This two and one-half hour DVD video and booklet show you the detailed steps in making a mountain dulcimer--building secrets seldom revealed. You see the operations being performed in the shop, hear Keith give tips and details as he works and see what machines, jigs and fixtures he uses today. He also shows you the simple way to build a dulcimer with a minimum of equipment if you want to build only one or two. He also shows you the jigs, fixtures and templates he uses to speed dulcimer building. A booklet is included that contains fret calculations, drawings, bill of materials, assembly procedure, safety considerations and list of tools and machines that make the job easier and a short discussion of string physics and glue. Sources of supply are listed: wood, fret wire, tuning pegs, finishing materials and tools.

Keith Young has made over 1400 mountain dulcimers, autoharps and other instruments since 1971. He has been teaching people of varying skills to make dulcimers. Since 1987, he has taught the Mountain Dulcimer Construction Class at Augusta Heritage Workshops, Elkins, WV where students make a dulcimer from boards of the right thickness (not prefabricated kits) in five days. These same teaching techniques are the basis of this video.

You can purchase this two volume set with book for $49 plus $9 postage. Send check or money order to:

Keith Young, 3815 Kendale Road, Annandale, VA 22003, or call Keith at 703-941-1071, or e-mail Keith@AppalachianDulcimers.com

Since 1973, the Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, West Virginia, has been associated with the finest in traditional music, crafts, dance and folklife. For seven weeks of the year Augusta brings together master artists, students, musicians and dancers to study a variety of folk cultures.

One of these weeks, usually the fifth week of Summer Augusta, Keith Young teaches a class in Mountain Dulcimer Construction where the students build a dulcimer from start to finish and learn to play it. Find out more about this class and others by following this link: Augusta Heritage Workshops