August 10th 9-7:45 pm CST
(in Central Time)
9-10 am Forum: Introduction, Welcome and Teacher's Roundtable hosted by Fiona Potts, editor of DPN
10:05-11:05 am Workshop 1: Erin Mae Lewis
Flatpicking Fiddle Tunes - Any Key, No Capo
After hanging out at the Scottish traditional music sessions last summer, I’ve been practicing flat-picking in the keys of G, A, Em, Am, and Bm without using a capo — all in the first few frets. This strategy works super well for very fast American and Celtic traditional tunes and Bluegrass-style lead playing. I'll show you my strategies for approaching this method and a few fun tunes.
11:15-12:15 Workshop 2: Mark Gilston
Major or minor? Ambiguous tonalities and Mini-modulations
We'll learn two tunes in chord-melody style which take full advantage of the chromatic dulcimer's great ability to quickly and easily change modalities.
12:30-1:30 pm Workshop 3: Dana Gruber
Creating and Using Jazz Chords on the Chromatic Dulcimer
In this class we'll explore how to create jazz /color chords from basic DAD-tuning chord shapes and hints on where to use them in your music. We will also learn a fun Tin Pan Alley tune from the 1920's .
Lunch / Student Sharing / Open Mic / Optional Break Out Rooms
2:30- 3:30 pm Workshop 4: Sue Carpenter
4 Equidistant Strings: It’s Almost a Guitar!
Let’s explore different ways to tune a 4 equidistant string chromatic dulcimer to make it sound more like a guitar than a dulcimer. We’ll start with an open C minor chord tuning (C-Eb-g-c) and learn an arrangement of “Star of the County Down” using hauntingly beautiful chord arpeggios and a melody spanning 2 octaves. Next, we’ll conjure an even more guitar-like sound by tuning to C-F-g-c, and examine my arrangement of “Shenandoah” that modulates between the keys of F and C. You’ll receive full tablature for both songs, fretboard and chord charts.
3:45 - 4:45 pm Workshop 5: Cyntia Smith
La Lagrima (Repertoire)
Description: I plan to teach this piece by Francisco Tarrega (1854-1909) that is very common in classical guitar repertoire called “Lagrima”. I tune to C-G-c and will provide a basic chromatic chord chart for the C-G-c tuning and make suggestions on fingerings for these chord shapes. I plan to take the piece slowly, one measure at a time with an in-depth approach to fingering. I also plan to work with phrasing and dynamics throughout the piece. I consider this piece to be fairly advanced, a bit of a finger twister, but very lovely and expressive.
5:00 - 6:00 pm Workshop 6: Bradley Ellis
Improv on The Blues in minor keys, no capo
We will be learning how to properly improvise over top of minor blues scales in any key on chromatic mountain dulcimer. We will also be learning a tune, "Atlanta Blues" by master guitarist Stephen Bennett in DGD. I hope everyone will enjoy what can actually be accomplished on chromatic mountain dulcimer and the joys of versatility! No capo needed!!
6:45 pm Faculty Concert-Round Robin (live-streamed on the DulcimerCrossing Facebook page)