Joe Collins is giving Sydney Hardin, a student at Gardner-Webb University, tips on playing the dulcimer.
Dulcimer Fun
The Mid-Winter Dulcimer Conference in Shelby, NC, has come and gone, but memories of playing the mountain dulcimer and making new friendships will last forever. Even though it’s fairly easy to learn simple melodies on a dulcimer, those who are accomplished, often amaze their audiences with complicated melodies and harmonies up and down the fretboard.
I bought a dulcimer years ago, but never learned to play until last summer. Quite by accident, I walked into a recycle store in July and noticed seven cardboard dulcimers on a bottom shelf. Cardboard dulcimers are a less expensive alternative for church or school groups. Knowing this, I bought all seven, planning to use them in the children’s ministry at our church.
Once home, I realized if I was going to teach children, I needed to learn to play myself, so I began looking for a dulcimer teacher. That’s when I discovered Judy Hefner House on the Camel City Strummers Dulcimer Club Facebook page. I soon learned that she not only teaches private lessons, but is also a clinician for dulcimer conferences and workshops.
Once I began taking lessons from Judy, I fell in love with the dulcimer, discovering it’s an instrument that has many faces. When you’re sad, it can lift you up with fast, toe-tapping rhythms, and just as quickly calm you down through beautiful, gentle melodies that touch the heart.
When I discovered the Foothills Dulcimer Club was sponsoring a one-day conference, March 2nd, at the LeGrande Center, in Shelby, NC, I signed up to go. Boy am I glad I did. Not only did I enjoy playing with talented musicians and learning new songs and techniques, but I made new friends who shared my love for this unique instrument.
My first class of the day was Macaroni and Cheese with Mike Anderson. The name was fitting because his class was a combination of songs and styles mixed together. Mike explained his technique of teaching might be a little different because he had been a kindergarten teacher. I, too, had been a kindergarten teacher, so I knew the pace would be fast and furious, with lots of fun. My second session was with Judy. In her class, we learned to play harmony. It was exciting to hear the different parts mesh together in such a short time. My last two sessions were hymns and gospel music with Mike Shull and Joe Collins. Melodies such as Amazing Grace and Just As I Am, still echo in my ear.
My friend, Edna Burger, attended the conference with me and on our way home we talked about what we learned and how much fun we had. We both agreed we couldn’t wait until the next one and were excited to learn the Camel City Strummers-Dulcimer Club is sponsoring a one-day conference in Winston-Salem, NC, May 4th. Judy, along with other acclaimed clinicians, including her husband, Kirk, will be teaching. Oh, that’s right, I forgot to mention Kirk teaches dulcimer, too. He plays bass. Edna and I plan to go. Hope to see you there.
Have you ever played a dulcimer? Do you still play? Leave a comment below, message on Facebook, or email at dicysm@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Dicy
I’m excited to announce that I will be publishing my seventh children’s book soon. The book is titled, “Tired of Music” and will be available on Amazon.com. The story highlights a local musician, Dr. Dwayne Robertson, otherwise known as Dr. Rob. Stay tuned for updates.
