Dulci-More Festival 22
Workshop Descriptions
Workshop Descriptions
The middle section of this
program shows the workshop grid. Use these descriptions to help find the
workshops that will work best for you. Anyone can listen in on any workshops. A
few workshops will have instruments for you to try out. No instruments are
required for many of the workshops. Some of the workshops on the Dining Hall
Stage are more for entertainment than for participation.
Saturday Workshops &
Events
Cluster 1
1] Ukulele Jam
DUH! Dulci-More Ukulele
Hangout members will lead and showcase many tunes from beginner level ones in C
to more complicated ones (projecting lyrics and chords). Something for
everyone, several loaner ukes available.
2] Running the Stairs
In this workshop, Brett
teaches all instruments, the same tune(s) at the same time, with no music
notation or tab and the tune is memorized and "visualized" by the end
of the workshop! The method will not only help you learn new tunes quickly, but
memorize them as well! This workshop teaches exactly how music is, not what is
written down on a piece of paper.
3] Playing Strong Rhythm on
MD
Bill will cover rhythmic
dulcimer styles with variation, which can enhance the overall sounds of the
instrument. This will include adding structure to the strum and cross picking
using some common and well known tunes for this so the focus can be on the
right hand.
4] Advanced Duets &
Trios for MD
Learn two and three part
arrangements of classical and Celtic pieces, upbeat fiddle tunes, and mellow
hymns with Sarah. Good for duets/trios, but these arrangements will also work
for larger groups. DAD, DGD. Bring a capo.
5] Celtic Music on Mandolin
Family Instruments
Students learn how to use
techniques such as drones, picking, and ornaments to create a Celtic sound.
This can include an emphasis on the music of Turlough O'Carolan and the 18th
century. John will work with mandolins, mandolas, and octave mandolins.
6] Old Time Fiddle
Rachel will use an old time
tune to demonstrate specific techniques for bowing and play and discuss
practice techniques to improve musical
ability.
7] Beginning Chording for HD
Sue & Roz will help you
learn about root chords and playing in various time signatures to make
interesting simple chord or arpeggio backups.
8] Christmas Tune
Arrangements for HD
Walk away with more than a
handful of arrangements (in various playing levels) to learn before Christmas!
Some Hammered Dulcimer embellishments and tips to enhance your playing will
also be shared by Janet.
9] Introduction to Bowed
Psaltery
Cluster 2
1] Songs of Tom Paxton
The group will share some of
the songs written by Tom Paxton. whose songs have been covered by many others
over the years. Come prepared to sing and play along on old favorites and less
familiar Paxton songs (handouts provided), or lead one with the group.
2] Playing Parts
Members of Stringed Fantasy
will share what they do, playing melody, harmony, and drone lines, using sheet
music, written in multiple parts.
3] Beginning to Play without
Tab for MD
Marge will help those who
are paper-trained take the first steps to freeing themselves from the tab and
sheet music and being able to just play.
4] Story Songs: Ballads of
Traditional Appalachian and
old time music is very unique in the fact that the music tells stories; stories
about real people and real struggles they faced. In this workshop, Sarah will
teach several ballads and story songs from the
5] Praisin’ Phrasin’
John will help you move from
mechanical rhythm to phrasing to making your own style in songs. Simplifying
songs through passing notes, cross-string playing and chord choice. He works
mostly with mountain dulcimer, but will have ideas for all.
6] Clawhammer Banjo
Rachel will use an old time
tune to demonstrate specific techniques for playing clawhammer banjo and
discuss practice techniques to improve
musical ability.
7] Cheap Tricks on the HD
David will demonstrate what
he does to dress up a tune, especially the rhythms that make a tune bouncy.
This will be a demonstration on this technique that will be used in David's
other workshops.
8] Ragtime Rhythms for HD
Sam will introduce to
syncopation, the essential ingredient of ragtime. It also adds spice to many
other types of music. He has some fun tunes that give us any easy way to learn
it, and you can use it to jazz up your playing! The dulcimer really makes
ragtime sparkle. Learn how to get a handle, or a hammer, on it.
9] Begin Whistle/Recorder
Jim will help you learn
basics of holding, blowing, fingering, and playing some simple tunes.
10] Beginning Autoharp
Toni will work on autoharp
basics such as finding and playing chords, strumming patterns, and playing by
ear. A few autoharps are available for loan.
Cluster 3
1] Leading and Following at
the Folk Jam
A hands on workshop with
Jammaster Mark. Bring your instruments and be ready to join in! Leaders get
ideas of types of songs to lead, playing without print to energize, singing and
playing so others follow, and varying the program. Followers learn to watch and
listen for chord changes, from beginners with a few chords to others adding
runs, fills, harmonies, and even leads.
2] Snappy Dance Tunes for
Harp
Allison and Sairey will
include some great dance tunes and ideas for playing them with a snappy feel. With
music taught by ear, sheet music is provided after the workshop.
