Strings and Things
The Official Newsletter of the
Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance
Volume XIX Number VIII
August 2001
FROM THE PREZ...
With the Walnut Valley Festival and cooler weather just around the
corner, like many others I have begun preparation. Aside from getting
the camper ready, one of my considerations has been to learn as many commonly played songs as possible. Remember the "TOP 10" list, we came up with back in February? Well believe it or not, I've still got a few songs left to learn.
While it is a definite ego trip to wow others with some obscure tune
played at a tempo that few can achieve, the enjoyment of playing songs together with others, is something only the experience itself can explain.
Here's that "TOP 10" list again: 1. "Whiskey Before Breakfast" 2.
"Black Mountain Rag" 3. "Shady Grove" 4. "St. Anne's Reel 5. "Star of the County Down" 6. "South Wind" 7. "Cripple Creek" 8. "Old House Waltz" 9. "Over the Waterfall" 10. "Mississippi Sawyer"
11. "Liza Jane" 12. "Wildwood Flower". Yes, I know, that's twelve, not ten, but we had a couple of ties.
And of course all of these are all much more enjoyable when accompanied by spoons, jaw harp, or a washtub bass. Lately I've been
taking my washtub bass to the Wednesday evening jam in Derby, and it's almost too much fun.
I think you know where I'm going
with this: thanks to Les Slaughter,
we will be having a special workshop on these instruments after the
regular club meeting August 11th. I found my washtub at Atwood's in
Derby for less than fifteen dollars. I will bring extra sticks, string, and hardware for those attending this workshop. (So you only need to bring the washtub.) Les will have jaw harps available for around $4 each. For those interested in spoons: I'm told by Les that silver (or silver plated) spoons are best.
See you at the August meeting, until then... Bang, twang, pick, and
strum... it's all good! TROY
Veep’s Meanderings
We are all in for a treat at our August meeting! For our regular workshops,
we'll be having some great teachers. Peggy Weaver has graciously consented to teach the Hammered Dulcimers. You won't want to miss this as Peggy may not be in Kansas much longer and this could be you last chance to learn a tune from her! We'll be learning some fun tunes in the other workshops, too, so be sure to come.
Talk about fun, our own Les Slaughter is teaching a special Fun
Instrument Workshop in the afternoon after the regular meeting. Be sure to clear your schedule for this event and plan to attend! We're chopping short (for real!) the business meeting, and after the workshops &
playaround, we will have a brief lunch break, and then have the afternoon workshop 12:30-2:30. Bring a sack lunch if you desire. Les will be teaching us how to play the Jaw Harp, the Spoons & the Washtub Bass-but wait! Don't say yes yet, there's more! Les will also teach us how to build a Washtub Bass. And, as if that's not enough, if you bring a couple of metal spoons, Les will rivet them together if you so desire. Yes, even a total klutz with a little bit of rhythm will be able to be a
virtual virtuoso on the Spoons without dropping them on every whack.
I certainly plan to dig out the Jaw Harp I've never been able to figure out and (not that I'm a klutz or anything like that!-Hey, quit laughing!). How do you tune a set of spoons? How do you play the Jaw Harp without vibrating your false teeth right our of your mouth? For the answers to these and other probing questions, come to the August GPDA meeting. I hope to see all of you there. Don't forget to check out our new website at: www.gpda.org
August 11th meeting agenda:
1. The Watter's mini-concert
2. Not for profit status3. Warm-Up Picnic (sign-ups)
4. Possible Winter music retreat
5. Mandolin, fiddle, and Irish tenor banjo group
6. Adopting an annual budget
7. Website
8. Treasurer's report
9. GPDA flier
Notice: The business meeting will start promptly August 11th at 9:30 am
and end at 10 am. We will not repeat things for those arriving late
New member: 07-14-01
Dale V. Hancock
156 S. Estelle St.
Wichita, KS 67211-2005
(316) 684-4775
dvhancock@yahoo.com
July 14, 2001 GPDA meeting
was conducted by our VP Jennifer.
The items of business discussed were:
1. mini concert, 8-19 at 7:00
2. treasurer’s report ???
3. progress on not for profit status???
4. membership committee will soon begin working, more committee members needed
5. Girl Scouts at Cowtown
6. Cowtown 1st. Saturday each month
7. period attire at Cowtown
8. Warm Up Picnic???
9. possible GPDA campsite at WVF
through website newsletter. discussion followed
10. Slow Jam for Autoharp sometime during week before festival
11. Visitors introduced and welcomed
12. Web Site www.gpda.org, check it out!!!!!
13. Jim moved that we repay Rita $90 spent on music printing Glen seconded and the motion carried.
14. Les Slaughter will hold an odd instrument workshop after the Aug. meeting
15. photos needed for historian
16. Teresa is planning a mid Winter workshop, details to come.
17. College Hill Methodist instrument sale
18. Claddagh Ring jam tentative date Aug. 5, call Mike for details
19. Library of Congress website with music---check it out! (Ed Note: I must have missed this one! )
20. Area Jam info sign up sheets needed
21. Marc concerned about minutes and treasurers report being public domain through website newsletter. discussion followed
22. Workshop locations announced and meeting adjourned
Mikki Shields, secretary
Treasurer’s Report- July 2001
Checkbook Petty Cash
Starting Balance
$1656.85 58.98
Dues Received $12.00 Music Packets $24.00
Disbursements
Newsletter -$11.65
Total $1681.20 58.98
Jamming etiquette for beginners
Jamming...social music-making. The word jamming implies a kind of loose,
unstructured, getting together, and ...making music. "Mind if I join you?" is always a courteous gesture.
1. Make SURE your instrument is in tune otherwise leave it in the
case.
2. Start out at the edge of the jam circle. Strum quietly.
3. Listen to yourself, stay with the group.
4. Some jams pass the lead, some
have a Leader who calls out
directions.
5. At Open Mike or Performances do NOT accompany that person
unless invited.
6. Be respectful to others. The Golden Rule is good. The key here folks: HAVE FUN! AND, if you're timid, shy, don't know how, can't tell why, come to WVF and there you may take part in our Jamming 101 and 102 sessions. Just look up the GPDA camp and we'll have times posted. Y'all come and enjoy and/or teach. Contact Jennifer Sullivan or Barbara Barr
Free music on the web: (not napster) (courtesy of our Treasurer, Rita) http://www.freesheetmusicguide .com/
http://www.freesheetmusic.net/ thelinks1.htmlThis one is lots of links.
http://www.traditionalmusic.co .uk/whatisoldtime/links2.htmmore lots of links.
Needed: Librarian to keep our music packets available
Also, if you have pictures of recent GPDA events, please send them to our Historian, James Roe
Private Instructors
The Club is pleased to announce the following as instructors:
Princess Harris, Hammered Dulcimer, 269-4045
Leslie Maryott, Hammered Dulcimer, 683-8171
Troy Pulver Mountain Dulcimer and Guitar, 788- 6773
Barbara Barr, autoharp, 687-2220
Teresa Bachman, Mountain Dulcimer, clawhammer banjo, 320-1173
( and you could probably talk Rob Loren into giving you some violin lessons, 942-7420
Please note: Ed Hill’s new e-mail address, emhill@att.net