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Jam Sessions: An Article for Hammered and Fretted Dulcimer Players
Fingerpicking 'til Your Heart's Content
Stephen Collins Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More" for Mountain Dulcimer

Through my work performing and teaching at dulcimer events and when I gather staff for the events I organize at Western Carolina University and the Swannanoa Gathering, I am always impressed with the individual styles of the people who play dulcimers. This issue features music from three of the most talented individuals on the mountain and hammered dulcimer scene, Bonnie Carol, Sue Carpenter (2005 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion), and Shelley Stevens.

1. Jam Sessions: An Article for Hammered and Fretted Dulcimer Players, by Bonnie Carol, gives great tips on how to enjoy playing in jam sessions, and presents her arrangement of "Westphalia Waltz" for hammered and fretted (mountain) dulcimers. Includes sound file.

Hammered dulcimer players, you'll enjoy two more pieces found in the following mountain dulcimer articles. They are presented with sound files and standard musical notation with chords.

2. Fingerpicking 'til Your Heart's Content, by Sue Carpenter, gives excellent sequential steps in basic mountain dulcimer fingerpicking, with exercises in tablature and sound file formats, culminating in her arrangement of "Skye Boat Song."

3. Stephen Collins Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More" for Mountain Dulcimer, by Shelley Stevens, tells the tragic story of this great American composer and presents Shelley's arrangement of his song in written form and sound file.

For more great holiday music for mountain and hammered dulcimers from Mel Bay, make sure to visit: www.baysidepress.com
Downloadable dulcimer sheet music is also available from Mel Bay at: downloads.melbay.com

Don't forget to view previous articles in Back Issues.

We invite responses on DulcimerSessions.com. Those who would like to submit articles with music please contact me for guidelines. We also welcome requests for new subjects from visitors to this webzine. I hope these articles give the reader interesting information about the instruments, how they are played, their music, and the spirit of the people who play them.

Lois Hornbostel, Editor
Dulcimer Sessions
loisdulc@verizon.net
Website: www.LoisHornbostel.com
View Lois Hornbostel's Biography