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hammered dulcimer

Why Tune?

You picked up your dulcimer to run through a couple of tunes. There’s no one else listening. No one will care if your instrument is slightly out of tune. And you only have a few minutes to practice. Why bother to tune for that?  This thought came to my mind a few weeks back. I had about 15 minutes of free time before I had to leave, and I wanted to start reviewing my patriotic repertoire – getting ready for impromptu performances for Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. America the Beautiful…

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New Feature: Sample Lessons

NEW FEATURE: Sample Lessons

SampleLessons

We've added a new feature on our DulcimerCrossing.com website:  Sample Lessons by several of our instructors for each of the instruments for which we teach Courses.

Click here to Sample them!

Mountain Dulcimer:

These are sample mountain dulcimer lessons from DulcimerCrossing's curriculum, one from each level we teach:

Absolute Beginning-Level 1-Steve Eulberg

Beyond Beginning-Level 2-Butch Ross

Intermediate-Level 3-Neal Hellman

Advanced-Level 4-Nina Zanetti

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Don't Stress. Distress!

Distressed furniture

You know how people pay more money to buy furniture that's been roughed up a little? What do they call it? Things that have been distressed. That's because something that's seen a little wear is just more interesting than something brand-new that hasn't ever had a scuff on it.” (Joe Hill)

I read this quote the other day, and it resonated in my heart because I sell mobile homes as part of my employment, and I have found there are folks who even like their kitchen cabinets to have that distres…

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DulcimerCrossing Teachers at the QuaranTUNE Festival 5.0 in October

QTGraphicNoWords

DulcimerCrossing.com is proud, once again, to be a Gold Sponsor for the 5th QuaranTUNE Dulcimer Festival which happens online October 7-10th this year.

We have a long history of providing sponsorship and scholarship support to festivals across the country because we know that there is no substitute for in-person learning.

We are also excited that several of our teachers are providing workshops for this festival!

Erin Mae Lewis

Butch Ross

Don Pedi

Nina Zanetti

Karen Mueller

DJ Hamouris

L…

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Leap Forward with Matthew Dickerson today!



National Hammered Dulcimer Champion and DulcimerCrossing instructor, Matthew Dickerson, will share his knowledge and experience in our March Leap Forward in Your Musical Understanding Live Event for Premium Members today.



Log in with your Premium Membership to access this lesson today:



4 pm PDT | 5 pm MDT | 6 pm CDT | 7 pm EDT



That Membership also lets you view the Archive Videos of the previous lessons:



Circle of 5ths/Ionian Mode Week 1





Dorian Mode Week 2





Aeolian Mode Week 3





M…

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Leap Forward Week 3

Performance Tasks/Learning Objectives from this lesson:





1. Find an E Aeolian Scale (Natural/Pure Minor) on your instrument 



2. Use that knowledge to Play God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen or Wayfaring Stranger



3. Name the notes that the student used to play this scale



4. Define the Aeolian scale 



5. For Mountain Dulcimer: What do I have and what Drones do I need?



A. If I use a Capo how do I tune and where do I start?



B. How can I re-tune and play Aeolian in some different Keycenters?



Aeoli…

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New Theory Quiz

Following our first two Live Music Theory classes for Premium Members of DulcimerCrossing.com, Erin Mae and I have a new Quiz, this time comparing the Ionian and Dorian Modes.



Click here to try it out and test your understanding!



Later today [4 pm PST = 5 pm MST = 6 pm CST = 7 pm EST] is the 3rd lesson, this one focusing on the Aeolian Mode.



Premium Members have access on the Live events page at DulcimerCrossing.com.



(Be certain that you have logged in and the background is blue and th…

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Leap Forward Week 2 Homework

Here is the Handout for this week's Class.



Student Assessment Lesson 2 Leap Forward in Your Music Understanding



Homework



1. Compare what we did in Dorian of E to Dorian of D



2. Look through your music and see if you can identify what key the songs are and whether or not they are in the Dorian (Mountain Minor) Mode.



3. Play Along with the Backing Tracks Library on DulcimerCrossing (listed above). 



4. Report back with questions, insights, “aha” experiences in the comment section of the Ho…

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Leap Forward Week 2



In this week's lesson we'll look at the DORIAN (mountain minor) MODE.



Thursday, Jan 16th 4-5 pm PST = 5-6 MST = 6-7 CST = 7-8 EST



Premium Members of Dulcimercrossing.com can access this lesson by logging in and clicking on the link at the LIVE EVENTS SCHEDULE and clicking on the Zoom meeting link.



If you missed the first session which was available to both Premium and Basic Members, you can click on the WATCH the VIDEO ARCHIVE link on your respective LIVE EVENTS Pages when logged in to the…

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Leap Forward Music Theory Homework Session 1

Here is the Handout for today's lesson and the Homework.



Here is the SELF-ASSESSMENT for today's lesson and the Homework.



HOMEWORK (reminder)



1. Find another key, explore it, and explain to someone what you discover



2. Look through your music and see if you can identify what key the songs and whether or not it is in the Ionian (Major Scale) Mode. (Eye)



3. Listen to the Backing Tracks Library on DulcimerCrossing and see if you can identify what key the tunes are and whether or not they are …

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