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Notes-a-la-Mode
Notes for Dulcimer Folks
Winter (January 2008) Keith Young, editor, 3815 Kendale Rd. Annandale, VA 22003
Tel: 703-941-1071, email: keith@AppalachianDulcimers.com
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Winter is a good time for me to try to catch up on my dulcimer building and reduce my backlog. It hasn't quite happened that way. Oh yes I have been building dulcimers but the backlog is still about 3-4 months. Part of the reason is my web site that stirs up a lot of business. I must thank my web master, Matt Lindenfelser, for much of the success of the web site. Together we dream up little surprises that make the web site interesting. Limberjacks have been a big item world wide. Click here to see part of the reason.
Big things are happening in the Mill Run Dulcimer Band. We have a new member, David Caouette. Perhaps some of you know him from the music shop Stringfellows that he used to run in Accotink, VA. He plays the guitar in the style of Norman Blake and does a pretty good job of it. He is trying to learn many of the songs we already do and he is bringing new tunes and flavor to our "wall of sound". Keith will be playing autoharp much more than in the past while Dave plays guitar. We are all having a good time learning new tunes. The ladies are picking out some nice songs with trio harmonies. We are excited about our new configuration and hope to see you at our first concert in the spring at Colvin Run Mill the third Sunday in March (March 16, 2-4 p.m.). We will also be playing at Colvin Run Mill the third Sunday in April and May. In June we will be playing there the 4th Sunday (June 22). We are also thinking about a Mill Run Dulcimer Band Reunion concert in the fall. It will be our 31st anniversary.
The semi-annual group lessons in Mountain Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer and Guitar will begin April 7, 2008 at Friendship United Methodist Church, 3525 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA. Seven weekly sessions on Monday evenings for $75. Look over the classes to see what is available: classes or click here to register for a class. If you want to talk it over, call Keith at 703-941-1071.
Map of
3527 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042-3527
Come join the Dulcimer Disorganization of Greater Washington's Memorial Day musical weekend from May 23-26 in Cedarville State Forest, Brandywine, MD. It is a campout for musicians and music lovers.
Just a word about the Dulcimer Disorganization of Greater Washington. We just call it that. We have no president, no treasurer (no dues), no secretary (no meetings, no minutes). We just get along like good friends and neighbors and whenever something needs doing someone always steps forward and gets the help to do it. A long time ago (mid 1970's) we started camping out over the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends to play music. That tradition still holds today.
Newcomers are welcome, and encouraged to bring your acoustic musical instruments, and join in playing music with others. You can come for a day or camp out over the weekend. We have a special camping loop all by ourselves so we can play all night if we want to without bothering anybody else. It is a low key event with few strictly scheduled events or workshops but where there is a need or an interest, one seems to develop. Meals are usually pot luck so bring food to share. Bring a good chair, one you can move around easily, as we tend to move around to campsites at times, however, we also try to do as much as possible at the 'common' ground, so we can all play together. The nights can get a little cool, even in 'hot' weather, so a sweatshirt or jacket is needed, even around the fire-ring. Also, we 'tend to have rain, though last several campouts have been almost rain free. We will have large canopies at the common site, but you may want to bring rain gear.
Saturday evening after a potluck supper we will have an "open stage" where you can play a few tunes by yourself or with your buddies. Then everybody can jam together all night or until you give out. Sunday morning after breakfast is a Gospel sing where everyone is encouraged to play and sing along. There is plenty of time for jamming and learning new tunes, meeting new friends and enjoying the outdoors.
So find us in the Special Events loop of the Cedarville State Forest Park. The park is 13 miles south of the Capital Beltway on MD route 5 (just north of Waldorf Maryland). Turn east on Cedarville Road, (next to 7-11 gas station, and opposite WAWA) for about 2 miles then right on Bee Oak Road into the Cedarville State Forest. Go past the ranger station, on to the next stop sign, continue on straight to the Special Events loop on the right. A sign there with musical notes points to the right. Follow that around the loop to the second rest-room building.
You will find us in the "common ground" below the second restroom in an open area. There are no electrical hookups in this loop, but nice camp sites with fire rings and tables. The rest-room building has hot showers, good water, and a refrigerator for our use. There will be a collection to help us defray the site use fee for the weekend. 'Day' people can either pay Wanda Gardner, or pay at the ranger gate (paying Wanda is easier). Check in with Wanda as she has to make a report to the the park administrators about numbers of day/overnighters, and how many, and how long. Click here to get a map
Keith Young will be teaching students how to make mountain dulcimers the forth week of Augusta. On left, Last year's students busy in the shop. On right, Keith Young, Jodi Cochran, Marilyn Byington, Fran Molengo, Adrian Dodson, Jeff Klahn, and Craig Sease.
Augusta Heritage Workshops at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV.
E-mail Keith Young: keith@appalachiandulcimers.com
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