December, 2011 Monthly Meeting Report

Though attendance was down, yesterday's BDC monthly meeting went very well.  Thanks to Pat Maden for her sharing a nice Dm Kentucky Christmas carole with us.  The "run through" of Deck the Halls went OK - the other three tunes were somewhat "underwhelming".  Thanks to Jodie Barbour for "calling" Black Mountain Rag - great tune!  Postings regarding next month's meeting are forthcoming.  Later . . .

December, 2011 Club Meeting

The Bellingham Dulcimer Club's December meeting is on Saturday afternoon, 12/10/2011, at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship at 1207 Ellsworth, between H and I Streets, in the Lettered Streets Neighborhood of Bellingham (See pic, below).  Starting this month, our Club meetings are in the Flex Room,  just "on the way" to Room #1, which we have "outgrown".  It is suggested that new and newer players show up at 1:30PM.  All others should plan to attend at 2:00PM.  After a short "Club business discussion",  a song circle will take place, during which there will be "run throughs" of December's Christmas Tunes of the Month as well as opportunities for those in attendance to "call a Club tune" or share a new tune with the group.   Later . . .

The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

1207 Ellsworth

Bellingham, WA

December's Christmas Tunes of the Month

For December, there are four (4) Tunes of the Month, all of which are Christmas songs.  The tunes are Deck the Halls, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells and The First Noel. 

Moving into the Flex Room

Starting with the Club's December monthly meeting on Saturday, 12/10/11, we'll be gathering in the Flex Room.  This larger room, rated for twice as many folks as Classroom #1, is "on the way" to where we have been meeting.  With excellent turnouts to meetings in October and November, it became obvious that meetings needed a bigger space.  Thanks to BUF/Club members Pat Maden and Colleen Verdan, the Club is able to get the much larger room with no increase in rental fee.  Specials thanks are due to Pat and Colleen and also - obviously - to Erin Marlone and the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship.

Checkmate Music

Checkmate Music in Bellingham is managed by David Payne.  This local shop is a source of instrument repairs, instruments and dulcimer accessories.  Visit facebook.com/checkmatemusic for more information.

November, 2011 Monthly Meeting Report

Today's Bellingham Dulcimer Club (BDC) monthly meeting at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (BUF) was well-attended.  All but one (1) of last month's "first timers" and two (2) new "first timers" were in attendance.  Music covered included "revisits" of "Bile Dem Cabbage Down in the Arkan" and "Cluck Old Hen" and sharing of "Good King Wenceslas" and "June Apple".  It would appear that a good time was had by all!

Bellingham Dulcimer Club Now on Facebook

A new Facebook page has been created for the Bellingham Dulcimer Club. Hope everyone will check it out, become fans and give me your feedback on what you would like to see added. Enjoy.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellingham-Dulcimer-Club/143083582459446

November, 2011 Club Meeting

The Bellingham Dulcimer Club's November meeting is on Saturday afternoon, 11/12/2011. at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship at 1207 Ellsworth, between H and I Streets, in the Lettered Streets Neighborhood of Bellingham (See pic, below).  It is suggested that new and newer players show up at 1:30PM.  All others should plan to attend after 2:00PM for a Club song circle which will include a "run through" of this month's Tune of the Month, Sandy Boys in A.  Hopefully, attendance at November's Club meeting will top October's, which was awesome.  Later . . .

The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

1207 Ellsworth

Bellingham, WA

November, 2011 Tune of the Month

This November, 2011 Tune of the Month is one you will all recognize, Sandy Boys, primarily because we already play it in the key of D.  This version, however, is in the key of A.  Although it's still played in a D-Mixolydian tuning (i.e., Dadd), using a capo at the 4th fret allows transposition of the tune to the key of A, the key that most fiddlers play this tune in.  We'll run through it at the November 12th, 2011 Club meeting.

Update of Club Information at Everything Dulcimer

Information regarding the Bellingham Dulcimer Club has been updated on the Everything Dulcimer website.  Check it out. 

Website is Now in Good Hands

Faith Foster, who attended her first Bellingham Dulcimer Club meeting this past Saturday afternoon, has "stepped up" to provide on-going maintainance of the Club's website.  Though not sure about being called the Club's "Webmaster" - maybe "Webmistress" would be more appropriate - she is more than willing to take on the task.

Great 1st Meeting at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

Today's 1st BDC Meeting at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship was awesome.  Nine (9) "first timers" were in attendance, joining three (3) current Club members.  Items covered included a new/newer players workshop using "Bile Dem Cabbage Down in the Arkan", a run through of the Tune of the Month, "When the Saints Go Marching In" and the sharing of "Whiskey Before Breakfast", "Southwind" and "Cluck Old Hen".  Suffice it to say that a good time was had by all!

October Monthly Bellingham Dulcimer Club Meeting

The Bellingham Dulcimer Club E-Mail list has reached nearly fifty folks.  A posting went out to each of these folks, inviting each to attend the Club's October meeting at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship at 1207 Ellsworth, between H and I Streets, in the Lettered Streets Neighborhood of Bellingham.  The meeting is on Saturday afternoon, 10/8/2011.  It is suggested that new and newer players show up at 1:30PM.  All others should plan to attend after 2:00PM for a Club song circle which will include a "run through" of this month's Tune of the Month, "When the Saints Go Marching In". 

Tune of the Month for October, 2011

This first Tune of the Month is one you will all recognize, When the Saints Go Marching In.  Club member Clay Butler has provided the linked Tab and will share this tune with attendees at the October 8th, 2011 Club meeting at our new meeting location, the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship facility at 1207 Ellsworth Street in Bellingham.

New Meeting Location

Below is a photograph of where, beginning in October, 2011, Bellingham Dulcimer Club meetings will be held on the 2nd Saturday afternoon of each month.  This is the new Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship facility in Bellingham.  Club meetings will be in a classroom in the Fellowship's new facility at 1207 Ellsworth Street.  You can check out this space by visiting http://www.buf.org/RentalInformation.html.  See you there in October!

Welcome to a 4th Bellingham Dulcimer Club Website

If the Bellingham Dulcimer Club's website were a cat, it would have but five (5) lives remaining.  This is the Club's 4th site, with two of it's previous sites at "Wordpress" and this the second time here at "Blogger".   This 4th site is "Under Construction" and will not be fully functional until after the Club's September, 2011 meeting.  In the interim, current information regarding Club activities can be accessed at http://www.bellinghamdulcimerclub.com/.