Workshop Descriptions

MD = mountain dulcimer
HD = hammered dulcimer
B = beginner-no previous playing experience required.
AB = advanced beginner-is familiar with tuning, knows some basic strumming and fingering and can play several songs with ease.
I = intermediate-knows basic chording and harmony playing, can read and learn from tablature, standard music notation, or by ear and has a growing repertoire of songs in a variety of styles.
A = advanced-knows a wide variety of techniques and songs, can read and learn from tablature, standard music notation, or by ear and has experience playing in a variety of situations.
ALL = workshop is open to any instrument and skill level.

Saturday 9:00 - 9:50

Hold String Side Up – Marlene Oliver - Very basic instruction on the mountain dulcimer. Marlene will provide instruction and suggestions on holding the dulcimer. basic strumming, and fretting techniques. She will also give 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. MD – B

Blues on the Mountain Dulcimer – Steven K. Smith - Yes, you really can play the blues on the mountain dulcimer. It's fun, it's easy, and it sounds GREAT! In this class we'll go over the basics of the instrumental 12 bar blues pattern in several keys, all while tuned to DAd. We'll introduce a few different styles of "turnarounds" and rhythm patterns. Rather than teach a couple of individual songs, I'll show you the basics of a popular blues pattern so you can improvise your own music. By the end of the session we'll all be jammin' hot on some cool sounds. Capo required. A limited number of extra capos will be available.  DAD tuning. MD – AB, I

Beginner Session – Neal Koch - Learn about HD history and how the instrument is played. Neal will teach the scale, hammering technique, and a simple tune. Explain the string layout and how it relates to written music. HD – B

Singing with Folk-Style Instruments – Bill Schilling – The purpose of this workshop is to allow participants to understand more about beginning instrumental styles for accompanying vocals (or melody instruments). Workshop participants will hear accompaniment styles on several instruments and get a chance to try adding their own instruments to the accompaniment. The workshop is appropriate for most folk instruments. All

Saturday 10:00 - 10:50

Beginning to Play Fiddle Tunes – Marge Diamond – Marge will how fingering techniques and give other helpful advice for learning to keep up with the music. She will be introducing a few fiddle tunes. DAD tuning. MD – B, AB

Simple Jigs in Key of D – Andy Beyer – This class is a good introduction to Irish Jigs. Not a lot of notes, but there is a lot of repetition. Come to class to have fun. MD – AB, I

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. HD – B

Mountain Dulcimer Styles – Linda Sigismondi – This is a demonstration workshop in which Linda will demonstrate several different styles of playing the dulcimer including strumming, flatpicking, fingerpicking, bowing and using a noter. Participants will be given the chance to try some of the techniques if desired. All

Saturday 11:00 - 11:50

Easy Celtic – Joni Sines – Celtic music is fun and doesn’t have to be difficult to play. Come learn some “playable” songs from Ireland and Scotland. MD – AB

Noter Style – Bill Collins - Noter-style playing is not widely in vogue at the present. It’s an approach that’s sometimes regarded as “primitive,” but it’s very challenging and can be extremely satisfying. Given its historical importance, noting is a technique with which every dulcimer player should gain some familiarity. This workshop shows you the basics of the two main traditions of noting and introduces what may be a new approach to some old familiar tunes, as well as encourages fresh appreciation for diatonic fretting. Bring a noter if you have one; if not, one will be provided. DAD or DAA tuning. MD - All

Celtic Repertoire – Sally Hawley – Sally will teach this class on hammered dulcimer, but all instruments are welcome to join the group.  The class will include many of  the various forms of tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and mid-east Europe such as reels, jigs, hornpipes, strathpeys, waltzes.   Notation will be furnished, but learning by ear is also encouraged. HD - I

Appalachian Beat – Jeff Fedan, Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi – This workshop will introduce spoons, limberjacks, washboards and other items used during frontier times to add rhythm to music. All

Saturday 1:00 - 1:50

Chord Shapes for the Mountain Dulcimer – Steven K. Smith – Learn how to form most chords on the dulcimer without (much) music theory!  This workshop teaches a basic method for finding chords, either for jamming, arranging, or just noodling around.  DAD tuning. MD - AB

Easy Fingerpicking in DAD – Jerry Rockwell - This will be an introduction to fingerpicking, using lots of open strings for a warm, rich tone. To me, this is music your dulcimer "wants" to play: its very soothing and relaxing, and it uses the quiet, subtle tones of the dulcimer to the fullest. Some tunes we'll explore include Southwind, Be Thou My Vision, Phelim's Boat, Pretty Saro, and probably more. MD - AB

Blues on Hammered Dulcimer – Adam Sutch – The students will learn the basic blues progression and ways to spice it up. HD – AB, I

Playing with a Partner – Mike and Marlene Oliver – Mike and Marlene, who perform together as Lower Lights, will discuss and demonstrate how they put together arrangements for two dulcimers or dulcimer and penny whistle. Questions welcome. All

Saturday 2:00 - 2:50

Cleaning Up Modal Mysteries – Bill Collins – Everybody who plays a dulcimer hears the term “mode” tossed around quite frequently. The truth is, though, that many players of this very modal instrument will admit (in a hushed, furtive voice) that their understanding of modes is shaky at best. Mine was, even after years of dulcimer obsession. But at the end of this workshop, you’ll never be intimidated by modal monsters again! MD – B, AB, I

