grade school. Starting with the French Horn he has also dabbled with the Accordion, Clarinet, Violin, Bagpipes, Flute, Saxophone, and voice, with varying degrees of success. His favorite instrument remains the Dulcimer which he has been playing for over ten years. He is the consumate beginner, always taking up something new. His love of water has led him to pursue and achieve several technical certifications in both boating and SCUBA diving and he is currently volunteering as a Rescue/Recovery diver with the Medical Reserve Corps.
Links to Other Events
Pattyfest - A music gathering near Morgantown, WV to celebrate teacher/performer Patty Looman
Dulci-More - A festival in Lisbon, Ohio that features workshops and concerts on dulcimers and other instruments.
Last Updated: June 3, 2009