May, 2013 BDC Meeting Announcement

Judith Atkins recently posted the following to Bellingham Dulcimer Club current and potential members:

"Greetings to All,

This month's Bellingham Dulcimer Club meeting will take place on Saturday afternoon, May 11, 2013, at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship at 1207 Ellsworth between H and I Streets in the Lettered Streets Neighborhood of Bellingham. New and newer players are encouraged to come early at 1:30PM with more experienced players welcome to join us at 2:00PM.

The Song Circle this month will include tunes of your choice, so please come to the meeting prepared to "call a tune" if you would like or just  strum along.

I will also like to introduce myself, I have assumed the role of the club coordinator . . . I am not an experienced player and will rely on the many great musicians we have in the group. I am very happy to assume this role . . . There is also a team of other players that have willingly stepped in to fill the other duties. We will introduce everyone at the May meeting. Looking forward to seeing you all and sharing some music with you on the 11th.

Judith Akins" 

April, 2013 Bellingham Dulcimer Club Meeting Report

Wow, it must have been the cold AM weather - even some snow - that contributed to awesome meeting attendance today.  Twelve players, including first-timers from Canada and from south Bellingham and one left-handed guy who played "backwards", joined in the fun.  During the Song Circle, many great tunes were "called" and a couple of "new-to-the-group" tunes - "Jamaica" and "Eleanor Rigby" were shared.  And it looks like several of the folks who showed up today are more than willing and capable of keeping the Bellingham Dulcimer Club growing.  Later . . .

April, 2013 Meeting

The next meeting of the Bellingham Dulcimer Club is scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon, April 13th, 2013 at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship.  As with previous meetings, new and new players are encouraged to arrive at 1:30PM.  Everyone else should join us starting at 2PM.    At 2PM, a discussion of the future of our Club will include an exchange of ideas aimed at sharing the responsibility of planning and leading meetings starting next month.  Also please note that this month's Song Circle will include only tunes "called" by those in attendance. So come prepared to "call a tune" to share with the Circle.  Later . . .

March, 2013 BDC Meeting Report

Pretty much the "usual suspects" at the Club meeting yesterday, with the exception "first-timer" of Sarah H. from Deming, who did very well with the her "borrowed" dulcimer.  First, we recognized the Club's 4th "birthday" and then revisited "Suzanna Gal".  The version of "Happy Birthday" we shared left a bit the be desired but working with a re-tab of "Suzanna Gal" was great!  We played a some of our "standards" - "Bile Dem Cabbage Down in the Arkan", "Cluck Old Hen" and "Li'l Liza Jane" - and then moved on to some "revisits" to tunes we have not shared for awhile - "Baby-O", "Happy Land", "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie", "Lady Mary" and "Rhythum".  Though turnout was "underwhelming", our Song Circle play was extraordinary!  A discussion of the future of our Club included an exchange of ideas aimed at sharing the responsibility of planning and leading meetings starting in May.  Later . . .

Feed Store Play Out

Your read it right!  Three of us - Jodie Barbour, Judith Akins and I - provided some music this past Saturday afternoon at the Whatcom Farm Coop on the Southside.  WFC was putting on a seminar about raising backyard chickens which brings to mind "Cluck Old Hen" in Em, right?  Not the most logical of segways, I have to admit, but the hour long set of our music was very well received.  Click above on "Club Pics" to check us out!  Later . . .

Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas

Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas

30 June to 6 July, 2013

Details

Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas is a mountain dulcimer camp held at beautiful Wallowa Lake in the high country of northeast Oregon. We have morning intensive classes at all levels, afternoon electives, time off to explore the scenic area, and evening activities. Instructors this year are Aaron O’Rourke, Dave Haas, Heidi Muller and Bob Webb.

Times/hours/schedule: 5:00 pm Sunday, June 30 to 11:00 am Sat., July 6

Cost: $295 student registration till March 31, then $325 $85 for non-participants Meal plans and lodging choices listed on website

Getting more information

Website: http://www.wvmusicalliance.org/dulcimer-week-in-the-wallowas/
Contact: Heidi Muller
Call: 304-382-9422
Email: blueheron29@gmail.com

Venue Information

Wallowa Lake Camp
Joseph OR 97846

Directions: From I-84, go east on Hwy 82 to Wallowa Lake. From the north, come south on WA-129 and OR-3 to Enterprise, then continue east on Hwy 82.
Closest airport Lewiston, ID - also Pasco, WA and Boise, ID
Six hrs drive from Portland; four hrs from Boise

Columbia River Gorge Dulcimer Featival

Columbia River Gorge Dulcimer Festival

30 May to 2 June, 2013

Details

Play music you love, learn from top-notch instructors, relax and enjoy the view! Our 4th annual festival's workshops will be led by Nina Zanetti, Robert Force, and Amber and Erin Rogers of Scenic Roots. Workshops range from Fingerpicking for the First Time; to Folk Hymns from America’s Past; to Wellyn & Cornwall; to Ear Training for the Tone Deaf; to Music Business 101. We focus on the mountain dulcimer but welcome other instruments to our jams.

Cost: OVERNIGHT GUEST cost varies depending on lodging you choose. Program Fee $250 Food: 9 meals + snacks $111 Lodging (Choose the type of lodging you prefer) Private Lodging (designed for 1 person) $381 Semi Private (share with 2-3 roommates) $281 Community Lodging (3-4 roommates – bunk style) $181 COMMUTER GUESTS Program Fee $250 Commuter Fee $100 Food: 3 lunches + 3 dinners + snacks $81.75

Getting more information

Website: http://menucha.org/programs/dulcimer-festival
Contact: Scott Crane
Call: 503-695-2243
Email: scott@menucha.org

Venue Information

38711 E. Historic Columbia River Highway
Corbett OR 97019

Directions: Menucha is located on the south side of the Columbia River Gorge, in Corbett, Oregon inside the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Menucha is 30-40 minutes from Portland's airport, bus, and train terminals. Freeways I-84 and I-205 provide easy access by car from all directions. Detailed directions are here: http://menucha.org/about-us/directions.

Other comments: We invite you to check out our Facebook page for more photos and information: https://www.facebook.com/Columbia.River.Gorge.Dulcimer.Festival