Menucha Mountain Dulcimer Festival – 8th Annual

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Full Festival Costs

Registration is closed for 2017.

Community Lodging: 3/room, bathroom in hall	Program Fee $249 + Meals $132 + Lodging $146 = $527	3 Nights + 9 Meals
Semi-Private Lodging: 2/room, bathroom in room	Program Fee $249 + Meals $132 + Lodging $246 = $627	3 Nights + 9 Meals
Commuter: no lodging; lunches & dinners	Program Fee $249 + Meals $96  +  Facility Fee $100 = $445	3 Lunches, 3 Dinners

 

Dulcimersion Costs

 

Friday Concert & Lodging, Saturday Workshops	Program Fee + Meals + Lodging = $125	Friday Lodging, Dinner, Saturday Breakfast & Lunch
Saturday Workshop	Program Fee + Meals + Facility Fee = $75	Lunch

 

Cancellation Policy 

If 90+ days out, canceling a registration results in a full refund minus a $50 handling fee.

If 46-90 days out, 65% refund.

If 30-45 days out, 50% refund.

If fewer than 30 days out, there is no refund available.

Payment Plan Option 

You may choose to divide the cost across several months, depending upon how far in advance you are registering. Options will automatically appear in the online registration process. The cost is only $5 per month.

Tull Glazener

of Indianapolis, Indiana, describes his introduction to the dulcimer this way:
“Nearly twenty years ago, I was given my first mountain dulcimer as a Christmas present. I had grown up playing piano, organ, and several brass instruments all through high school and college, but I had never seen or heard of a dulcimer before. Because it only has 3 strings, and only half the frets of most stringed instruments, I dismissed it as just a toy, and not a “real instrument.” So I thanked the gift-giver profusely, put the dulcimer in a closet, and forgot about it.

Several years later, I happened upon the Central Indiana Folk Music and Mountain Dulcimer Society’s annual festival at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, and heard a couple of guest artists performing on the instrument. I was amazed at its versatility and captivated by its sound. I immediately went home and dug my mountain dulcimer out the closet, joined the organization, found a teacher to get me started, and have rarely put it down since.”

Since 1984 Tull has traveled the USA, performing and teaching at festivals and camps. He has produced four recordings and plays on Susan Trump’s CD Masters of the Dulcimer, Vol. 1. For over a decade he has performed with the Family Reunion String Band; he also performs with his good friend Jim Sperry, a marvelous guitarist and vocalist, and with Guy George and Demetrius Steinmetz. For a time, Tull was a featured writer for Dulcimer Player’s News magazine and he still recommends it to all dulcimer players!

More about Tull Glazener

Lorinda Jones

Kentucky native Lorinda Jones is the artistic director of The Heartland Dulcimer Club and Heartland Harp Ensemble, and a member of a number of performing groups including the Celtic Duo, Chattering Magpies, the Not Yet Baroque recorder consort, Perfect Fit wedding ensemble, and other special groups. In addition, she is a long-standing directory member of the Kentucky Arts Council’s Performing Arts on Tour Directory, VSArts KY, and the Kentucky Center’s Arts in Healing Program.

As a child, Lorinda took piano lessons and soon progressed to other instruments including years of classical music study on the oboe. But it is her passion for American folk music that has been a common thread in her varied pursuits for the past twenty years as a performing and recording artist, and music therapist. She has taught many, many students how to play both the mountain dulcimer and folk harp through music camps and festivals all across the nation, including the prestigious John C Campbell Folk School, Augusta Heritage Week, and many more.

At home, Lorinda teaches private and group lessons at the Music and Arts Center for Cultural Learning (MACCL), and also provides music therapy services through the center. And in her spare time, she continues to perform on oboe with the Heartland Winds and Campbellsville University and Community Orchestra!

She is the author of numerous music books as well as several CD recordings, and most recently a combination audio CD and relaxation DVD, Celtic Passages.

More about Lorinda Jones.

Janita Baker

of Blue Lion Instruments, has been playing mountain dulcimer for over 30 years. Through her recordings, books and appearances at festivals and workshops across the United States she has become well-known for her teaching skills and Blue Lion Dulcimers, which she builds with her husband Robert.

