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hammered dulcimer
You Need New Input!
by Linda Ratcliff
You don't have to wait for inspiration to hit. It's easier to be inspired when you're hanging out with other musicians and playing along with them. - Linda Ratcliff
You don't have to wait for inspiration to hit. It's easier to be inspired when you're hanging out with other musicians and playing along with them. - Linda Ratcliff
We go to Nashville a couple of times a year, and one of our favorite things to do in Nashville is to visit the Bluebird Cafe. We've stood outside under their blue canopy in the rain for as long as two hours, waiting without a reservation, hoping to get inside.
Over 70,000 people visit the Bluebird annually, man…
Live Event! Karen Alley
Karen Alley, 2014 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion, has been on the faculty of the Colorado Dulcimer Festival for years and shared one of her Habits for a Healthy Music Habitat with premium subscribers of DulcimerCrossing.com. This Sunday, December 3rd, she will play a live, interactive ConcertWindow Show for DulcimerCrossing Subscribers! [If you are not familiar with ConcertWindow, this is an internet platform that allows performers and watcher/listeners to connect with each other from the c…
My Musical Journey
by Linda Ratcliff
You can tell a lot about my moods from my music. So instead of asking how I'm doing, ask what songs I've been practicing lately.
You can tell a lot about my moods from my music. So instead of asking how I'm doing, ask what songs I've been practicing lately.
Music has always been an integral part of my life. My grandmother was a concert pianist, and traveled all over Europe giving concerts. She was even invited to play for kings and queens at their castles. And so I was told, from an early age, that music was in my blood, and I was going to be a musician too when I grew up.
Until I was 12 years old, I was …
Until I was 12 years old, I was …
How to Practice Smarter, Not Longer
Seek to accomplish more in less time - and have fun doing it.
- Linda Ratcliff
We’ve all heard the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” Actually, I’ve been trying to do that all my life - succeeding and making good money with some ideas and losing money in others. But I have never given up. I keep on trying to think up new ways to work smarter.
Could we apply this mantra to our music. Most of us don’t need to practice harder - we are already practicing hard enough. But are we making any progres…
We’ve all heard the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” Actually, I’ve been trying to do that all my life - succeeding and making good money with some ideas and losing money in others. But I have never given up. I keep on trying to think up new ways to work smarter.
Su La Li-New Hammered Dulcimer Lesson
by Linda Ratcliff
Are you tired of practicing the same old tunes? Try a new tune. Learning fuels creativity, refines skills, and is satisfying when you finally "get it." - Linda Ratcliff
We have a new lesson for our hammered dulcimer students called Su La Li. This lullaby is taught by Steve Eulberg, and was composed by Bonnie Light for Music Together, an internationally recognized music program for children from birth through age 7.
This is a classic example of a “song without words.” S…
Barlow Knife (New Lesson)
By Linda Ratcliff
The Barlow knife design dates back 400 years, and is a type of folding pocket knife that features double or single blades that open at one end only. The knife-style bears the name of a man named Barlow of Sheffield, England, one of the earliest and most famous makers. This knife has been in the back pocket of Americans since the beginning, and its dependable design and minimalistic features make it a classic to own. Fifty years ago, you could buy one for $2.00, but they cost q…
Quirky Preferences
by Linda Ratcliff
I'm not weird . . . I'm a limited edition musician!
When you finally pack your new dulcimer in the bag, load it in the car, and find your way to your first jam session, you're going to find out that not everyone plays the same way you do. As a matter of fact, some musicians' styles aren't even going to sound good to you. And if you're going to a jam or workshop to learn, not everything you see and hear is going to make sense to you.
My style is to play slower tunes with a flowing …
I'm not weird . . . I'm a limited edition musician!
When you finally pack your new dulcimer in the bag, load it in the car, and find your way to your first jam session, you're going to find out that not everyone plays the same way you do. As a matter of fact, some musicians' styles aren't even going to sound good to you. And if you're going to a jam or workshop to learn, not everything you see and hear is going to make sense to you.
My style is to play slower tunes with a flowing …
The Perfect Wrong Note
by Linda Ratcliff
If you ever strum the wrong note, or strike the wrong string with your hammers ... just tell them you were playing the jazz version. - Linda Ratcliff
The Perfect Wrong Note
If you ever strum the wrong note, or strike the wrong string with your hammers ... just tell them you were playing the jazz version. - Linda Ratcliff
The Perfect Wrong Note
My 16-year-old grandson plays the saxophone in his band at school, and he was telling me about trying out last week for the school jazz band. All the kids waiting for their turn were troubled by one note in the arrangement - an Eb. They thought if they could just play that note 1/2 step higher, it would sou…
When I am frustrated with my progress, (or lack of it)....
...This quote from Judy Klinkhammer comes to mind:
"What a curse it is, that the only thing you ever do is exactly what you choose to do."
- Judy Klinkhammer
Judy was an amazing fixture in the community of Mountain View, Arkansas, bringing and treasuring the mountain dulcimer in this northeast corner of the Ozark mountains. She loved equipping absolute beginners AND singing harmony. She was an indefatigable encourager, but as her wisdom shows, she knew that the impetus for playing must always c…
Stop Stopping
by Linda Ratcliff
To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable. - Aaron Copeland
How to Stop Stopping
To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable. - Aaron Copeland
How to Stop Stopping
I think the main reason people don’t get what they want in life is because they give up too soon. You may have given up on something before, but let’s just apply this to your dulcimer playing..
- You didn’t understand what those tabs meant - so you gave up.
- You can’t figure out how to tune your dulcimer - so you gave up.
- Your hammered dulcim…
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