Larry Conger
"Partner Songs" (Advanced Beginner to Intermediate Class)
Partner songs are two songs that can be played together as a duet due to their similar chord progressions. Each arrangement can stand alone as a solo if no duet partner is available. Larry and Elaine will team teach this class. DAD tuning. Some capo required.
"Vary Your Repertoire" (Intermediate to Advanced Class)
In this workshop, three completely different types of songs will be presented as time allows - one classical, one popular, and one Scottish hornpipe. All three pieces will be somewhat challenging for the intermediate level player and should prove to be a great addition to your repertoire. DAD tuning. Some capo required.
Nina Zanetti
"Some Favorite Classics" (Level: Intermediate/Advanced)
Some of those “classics” that we learned in piano lessons or high school orchestra sound great on mountain dulcimer. We’ll learn some lovely tunes from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods of music, with some famous composers represented, and with just enough music history to make the tunes come alive. Tuning: DAD
"Playing with Ease" (appropriate for ALL LEVELS)
Description : Does tension ever prevent you from enjoying music or playing your best? Does making music ever cause you pain? In this workshop you’ll discover ways to bring ease into your playing, performing, and practicing. We'll explore basic ergonomics; left hand “minimum viable pressure"; mind-set and purpose; relaxation practices; how to develop awareness of tension; and practical ways to increase ease in our musical endeavors. Tuning: DAD
Peggy Broussard & Helen Bankston
"Beginner - Intermediate Cajun Workshop"
A short history of the Cajun music will be presented and the Cajun versus Zydeco music will be explored. We will examine how these two musical genres relate to each other and explore their unique differences. Some traditional tunes will be presented of the Cajun Waltz and the Cajun Two Step with their unique rhythms and emphasis. We will explore how they demonstrate what was important to the daily lives of the early Acadians and how the early music has evolved to the present day reflecting both the history and culture of southern Louisiana.
"Intermediate-Advanced Cajun Workshop"
In this class, we will explore how the tunes reflect Cajun history and culture. While replicating the double- stops of the fiddle and the rhythms of the accordion, we will be using chord melodies and improvisation to produce the Cajun sounds and spirit of the people. We will be introducing accompaniment parts to enhance the interesting melodies, and will incorporate the use of rhythm instruments which are unique to this genre of music. The tunes will include waltzes and the Cajun Two-Step. A possible dance demonstration and some Cajun French will be the order of the day! "Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler - Let the good times roll !"
Thomasina Levy
"Baritone Dulcimer Explorations"
Why play a baritone dulcimer? Because it expands your repertoire to more keys and a richer sounding dulcimer. In this workshop you will gain the confidence of how convert a DAD tune to a baritone GDG or AEA or BF#B tuning. Chord charts for various baritone tunings will be provided. You will also learn a new song to bring to your dulcimer club/ensemble.
"Easy Peasy Jam Tunes"
Expand your repertoire by learning popular songs and tunes played in dulcimer jams. We will also discuss jam etiquette. Come tuned to DAD.
Elaine Conger
"Let's Do Duets!" (Intermediate)
The dulcimer is more fun to play when you have a partner to play with you. Although, the arrangements presented will be able to stand alone as a solo should you not have a duet partner currently, you'll be all ready to add the second harmony part once that partner comes along. Intermediate skills will be needed for the arrangements including the use of 3 finger chords, chord shape theory, picking individual strings across the fretboard in an arpeggiated fashion, and using a capo. DAd tuning (You'll have Elaine & Larry for this class!)
"Pachebel wasn’t such a 1-hit wonder after all!"
This workshop, which utilizes a partner arrangement of Canon in D, is the perfect opportunity for you to utilize and reinforce your study of chord shapes or simply learn a beautiful Baroque period song that has a harmonic progression found in numerous tunes of today. You’ll end up with an arrangement that becomes a medley of popular tunes – in almost “name that tune” fashion -- set against the greatest hit of the 1700’s. DAd tuning.
Lance Frodsham
"Roots Dulcimer" (Beginner to Intermediate)
This workshop will take tunes and songs from the roots of Appalachia. We will look at tunes that are part of the dulcimer’s roots. We will look at music from the Carter Family, Jean Ritchie and more. We will look at a couple of easy fiddle tunes as well. Building off a basic melody, we will learn how to embellish with harmonies, chords, fingering and technique.
"Celtic Melodies for Dulcimer" (Intermediate to Advanced)
If you ever wanted to know the difference between jigs, reels, airs, waltzes and polkas, this is the workshop for you. There will be at least one O’Carolan harp tune taught as well. We will learn about ornamentation, cross picking, and discuss tunings. Playing Celtic music on the mountain dulcimer is fun and very satisfying.
April 18-20, 2022 online