As a solo performer, Janita also presents her audiences with a wide range of musical experiences including classical, traditional, delta and country blues, ragtime, swing and original instrumental pieces. A gifted story teller, Janita delights her listeners with a warm and personal sharing of her music and introduces to her audience and her students the incredible complexity, variety and beauty of the mountain dulcimer.

More about Janita Baker.

Workshop Schedule

Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Arrive, Check-in at Creevey Commons	3:00 – 4:00 pm
Welcome, Orientation & Instructor Introductions	5:00 pm
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	5:50 pm
Community dinner	6:00 pm
Workshops	7:00 pm
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	7:50 am
Breakfast	8:00 am
Workshops	9:00-10:30 am
Free Time	10:30 am
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	11:50 am
Lunch	12:00 noon
Workshops	1:00-2:30 pm
Break	2:30 pm
Workshops	3:00-4:30 pm
Break	4:30 pm
Open Stage	4:45 pm
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	5:50 p.m.
Community dinner	6:00 pm
Instructor Performance – Lorinda Jones	7:30 pm
Organized Jams	8:30 pm
Friday, April 7, 2017
Wake up	7:15 am
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	7:50 am
Breakfast	8:00 am
Workshops	9:00-10:30 am
Free Time	10:30 am
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	11:50 am
Lunch	12:00 noon
Workshops	1:00-2:30 pm
Break	2:30 pm
Workshops	3:00-4:30 pm
Break	4:30 pm
Workshops	5:00-6:30 pm
Break	6:30 pm
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	6:50 pm
Community dinner	7:00 pm
Instructor Performance – Janita Baker opens for Tull Glazener	8:30 pm
Saturday, April 8, 2016
Wake up	7:15 a.m.
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	7:50 am
Breakfast	8:00 am
Dulcimersion Commuter Guests Check-in; Overnight Guests pack	9:00 pm
One-shot workshops	9:30-10:30 am
One-shot workshops	10:45-11:45 am
Volunteer Servers report to the Dining Hall	11:50 am
Lunch	12:00 pm
One-shot workshops	1:00-2:00 pm
Break	2:00 pm
Faculty Concert – All play: Lorinda, Lance, Janita, Tull	2:30-4:30 pm
Depart by	5:30 pm

 

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop Schedule

Lorinda Jones

Any Level

Dulcimer Duets and Round

Duets and rounds can bring out the beauty of the dulcimer when played with a harmony part.  Simple melodies sound even more beautiful when paired with another part.  Enjoy playing parts that challenge each player to listen, and fun when working together.

Beginner

Building a Music Foundation

This workshop starts with a basic melody and then builds systematically adding chords as an accompaniment, and chord melodies that can be strummed or fingerpicked. This approach will give the player a deeper understanding of how the melodies and chords work together.

Beginner/Intermediate

Embellishments That Enhance the Melody

We will explore the slide, hammer-on and pull-offs specifically applied to making your Celtic selections sound more musical.  Learn how to add variations to pipe tunes, airs, and songs.

Intermediate/Advanced

Arpeggios for the Right Hand

Expand your musicality by learning to enhance your tune with right hand fill-ins and arpeggios with both simple arrangements and advanced chords and rhythms.

DULCIMERSION SATURDAY

Saturday 1 hour Intermediate/Advanced Class:

Modes for Dummies or Demystifying the Modes

 Are you confused by the terms Ionian, Mixolydian, and Dorian? This class explains the modes in layman terms and provides traditional American song examples of each. You will no doubt experience the “ah-ha” moment in this class. Bring a capo.

Tull Glazener

Any Level

Arranging for Mt. Dulcimer

Learn how to convert standard music notation, in any key, to dulcimer-friendly chord-melody tablature.   NO PREVIOUS ABILITY TO READ MUSIC REQUIRED.   Please bring your instrument, tuned D-A-d, and a pencil WITH A GOOD ERASER.

Beginner

Beyond the Drone – Intro to Chord/Melody Style Playing

We’ll start with a review of basic chord formations, and then show how the melody line tends to “fall out” of the chords.  D-A-d tuning.

