Group Classes
Group classes are given twice a year (spring and fall) in the Washington, DC area by Keith Young and a group of teachers and performers. Classes are given in mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, and guitar. There are six weekly classes on Monday evenings for one hour, the seventh session is a recital where students perform as a class and show off what they have learned. A short, all-student jam session follows and then refreshments!
The Teachers
Keith Young has been making dulcimers and other musical
instruments for nearly 40 years. He has been teaching people
to play for almost that long. He specializes in teaching beginning mountain dulcimer students. He organized and has been
teaching group lessons twice a year since about 1972. He has taught workshops at the Augusta Heritage Center and several
folk festivals. He is a founding member of the Mill Run Dulcimer Band which just had their 35th birthday.
Brian Lewis is well qualified to teach the Intermediate Mountain Dulcimer
class, having taught instrumental and choral music for several years
in the public school system of Michigan. There he was active in the Celtic music scene, playing many
different instruments at pub sings and sessions. He performed with Raven Song at many festivals and concerts.
He is one of the founding members of Potomac Falls and Silverbrook, groups playing a variety of music but dwelling
on the old timey sound. He is also a member of Civil War Comrades, playing at many different historical sites and is one of
the regulars at O'Hurley's Jam in Shephardstown, WV. He recently started a local dulcimer jam group, the Lorton Picks and Hammers
Dulcimer Jam, which meets once a month. Brian builds Mountain dulcimers too, having learned his skills from
Keith Young and Sam Rizetta.
Jody Marshall will teach both hammered dulcimer classes. With nearly twenty years of experience as a hammered dulcimer
performer and teacher in genres ranging from Celtic to classical to pop, Jody’s performance credits include the White House,
the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap’s Filene Center for the Performing Arts, the Birchmere, and the Smithsonian Institution.
She was a founding member of the bands Ironweed and MoonFire, and currently plays in Emerald Glen and with
various other DC-area musicians.
Tom Leoni, teaching mountain dulcimer and guitar, is a native of Switzerland holding a bachelor's degree in music
theory and composition from TCU. His extensive musical experience ranges from historical keyboard instruments to
traditional expressions of folk music both American and European. Tom has been teaching music privately for over 15 years,
and is a founding member of the German Folk duo Liab' und Schneid.
Mountain Dulcimer
Beginning Mountain Dulcimer
Keith Young teaches Beginning Mountain Dulcimer -- how to tune the dulcimer, where the scale begins and how to play familiar songs. Students learn how to play by ear. Students will also learn how to play with others. Keith breaks down the tunes into bite-size pieces so they become easier to learn. A sound recorder is suggested so that the tunes are available at home when you are trying to remember how it goes. Music and tab are also used to reinforce the ear training.
Intermediate Mountain Dulcimer
Brian Lewis will be guiding students on the next path of learning mountain dulcimer. Playing tunes poular in jamming circles will be the focus. This class will be geared to players of all skills above Keith's beginner class to those in the upper intermediate class level. Learning to play melodies by ear and hear when and how the chords change will be taught and practiced. Singing and playing at the same time will be the core of learning tunes. Good singing voice is not required but an attitude to have a lot of FUN is! The class will review the D-A-A tuning and gradually go to the D-A-D tuning. Students will learn to play many of the same songs in both tunings and see the advantages of both ways to tune. Music, tab and lyrics will be furnished to reinforce the learning experience. A recorder would be useful.
Mountain Dulcimer Repertoire
Tom Leoni brings to this class over 15 years of teaching experience, as well as his formal knowledge of music theory and performance practice. The mountain dulcimer repertoire class will focus on a number of fun and dynamic pieces in the Appalachian and Old Time tradition, ranging from fiddle tunes to ballads. Particular attention will be paid to making the sound and the rhythm of the pieces "swing," so as to bring the pieces closer to their dance-music roots. Also, there will be at least one song to sing along to. Tablature will be provided, as well as lyrics (when applicable).
Hammered Dulcimer
Beginning Hammered Dulcimer
Jody Marshall will teach this class for folks with little or no experience on the hammered dulcimer.
The class will focus on basics such as where the notes are, how to tune the instrument, and how to recognize
its inherent patterns. You’ll learn to play several tunes during the session, and you'll also get started on
how to spice up melodies with harmony and other embellishments. The class will also delve into how to play in a jam
session even when you don’t know the melody! Music and handouts will be provided, but ear training will be emphasized.
Ability to read music is not required. A recording device is useful. Rental instruments will be available for those
who don’t already have an instrument. If you'd like to rent, call Jody at 703-917-4225. Call several weeks before
the first class to ensure availability.
Intermediate Hammered Dulcimer
Jody Marshal will usually teach a new tune each week, delving into technique, embellishment, and accompaniment. You will practice learning to recognize chord changes, and explore some ideas for how to lend rhythmic and harmonic support to other musicians. A dulcimer duet or two may also be offered. Ability to read music is not required, though helpful. A recording device is useful.
Guitar
Intermediate Guitar
Tom Leoni will be teaching this class, to which he brings considerable teaching and performance experience, including opening acts for Leeann Rimes and Charlie Daniels. The objective of this class is to make the student confident with a half-dozen pieces in the traditional Folk/Country tradition. Most pieces will consist of songs with intro and solos; both the fingerstyle and the flatpicking style will be covered. Each piece will be taught slowly, using plenty of repetitions to ensure that all participants have a chance to follow, learn and memorize its "building blocks," which are also extremely useful for improvisation. Tablature and lyrics will be provided for each piece.