• We had a fine turnout at the November meeting...thirty folks just a strummin' away...and making some mighty pretty music...sounded great! ..lets keep it up! Wanda O'Guinn and some folks just getting started disappeared into the back rooms of the church and reappeared just a strummin' away like they had been at it for ever...thanks and good job to all! The rest of the group fine-tuned their Christmas songs and had a good day of it. Thanks to Peggy Bailey, Cecelia Meador and Helen Mason for the fine goodies we enjoyed at break time. Towards the end of the day Mt. Laurel joined us along with their fiddlin' friend Fred and we all joined together for a rousing Jingle Bells to send us on our way home.
• First timer Diana James brought an interesting book to the November meeting. It was written by her father Chet Hines and is titled How to Make and Play the Dulcimore. It has interesting passages regarding the origins of the instrument we know today as well as comments about the people who brought it to us. Diana will be at a family gathering and not able to make the December meeting but she will be back with us in January. Be sure to say hi to her and perhaps she can share a bit more about the book. Mr. Hines built the first of his 749 dulcimers at the age of 10...has played at the Smithsonian representing the State of Ohio...and in 1965 founded the Mountain Dulcimore Society of America. Sounds as though his love of the instrument and music have resurfaced in Diana. Can any of you "old timers" add to the recollections of Chet?
• Kristina Phillips who has been with us for each Dulcimer Day, is moving to Vancouver for grad school beginning in January but we hope she will be home in May and join us again this year. Best wishes to you, Kristina!!
• Nancy Seifert is very proud to announce the birth of her granddaughter, Ellen Cynthia Seifert. She was born December 12, at 2:25 p.m. and weighed a healthy 10# 2 oz., 20 3/4" long with lots of very dark hair.
• The December 21 meeting is shaping up to be just a good time together with no particular agenda....other than.....let's have a gift exchange...make it simple and fun...and nothing expensive...( hows around the $10 range strike you? ). Have a name tag for Santa to put on "your" present!
• Let's see if we can recall "Hush My Babe" from Maureen's workshop and give it a go...it's a kinda pretty Appalachian carol...remember the tremolo (vibrato) on the last note!
• No host or hostesses for this month....bring whatever for our break time.
• We'll be updating our mailing list...be sure to check at the meeting to be sure we have your correct information.
• OK...now to Clouston Hall and the Candlelight tour. What can we say except... WOW...it was great. We had several very nice comments from folks who simply enjoyed the music as they were touring the house and very complimentary raves from Rusty Womack, the owner of the house, who gave us an enthusiastic invitation to do it again next year! Folks commented on how much we seemed to enjoy what we were doing and that it created a nice Christmassy feeling for them too. Little ones dancing to the music...heard several folks singing along with us. The guys and gals at this year's playout: Wanda O'Guinn, Priscilla Rushing, Ed Newkirk,Rob and Peni Rowe, Fleming Smith, Kristie Kirby, Brenda Vernon, Nancy Seifert, Glen Wilson, Mary Lawrence Breinig .....oh..oh...almost left out our manager..Joyce Rushing! The Rojas Family, Angela and Jorge playing hammered dulcimers and fiddle, daughter Laura on the guitar, Rick Feeck on the mandolin and Melissa Feeck and John Cauthen on fiddles. Just learned that that the fiddlers belong to a group Jorge teaches at Nashville Violins...they sounded mighty fine...your'e doing a great job! Our own Mt. Laurel. Carolyn and Don Wick and Marilyn Konruff. Sunday night we were entertained by Sandy Conatser who filled in for Sarah Elizabeth who was experiencing some wrist problems and not able to play, and rather than just calling to cancel her appearance, she contacted Sandy who filled in at the last minute. Special thanks to both of you gals for really going that extra mile! And later Sunday we had the pleasure of hearing Ray Hunley and Fred Sakleh. Fred plays with the Paul Pyle Club in Tullahaoma and went that extra mile also to be with us. Click here for more pictures.
• We have a very nice Thank You letter from Tom Cartwright, Executive Director of the Carter House, for our contribution to this years candlelight tour.He also included some mysterious envelopes with the various groups and players names on them....to be opened at the club meeting!!!!!!!
• Please bring any pictures you have of the tour or any other of the years events to update the club scrapbook.
• We'll be taking applications for January host and/or hostess. Also taking applications for January meeting song leader...hmmm...could that be you? We need to be thinking of our Dulcimer Day program too. Also let's have a volunteer to work with new folks..this is fun and a really great way for you to share your abilities and help get someone started.
• Branson Festival - Beginning May12th through the 16th, 2004, Hunter's Friend and DreamCatcher Resort will be hosting the first-ever Branson Dulcimer Jam. The schedule of events has not yet been set, but you can call at 1-800-338-2842 if you want more information.

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  Getting to Know Us: Wanda O'Guin
  Club Profiles by Ed Newkirk
  What inspired you to play the mountain dulcimer? I obtained a plickett while attending Opryland. It is a very small solid wood mini-dulcimer. I showed it to Nannette Martin, a fellow nurse and a member of GODC, and she brought in her dulcimer. I tried it, and I was hooked. Oh, boy! I can play by numbers. Nannette introduced me to Sandy Conatser who became my first teacher. Remember those days, Sandy? Later she introduced me to David Schnaufer who had the chore to wake up my strumming hand. He has since become my teacher and my friend. Thanks Nannette.

  What types of music do you like? I really prefer church hymns, because it is what is most near and dear to me. I don't have to learn the tunes. But I have come to enjoy fiddle tunes and others, like "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight". I like songs with feeling, like "Ashokan Farewell." You bring it, and I'll try it.

  What other instruments do you have? I have an autoharp that I strum around on. I did go to Memphis several years ago and took a class with Karen Mueller. I chord more than I play.

  What things do you like about the Nashville dulcimer club? I was in the planning of the Grand Old Dulcimer Club. I can count on one hand the times I have missed a meeting. I enjoy the people, I enjoy learning from each other and I enjoy teaching newstudents. I can't teach you theory, but I can teach you a mean "Boil them Cabbages".

  Are you involved with other musical ensembles or clubs? I am a long distance member of the Knoxville Dulcimer Club, the Paul Pyle Club in Tullahoma, and the Three Rivers Club in Waverly. These clubs allow you a time to share and for them to share with you what their club likes to perform. I am also a member of the Tuesday Night Group with Ed Newkirk, Priscilla Rushing and Glen Wilson. Since my days off fluctuate, we are the Tuesday Nighters that meet on Monday night.

  What other interests do you have? I am a Surgical Intensive Care nurse specializing in Cardio-Thoracic surgery. I currently am the acting charge nurse on a Cardiac Med-Surg unit at Baptist Hospital. In my spare time I work in my flower garden and in my yard with my niece Cricket. I have one son and a grandson that I am working very hard to teach the dulcimer. He at least picks at it every time he comes.

  PEACE through Dulcimer Music.

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In partnership with Metro Parks, The Grand Old Dulcimer Club sponsors Grand Old Dulcimer Day each year in May at Two Rivers Mansion.

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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