On Sunday, May 20, from noon until six, Tradition Continued at the ninth annual Grand Old Dulcimer Day at Two Rivers Mansion. This year's event was dedicated to Remembering David Schnaufer, 1952-2006. Dulcimer Day was David's favorite day of the year.

Main stage performers included The Monday Nighters, Travis Stinson, Ahna Phillips, Donna Tokarski, Tracy Hackney, Joni Bishop, Stephen Seifert, Adie Grey, Sarah Elisabeth, Nashville Dulcimer Quartet, Zada Law, Rob Pearcy, Donovan Carpenter, Lee Rowe, and The Grand Old Dulcimer Club.

A display of the mountain dulcimer and its history was one of the highlights of Dulcimer Day. David Schnaufer left his personal collection of 28 vintage mountain dulcimers and Tennessee music boxes to the Tennessee State Museum. The museum staff, in collaboration with Zada Law and Sandy Conatser have put together an exquisite display that celebrates David's life and career and continues his tradition of sharing these beautiful and historic instruments with the public. We anticipate that the exhibit will continue to be a feature of the annual Dulcimer Day event and other special occasions. They are part of the state museum's permanent collection but not currently on display.

The sound of sacred harp singing by The Harpeth Valley Sacred Harp Singers filled Two Rivers Mansion throughout the day. And there were beginner workshops, a builder's exhibit, children's area, jammin on the back porch, a sing-along, and of course, great food from Houston's Meat and Produce.

The Grand Old Dulcimer Club, which David helped form and foster, capped the day off by playing David's signature rendition of "Fisher's Hornpipe" and two of his original compositions, "Brush Arbor" and "Starry Lullaby."

If you missed Dulcimer Day this year, put next year's on your calendar .. May 17, 2008. It will be our tenth one!!!

This year's Hatch Show Print Poster was extra special with its bright, cheerful colors!! We missed David very much, but his spirit was there, and so were his historic dulcimers! Thanks to Zada for creating the beautiful panels and to the Tennessee State Museum for presenting the beautiful display. Thanks also to everyone who provided pictures for the newsletter... Tradition Continues!

