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chromatic mountain dulcimer
Find Somewhere Quiet
by Linda Ratcliff
It is in that quiet place at our center that we hear the whispers of our soul. - Sue Krebs
It is in that quiet place at our center that we hear the whispers of our soul. - Sue Krebs
Find somewhere quiet. This almost seems too obvious to really need to say. But it's important. Many of you probably have a special room, or your own corner of the living room for practicing your dulcimer. When you have a designated quiet place to practice, you will be less likely to cave in to distractions.
In addition, going to your special practice area helps prepare you mentally for gett…
In addition, going to your special practice area helps prepare you mentally for gett…
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…
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.
Live Concert/Workshop This Saturday
by Linda Ratcliff
“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” - Albert Einstein
(Erin holding her NEW Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer Chord Encyclopedia)
Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer Chord Workshop with Erin Mae Saturday, November 18th 8:00 am PST | 9:00 am MS…
“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” - Albert Einstein
Erin Mae Lewis, who teaches Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer Lessons on DulcimerCrosing is giving a special Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer Workshop!
Chromatic Mountain Dulcimer Chord Workshop with Erin Mae Saturday, November 18th 8:00 am PST | 9:00 am MS…
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…
Busted & Rusted
by Linda Ratcliff
Practice will clean up the rust and put the shine back in your playing. - Linda Ratcliff
Busted & Rusted
Call me old-fashioned, but I love old things with a bit of rust on them. Sometimes we wander into antique stores, and I always gravitate to the instrument section. I wonder about who owned the instruments, how they ended up in the store in such bad condition, and whether or not I could restore one of them.
Some of you may recognize the guitar below - its name is Trigger and it …
Practice will clean up the rust and put the shine back in your playing. - Linda Ratcliff
Busted & Rusted
Call me old-fashioned, but I love old things with a bit of rust on them. Sometimes we wander into antique stores, and I always gravitate to the instrument section. I wonder about who owned the instruments, how they ended up in the store in such bad condition, and whether or not I could restore one of them.
Some of you may recognize the guitar below - its name is Trigger and it …
The Finish Line
by Linda Ratcliff
Don't be so focused on the finish line that you fail to enjoy the journey. - David Weekly
The Finish Line
I started a new diet about two months ago. And so far, all I have lost is 2 months and 8 pounds. Now you may want to pat me on the back and say, "Way to go! You didn't put it on in a day, and if you take it off slowly - it will stay off. But that's discouraging for me. I want to git'er done. I want to reach the finish line, and I want to reach it TODAY.
That's not going to…
Don't be so focused on the finish line that you fail to enjoy the journey. - David Weekly
The Finish Line
I started a new diet about two months ago. And so far, all I have lost is 2 months and 8 pounds. Now you may want to pat me on the back and say, "Way to go! You didn't put it on in a day, and if you take it off slowly - it will stay off. But that's discouraging for me. I want to git'er done. I want to reach the finish line, and I want to reach it TODAY.
That's not going to…
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