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ABOUT THE CLASSES...

At Heritage Dulcimer Camp, we divide the day into morning and afternoon sessions and offer additional mini-seminars in the afternoon. The instructors have provided a summary of their curriculum to help you choose the best class for your interest and ability.

[Information will be posted as it comes in; if your class is not yet listed, be patient!]

MORNING SESSIONS: 9:00 TO 11:30 pm

HAMMERED DULCIMER

Peggy Carter, Intermediate

Learn: Three triangles on the treble bridge to practice hammering techniques,
build musicianship, and harmonize a melody. Guaranteed success even with no
musical background. Sharpen left hand skill and learn the secret of playing jigs & reels
in an unusual setting, "The Nest Egg Reel." Compose phrases to fill in the dead space
in "Bonapart's Retreat" and "British Grenadiers" by deleting the dead notes and
insert a hammering rhythm or quick phrase.

Play and Embellish Bonnie Prince Charlie: A beautiful Scottish lament in
e minor with open harmonies and simple ornaments. Use "diamond" shape
chords and "triangle" chords to create intros and endings and to embellish a
lovely Celtic hymn; "Lladaw" a Welsh hymn, and if there's time, "St Denis" from
Ireland. Play Amazing Grace: With an Amazing Countermelody and learn
Lord, You Are Everything: A new song with "Ragamuffin-Style" HD accompaniment

Linda Thomas, Advanced

Open to both "readers" and "by ear" players, this class is designed to offer repertoire of different genres
(Fiddle Tunes, Contemporary, Celtic, Hymns, etc.) while developing skills in technique and interpretation
(embellishments, rhythms, hand separation, etc.)

A common focus throughout will be the role of hammered dulcimer as back-up instrument -
accompaniments and playing in an ensemble. Time will be allotted for individualized instruction
and group participation.

Class designed to take your playing to the next level!!

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MOUNTAIN DULCIMER

Susan Trump, Novice - Intermediate

We'll start with chord shapes and left hand fingerings which will help make your music flow smoothly. We'll develop a good understanding of using hammer-ons and pull-offs. Right hand skills will include flat picking, interesting strum patterns and picking broken chords to enhance and vary melodies. We'll learn some chord theory and try our hand at arranging. Repertoire will be varied to include waltzes, hymns, fiddle tunes, Stephen Foster tunes, and some from the British Isles. The emphasis will be on the “fun factor” while we learn skills to help you get more enjoyment from your instrument.

Linda Brockinton, Advanced

The focus of this class is to help you progress in the area of doing your own arrangements. When you reach the advanced level it is easy to become board playing other peoples arrangements. Tho you become proficient playing others tab there are things you need to know to be able to advance on your own. This class is for either strummers or fingerpickers as most of this class will involve left hand work, tho we will address some details of the right hand in both styles . Through arranging some songs we will incorporate the following: chord theory and shapes, smooth playing, playing with feeling, fingerings and efficiency getting around on the fretboard, playing across the strings for smooth transitions, playing in different places on the fretboard, and harmonies, timing and style. At the advanced level it is the attention to small details that can really improve your playing. Hope to see you there

AFTERNOON SESSIONS 1:30 TO 2:30 pm
The instructors will offer material in a wide range of playing styles during the week. These classes offer students exposure to topics not necessarily covered in the morning classes, and allow participants to take classes from other teachers. Each instructor will teach the skill level they are not teaching in the morning class.

HAMMERED DULCIMER

Peggy Carter, Advanced

Mon. & Tues. "Christmas In July" - Two Christmas songs you probably never heard, "At The Hour Of Midnight" and "Candles In The Window"

Thurs. - "Lets Play in F" and learn "Wonderful World"

Linda Thomas, Intermediate

Open to both "readers" and "by ear" players, this class will be on-going in content; the focus will be "Development of an Arrangement" while exploring melody, embellishments, accompaniment, voicing, dynamics, interpretation.

MOUNTAIN DULCIMER

Susan Trump, Advanced

Just Play It? Yes You Can- AND you can play well with others! (This may turn into a two- part workshop)
Using your ear, and some basic chord knowledge, we'll learn to play a familiar tune WITHOUT the tab, (but with plenty of guidance) then we'll do some playing together. There's a method, and it works! Skills will be taught and you'll be thrilled to be able to play tunes for which you can't find the tab! All this made fun and easy! DAD tuning

Beginnings, Endings and In-betweens
Let's spruce up your arrangements by learning to add interesting introductions, interludes and endings to your tunes and songs. We'll learn some techniques including how to use rhythmic and melodic variations.
DAD tuning

Learning Chords in Different Tunings-(great for singing in different keys)
We'll understand the I, IV, and V chords and then explore them in DGD, and EAA using simple chord progressions and a few tunes. We'll also use the capo in various tunings to learn about how they enable us to play in different keys.

Linda Brockinton, Novice - Intermediate

Afternoon Class 1
Beg-Int fingerpicking. Techniques and hints for those who would like to pursue more fingerpicking. Chord shapes, right hand technique and fingerings.

Afternoon Class 2
Gospel Hymns We All Love
Several hymns we love but don’t see much such as Whispering Hope and Old Rugged Cross
These are situated in the middle of the fretboard so they aren’t played much.

Afternoon Class 3
Dulcimer Celtic Duets
Two part music is becoming more and more popular as it enables us to enjoy playing when only 2 or 3 can get together instead of waiting all month for a club meeting. Each piece I present will have a basic part, an intermediate part and a harmony part.

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MINI SEMINARS 2:45 to 3:45 pm

Peggy Carter

• UKELELE - old time songs to sing with the ukelele
• STRINGS & THINGS - folk "orchestra" arrangements for dulcimers, fiddles, guitars, flutes and other things

Linda Thomas

• RHYTHM KEYBOARD - Explore chords and rhythms for playing solid back-up in an ensemble or as an accompanist; a variety of styles will be covered and handouts will be provided.
• SLOW JAM - ALL INSTRUMENTS
  Bring your instruments - ANY instruments - and play tunes for the fun of playing!!! Handouts will provide basic melody and chords for a variety of styles -- This one's for fun and the love of music!
  
  
  

Susan Trump

• Songs and History of Appalachia- (all MD levels)
  The people who developed this instrument used it to play and accompany the rich style of music they brought with them from their Scottish/British homeland, which was handed down for generations. We'll learn about the famous collectors, Cecil Sharp, Olive Dame Campbell, Frances Child, listen to field recordings and British versions of the songs and then compare how the songs changed, and learn the American “descendants” of the ancient, traditional songs that are so beautiful and fit so perfectly on the dulcimer. DAA, DAD, DAC... plus a capo.
  
  
• Writing Grandparent/Life Story “Remember When” Ballads (for everyone)
  Remember some of your favorite family stories, silly things that happened when you were young? Want to share these with grandkids, nieces or nephews? We'll spend time sharing these experiences and then set them to simple folk tunes to create verses for a class “Remember When” ballad.

Linda Brockington

• The Life and Times of O’Carolan
  Who was he , what did he do. He wrote some of the most beautiful Irish Harp music and it transfers over very nicely to the dulcimer. Irish harps had brass strings and are also played in a simple scale like the dulcimer. The sound is much the same and the tunes are beautiful. We will learn a piece and discuss his life and listen to some tunes.
  
  
• Music Therapy
  Discussing the results of many studies about how music effects us all. Music is such a healing art and can be used for many different types of healing. Very relaxing class.