Jeff Hames - 2006 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion

What's On The Schedule????

As many of you already know, I'm back in school full time so I have to slow down on my festival touring. I was very fortunate to be able to travel to festivals and teach workshops for the year I was out of school and I'm honored to say I met and made some wonderful friends along the way. But just because I'm in school does not mean that I won't be teaching workshops or attending festivals. It just means that I won't be able to go to as many because of my classes.

So having said all of that I would like to let everyone know about some upcoming events where I will be teaching.

August:

Swannanoa Gathering - Dulcimer Week: August 2-8, 2009

I'm very excited to say that I will be teaching and performing in concerts at the Swannanoa Gathering - Dulcimer Week this year. This is a first for me and I'm looking forward to teaching "Experienced Mountain Dulcimer: Skills" and "Advanced Beginner Mountain Dulcimer Repertoire: Hymns". For more information about this amazing festival check out their web site at www.swangathering.com or you can email your questions to gathering@warren-wilson.edu .

September:

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Music Festival: September 25 & 26, 2009

I will be teaching workshop and performing in a concert at this great festival. This is a two day event packed with a lot of fun. It is held at the Second Baptist Church 4680 Walnut Grove, Memphis, TN. For more information about this fun packed festival check out their web site at www.leecagledulcimers.com/id69.html or you can email your questions to Lee@leecagledulcimer.com .

January:

Key West Dulcimer Fest: January 28 - 31, 2010

WOW! What can I say? What better place to be in the middle of winter but at a dulcimer festival and a warm sunny beach? Bing Futch has been working really hard to make this a wonderful festival for everyone. Registration is limited so make your plans right away. All you need to know about this terrific festival is on their web site at www.keywestdulcimerfest.com . This festival is also listed on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Along with these three wonderful festivals I will continue to work on a few projects that I have in the works and continue to teach private lessons. I also encourage anyone with questions to feel free to email me at dulcimermusic@bellsouth.net .

I look forward to seeing everyone at a festival soon!

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Dulcimer Journeys

As my journey continues in the dulcimer world I find myself meeting some amazing individuals that enjoy the dulcimer as much as I do. It is also comforting to me to see the number of young people that are getting involved with the dulcimer because I know the dulcimer will not be forgotten. When I get a chance to meet these young people and get to hear their music I understand my place in the dulcimer community a little better and I set my goals a little higher for myself.

Let me introduce you to one of these amazing young dulcimer players that I've had the privilege to work and jam with.

Picture taken by Jeff Samsel

This is Nathaniel Samsel age 10. He's been playing the mountain dulcimer now for about two years and his musical talent is growing by leaps and bounds. Nathaniel will be competing for the first time in the Southern Regional Mountain Dulcimer Competition this year. This competition is held during the Dulcimer Jamboree in Mt View, AR at the Ozark Folk Center. I first met Nathaniel a couple of year ago at the NGFDA Fall Festival at Unicoi State Park. Nathaniel and his Dad were in my workshops and I caught my ears tuning in to Nathaniel's playing. I got a chance to work with Nathaniel again at the Southern Strings Dulcimer Festival that is held in Hattiesburg, MS and I have to say I was amazed.

Picture taken by Jeff Samsel

If you haven't made plans to attend the Dulcimer Jamboree and the Southern Regional Dulcimer Competition this April you should.

As I continue my journey and I find more young people who are setting their goals to become future National Champions I will let you know about these amazing young players so you can be looking for them. Nathaniel Samsel is one to watch!

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Update on Morrison Elementary

5^th & 6^th Grade Dulcimer Students

These students are working hard preparing for their Spring Concert. Along with their practice time the students are still involved in the New / Young Dulcimer Players Forum. Our first forum was held in February and I was honored to have Susan Trump sit in as a Host for the 6^th graders forum. Susan was impressed with these students and their questions about arranging and composing. The students seem to be equally impressed with the ability to feel connected to the dulcimer community and be able to discuss their topics with other dulcimer instructors.

I am thankful to have a great list of other hosts that have agreed to be a part of the school forums and their willingness to share their knowledge with these young people.

This is a book that the Morrison Elementary School Dulcimer Students put together for me showing their appreciation and thanking Dan Landrum and I for including them in an article in the Dulcimer Players News titled "Tradition Rocks" (Volume 35 No. 1 Winter 2009). This issue of Dulcimer Players News spot lights some of the young people that are active in the dulcimer community today. You can subscribe to Dulcimer Players New by clicking on this link: Dulcimer Players News . This is a great magazine and a valuable tool for any dulcimer player.

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Morrison Elementary School

On September 26, 2008, I was privileged to be asked to teach two workshops at Morrison Elementary School in California. The two classes I taught were 5th and 6th grade mountain dulcimer students. It was very exciting to me to be able to meet these students that are also a part of the New / Young Dulcimer Players Forum. With help from their teacher, Lori Knight, and the schools administration we have set up a forum just for these student. The Forum works very much the same way as the monthly forum does except that it takes place during their actual class time and the student are all in the schools media center using the computers. We have also arranged for other hosts to join in so these students get to discuss topics with other mountain dulcimer instructors that they may have never gotten to meet.

These are Thank You Notes sent to me by the dulcimer students at Morrison Elementary

I am amazed at the forum topic suggestions that the students have submitted to me. As with many schools, the budget for art related programs is tight so the forum gives these students the ability to learn from other instructors without leaving their school. The students enjoy the ability to interact with others in the dulcimer community through the forum. If you would like to read an article from the Whittier Daily News in California about my visit to Morrison Elementary here is a link: Morrison Elementary School .

If you know of a school in your area that might be interested in becoming a part of the New / Young Dulcimer Players Forum by having their own forum please feel free to email me for more information.