The meeting format is informal. Within the concept of informal, here are some good suggestions:
- What to bring:
- Bring your instrument(s), even if you are brand new! Acoustic only tho..
- Bring a tape recorder!
- Bring a friend! The only thing more fun than playing dulcimer music, is playing dulcimer music with a friend!
- Bring a small munchie, or some soda pop! Everybody gets hungry after all that dulcimer music!
- What to do:
- Get acquainted! If you are a first timer, or and old timer. Dulcimer music is about friends and fun. So lets make more friends them make more music with them!
- Ask for help. No matter how long any of us have been playing there is usually somebody around who knows something we don't. Ask! Hear something fun, find out what it is and learn to play it!
- What to wear:
- Whatever you would wear in public, however if you are playing a mountain dulcimer ladies might prefer slacks, as it helps with stabilizing the dulcimer on your lap.
- What to Expect:
- We get started at 5:30PM with time for tuning up, and getting together with friends to talk or play tunes, or learn a tune. If you are new, this is a great time to get come coaching! Sometimes we break out into smaller groups to help teach the topic of the month.
- At 7PM we start what we call a "play around". Everybody gathers in a circle, and what little formal business we have is taken care of. We keep that very short, because we want to play music not get wrapped up in rules of order! Then somebody starts, and we take turns playing something, often some tune we learned that month.
- The play around continues until everybody has had several turns. Nobody is required to play, but you will discover that it provides a good motivation to practice! Try out that new tune!
- After one time around the circle, we play one or more "group tunes". Each month we publish what tune will be played at that meeting, and often the tune from recent months may be repeated. What ever skill level you are playing the dulcimer with, play along! If you are advanced, play harmonies or other accompaniment!
- Somewhere around 8:30 or so depending on the enthusiasm in the play-around, we break for snacks. (Remember to bring something!)
- After that it is "jam-time". Jam-time is getting together with somebody whom perhaps you heard play a tune you already know and want to work out a duet, or maybe you heard something you want to learn, etc.
- We just have fun! You will too!
- What kind of music do we play? (Listed in no particular order..)
- Traditional music from many traditions!
- Irish music
- Appalachian music
- Ozark music
- Cajun music
- Fiddle tunes
- Country music
- Western music
- Folk music
- Rock
- Jazz
- Original music
- Acoustic instrumentals from just about any source
- And of course tunes native to the dulcimers themselves!
- Children's music
- Holiday music
- Simple music
- Complex music
- Solo music
- Group music
- Tulsa Dulcimer music
- Any kind of music you think is FUN is ok to play as long as it is acoustic!
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