Dulcimers, Dreams & Delights

I'd like to remind people that I carry non-dulcimer items. These range from teardrop-shaped ceramic ocarinas, harmonicas, and tin whistles. I also have non-dulcimer books including books for basic mandolin, autoharp, banjo, tin whistle, and others. For the month of November this year I will give 25% off on all non-dulcimer specific books. I just bought a steel for myself to play on a resonator guitar I bought this summer. The instrument is played on your lap like a dulcimer and the metal steel is used on any or all the strings. With 6 strings there are more patterns to play than on a dulcimer. If you have only been strumming on your mountain dulcimer be sure to explore finger picking or even just slow a strum down so you play one string at a time. It will give a more peaceful sound and for a Amazing Grace or Away in a Manger may be a nice change from strumming. I do carry in stock mountain dulcimer hammers that can be used for an interesting sound effect. Ahh, yes the sounds of a dulcimer - very nice to enjoy yourself or with others. I'm working on putting together Dulcimer Day in Duluth for May 4, 2013 and there will be ukulele classes again and singing besides dulcimer classes. The musical guests will be House of Waters from the East Coast and Peggy Carter and her daughter. Al Anderson will teach the ukulele and hopefully perform this time (He didn't last time). I'm heading to a cultural event tonight put on by international students at UWS in Superior. Cultural food, music and dance will be part of the evening. It's a short drive over the bridge (well a mile long one) to hop over to Wisconsin across the St. Louis River. Since I started working this fall with the City of Superior in Pollution Prevention and public outreach on storm water topics I've been checking out more places in Superior. I know the town has a great library. One of my heroes in Rachel Carson and later this month I've arranged a showing of a video on Rachel Carson and her life at the Superior Library. I am getting the video from the Rachel Carson Council. Some day I want to go to the house she lived in. The council has programs there occasionally. Learn more about her at www.rachelcarsoncouncil.org. If you've never "met" her please learn more about what she has done. I volunteer on KUMD in Duluth and play a CD that I bought from the Rachel Carson Council and it is a tribute to her and has assorted environmental songs. I announce on the Women's Music Program on KUMD so I need to pick tunes by females and from the CD I really like "Back Bay" and "Go to the Water." Keep on learning - music tunes, new skills, and more about the wonders of our planet (and how our informed choices - and yes, even voting - make a difference.