PRE-FESTIVAL COURSE:

<—Steve Eulberg's Course: Playing Bluegrass on the Mountain Dulcimer, which is already available in the DulcimerCrossing Catalogue is available to all Participants in Bluegrass on Dulcimer Day. 

Once you have registered, you can find the link to this course in the menu on the left side of every page. (or in the three lines at the top left of your iPad)

DAY OF THE FESTIVAL:

Feb 28th 9-7:45 pm CST

(in Central Time)

9:00-10:00AM ~ Forum: Introduction, Welcome and Teacher's Roundtable

10:05-11:05AM ~ Workshop 1: Chop Chords the Rhythmic Key (using Break-out rooms)

       Mountain Dulcimer: Erin Mae MD

Chop chords are the foundational "back-beat" of a bluegrass jam -- a short, percussive sound, mimicking a snare drum, that lands on beats 2 and 4 (instead of 1 and 3). Mountain Dulcimers are great for playing these percussive chops. It takes some practice to coordinate strumming and fretting hands... and you may need to learn a few new "closed" chord positions ... but, Erin Mae will have you chopping like a pro by the end of the hour! 

       Hammered Dulcimer: Benjamin Barker HD

11:15-12:15PM ~ Workshop 2:  Bass, the Foundation: (using Break-out rooms)

       Hammered Dulcimer: Mark Alan Wade HD

Unlock your dulcimer's potential to fill the role of a bass in a bluegrass jam in this class. We will learn what the role of the bass is and isn't, while learning characteristic ways to move from chord to chord. An extended sub-bass range HD is encouraged, but not required. Ditto with dampers!

       Mountain Dulcimer: Elaine Conger MD  - 

The bass dulcimer is a magnificent addition to the mountain dulcimer family, providing a needed foundation and tonal warmth to dulcimer groups and music jams. Its pitch range is only an octave below the standard mountain dulcimer, which gives the bass dulcimer the added benefit of playing true bass lines while also adding the occasional harmony line or musical fill. Although there are bass dulcimers now built in the true range of a “real” bass (think electric or upright bass instruments), thanks to David Beede’s Double Bass and Terry McCafferty’s L’il D’bl, this class will be solely devoted to the technique required on the “regular” bass dulcimer as first created by Blue Lion and later by McSpadden. Of course, there are lots of bass dulcimers being built now – humph! (Utter appropriate low sound here!)

In bluegrass-style music, the bass player’s job is to outline the framework of the chord progression using the alternating bass pattern of root and 5^th with the occasional walk-up or walk-down between chord changes. Although we’re not in the true octave of a “real” bass, we will focus on mimicking the techniques used by the upright or electric bass player. We will devote time to e

12:30-1:30PM ~ Workshop 3: Other Accompaniment (using Break-out rooms)

       Hammered Dulcimer: Rick Thum HD -

The  hammered dulcimer is the perfect instrument for Bluegrass especially when it is used like the banjo.  Banjos use arpeggios to embellish the tunes and fiddles and mandolins use scales.  The hammered dulcimer is more versatile in producing chord arpeggios then it is scales.  Scales are limited in comparison to the availability of chord voicings.  This can be achieved by learning some simple patters.  We will learn these patterns and how to use them.

       Mountain Dulcimer: Susan Trump MD -

"Bluegrassy" Fingerpicking for  Mountain Dulcimer or Banjammer

By putting the melody on the middle string and adding the “bum-diddy” rhythm to a few simple fingerpicking patterns, we’ll make your dulcimer sound like a bluegrass banjo!  We’ll add hammer-ons and pull-offs and “Nashville, here we come!” This technique can be fast and flashy, or slow and sweet. Either way it’s really fun and you’ll get hooked.   DAd Tuning

1:30-2:30PM ~ Lunch / Student Sharing / Open Mic / Optional Break Out Rooms

2:30-3:30PM ~ Workshop 4: Finding the Form of the Song by Elaine Conger & Benjamin Barker

3:45-4:45PM ~ Workshop 5:  Accompanying Singers by Susan Trump and Rick Thum

5:00-6:00PM ~ Workshop 6: Taking Turns: Soloing & Licks by Erin Mae Lewis Mark Alan Wade 

Learn to play fun solos and take a lead even if you don’t already know the song by using rehearsed licks and pentatonic scale patterns. Mark Alan Wade and Erin Mae will help you unlock exciting improvised solos with just a few key strategies.  

6:45PM ~ Closing "Jam" led by Instructors

(on Zoom & live-streamed on the DulcimerCrossing Facebook page)

Use this Zoom Link for Faculty-led Jam that concludes the day

Please consider adding some gravy to the Faculty's biscuits by using this link to tip the Jam Leaders

Tip the Jam Leaders