Music with Others

Have you players your dulcimer with players of other instruments? Both the mountain dulcimer or hammered dulcimer sound great with other instruments, especially guitar and mandolin. Fiddles and banjos can be quite loud but those also can be a good complimentary sound. If you don't know any players in your area try recording yourself and then playing along. Try chords and melody. Perhap, you'd want to learn the harmonica and pick up a brace to hold it hands-free. Be sure to pick up the Key of D harmonica if you're playing with your mountain dulcimer or tune your instrument to the key of C (CGC) if you have the more common harmonicas sold.
I took a couple voice lessons in August. A big part of improving singing (besides practice, practice, practice) is relaxing or having the right amount (not too much or too little tension). Singing involves parts of your mouth you don't typically think about and your posture. I quite like singers like Kenny Rogers who speak parts of the songs. Whether you hold notes for a long time or can do a wide range of notes from low to very high you have your own body as an instrument to tune up and get some vibrations going. With your dulcimer on your lap or hitting the hammers on the hammered dulcimer your voice may just be the perfect partnering sound. Harmonize, do some improv using just sounds (do das la and be bops, etc.). Enjoy what you will discover.