Hope for America Yet

As long as there are kids who still know what a mountain dulcimer is, and know the words/tune to old time songs like Shady Grove, Old Joe Clark, and Turkey in the Straw, there is hope for the future. ;) This kid was amazing to watch; I can only watch and imagine having such talent... 

The Bowed Psaltery

 It turned out that I had more free time on my hands today than I had thought I would, so I decided to be brave and record some songs of my bowed psaltery for y'all.

But first, a disclaimer. I am no professional at this. I've only been playing this instrument for a few months now, and my "beginner-ness" shows. There are mistakes in each video, but there's also something akin to a tune, so that's good, right? ;)

This first video has a bit of humor for me... The whole time I was playing, I was looking out the window instead of focusing on my playing. Our dog, and three of our hens were on the road outside and I was fervently hoping that they would all get back onto the property so that I wouldn't have to stop the recording and yell out the window at them. Thankfully all four animals got back where they belonged, but I was left with a not-so-great recording of Just As I Am. But I didn't want to re-do the whole thing, so you get to hear it with all its dog-caused mistakes.



Okay, so this one isn't Christmas music...

But it's still amazing. LOL. I was delighted to see that The Piano Guys had finally done the LOTR music, and  was grinning by the time they got to the finale in doing the Gondor piece. It's amazing what you can do with only two instruments and the layering effect...

Time For Christmas Music!

The Piano Guys are quickly becoming a favorite of mine to listen to. :) They have yet to disappoint me.

This kid amazes me.

Apple Blossom

After just idly fiddling around with my beloved Strumstick for entirely too long now, I have now dusted it off, tuned it up and am getting down to business with this instrument. I'm getting serious with this little box of music, and by golly I'm determined to learn some old fashioned mountain music on it this Fall! 

First song? Apple Blossom. :) I've always liked this song and the Strumstick and I decided that it would be our first. Who knows, maybe after mastering some songs on this little whizbang, I'll buy a fiddle this winter...

A Favorite

Here's one more for y'all...

Oh my goodness... I love this song... I never thought anyone could rank higher than dulcimerist 'Joshua Messick' in my mind (his song 'Desire for Departure is my "most listened to" song, on my MP3), but I think Ted Yoder managed to do just that with this beautiful song. 

My family is known for our "different" instruments we play. My dad plays the hammered dulcimer (and I love listening to it), then we have a bowed psaltery, a strumstick, some ocarinas, a lap harp.... I love the different instruments.

But I digress. Ted Yoder outdid himself on this one. 

Finger Dancing

Oh to be able to one day play like this person.... He's using a dulcitar in this video, not a Strumstick, but they both play the same. His method here is known as "finger dancing", meaning he uses all three strings individually, rather than strumming two as a drone and one as the melody. He's also doing two of my favorite Irish melodies... :)

IT'S HERE!!!

Whoohoo!! The package came today!!! :) 

It's a...

McNally Strumstick!

One of my favorite instruments was always the mountain dulcimer but alas, I just couldn't play any fast songs on it, without it slipping off of my lap! I told my family that someone needed to invent an instrument that sounded like a mountain dulcimer, but could be held like a guitar.

And then a couple weeks ago, I found the McNally strumstick. 

About a year ago, I had seen an instrument called a "Pickinstick", which looks very similar to the strumstick, but I didn't like its tinny sound. But when I heard the McNally "Grand" (key of D) strumstick... Oh dearie me. That was the sound I wanted...

Another plus: you don't have to know how to read music to play these things!! Which is great for me, as *ahem*, I can't read a lick of music. The strumstick has only three strings, but you only fret one. The other two are "drones" (like a bagpipe), giving it a really nice sound. :)

I was very impressed with the quality, when I received it today. It was already tuned, they sent a couple picks along, as well as a instructional booklet, and a CD. Oh yes, and I got a nice soft cover case to put it in. The wood is high quality, enhancing the strumstick's sound abilities, and the entire instrument is only a couple pounds in weight. I can sling it over my shoulders and I hardly know anything is there! 

And this thing is SO fun to play!! The goats have given their blessing, and said I can keep it. They said it sounds better than my ocarina I sometimes play outside. LOL. It was fun sitting in the pasture playing on my strumstick, watching the goats enjoy meander...

I know, I know... You want videos. I'll get some soon! You can't expect me to give y'all videos when I only just got it! Shucks, I gotta' get the hang of this thing first, and then when I get a little faster, I'll share lots of videos with y'all. I promise. ;)

Want to learn more about the McNally strumstick? Simply click HERE.  You can also find videos and sound clips on their website, so you can hear what these fun instruments sound like!!