3] Timing & Rhythm for
MD
Come for a thorough survey
of timing and rhythm, as it specifically applies to the mountain dulcimer.
Sarah will cover playing in timing signatures other than 4/4, how to play
syncopated and dotted rhythms, how to strum with fluidity, and how to bring more
rhythmic drive to your music. Mostly DAD
4] Celtic Ballads for MD
This is a
repertoire-building workshop for intermediate dulcimer players. Participants
will be taught several songs from
5] Putting the Paper Down
When using sheet music or
tab, it's easy to get locked into one version of a tune. Your tunebook grows
and grows. Jim will have music and tab for some tunes and will work through
some techniques for tune learning. You will find as you learn a tune it becomes
easier to play in a jam with other versions of the same tune focusing more on
playing your instrument and making music.
6] Old Time Fiddle
Rachel will use an old time
tune to demonstrate specific techniques for bowing and play and discuss
practice techniques to improve musical
ability.
7] The Laid-Back Beginner HD
Workshop
Brett will help you get
started on the hammered dulcimer and without stress will go over the things you
really want to know as you get started.
8] The Drive Behind the
Dance Band
Let David and Annette show
you tricks and techniques that make playing for a dance successful and fun.
Annette will demonstrate how the backup piano drives the dancers and controls
the pace. David will use his hammered dulcimer to demonstrate how the
liveliness of the dance is created by his techniques. Bring your instruments
(all are welcome) and play songs to practice creating a lively, energetic dance
band.
9] Very
Wendy will start from the
very beginning and covering all of the basics – how to hold it, tune it, play
it, care for it, right hand strumming, finger picking, left hand techniques,
chords, and fretting. Loaners available.
10] Beginning Melody Picking
Autoharp
Todd will work with you on
the basics of picking melodies on the autoharp with loaners available.
Ability Level Jamming
Workshops Cluster
If one doesn’t work, try
another. Join the fun!
2] Intro to Jamming
Marge and Gary and/or Toni
will lead this jam for all instruments at a slow pace with easy tunes to help
people get used to something many find scary, but is really fun - playing well
with others.
3] Advanced
Beginner/Intermediate Jam
Stringed Fantasy will lead
some tunes and give you a chance to lead others of all kinds in a lightly
structured jam for those used to playing together.
4] Song Writer &
Join others who write their
own songs or find interesting songs to sing and share songs and techniques
about how you do what you do. Share together nicely with no leaders assigned.
5] Open for Jam
No leaders assigned – just a
location to jam for any level.
6] Open for Jam
No leaders assigned – just a
location to jam for any level.
7] Ukulele Aloha Luau
Bring your ukulele for a
little island fun! We will be working on chords, strum patterns, playing
techniques, reading tablature, playing some of our favorite tunes, and more!
8] Intermediate/Advanced Jam
Bill, Jim, and John will
lead some tunes and give you a chance to lead others of all kinds in a lightly
structured jam for those used to playing together. The leaders play different
styles, so it should be great hearing how everyone gets along.
9] Celtic Jam
Join the Hired Hands for an
all-level Celtic jam.
1] Name that Old-Time (or
Other) Tune
This version of a slick
television game show is for the enjoyment of all after a full day of workshops.
Get in on the fun and prizes from
1] Open Stage/Clubs Open
Stage
Sign up at the registration
area to let our festival hear some of your unique sounds. All acoustic
instruments and styles are welcome.
Sunday Workshops &
Events
1] Hymn/Gospel/Spiritual
Sing
Join a group with your
instruments or just your voice to share many favorites. Lyric sheets for many
old favorites are there, but others may also be sung.
Cluster 4
1] Learning to Play by Ear
Free yourself and your
dependency of reading music or tab to learn a tune! Brett uses traditional
Celtic techniques, to help virtually anyone learn to play any instrument by
ear! This is a hands-on workshop for all instruments and will help you to learn
and understand your instrument from the inside out!
2] Tips for Good Singing
Linda and Roz will help you
enjoy singing more with improved breathing, pronunciation, listening, and
harmony.
3] Hymns & Gospel Tunes
for MD
In this repertoire based
workshop,
4] Playing MD in G
Tired of playing in D? By
changing one string Annette will show you how to play songs in the key of G. We
will also work with the capo.
5] Transposing Sheet Music
to Tab
John will show how to find
the keynote of sheet music and use a 'paper computer' to identify the intervals
needed to make a proper transposition. Designed for mountain dulcimer tab, but
the ideas can work for others.
6] Celtic Guitar
Accompaniment
Using strumming patterns,
selective string playing, bass lines, partial chords, varying chord voicings,
and chord substitution John will show you how to create a Celtic sound and to
add variety.
7] Moving Basic Melodies on
HD
Bill will help you easily take
melodies to different parts of your HD using basic patterns.
