Blog
The Finish Line
by Linda Ratcliff
Don't be so focused on the finish line that you fail to enjoy the journey. - David Weekly
The Finish Line
I started a new diet about two months ago. And so far, all I have lost is 2 months and 8 pounds. Now you may want to pat me on the back and say, "Way to go! You didn't put it on in a day, and if you take it off slowly - it will stay off. But that's discouraging for me. I want to git'er done. I want to reach the finish line, and I want to reach it TODAY.
That's not going to…
Don't be so focused on the finish line that you fail to enjoy the journey. - David Weekly
The Finish Line
I started a new diet about two months ago. And so far, all I have lost is 2 months and 8 pounds. Now you may want to pat me on the back and say, "Way to go! You didn't put it on in a day, and if you take it off slowly - it will stay off. But that's discouraging for me. I want to git'er done. I want to reach the finish line, and I want to reach it TODAY.
That's not going to…
Beginner to Expert
by Linda Ratcliff
The expert in anything was once a beginner. - Helen Hayes
Beginner to Expert
The opening quote for this page, "Every expert was once beginner," is attributed to Helen Hayes (1900-1993). She was an actress who is one of the few in her career to win an Emmy, a Grammy, and an Oscar and a Tony. If anyone became an expert in her craft, it was Helen Hayes.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author born in 1949 who writes novels and short stories. He said, "If everyone waited to become an exp…
The expert in anything was once a beginner. - Helen Hayes
Beginner to Expert
The opening quote for this page, "Every expert was once beginner," is attributed to Helen Hayes (1900-1993). She was an actress who is one of the few in her career to win an Emmy, a Grammy, and an Oscar and a Tony. If anyone became an expert in her craft, it was Helen Hayes.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author born in 1949 who writes novels and short stories. He said, "If everyone waited to become an exp…
Ask Questions
by Linda Ratcliff
A truly wise man always has more questions than answers. - Wilson from Home Improvements
Ask Questions
Below is a series of questio…
A truly wise man always has more questions than answers. - Wilson from Home Improvements
Ask Questions
Your sub-conscious works day and night to answer any questions you ask. So asking yourself open-ended questions puts the sub-conscious to work. Answers often come "out of the blue", as ideas or notions that you might not have had otherwise. When practicing, why don't you put your subconscious mind to work by asking questions about your progress?
Below is a series of questio…
Natural Talent vs. Hard Work
by Linda Ratcliff
Hard work beats talent ... when talent doesn't work hard.
Natural Talent vs. Hard Work
Hard work beats talent ... when talent doesn't work hard.
Natural Talent vs. Hard Work
Is it possible for a person without any inherent musical talent to become skilled at playing their dulcimer? Now to clarify ... a person who lacks musical talent will usually manifest the following characteristics:
- Lacks a sense of rhythm - plays on the wrong beats.
- Tone deaf – doesn't notice when he/she strums or hammers the wrong notes or chords.
- Finds it difficult to keep in step with ot…
Part 2 of Bluegrass Series
by Linda Ratcliff Bluegrass has brought more people together and made more friends than any music in the world. - Bill Monroe NEW: Part 2 of our Bluegrass Series
What makes a tune or a song “bluegrass” anyway? Well, if you ask five bluegrass players, you'll most likely get five different answers. Bluegrass music is usually performed by a group with a guitar, an upright bass, a mandolin, a fiddle, and a banjo, and features “high lonesome” three-part singing. Since most of early bluegrass musicia…
Don't Take It Personally
by Linda Ratcliff
Don't let compliments go to your head, and don't let criticism go to your heart.
In today's culture, people feel free to say whatever is on their mind, whether it will hurt someone's feelings or not. If you ever get negative feedback about your dulcimer playing, it can feel like a personal attack. Sometimes it's very hard for musicians to separate themselves from their work. (And yes, you ARE a musician. It hurts because we put our heart and soul into our music, no matter if …
Don't let compliments go to your head, and don't let criticism go to your heart.
In today's culture, people feel free to say whatever is on their mind, whether it will hurt someone's feelings or not. If you ever get negative feedback about your dulcimer playing, it can feel like a personal attack. Sometimes it's very hard for musicians to separate themselves from their work. (And yes, you ARE a musician. It hurts because we put our heart and soul into our music, no matter if …
Squire Parsons new Hammered Dulcimer Lesson by Linda Thomas
Linda Thomas has provided us with a new lessons series for hammered dulcimer players featuring a tune by the blind Irish harper, Turlough O'Carolan, Squire Parsons. Linda's introduction and demonstration video is above.
Subscribe to DulcimerCrossing in order to have access to all (15) fifteen videos in this lesson set.
Hammered Dulcimer Highlight
Steve Eulberg gave a Hammered Dulcimer Concert Window show for Premium Subscribers at DulcimerCrossing on Saturday, May 20, 2017. Here is the highlight video.
Subscribe to DulcimerCrossing to have access to all the Live Events.
Introducing New Fiddle Instructor
by Steve Eulberg & Linda Ratcliff DulcimerCrossing is pleased to introduce our newest instructor: Vi Wickam (Learn more about Vi on the Teacher's Page or click on the video below:
Vi Wickam is a 3rd generation fiddler from Colorado. He has finished in the finals at the Grand Master Fiddling Championship and has also taught there. Together with Steve Eulberg, he is the other half of the band, Fiddle Whamdiddle. He is also the host and owner of mytalentforge.com which features in-depth …
Tuning Hack for Scroll-Headed Dulcimer
by Steve Eulberg
The Snark™ tuner is very popular with mountain dulcimer players, for good reason. It is quick, accessible, accurate and it's display is very readable.
(This is not an insignificant feature as those of us who continue gathering service stripes in the playing of our dulcimers experience with eyesight that gets weary over time!)
And the handy clip-on feature works very well with flathead mountain dulcimers.
However, players of instruments with the traditional scroll have sometimes str…
The Snark™ tuner is very popular with mountain dulcimer players, for good reason. It is quick, accessible, accurate and it's display is very readable.
(This is not an insignificant feature as those of us who continue gathering service stripes in the playing of our dulcimers experience with eyesight that gets weary over time!)
And the handy clip-on feature works very well with flathead mountain dulcimers.However, players of instruments with the traditional scroll have sometimes str…
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