• Dulcimer Day is almost here!!!! Be sure to attend the April meeting. It will be the last meeting before Dulcimer Day, and there will be a lot to discuss!!!!! Club members will be working hard that day and we'll be talking about individual assignments at the meeting. If you haven't signed up to participate in Dulcimer Day you can do so at the meeting. Everyone's help is needed to make the day a success! Here's the playlist for our stage performance - Sally Ann (3 times through), Give Me The Roses (3 times through - unison/harmony/upper octave), June Apple (3 times through), South Callaway Waltz (two times through), Wildwood Flower (3 times through), and Amazing Grace (3 times through). We'll play through the songs at the April meeting and be certain that our intros and arrangements are clear! Remember, the stage will be crowded and there won't be room for music stands, so memorize if possible or use "compact" tab sheets.
• The Blair School of music will sponsor our "Tradition Continues" stage at Dulcimer Day. On this acoustic stage, young dulcimer players will be able to perform and showcase their skills. This stage will be a new feature this year! Outstanding performances on the main stage, Historic Display, Singalong, Beginner Workshops, Famous Dave's Barbecue, Jammin', Hospitality Room, Video Room...all are traditional and exciting features of Dulcimer Day!!
• Well, we did it! We showed up at Carnton Plantation and by golly we DID it! The weather started out on the cool side and the winds were blowing but we did manage to get started in a sheltered spot and before long moved on to the front porch where things turned out to be quite pleasant, and we finished out a nice Sunday afternoon. Thanks to Jannice and Freddy Brown (all the way from Kentucky!), Judy Beier, Peni and Rob Rowe, Wanda O'Guin, Priscilla and Joyce Rushing, Flem Smith, Bob Yeager, Carolyn and Don Wick, Marilyn Konruff and Glen Wilson for joining in. We will be playing again on May 2. Carnton hosts a folklfest in September which should be a super gig not to be missed. Do you have a GIG suggestion?....let's hear it!
• We had a very fine response from several club members making very generous bids on the dulcimer kit mentioned in last month's newsletter. Thanks to all of you! The winning bid was submitted by Angela Fort Judd of Kingston Springs. Angela is just starting down the dulcimer road and was very eager to have her own instrument and is also very happy to support St. Judes Hospital. We're very happy for her and again thanks for the support from the GODC members!
• The Wednesday morning (10-12 and sometimes lunch after) group at the Martin Senior Center in Brentwood is alive and doing fine! We welcome anyone who would like to join in with us...we've plenty of chairs! (Call Glen for details, 373-4270)
• Thanks to Rob and Peni Rowe for giving us the Bonnie Blue Flag tab at the March meeting. It sounded great. We'll play it again during warmup time at the April meeting!
• Our host and hostess for April are the Browns...Jannice and Freddy...thanks guys! Beginner volunteer is Judy Beier...thanks Judy! Please be ready to raise your hand to volunteer for the JUNE meeting....( May is Dulcimer Day) We would also welcome a program leader for June...variety is the spice of life ...and all that stuff!
• At the April meeting, Helen Mason will have information about the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, NC this summer.
• Larry Conger will be in concert at the White House Civic Center at 7:00 p.m. on April 30. Larry is a former National Dulcimer Champion and you won't want to miss the chance to hear him! Admission is $2, and the concert will support the dulcimer program being developed at White House Heritage School by teacher Grace Guill. Grace will also be bringing some of her students to Grand Old Dulcimer Day. White House is approximately 15 miles North of Nashville just off of Interstate 65. Sue Claiborne will have tickets and more information at the April meeting.

• April 22, 8:00 p.m. - Appalachian Celebration at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music featuring Carol Ponder (awesome Appalachian ballad singer), David Schnaufer, Butch Baldassari, Bobby Taylor, John Johns, G.R. Davis, Nashville Dulcimer Quartet and Sarah Elisabeth. The program was a sellout last year, so get your tickets early! Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the Blair School of Music ticket office.
• April 30, 7:00 p.m. - Larry Conger will be in concert at the White House Civic Center in White House, TN.
• May 2 - The Club will be playing again from 2-5 at Carnton Plantation in Franklin. This will be a good chance to play those Dulcimer Day tunes!!
• May 16 - Our own Grand Old Dulcimer Day, noon until six at Two Rivers Mansion. Visit the club website for pictures from Dulcimer Day 2003.

When did you start playing the dulcimer? Within the last year.

How did you get your first dulcimer? We each got one for our birthday.

How did you learn to play?Watching videos, help at the club meetings and reading books, listening to CD's.

Where and when do you most often play your dulcimers? At home while relaxing.

Do you play any other instruments? We both play piano.

Has anything unique or special happened to you as a result of your interest in the dulcimer? We have met lots of new people and spent a lot of enjoyable and relaxing time together.

What type of music do you like to play? Gospel and Folk songs

Have you been influenced by certain performers or regional styles of music? I think lots of people influence us musically. Some of my favorites have been for popular music - The Beatles, Don McLean, Billy Joel

What do you do when you're not playing the dulcimer?I am a Cost Accountant for Tennessee Pride Sausage Company in Madison, TN. Among many hobbies is beekeeping and working on my Ham Radios. Jannice is a part-time Optometric Assistant and part-time Nana to our granddaughter.

What else would you like for people to know about you?We live in Scottsville, KY and have been married 32 years. We have a son and a daughter. Our son and his wife have a 2-year-old daughter.

In partnership with Metro Parks, The Grand Old Dulcimer Club sponsors Grand Old Dulcimer Day each year in May at Two Rivers Mansion. Don't miss our sixth annual Grand Old Dulcimer Day, May 16, 2004

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.

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