8] Modal Tunes for HD
The basic do-re-mi... notes
can be used to play in haunting scales other than the familiar major scale, and
the dulcimer makes this easy. Such scales are called “modes”, and some
wonderful tunes are modal. In the haunting mixolydian mode, a scale like the
major scale has the 7th note of the scale flatted. If this sounds like Greek,
not to worry. All will be explained by Sam.
9] Beginner Bowed Psaltery
Tunes
Learn to play a few tunes in
C and D with
10] Singing with the
Autoharp
Todd will work with you on
the basics of singing with the autoharp with loaners available.
Cluster 5
1] Ukelele Jam
See Cluster 1 Area 1 for
description.
2] The Guitar According to
Mark
Master folk and blues
guitarist and Old Town School of Folk Music instructor, Mark shares his very
practical approach to understanding the guitar fret board. He will also
demonstrates several simple techniques to develop a catalogue of picking and
strumming styles. Students will learn to identify partial chord shapes up the
neck, to use chord tones, to create a solid rhythmic figure, to keep a
rock-steady tempo, and to explore the basics of improvisation.
3] MD Tablature & Theory
Essentials Made Easy
Reading tablature and
learning music theory are often begrudged essentials of musicianship. However,
this class aims to demystify both in a fun and effective hour of
hands-on-instrument experience, pencil and paper exercises, and group
activities to give you more confidence and know-how to pick up any new piece of
music and begin playing, enhance songwriting abilities, improve ensemble and
sight-reading skills, and more with Wendy!
4] Old Time &
Traditional Tunes for MD
These are the songs that
most people associate with the mountain dulcimer. Learn some with
5] Beginning Clawhammer
Banjo
This is not bluegrass, it is
all done with a downward motion of the right hand with easy fingering on the
banjo neck. Just bring a plain old fashion banjo with five strings. Try a
simple tune or two with Bill, but most effort will be to get the strum right
using the G banjo tuning.
6] Beginning Bass (Not the
Fish)
Bring a bass if you have
one. This is an introduction, but some experience with an instrument, like
guitar, would be helpful. Applies to bass guitar or upright bass, but use the
lowest strings on a guitar for the workshop.
7] Chromatics for HD
Janet will give a few really
fun tunes to help you find, and know how to best use, those chromatic notes on
your Hammered Dulcimer.
8] Camp Meeting on the
Fourth of July
David will teach a song with
embellishments to help make the song fun and bouncy. A great old-time tune to
add to your repertoire.
9] Native American Flute
Linda will tell a legend of
the Native American flute and demonstrate how to play the instrument for
traditional and western music. A few flutes will be available for participants
to try or purchase. If you have your own flute, bring it along.
10] Wild Instrument Scramble
Join Todd for the fun of his
wild instrument scramble.
Cluster 6
1] Appalachian Clogging
Clogging is a dance style
traditional to the
2] Aires of the
Allison and Sairey will
teach some
3] Let’s Learn Some Old-Time
Tunes
Annette will have tab for
several of the old-time tunes their band loves to play. Bring a capo.
4]
The mountain dulcimer holds
the key to a variety of unique, colorful, and expressive voices. Bring them out
in your music with a focus on touch & technique, combined with terms &
symbols for on-score dynamic notation. Add variety to your own playing style
and put it into practice with Wendy’s dynamic tune to take home!
5] How to Play the 5 String
Banjo by Pete Seeger
The material Mark presents
is extracted from the classic Seeger book and recording. Students will learn
the parts of their banjo, how to tune it to C tuning and open G. They will
learn the fingerings to the chords C, F, G, and D7 and be introduced to three
different ways Seeger picked the strings to accompany any number of different
kinds of songs. Up-picking, frailing, the lullaby strum, whamming, and blues
are all part of the mix.
6] Celtic Fiddle
John shows traditional
styles such as drones, bowing, and ornaments, used to transform the violin and
printed music to traditional fiddling. This can include features of
18th-century Scottish and English music.
7] Yellow Bird for HD
Learn the melody of this
lovely and rhythmic tune, as well as two other parts, so you can play the song
in trio form. (These parts are also put into one solo arrangement, so you could
play it alone and sound great!)
8] Blues Basics for HD
Blues intervals and how to
play them on the dulcimer with Sam. Learn the blue notes and a blues tune plus
tricks and licks. This is the most fun you can have with hammers in your hands!
And it is an easy introduction to using chromatic notes.
9] Hooray for
Learn from John basic chord
patterns that make this the quickest way to play 3 string chords. Go from one
string to two then three string chords which have the same finger pattern up
and down the fretboard. Play melody across the strings. Play along with DAD
players.
3] Non-Denominational
Worship Service
Doug George, pastor of the
First United Methodist Church of Salem, will lead a short service and share a
message that should be meaningful for all.
1] Open Stage/Clubs Open
Stage
See Saturday Open Stage for
description.
Contact Bill Schilling by e-mail.
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Bill Schilling's Home Page.
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Schilling
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Contact Information
Bill Schilling, Dulci-More Festival Director
234-564-3852
234-564-DULC