| Come experience the delight of playing traditional music on two of the sweetest-sounding and most user-friendly of stringed instruments: the hammered dulcimer and the mountain dulcimer. This week presents the best in mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer music and instruction, with many of the world’s best dulcimer musicians. Both of these instruments provide an easy and accessible welcome to new players and challenge and enrichment for experienced players to build virtuosity. Musical fulfillment and a supportive, engaging social community combine in this ideal setting of mountain beauty and comfort. You can sign up for classes in one or both instruments. Class sizes are limited to allow for individual attention to our students. All participants get three 1-1/4 hour class periods a day, providing over 18 total hours of class instruction. Beginners in both instruments remain with their instructors to comfortably build a solid playing foundation. Our participants often tell us that they learned as much at Swannanoa Dulcimer Week as in six months of study at home! But these outstanding classes are only part of the experience. You’ll get to know staff members in informal mid-day performances, and evening events include our inspiring Staff Concert that runs the gamut of dulcimer versatility, Enrichment Guest performances for more musical inspiration, an Open Mike for participants to share their music, and Thursday night’s exciting Old Farmer’s Ball. Participants can put their classroom work to practical, entertaining use in our evening staff-led jam sessions, and there will be “slow” or “moderate” speed jams from which to choose. Spontaneous informal jams also abound, with the most stalwart players often continuing into the wee hours. New this year are more access to new venues on campus which will enable us to have special “Get Acquainted” festivities on Sunday evening for all our participants and staff. Also new this year is Master Artist Bill Robinson, one of the most exciting hammered dulcimer players anywhere! He has played the instrument for about 60 years, is a third-generation dulcimer player, sixth-generation dance musician, and a well-known contra and square dance bandleader throughout the Midwest. Bill will lead the “Dulcimer All-Stars,” an exciting dance band made up of our staff, who will play dulcimers and many other instruments for Thursday night’s Old Farmer’s Ball dance..
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