Afternoon Electives

Participants will choose 1 each day. 

MONDAY ELECTIVES

• Level 1 Review & Reinforce - Carol Crocker - Beginners on the mountain dulcimer will simply stay with their morning instructor for the remainder of the week in order to not get confused with a variety of instructors. We want you to learn comfortably and not be overwhelmed!
• Intro to the Banjammer with Mike Clemmer - All levels (repeats on Wed)
• Put These in Your Pipe ‘n Smoke ‘Em! - Level 2 - Melanie Johnston - Hornpipes are a particular form of music with a special type of rhythm and they are lots of fun to play. We will talk a little about the history of hornpipes and play several!
• Jean Ritchie: In Song and Story - Level 2 - Laurie Alsobrook - Inspired by Jean Ritchie’s book “Singing Family of the Cumberlands” this workshop offers recollections that transport us to another era. Consider these songs front porch favorites as you imagine a family gathering at the end of the day. Several tunings will be presented including DAD, DAA, and DAC.
• Bluesy, Boogie Duets for Standard and Bass - Level 3+ - Butch Ross & Elaine Conger - In this class, Butch Ross will take some ol’ dulcimer chestnuts (that you might even be gettin’ a little tired of) and turn them into fun, swingin' and bluesy versions of the songs you all know and love. Elaine Conger will show you a slick bass line to go with it and THEN we’ll play the tune altogether. The techniques utilized in the arrangements presented will be emphasized during each day of this 4-day elective culminating in a class participant performance at the Closing Session of Dulcimer U 2025.  Participants should bring both instruments to class (if they have them) so both parts can be taught to all attending. (1+ fret required)
• Key West Crab Walk – Level 3 - Linda Smith - It’s an exercise, a warm-up piece, a performance piece and can even be an ensemble piece—an example of playing the same tune with different fingering systems. We will use a syncopated version of the tune and explore more than one method of fingering. Variations include hammer ons and pull offs.
• Tunes that Should Be Played More! Level 3 - Jeff Furman - There are some wonderful tunes that we just don’t play very much in the dulcimer world. Well, this has to stop!  The goal of this repertoire workshop is to give you some exposure to tunes that could and should be played more on the dulcimer! Of course, we will emphasize some techniques to help you express how you feel about the tunes. PLEASE BRING A CAPO!
• Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab - Level 3 and up - Deby Libby along with Jim & Cheri Miller - Need more practice playing your bass dulcimer with a group? Then don’t pick an elective: just come and practice being the bass player each afternoon! This will be a great time to bring your bass questions and receive additional coaching in a relaxed environment. For example, “Will a walk-up work here?” “How about a turn around?” “Oops!  Maybe sticking to straight alternating bass is best on this one.” The goal is for you to not leave Dulcimer U 2025 without knowing what to do on your bass dulcimer in a jam session!
• How to Get Started with Four-Equidistant Strings…and Why? Level 3+ - Mark Tindle - Are you new to the idea of four-equidistant strings and not sure where to start? Have you considered it, but felt it too intimidating or complicated? In this class you will be introduced to the simplest approach to four-equidistant strings. You will soon discover how to unlock many ways of playing smoother and more expressively…and it’s easier than you might think! Fresh arrangements of several familiar tunes will help you to explore techniques like fuller sounding four-note chords, resonant open strings, smooth harp runs, and creative crosspicking. All material will be in the 1-5-8-8 tuning of D-A-d-d.
• Embellishing a Basic Arrangement - Level 4-5 - Larry Conger – We will take several basic arrangements and learn to make them more musical by adding hammers, pulls, slides, bends, mutes, harmonics, turns, grace notes, brushes, key changes, dynamics and ritards. These tricks can be applied to almost any tune you may already play and, in the process, take your music to the next level. A 1+ fret is optional but not required to take this class.