Beginner-Intermediate 

Playing in Other Keys

The dulcimer sometimes gets a “bad rap” of being limited to playing in only one key.   We’ll learn how to transpose tunes from one key to another, both with and without a capo.   D-A-d tuning, capo required.

Intermediate-Advanced 

Chord Embellishments 

Learn how to “dress up” tunes you already play by applying some standard chord substitution techniques.  D-A-d tuning.

DULCIMERSION SATURDAY

Saturday 1 hour Just-past-beginners through intermediate-advanced

Sum of the Parts 

Just-past-beginners through intermediate-advanced) – we’ll work on ensemble playing techniques, using a number of multi-part arrangements pulled from a variety of genres.  The different parts are suitable for a wide range of skill/experience levels.  D-A-d tuning.

Janita Baker 

Any Level

Techniques to Improve your Playing and Dealing with Performance Anxiety

This workshop will explore two issues that most, if not all players deal with; how to sound more musical and how to deal with “stage fright”.  The class will learn ways to listen and to recognize and fix “bad notes” using techniques that improve the sustain and flow of the performance.  We’ll also look at the physiological and psychological effects of performance anxiety and explore methods to enable players to approach performance (be it on stage or in front of your teacher, dulcimer club members or best friend) with more confidence and less trepidation.  Please bring one or two pieces of tablature you love to play but wish could sound better!

Beginner  

Introduction to Fingerpicking

This class will cover both left and right hand techniques as they apply to fingerpicking (three string) dulcimer.  We’ll start with very simple introductory songs and work up to more intricate (but not necessarily more difficult) arrangements.  Using a variety of musical styles the class will work on both pattern and melodic fingerpicking techniques.

Beginner/Intermediate

Classical Music   

Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and a host of others sound great on the dulcimer and are a nice addition to your repertoire.  This class will work on a variety of classical tunes arranged in either a fingerpicking or flatpicking style.  Come tuned D A D.

Intermediate/Advanced

Arranging for Duets and Ensembles

This class will look at some simple “rules” for adding harmonies and counter melodies to songs; this can be useful for creating solo arrangements as well as multipart/multi-voiced pieces. The class will break into small groups/pairs to work out an arrangement using these rules and their musical ear.  Bring pencils with good erasers and come tuned D A D.

Any Level

Techniques to Improve your Playing and Dealing with Performance Anxiety

This workshop will explore two issues that most, if not all players deal with; how to sound more musical and how to deal with “stage fright”.  The class will learn ways to listen and to recognize and fix “bad notes” using techniques that improve the sustain and flow of the performance.  We’ll also look at the physiological and psychological effects of performance anxiety and explore methods to enable players to approach performance (be it on stage or in front of your teacher, dulcimer club members or best friend) with more confidence and less trepidation.  Please bring one or two pieces of tablature you love to play but wish could sound better!

DULCIMERSION SATURDAY

Saturday 1 hour Int./Adv.

Exploring D G D (Reverse Ionian) 

Expand your repertoire and learn the benefits and resonance of D G D tuning.  We’ll start with easier songs and work up to more complex arrangements for both strumming and fingerpicking while becoming accustomed to the chord shapes and sounds of this tuning.  Familiarity with reverse Ionian will allow you to play in ANY KEY on your dulcimer.  Great for baritone dulcimers! 

DULCIMERSION SATURDAY ONLY:

Lance Frodsham

Beginning Dulcimer Workshop (3 hour Workshop) 

Broken up into three one-hour segments.  Based on learning styles, students will learn:

• Four different ways to learn music and which one is best for them
• How to tune the dulcimer
• How to add harmonies to a melody line
• Basic forms and shapes in order to create chords
• About different modes and musical keys

Students will be given a useful set of instructional materials including chord forms, music and other resources.

Lance is a professional educator who works for Washington’s Evergreen School District. He has worked in alternative education using music and he has written two acclaimed instructional books for Mel Bay Publications as well as several recordings. He has taught dulcimer workshops throughout the United States.

Dulcimer Player Descriptions