Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXIV Number Two

Febuary 2006

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

Hello everyone!
  I would like to thank everyone who came out to the Coliseum to play for the vendor appreciation dinner.  The crowd wasn't as noisy as in the past, and I thought we sounded really good. Of course, free dinner and rodeo tickets didn't hurt anything.
  A big thank you to Marc & Teresa Bachman for chairing the winter retreat at Lake Afton.  It was great fun and the food was good too.  I always enjoy the winter retreat.
  We need dues in by the end of Feb. so that we can get the directory printed.  If you haven't paid your dues, please do so soon.  Make sure that your contact info is correct, so we can get the newsletter to the right place.
  Tell all of your friends about the Delancey/Thomas workshops and concert coming up.
  I need a volunteer to chair the fund raiser that will be in March.  Contact me or any board member if you would like to help out.
  We have a lot going on this spring, so bring your instrument and join us.

Prez

Joe

 

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR VP:

Veep Speaks:
A warm Saint Valentine greeting to all!

Well, February has come and if you are like me, falling behind.  For the workshop this Club meeting, we will once again visit Liza Jane.  Last meeting we ran through our play list for the Coliseum and did not have a chance to explore these fine and fun tunes.  I have music for Lil Liza, Liza, and Big Liza Jane.  If you know of any other "Jane" tunes, bring them along we will see how many we can gather.  Joy will work with Hammer Dulcimer, Glen will work with Mountain Dulcimers, Troy will work with beginning Mountains and perhaps toss in some stepchildren, Barb may be able to pick-up the autoharps, and I will work with the guitars.

We have all heard about the exciting workshops and concert Saturday afternoon.  I encourage everyone to make it to this event and support the leaders.  Remember, you can always learn something from someone even if you do not play that particular instrument.  It could be a curiosity about how the instrument is approached, basic styles and rhythms, challenges to playing or just how much fun it is to learn something new.  Who knows, you may be able to learn a run on the bass and apply it to your dulcimer.  Theory of chord structure on the hammer dulcimer may translate to a progression you have been looking for.  Strumming patterns on the guitar could help with your rhythm.  If after all this, you are not interested in one of the workshops, come for the open jam or help out with the directing traffic and watching the front door so others can participate in the workshops.  But most of all, get the word out, bring your friends and enjoy this event!

I want to thank everyone that made it to the Coliseum this year for the Rodeo.  We had a good turn out of musicians.  I want to especially thank Steve for showing up with his bass.  In a loud room with bad acoustics, the bass really helped us stay together.  I think it was our best performance at this venue!

Thanks again to Mark and Teresa for getting the Winter retreat together last month.  It was a wonderful turnout and a good time was had by all.  I am glad that so many were able to attend this year, and as always, the food was wonderful.

I want to ask everyone to be thinking about what they want to get out of our club workshops.  If there is a song you would like to learn, let me know.  If you want to teach your favorite some, let me know.  If you think our format workshop/play around is working, let me know.  Any suggestions, please let me know.  You can write your ideas and dreams down and give them to me this weekend or e-mail me at ccarr@mvpcorp.com   It is important that GPDA is a good learning experience and a fun time together.

See you this weekend!
Chuck, your Veep

 

SECRETARY'S NOTES FROM January MEETING:

•  Island Park Pavilions secured for Warm Up Picnic
•  Bobby Mayes to do Handbook
•  Delancy workshops/concert Feb. 11th from  1:00 to 6:00 PM
•  Need volunteer to chair  Spring Benefit
•  Location for Spring Benefit
•  Halfway to Winfield coming up in March '06
•  GPDA dues are past due.   If you want to be in the Handbook and receive my wonderful emails, please take care of that by mail or at the general meeting this Saturday.

Submitted by Barbara Barr,
Secretary GPDA

 

 

 

 

• ** The Delancy Workshops/Concert Feb 11th  1-5:30  will be at the Hillside Baptist Church   147 S. Hillside (Just south of Douglas on Hillside , enter on the English street side door.    Plenty of Parking.
•  
• **I need volunteers to bring snacks / finger foods / cookies for the break between workshops and the concert.   GPDA will provide coffee/lemonade and napkins.   Also need volunteers to help pick up after ourselves.    
• Some have asked if there is anything for the Mountain Dulcimers at this event.    No, but we will have a separate room for jamming during the workshops.    We will be having more events during the year so all instruments can be represented.    I do think we all need to support whatever the club is doing if possible.    
• ** Contact a Board member if you have questions or suggestions at any time.

 

Mondays: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Java Nation, 804 East Douglas in Oldtown. Irish/Celtic/whatever Jam. Intermediate to Advanced level players. Coffees, drinks and yummy snacks available. Come and see the Corry Academy of Irish Dancers perform. This is a great place to play!

Tuesday: 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. at Derby Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 431 S. Woodlawn. Mountain Dulcimer Jam with accompaniment welcomed (guitars, etc.) All levels.

Thursday: 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m at Java Villa, 7812 E. Harry. Irish Jam. Intermediate to Advanced level. See above for food commercial.

 

For sale:

Classic Harvey Prinz Hammered Dulcimer w/stand. $300
This was Rogene Allison's dulcimer. The woman who
purchased it has MS and has decided learning to play a
HD is not something she can do.
This would make a nice Valentine present to yourself
or someone you love!
Teresa B