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Finished or Not Finished? That is the Question.
I recently read this quote by artist Arshile Gorky, an Armenian-American abstract expressionist painter (1904-1948). "I never finish a painting – I just stop working on it for a while. … I like painting because it's something I never come to the end of. Sometimes I paint a picture, then I paint it all out. Sometimes I'm working on fifteen or twenty pictures at the same time. I do that because I want to – because I like to change my mind so often.”
This quote resonated in my heart because that’…
Backing Track Library in it's new home!
Backing Tracks Library in its new home!
by Steve Eulberg
As another step in the transition from our Legacy Site to our new Platform, Steve has gotten all of the Backing Tracks Library moved and set up for use by ALL members of the site.
The organization of the Library is very similar to what it has been and can be found at the menu at the top of the page when you are logged into the site and can be sorted the way it always has been:
You may notice that the actual number of tracks that app…
Bloom Where You Are Planted
Bloom Where You Are Planted
I saw this lovely flower in the parking lot of a motel in Mackinaw City this summer. All around the plant, there was nothing but asphalt and concrete. The sun was beating down and it was hot. But the plant was standing up proud and beautiful, blooming right where it sprouted up between the sidewalk and our parking space.
I shot this photo because it reminded me of some of our Dulcimer Crossing members. A few are the only dulcimer player in their entire town. They …
Lessons Learned from Sandcastles
 (No sandcastles were harmed in the shooting of these photos.) We live just 1 hour from South Padre Island, and we go there to enjoy a meal with a view of the water at least once a month. While we're on the island, we usually take the time to look for sandcastles. I’m always blown away by the artistry and detail in them, and they can be found all over the island. We… |
Wendy Songe Workshop: New Beginnings
Wendy Songe, who has had to learn a LOT of new things in the past year, will share with us the treasures from her learning on Thurs, Oct 23rd at 5 pm MDT (=4 pm PDT, 6 pm CDT, 7 pm EDT).
There are three ways you can join us for this exciting event!
1. This workshop is a benefit for Workshop and Mentor level members of the DulcimerCrossing.
On the day of the workshop, simply log in and choose Upcoming Events from the Live Events Menu at the top of the page
and choose Wendy's workshop
a…
The Blessings of Music
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“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination and life to everything.” - Plato The Blessings of Music  I’ve been around music all my life, for as long as I can remember. In fact, I don’t think there’s ever been a time when I didn’t have a tune in my head or a piece of music (or instrument) in my hands. Music runs in our family. My grandmother was a concert pianist and traveled all over Europe – even playing for the queen of England. We always had a pia… |
New Years Resolutions for Dulcimerists
A New Year is like a blank book, and your dulcimer is in your hands.
It is your chance to write a beautiful story for yourself.
By Linda Ratcliff
New Year's Resolutions for Dulcimerists
The New Year is coming up in just a few days, and now is the perfect time to make some musical resolutions! As usual, I've made a list of resolutions that are fun, and they will support any practical music goals you’ve set for yourself.
- Establish a regular practice time. It's not as easy as it sounds to ge…
Training Your Auto-Pilot
Don't practice until you get it right! Practice until your auto-pilot takes over and you can't get it wrong. - Linda Ratcliff
Once we were ALL beginners. And do you remember when you went to a jam session for the very first time? You might have purchased a brand new dulcimer, or maybe you were given a hand-me-down that you cleaned up and polished. Maybe you had a teacher that guided you through some basics and…
Make a Goal
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines. - Unknown
Make a Goal List in Your Journal ... Every Week
Map Out Your Practice like a Workout
Map out your practice session out like a workout. When athletes are getting ready to go for a run, they usually warm up first with some stretches to loosen their muscles. Then they walk for 3-5 minutes, gradually working up to a brisk walk, then jogging, and finally breaking out into a full-steam-ahead run. As they end their run and the workout, most athletes cool down by walking briskly at first and then slower, and finally ending with a few more stretches.
For musicians, a pret…
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