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. MD - I, A

HD Harmonies – Sally Hawley – Using several examples, Sally will show you how to take a basic melody and add harmonies for fullness and contrast in your playing. HD – AB, I

Tin Whistle (Beginners) – Marlene Oliver – Basic instruction in playing the tin whistle. Learn how to hold the whistle and proper fingering techniques. Time permitting, several simple songs may be taught. B

Saturday 3:00 - 3:50

What Time is It? – Mike Oliver - This workshop is an introduction to timing and rhythm in music. Mike will discuss what we mean by timing and how we use it in music. We will practice on the most commonly used times in music played on the dulcimer and Mike will introduce strumming techniques to play the times efficiently. MD - B, AB

Fun With Simple Chord Progressions – Jerry Rockwell – In this session we'll make friends with a few very simple, repeating chord progressions, and then we'll try some hints for discovering your own progressions, or making up your own from scratch. Tuning DAD. MD - All

Rags, Reels and Jigs – Adam Sutch – Adam will teach a variety of tunes of different styles and the students will be able to play the tunes and can add variations. HD – AB, I

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.

Saturday 4:00 - 4:50

Beginning to Jam – Marge Diamond – This is for all players but most especially for those who would love to sit and play with others at a party, a dulcimer club or festival, or wit your dearest friends. We will be working on listening and hearing the tune. Bring along a tune you are learning or have already learned. We will be in the key of 'D', as in DAD or DAA for mountain dulcimers. MD, Others - All

Fun with a Round – Jerry Rockwell – Hey, Ho, Nobody Home - We'll have all sorts of fun with this spooky minor round (AKA Rose, Rose, or Rose Red), splitting up into many parts and messing with the parts wherever possible. You'll come out of this with ideas you can apply to many other rounds and canons.  DAD Tuning with Capo. MD – I

Simple Arranging of Tunes – Neal Koch - Reading music is not required. Ornamentation will be reviewed: arpeggio, trill, tremolo (bounce), flam, grace notes, droning, double stops, and drumming techniques. Simple chords will be discussed and how they work to harmonize a tune. Styles of playing will be discussed. “Shenandoah” and “The Water Is Wide” will be harmonized.
HD – I, A

Sea Shanties – Andy Beyer – Andy will discuss and demonstrate sea shanties and likely persuade you to join in on several. All.

Sunday 9:30 - 10:20

Song Circle – Bill Schilling - This is a time to gather on Sunday morning and share some music in an informal session. Each person in the circle will be given a chance to play a song, request a song or to just sit and listen. All

Sunday 10:30 - 11:20

Bagpipe Tuning for Dulcimer – Bill Collins – Tuning your bass string down to low A gives you the closest thing to a bagpipe that you can get on a dulcimer. Using the two lower strings as octave drones and playing tunes in A Mixolydian produce an exciting sound. In this workshop, we’ll learn “Skye Boat Song,” and “Scotland the Brave,” plus explore how to improvise and ornament to add to the Scottish flavor of your playing. MD – B and up

Hornpipes in Key of D – Andy Beyer – This class will explore the anatomy of a hornpipe and its rhythmic parameters. MD – I

Add to your Old-Time Repertoire – Jeff Fedan – We will learn some tunes that are popular in the northern West Virginia area. HD - AB, I

Gospel Hymns of the Hills – Neal Koch – Neal will discuss the links between Appalachian peoples and their gospel roots. Learn one or two gospel tunes. Music will be distributed. All.

Sunday 12:30 - 1:20

Stephen Foster the Easy Way – Steven K. Smith - This repertoire-building workshop will present several Stephen Foster songs with easy arrangements, suitable for beginners. The majority of the arrangements are drone style, but there are some with a few simple chords as well. MD - AB

Going Cuckoo – Linda Sigismondi - In this workshop, participants will first learn how to play the Appalachian ballad “Cuckoo” on the mountain dulcimer.  Participants will then be shown several variations of the tune as an example of how to enhance and add variety to a performance. DAD tuning. MD – AB, I

Pachebel’s Canon – Adam Sutch - The students will learn the lead part and chording for this classic song, great for weddings and any event where you need a song filler. FYI the chords for this song also makes up the chords to hundreds of main stream songs of today.  HD – B, AB, I

Autoharp – Bill Schilling - The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the participants to the autoharp, acquainting them with different harps, playing styles, setups, simple repairs, practice hints, and/or resources. Participants will hear and use different playing styles. All.

Sunday 1:30 - 2:20

Tips and Tunes in DAD – Marge Diamond - This class is for those who know  the fret numbers and know a little bit about strumming. I will be teaching a few easy to learn and easy to remember tunes. MD – AB

Left Hand Techniques – Mike Oliver – Mike will give instruction for smooth left hand work on the dulcimer. Includes suggestions for finger placement and usage tips. Covers hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides and harmonics. Also includes suggestions for efficient chording. MD – AB, I

Traditional Tunes on the Hammered Dulcimer – Sally Hawley – This is a repertoire-building workshops in which Sally will introduce you to several tunes of the WV Hills. HD - AB, I

Civil War Sing Along – AbNormal Sines – The Civil War era produced some wonderful music! Many of the songs have both Union and Confederate words. So, it makes no difference if you are blue or gray. We will sing both versions of many of the songs. All.

Sunday 2:30 - 3:20

Finale – Linda Sigismondi and Bill Schilling – The festival will conclude with an all-participant gathering in which everyone is invited to join in to sing and play as we end the festival in song and perhaps harmony. All