 

TUESDAY ELECTIVES

• Level 1 Review & Reinforce - Carol Crocker - continued; see Monday description
• Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab - Level 3+ - Deby Libby along with Jim & Cheri Miller - continued; see Monday description
• Bluesy, Boogie Duets for Standard and Bass - Level 3+ - Butch Ross & Elaine Conger - continued; see Monday description
• Capo Capers - Level 2 - Melanie Johnston - The short story is that using a capo allows us to play in other keys while still tuned in DAD. In this class we will play tunes in 3 different keys and also learn how to cope when you are in a multi-instrument jam session and the group wants to play in A or G and you only know the tune in D.
• ..your choice! Level 2+ - Laurie Alsobrook - What can we do with the tune “Whiskey Before Breakfast?”  Plenty!  We’ll start with the tune in its usual form and then start to play with it.  Imagine it as an Irish air, as a waltz, and in a minor key.  Let’s have fun!
• Twisted Fiddle Tunes – Level 3 - Linda Smith - Change those fiddle tunes you know into something different!  Familiar fiddle tunes become “new” tunes by changing them to Em tunes. Capo needed for class.
• Waltzing With Your Dulcimer - Level 3 - Jeff Furman - This repertoire workshop will help you get the proper “feel and flow” when playing some lovely waltzes. Not all tunes in ¾ should sound the same!  We will focus on emphasizing the first beat of each measure to put the proper “lilt” to these beautiful melodies, and we’ll work on some techniques to achieve the smoothness and flow of these tunes.  PLEASE BRING A CAPO!
• Four-Equidistant Strings Deeper Dive - Level 4+ - Mark Tindle - Already familiar with four-equidistant strings, but looking for that next level of inspiration? In this class we will dive deeper into some of the fun ways four-equidistant strings can be so creative and expressive. Several intermediate to advanced level arrangements of familiar tunes will help you to expand your musicality and finesse with more intricate four-note chords, three and four note harp runs, smooth arpeggio chords, and more advanced crosspicking techniques. All material will be in the 1-5-8-8 tuning of D-A-d-d and a couple of tunes will require a 1-1/2 fret.
• Hymns In Three Keys - Level 4-5 - Larry Conger – This class will present two familiar hymn tunes, “At the Cross” and “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” arranged in three different keys – the key of D, key of G, and key of A. You will learn how to effectively transition from one key to another and use barre chords as a “moveable capo.” A great addition to your worship repertoire.

 

WEDNESDAY ELECTIVES

• Level 1 Review & Reinforce - Carol Crocker - continued; see Monday description
• Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab - Level 3+ - Deby Libby along with Jim & Cheri Miller - continued; see Monday description
• Bluesy, Boogie Duets for Standard and Bass - Level 3+ - Butch Ross & Elaine Conger - continued; see Monday description
• Intro to the Banjammer with Mike Clemmer - all levels (repeat from Monday)
• “forScore” for ipad - all levels - Melanie Johnston - Are you carrying around truckloads of notebooks and tab books of your dulcimer music? forScore is a popular and powerful sheet music app for ipad users. In this class you will learn how to get your music into forScore, and how to annotate and organize it. If you have an ipad, you can load it with the forScore app (about $19) and practice with it “hands on” in class. If you don’t have an ipad or if you have an android tablet, come learn what this (and similar apps for android) can do!
• O'Carolan...Oh.So.Easy – Level 2+ - Laurie Alsobrook - Love the lyrical tunes of the famed Irish Harpist? Approachable versions will be presented so that the advancing beginner can enjoy playing these beautiful tunes.
• Anchors Away! – Level 2 - Linda Smith - Ever wonder why more experienced players seem to play so effortlessly? Learn how to use the technique of anchoring to smooth out your playing. We will cover some 2 and 3 finger exercises and then apply them to simple tunes.
• You Paid for the Whole Dulcimer, You Might As Well Use It! - Level 4 - Jeff Furman At this level, we know you can play. This repertoire workshop is designed to improve your comfort and skill at playing above the 7th fret! We will play some great tunes and focus on fingering and chord variation to help to add accuracy, smoothness, comfort, and efficiency when playing further up your fretboard. PLEASE BRING A CAPO!
• Simple Theory for the Mountain Dulcimer (and why you should care) - Level 3+ - Mark Tindle - Ever been in a “jam” and felt lost with no tab? Ever tried to learn a new tune from just a lead sheet? Ever wanted to learn a tune by ear? Ever wanted to transpose a tune to a different key, or adapt a D-A-d tab to a baritone? If “yes” to any of these, then this class is for you. While absorbing the fundamentals of musical harmony (aka music theory) as it relates to the dulcimer, you will learn a great deal about how to play by ear. A piano keyboard will be used extensively to more clearly illustrate these principles, but be sure to bring your dulcimer so you can apply them.
• Dulcimer Blues - Level 4-5 - Larry Conger – Spend this workshop learning two great old blues songs – “C.C. Rider” is a traditional 12 bar blues tune and “Midnight Special” has more of a country blues feel.  Both songs will make use of a shuffling blues rhythm and use the 1+ fret extensively (no workaround).  Along the way, the art of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and muted strings will be addressed in an effort to add some zing to the arrangements. DAD tuning.