• Remembering David Schnaufer
  Click on this weblink (or paste it into the address line of your browser) http://www.myspace.com/davidschnaufer and spend a moment listening to David and his music. There are 4 selections - just double click each title and they will play. It will refresh you and make you want to "take that dulcimer off the wall and start making music".
• Lee Rowe Workshop Featuring Original David Schnaufer Compositions
  On Saturday, May 19, from noon until five, Lee Rowe conucted a workshop at the Blair School of Music where he taught intermediate to advanced players some of David Schnaufer's original compositions. Lela Hollabaugh says it was an "...awesome workshop! Lee taught us 5 of David's creations. Of course, the music is beautiful, but Lee led us through techniques to play it well--he is a really superb teacher. It was a small group so we got lots of personal attention. I am so glad I participated and am hoping he will do another workshop next year with more of David's music. What a great opportunity it was!"
• Jeff Hames (National Dulcimer Champion 2006) is hosting an online forum on his website.
  The next forum will take place on June 12, 2007, 8:00pm cdt on his web site at www.jeffhames.com The forum will be discussing how to start training your ear to pick out the song, how to tune without a tuner, and how to get your ears tuned into what you are playing as well as others around you. How would you feel if you were attending a workshop that you have been excited about attending and waited a long time for it to come, only to find yourself sitting there and the instructor was teaching in the "Traditional Style" of teaching with NO TAB? Bring your questions and concerns to the forum. Ear training is something that can be worked into your daily practice time and before you know it you've got it! If you would like to participate in the forum, go to Jeff's website and register prior t0 June 12. Also, check his website for other forums and you can read the discussions on many topics. Jeff focuses on young players and beginners, giving them a place to ask questions and get information. Way to go Jeff!!! Hope to see you here on June 12th!!!!
• Fundraising at Heartland Field for Inner-city Youth (from Judy Beier)
  Sweet sounds could be heard from Heartland Field in Donelson, Saturday evening June 2, as musicians gathered for an old fashioned guitar pull. The fundraising benefit for Green Street Church of Christ is helping inner-city youth attend summer camp. Ann Avrit, Mariam Slaughter, Rudie Smith, Norma Bond and Judy Beier strummed dulcimers while Bucky added color with spoons, bones, guitar and singing. Bucky's creative signals indicated when we were to change chords while he played guitar and sang. Perhaps he will demonstrate for the club. A must see! As raindrops started to fall, friends lovingly held umbrellas to protect our instruments. When more protection was needed, mini-vans with rear doors raised formed a unique stage. Hanging umbrellas between each van offered additional protection from the rain. Our audience, seated on quilts or in chairs under the trees, didn't seem to mind the cooling raindrops. I could not help but picture David, seeing a smile on his face, as he would surely have appreciated the down home setting and especially how innovative the Green Street folks were. Other guitar players and singers gathered around. The evening came to a close as sweet sounds of "Amazing Grace" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" filled the air.
• Fundraising Benefit for Chris Bozung (I attended this benefit - it was superb!....Mary Ann)
  Chris Bozung, one of the best luthiers in the world and the maker of CB guitars, had a serious accident in his shop and will be out of work for at least two months. A benefit concert was held Saturday evening, May 26th, at the Fairview Recreation Center in Fairview, Tennessee. Jim and Inge Wood lined up two of the best finger-style guitarists in the business (and CB Guitar clients), former International and National Champions Shane Adkins and Pete Huttlinger, for a "high-octane evening of virtuoso picking". Jim and Inge Wood, virtuosos in their own right on a variety of stringed instruments, played a great set of Western Swing and traditional Fiddle tunes. They were joined by Jim's dad, Jimmy Wood, and his excellent student and upcoming musician, Josh Philpott. A new Bluegrass group, NextaKyn, featuring Robyn Young, made their debut onstage appearance to finish the show. It was one fantastic evening of picking and great music. It is truly amazing that such excellent music can be found in a recreation center in a local setting. It really makes the music "real". There was a good turn out, but donations would likely still be accepted if you wish to contact Jimmy Wood at P.O.Box 68, Fairview, TN, or call 615-347-0063 or 615-799-2952 for Jimmy Wood or Boge Quinn at 931-647-7261 or Jim Wood Music at 931-695-5613. The sound of CB guitars is truly spectacular - I wonder if Chris has ever considered making a dulcimer.
• The Dulcimer Dandies
  The Dulcimer Dandies continue to share their talents with the local community. This month they played at NHC Place in Cool Springs and at a meeting of The Daughters of the American Revolution. Nancy Seifert says that "One DAR member came out of the kitchen to watch us. She said her father used to play the dulcimer every night after supper. It was a joy to see the expression on her face while we played."
• Kentucky Music Week
  Here is information about the upcoming Kentucky Music Week 2007 from Gary Gallier. "Hello All...it's getting close so I thought I'd throw out an invite to a great week of fun and learning. Kentucky Music Week is the last week in June for its 25th year! June 24-29, 2007. There is a great lineup of excellent instructors, each teaching several 5 hour courses in dulcimer and hammered dulcimer, as well as guitar, harmonica, vocals, performing, ukulele, and....aw heck, too much more to list so just go to this link: http://www.kentuckymusicweek.com/KMWeek.htm It will tell you all about it. For a teaser, the instructors for dulcimer related courses: Mountain Dulcimer -Gary Gallier, Tull Glazner, Janita Baker, Molly McCormack, Butch Ross, Lloyd Wright, Stephen Seifert, Bing Futch, Lorainne Hammond, Susan Trump, and Dave Haas. Hammered Dulcimer- David Moran, Rick Thum, Dana Hamilton, Princess Harris, Guy George, Ken Kolodner, Linda Lowe Thompson, and JamMiester Mr. Jim Miller."

• There are opportunities for the club to perform in various venues, but we need a coordinator to handle requests. If you are willing to coordinate these activities.....please let us know!

• Click here for general information about dulcimer clubs in the Middle Tennessee area. Area clubs with information to share should email that information to section editor Wanda O'Guin by the first Sunday of each month.

• June 24-29 - Kentucky Music Week, Bardstown, KY. Info: Nancy Barker, Box 86, Bardstown, Kentucky 40004. http://www.kentuckymusicweek.com/.
• June 24-29 Eighth Annual Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Week, Cullowhee, North Carolina, http://edoutreach.wcu.edu/dulcimer/
• July 8-14 - Swannanoa Gathering Dulcimer Week on beautiful Warren Wilson College campus, in the mountains east of Asheville, NC., http://www.swangathering.org
• July 28, 29 - Kentucky Music Weekend, Iroquois Park, Louisville KY. http://www.kentuckymusicweekend.com
• July 27-29 - Cranberry Dulcimer & Autoharp Gathering XXXI, Lori Keddel, 518-762-7516 or email at Lark119@Citlink.net, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Binghamton, NY.
• August 17-19 - Gateway Dulcimer Music Festival Formerly The Great River Road Festival), Belleville IL - 618-651-8271. http://www.gatewaydulcimer.org
• October 18-21 - Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash, Hotel: 1-800-782-8605, ask for Sherrie. E-Mail Maureen Sellers at maureensel@aol.com.

Member Profiles: Getting to Know Us
No profile this month.

In partnership with Metro Parks, The Grand Old Dulcimer Club sponsors Grand Old Dulcimer Day each year in May at Two Rivers Mansion.Make your plans now for our TENTH annual Grand Old Dulcimer Day on May 17, 2008!

The club and its members perform at festivals and civic events and often take their music into special needs facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities.

Click Here to submit information to the newsletter editor.
Click Here to go to the GODC website homepage!