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Teacher or Self-Taught?

by Linda Ratcliff
A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student. - Henry Youngman  
 

Teacher or Self-Taught?
I am pretty much self taught. Peggy Carter got me started with a few lessons in Houston. And then I joined Rick Thum’s Song of the Month Club to learn several jammin’ tunes over time. And I had the opportunity to attend a few festivals in the early days. But, for the most part, my arrangements are self taught. 
What do you think ... is that the best way to go?
I went …

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Peekaboo Waltz for Hammered Dulcimer

Steve Eulberg has created a new lesson for this delightful old-time waltz, the Peekaboo Waltz to be played on the hammered dulcimer.

This lesson features two different ways to play chord back up (such as Steve plays in his duo Fiddle Whamdiddle with Vi Wickam) as well as a fancier solo version. Subscribe to DulcimerCrossing.com to have access to the whole lesson set! OSOTCover

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New Lesson! Asika Thali

Neal Hellman is providing us with a new lesson that features a 4-Equi-Distant String set-up (but could also be played on a mountain dulcimer in the familiar DAdd tuning.)

This song comes to us from South Africa where it was sung regularly as part of the freedom struggle under apartheid rule. This is Neal's introduction to the tune. Subscribe to DulcimerCrossing.com to have access to this an all of our other lessons!

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Caledonian Club for St. Patrick's Day`

by Steve Eulberg We have a new Strathspey to learn in time for St. Patrick's Day for both Mountain and Hammered Dulcimers! Steve introduces the Mountain Dulcimer series here:

He introduces the Hammered Dulcimer series here:

Subscribe to DulcimerCrossing.com and you'll have access to all of these lessons, and MORE!

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New Navigation FAQ Video

Here at DulcimerCrossing we are always seeking to improve the learning experience and the latest is a new system of Navigation on the Lessons Page. [Note: this is an historical video.  The website has been reorganized since this was recorded.]

Steve has created a new FAQ video which explains these new features. Here is summary: Lessons arranged by Playing Level. Lessons arranged by Genre. Lessons arranged by Teacher/Instrument. Please ask us if you have any questions so that we can help…

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Bing Futch

by Linda Ratcliff
I think one of our favorite mountain dulcimer players is Bing Futch. You never know what's gonna happen next at a Bing Futch show. Using Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Native American flute, ukulele, drums and electronic effects, he deftly navigates the varied waters of traditional and modern Americana with passion, wit and a genuinely huge heart for sharing music with a crowd.
Bing can often be found teaching music workshops at various festivals and colleges, presentin…

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Chopin's Raindrop Prelude for dulcimer!

by Steve Eulberg I've always been drawn to this lovely prelude by Frederic Chopin, and being able to arrange it and play it on mountain dulcimer feels awesome! I have been been hard at work filming and editing this lesson for mountain dulcimer players on DulcimerCrossing and am delighted to report that it is finally ready!

Chopin wrote this piece in the key of Dflat, and I am playing it in that key, tuning everything 1/2 step lower to Db-Ab-db, but the musical score is written in the mo…

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Blue Water Thinking

by Linda Ratcliff

Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye. - Dorothy Parker






My husband and I moved this week, and we now live in our RV on Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee. We have a beautiful view of the lake, right out our back window. Actually, we’re parked on a peninsula, so we can see water from every window in the RV.

I began to wonder if the change in scenery would have any impact on my creativity, so I did some research. I found an article about how our surroundings impact creative think…

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Original Music on DulcimerCrossing

by Linda Ratcliff

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.  


Original Tunes by Steve Eulberg

Sometimes we forget to count our blessings.  And one very BIG blessing we have at Dulcimer Crossing is Steve Eulberg.

He is our co-founder, teacher, performing artist, and song-writer.  Several of our lessons feature original tunes by Steve. 
  • Elk in the Meadow
  • Club Footed Jib
  • Blacktail Weasel & the Ground Squirrel Cl…

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Are You Hooked on Dulcimers?

by Linda Ratcliff

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. - Unknown




Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” So what do you think about the most? What's close to your heart?  For many of you - it’s all about your dulcimer and dulcimer music, dulcimer events, dulcimer friends, dulcimer accessories. Here’s a little test to check your dulci-meter.

You might be hooked on dulcimers if …
  • When you get in the car, you pop in a dulcimer CD.
  • You have a 10” 3-ring …

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