Strings and Things

The Official Newsletter of the Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Volume XXIII Number Seven

July 2005

FROM OUR PRESIDENT:

I think that summer is here, or at least it's getting close. June
really flew by, and it's almost meeting time. Don't have a lot of info
at this time. The warm-up picnic is only about 9 weeks away, so we
will really have to start moving on that. We will be having more
discussion at the meeting. Marie and I went to Cottonwood Falls last
Friday evening, had a great meal and then stayed until about 11:30 for
the jam session. It was great. They have some good pickers that show
up for that. If anyone is interested, something's going on every
Friday nite, and its free!!! Looking forward to some good music at the
club meeting, and I promise not to talk to long. Pres. Joe

 

 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CORNER:

 

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR VP:
Greetings to July and all that play with strings.
With the onset of summer, thoughts begin to turn toward September. Ah,
that time of year that folks return to school, the daylight hours are slightly
shorter, the colors warm and the air can blow cooler. What else could one
desire in life? How about some music? Camping with friends? Meeting new
people? Sharing your talents? Helping others (or yourself) learn something
new? Well, such a deal for you. It's that one word that defines it all...
"Winfield" It is just around the corner. And what better way to start the
festival than with your own warm-up picnic. Open to all. Complete with
free instruction, free fun, and free friendship. I hope you are beginning to
think of ways that you can be a part of the festivities and to sign-up to
help all of those that are already working very hard to make this an
outstanding event.

To prepare for all the jamming, I have been reminded of a list from
long ago. This list represents the top ten (give or take) songs you
should be familiar with. If there are any songs on this list that you
would like to learn, please let me know and we can highlight them for
the August meeting. This should be an expanding list. Please feel free
to send me your own additions that you can't get by without playing. I
will update the list next month.

The somewhat official, but not really, top ten (or so) songs we should know:
1. Whiskey Before Breakfast
2. Black Mountain Rag
3. Shady Grove
4. St. Anne's Reel
5. Star of the County Down
6. Southwind
7. Cripple Creek
8. Old House Waltz
9. Over the Waterfall
10. Mississippi Sawyer
11. Liza Jane
12. Wildwood Flower

Cross Over List: (what ever that meant)
1. Red Haired Boy
2. Fisher's Hornpipe
3. Liberty
4. Gary Owen
5. The Girl I Left Behind
6. Soldier's Joy

A request to learn "Grandfather's Clock" did come in for this month's
play around, so the workshops will explore this tune. It is in both
the key of "G" and "D" in the Club music packet. For ease, let's start
with "D" but be versatile and learn "G" too. It is attached in pdf
format. If you do not have PDF reader, I recommend that you download
the FREE document reader at:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html This is a good
program that allows a wide variety of documents to be distributed over
the internet. If you are not able to locate your copy of "Grandfathers Clock", please
contact me and I will send you a copy. Joy will be working with Beginning
Hammer Dulcimer players on this tune. You will learn a few new hammering
techniques.

Enjoy and see you all July 9!

Chuck (Veep)

 

SECRETARY'S NOTES FROM JUNE MEETING:

Cowtown attire discussed again
Cowtown, GPDA plays 1st weekend of month
Cowtown, Sundays 2:00 Carol Gunter plays open jam in café near entrance.
WUP Lonnie needing volunteers

Secretary, Barbara Barr

 

THE NEW T-SHIRTS ARE IN! THE NEW T-SHIRTS ARE IN!
We have just updated our stock of GPDA T-Shirts. If you have been
wanting a new shirt or looking for a particular size, now is the time. For best
selection be sure to come to the July meeting!

************************************
UPCOMING FESTIVALS:

1. July 29-30: 6th Annual Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music Festival, Milford
State Park (near Junction City). Friday and Saturday night shows featuring
The Faris Family, Kansas Heart, The Martin Family, Pastense, The O'Brien
Family, Judy Coder and Pride of the Prairie, Chris Biggs & Friends, Thad
Beach. For info call (785) 238-3014, or E-Mail: milfordsp@wp.state.ks.us
2. Mid August: Sawlog N Strings Bluegrass Festival, Dodge City, KS.
Contact Ron Cole, Rt.1,Box 28, Jetmore, KS 67854, (620)357-6534 or visit them at
http://sawlog.org
3. August 26 - 28: Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships,
Lawrence, KS, noon-5 p.m., South Park. More info call (785) 842-7149 or E-Mail:
info@fidpick.org or visit at http://www.fidpick.org

Sunday: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Java Villa, 7812 E. Harry. Gospel, bluegrass, Irish & old timey tunes. All musical ability levels welcomed. Java Villa also serves some great food.

Mondays: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and every other Saturday night 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.

 

 

FREE......15th Annual....FREE..........15th Annual....FREE
Winfield Warm-Up Picnic

8:30 AM to 10:00 PM  September 10th, 2005     
Location: Island Park, north end of Winfield, KS   
( Rain location Cumbernauld Village ) 

**FREE Workshops *Jammin'* Concerts * Open mic **

VISIT OUR SALE TABLE for music related items and Instructor CD's    

5:30 p.m.  - Pot Luck Supper *Club provides meat*tea*coffee*paper plates.

We ask you to bring large casseroles, veggies, salads, desserts or bread for the dinner.

**NO drugs or alcohol please**

Sign-In 8:30 -9:30 AM,  Workshops 10:00-11:15, 1:00-2:15, and 2:45-4:00.  **  Lunch 11:00-12 noon

Evening Concerts by Instructors:   6:15-10:00 PM

GREAT PLAINS DULCIMER ALLIANCE     www.gpda.org

For info contact    Barbara@BarbaraBarr.com    or   Joe Anderson:  jmanderson95@earthlink.net

Good copies of this flyer for the Warm Up Picnic will be available at upcoming club meetings. 

 

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE

Clara Burgess Collection:
1. McSpadden in great shape, looks like walnut wood, does not have
the ebony fret board, good case - $225

2. Two Older Seiko tuners and
one other electric tuner - $25-50 each

3 mountain dulcimers that are entry level type, need some strings, one
needs a little more. Most have cases of some sort. $50-75 each.

4. Two Chromaharp autoharps, one is 2 row/15 bar the other is the little
narrow bars 3 row/21 bar - $125 each

5. One Oscar Schmidt 3 row/21 bar autoharp built in '79 not American
made, soft case - $225

All instruments are clean and in very good condition body wise. Lots
of music for MD and AH. The owner is GPDA member Clara Burgess. Clara has
had a stroke and is in Life Care on Edgemoor and Central. She can talk but
may or may not remember us. There will be an estate sale at Clara's house
in a few weeks. I'll pass that along as information becomes available.
Lots of nice stuff, LOTS!

Some items may be at the gpda meeting coming up. Barb

From Becky Loucks:
Becky has a beginner dulcimer for sale. It was made in Burns, KS and
comes with beginner books and some picks, I believe. She is asking
$100 for it. If interested, call Becky on her cell phone at
316-377-3553.

SO if you know somebody who needs a good instrument, there are several
listed above which fit that bill. Tell a friend and get them hooked on
acoustic music! ♬ ☺ ♬