My Dulcimer Blog
for my kinda music
My Dulcimer Blog

Mountain Dulcimer Duets Workshop, Huntingdon, Tennessee

Mountain Dulcimer Duets Workshop, Huntingdon, Tennessee THAT took me to really reminiscing about some of my favorite teachers and tutors in my marvelous Mountain Dulcimer<< MORE >>

Lazy Memphis Lion

Enjoys mountain dulcimer music....


Played: 49 | Download | Duration: 00:00:36


I've enjoyed watching the lions for years and years at the Memphis Zoo...but I don't think I have ever seen one basking in the sun like this scratching his own belly.  It must be all the new Memphis Music!

Carla Maxwell

 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

Mountain Dulcimer Music and the Memphis Zoo


Just got back from playing my Magowan baritone mountain dulcimer at the Memphis Zoo.  I used the micro-cube amp on my dulcimer.  It worked really well in balancing with my friends who were playing guitar and autoharp with amplification.  I had the micro-cube sitting on the porch near me, and I was able to adjust/control my dulcimer's volume as needed, and I liked that.  

The three of us played for two hours on the covered porch of the Once Upon a Farm exhibit building. We play usually once per month for about two hours in a program called Front Porch Pastimes.  I scheduled the dates that worked for us by emailing the program's coordinator, and she was very nice about allowing us to have the dates that worked for our schedules.  This is the third summer of the Memphis Zoo's Front Porch Pastimes program, I believe, and I have learned a lot about playing my mountain dulcimer in public!  As people walk by or sit for a while...or just stand near the porch, I enjoy telling them about the mountain dulcimer.  Many, many folks have not seen one before, and most of the children cannot name what it is...so, I really enjoy talking about the mountain dulcimer whenever someone wants to listen.  Marti tells about the autoharp, too, another instrument invented in America.  

A birthday was being celebrated inside the building...a little red wagon loaded with lots of bright and balloony looking packages was pulled passed us and into the building, as the children's ride train whistled by behind our rhythmic "Ridin' on that new river train...riding' on that new river train...."  It felt good to be a part of that cutesy scene during this beautiful day in the shade and on the porch just in front of the flower boxes which were overflowing with color and potato vines.  The Memphis Zoo is so wonderful!  I think the best face painters in the world must work there.  Maybe they were students from the Memphis College of Art, I don't know, but there artwork is a joy to see bouncing around in front of our little bluegrassy band of three.

My guitarist friend, Pat Patchell, brought not only his lovely autoharpest, Marti, but TWO small fans to stir the breezes around our music.  That is something I highly recommend for a gig bag!!  Breeze makers are definitely needed down in the Delta during the day!

I enjoyed seeing some friends from my church hang out on the porch for a while...and my sister and my brother-in-law stopped to listen...glad to see them there!   I think they said they have now purchased a zoo family pass and will be dropping by the zoo's porch once-a-month-or-so for a listen and a rest in one of the farm's rocking chairs.

If you cannot tell, I have to say that I am a FAN of the Memphis Zoo....I love that it is continually alive....things happen....changes are made....everything improves more and more over the years.  There is either a new bus or there has been a new paint job to the old bus...what I saw people riding today was a luxuriously long zebra train-type bus.  It was filled with faces of fun....quite a joy to see folks enjoying themselves out-n-about. 

I'll be back at the zoo with my banjo, my mountain dulcimer, and my musical friends on July 5, 2008.  Come on out to the porch...we'll be looking for ya!

Carla

 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

Thinking About My '07 Trip To the West Coast


Today I've been reflecting on my dulcimer world....and the friends I have made....the places I have been...and wondering about places I might want to go....  And during my reflections and mind wanderings, I have been enjoying a review of my picture journal.  Sometimes I'm pretty snappy with my digital camera....clicking away at random but relevant sights I see throughout any journey.  And, I have been exploring a previous problem that was puzzling me....of connecting this blog to a photo gallery.  I think I have solved my problem and now want to test the solution, quality, and/or jpg resolution...

Let's see if this works:


Hmmmm...looks like it works.  Now, you're probably wondering...Who, What, Where, and Why?!

The pictures in this slide show are part of my collection of pics I took during my trip to San Francisco.  I enjoyed exploring the different dulcimer sounds of the West Coast, and I met really nice people along the way!  

The slide show begins with some snapshots of a meeting with the administrators of Bread & Roses, a lovely non-profit organization in San Francisco, CA.  Bread & Roses was established by Mimi Fariña in the 70's.  

The seemingly random street pics are just scenes that I connected with as the owner of a driving school...thinking how relevant the road signs were to teaching teens to drive.  Did you know there are "coyote crossing" signs in California?  And how fast would you want to take that curve in a Camry on a cliff near Pacifica?  

The slideshow also shows some dulcimer dare devilishness...you needed to see this to believe it........a eukele being utilized by you-know-who!

Since the slideshow seems to have worked....I'm going to try re-posting a link to a photo gallery in the sidebar.  Maybe it will work right this time.

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Carla

 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

Dulcimer Players News Online Podcasts!

Hi Folks,

Here's the news from DP News...

Dan Landrum and Bing Futch are hosting a weekly video program through Youtube.  Here's today's introductory show:


Enjoy!

Carla

 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

Mountain View, Arkansas

Hi Friends,

Just came across this article (click here) about Mountain View and the Ozark Folk Center.  I understand several of the Memphis Area Mountain Dulcimer Club members will be attending the mountain dulcimer workshops in Mountain View later this month, so I thought some of you might be interested in this article.  

Keep strummin'...or pickin'...but definitely grinnin'!

Blogyal8r,
Carla

 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

Jean Ritchie on Youtube

Hi Folks,

I found this bit of history on Youtube and wanted to share it with you, too!



Enjoy!

Your Strummin' Friend,

Carla ...<< MORE >>

Fun and Fabulous Robert Force

Here's one of my favorite teacher/performers...doing what he does best....going above and beyond the norm of showmanship...



If you come across my blog and read what I am writing and posting aboutyou, Robert...I just want you to know that my hands are getting clammyjust thinking of this as a challenge.... [smile]

 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

March 2008 meeting of the Memphis Area Mountain Dulcimer Club



Hey Friends,

The March 2008 meeting of the Memphis Area Mountain Dulcimer Club willbe at my house on March 2nd.  The club is in its 7th year, believe itor not!  Hosting the monthly club meetings has been a wonderful thingfor me, as that has helped keep my enthusiasm high for the blessings of sweet music and friendship...

Here are a few pictures of our recent meeting:

      
 

 



 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg 

Hammer Dulcimer Lesson in my Living Room!

On Saturday, the 23rd of February, 2008, I enjoyed hearing Steve Eulberg teach a hammer dulcimer lesson to my friends in the local dulcimer world.  Pretty smart friends...who knew a good thing when they heard it and wanted to learn it, too.  Here's my living room view:







 del.icio.us  Stumbleupon  Technorati  Digg