Thank you for signing up for Spring Augusta Dulcimer Week – I’m looking forward to working with you all. I wanted to give you a little more information on what we’ll be doing in class and what you will need in order to be prepared for the week. We are going to focus primarily on techniques to improve your playing and musicality through a better understanding of your dulcimer and the music you play. This will include arranging (and rearranging), effective chord backup, presentation, and useful (and easy to learn) music theory as it applies
the the dulcimer.

The pieces we work on as a class will require a basic familiarity with fingerpicking, strumming and chording. We will be working on arrangements for both fingerpicking and strumming in a wide variety of musical styles,
including classical, traditional, and blues. We’ll also look at several ensemble pieces with three, four and perhaps five “voices”. If you have a bass, baritone or soprano dulcimer, be sure and bring it with you.

You do not need to be able to read music, nor do you need any background in music or music theory. Although we will work some with printed music, don’t worry if your music reading is very basic (or non-existent); we will help each other. What you will need is a desire to expand your potential as a player and a musician, and a willingness to explore new approaches to enhance your style and performance.

A music stand will be handy, and you’re welcome to bring a recorder if you wish to record parts of the class. Also, bring a couple of pencils with erasers and scratch paper. One of the things I want to work on with you is arranging from music notation, so bring one or two pieces of music (not tab) you’d love to be able to play; it needs to have the melody line and chords indicated, and it can be written in any key signature. If you have a fake book or collection of songs you’d enjoy working on bring that—the more material from which to choose the better.

I’d also like to work with each of you individually on one or two pieces of tab you already play but are not quite satisified with, either in terms of your performance of the piece or the arrangement itself. If you are interested in working on this with me, be sure to bring the tab with you for reference.

I’d love to hear from you if there is anything in particular you are hoping the class will cover, and I’ll do my best to accommodate your wishes if it fits in with the focus of the class. For example, if most participants wish to do a section on four equidistant string techniques, I’d love to bring materials so we can explore that style of dulcimer; however, as of this writing I’m planning the materials for the “three string” style of dulcimer playing.

The materials cost for this class will be under $10.00. If you have any questions or suggestions you’re welcome to email me at: dulcimers@bluelioninstruments.com. If you’d prefer to write, my address is: 10650 Little Quail Lane, Santa Margarita, CA 93453. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

I’m looking forward to meeting with you and to having a wonderful week together making exceptional music!

Cheers!