The Log School

I treasure having the time during this week in Gallia County to visit some of my early 19th-century family members, who were buried at Centenary, and to see historical collections in the county.

Even more, it's fun to have members of the Banks of the Ohio Dulcimer Club (Gallipolis) join us from time to time, either for lunch or for music. --Mary L."

Thanks to Bob Evans Farm for the illustration of the Phillips Cabin, to Southeast Ohio Magazine for the online article about Adamsville, and to the Ohio Valley Visitors Center and the City of Gallipolis for putting the camping and hotel sites online.

Dulcimer players and prospective students in Gallia County or across the river in Point Pleasant, WV may want to contact Linda Sigismondi for information about the Banks of the Ohio Dulcimer Club. Linda is also the director of the Fort New Salem Dulcimer Festival, presented each August at Salem, West Virginia.

 Every year the classes have a different focus. This year, the emphasis will be on Arranging and Applying Music Theory to the Mountain Dulcimer

*** CLASS CANCELLED ***

Arranging Music for the Mountain Dulcimer

"I finally tracked down a song my family used to sing--turns out it's an old hymn. How can I get this music from the hymnal to the dulcimer, and how can I put it on paper so that several of us can play and sing together?"

"Found a Highland piper's collection in a used book store! I have some of these tunes on recordings. They'd sound really great played on the dulcimer, since some strings could act as drones. How do I go about changing bagpipe music into dulcimer music?"

"My friend and I are starting a new performing group inside our dulcimer club, and we want to do some tunes to show off the baritone dulcimer--how can baritones and D-A-D dulcimers play together?"

I've heard requests like these from more and more players this past year, and have designed this year's two Log School sessions to respond to them.

This session will emphasize realizing and playing an arrangement. Students are encouraged to bring sheet music they'd like to arrange for dulcimer. We will use my book on Music Theory, so bring yours if you have a copy (or get one in class).

Concepts we'll be discussing in this 3-day session:

What we'll be doing:

The most exciting part of this class comes toward the end, where everyone gets the chance to play their tune or tunes for the class. This is a really marvelous brainstorming session, and everyone is SO supportive and encouraging! Its like the opposite of a contest, in that there is no "judging" going on at all-----just a bunch of learning all the way around.

Details for this year's class:

CLASS PLAYING LEVELS: Absolute beginners should NOT register for this year's class, although a wide range of skill level and experience will be accomodated. There may be several people who have had a 6- or 8-week beginning playing course, along with advanced-level players who have some teaching experience; some may play several other instruments. So, in a small class like these, we expect to be working on multiple levels simultaneously.

SUPPLIES: You're encouraged to bring a tape recorder and plenty of cassettes, a music stand, notebook, pencils, and your tuning appliance of choice. We will be referring to the material in my Music Theory book, so bring your copy or buy one at the first class meeting. I will supply large quantities of blank fretboard charts, dulcimer tablature blanks.

STRINGS: I'll bring a backup supply. I usually bring along a few small tools and materials for dulcimer emergencies. If you want to plan major fretwork or dulcimer modifications in or about this week, call me well in advance.

CREATURE COMFORTS: . . .The Log School has folding wooden chairs that come in one height only. If you have a favorite folding chair for playing dulcimer, bring it along. We'll supply ice, juice, tea, and spring water; there are soft drink vending machines on the grounds also.