 

THURSDAY ELECTIVES

• Level 1 Review & Reinforce - Carol Crocker - continued; see Monday description
• Just the Bass-ics: Alternating Bass Lab - Level 3+ - Deby Libby along with Jim & Cheri Miller - continued; see Monday description
• Bluesy, Boogie Duets for Standard and Bass - Level 3+ - Butch Ross & Elaine Conger - continued; see Monday description
• Got Parts? – Level 2 - Linda Smith - It’s always fun to play with other people and melody and harmony parts are fun to do together to make simple tunes really stand out. Tunes include “Shall We Gather at the River”, “Farther Along” and “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”  
• Improving Your Right Hand - Level 2 - Jeff Furman - This workshop will focus on improving your comfort and skill with your right hand. We will explore techniques to give you more confidence with your right hand, including: 1. Smooth and accurate strumming 2. Improving your comfort by applying rhythm variations to your strum  Improving your comfort and accuracy with flatpicking. 4. Practicing combining strumming and flatpicking to add more texture, depth, and fun to your playing.  We will use exercises to help you understand how to improve your right hand and apply this skill to some fun tunes!  This class will be in DAd tuning.
• Waltz with Me & Jay! Level 3 - Melanie Johnston - In addition to the well-known, Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar and his wife, Molly Mason have written hundreds of beautiful tunes. In this class we will work through 3 of their beautiful waltzes. These will be new i.e. not included in my dulcimer tab book, 22 Selections from Jay Ungar & Molly Mason’s book Catskill Mountain Waltzes and Airs.”
• A+ Tunes! – Level 3 - Laurie Alsobrook - As fiddle tunes go, “Sandy Boys,” “Cold Frosty Morning,” “Booth Shot Lincoln,” and “June Apple” are not just tunes in the key of A, but they earn an A+ score for being so much fun to play! You may already know these in the key of D - try them with your capo at the 4th fret and discover that you’ll want to play everything there.
• Hymns and Choruses for Standard and Baritone Dulcimers - Level 3-4 - Mark Tindle - The church has long provided a rich history of great music, which continues to this day. While tabs of traditional hymns are plentiful, there’s not much available of more recently written worship songs, many of which “fit” the dulcimer very well. In this class we will explore one traditional hymn and one modern worship chorus, and apply them to both the standard (D-A-d) and baritone (A-E-a) dulcimers. Tips on how to adapt lead sheets, how to use the mountain dulcimer in a worship leading role, and how to grow a repertoire of dulcimer friendly hymns and choruses will also be presented.
• The Music of J.S. Bach - Level 4-5 - Larry Conger – During this class, two Bach pieces will be presented – “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and “Siciliana.” One will be in the key Em and the other in D. You will need a capo. There will be plenty of hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides to challenge your skills as well as numerous three finger chords. Expression and dynamics will be discussed.