Thursday afternoons at 4:00pm Eastern Time.  

Thursday evenings at 7:00pm Eastern Time.  

February 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 ... 2023.

90-minute sessions.

    The fourth installment in the “Rock Your Dulcimer!” series – once again with all new topics and all new songs. You can take this class even if you didn't take the earlier ones; everything you need will be explained.

    Each week, we'll examine songs, or parts of songs, from some aspect of the rock & roll era between the 1950s and the present. As a player, you can learn from all of these, even if some of the selections may not be your usual choice of listening. We'll focus on playing techniques, song interpretation and arranging, and making diverse songs sound great on the mountain dulcimer.

• Doo Wop – The New York oldies radio station had a great '50s doo-wop show every Sunday evening when I was a teenager, and I've loved the genre ever since. I think of it as a form of urban folk music. Beautiful harmonies and bass lines right in front – and chord accompaniment is usually easy.
• Lesley Gore – She recorded her first hit, "It's My Party," when she was only 16, but her collection of beloved '60s hits includes more assertive songs like "She's a Fool" and "You Don't Own Me." Though her earliest hits were written by others, she also became an accomplished songwriter in her own right.
• Paul Simon – A brilliant career as a singer and songwriter with Art Garfunkel, and solo. Simon & Garfunkel started out as an acoustic duo – in fact, their producer didn't inform them that he was adding electric guitar and drums to The Sound of Silence. Your probably familiar with a bunch of Simon's songs. They sound great on acoustic guitar – and on acoustic dulcimer.
• Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne – To quote their own website, "Black Sabbath is credited with creating heavy metal." You may or may not feel their music is your style, but the use of "power chords," in their songs is highly instructive for playing contemporary or traditional music on the dulcimer. 
• Cyndi Lauper – She's So Unusual – from her '80s multi-colored hair to Kinky Boots – and she performs with a dulcimer, too! Known for songs like Girls Just wanna Have Fun, Time After Time, and True Colors. Cyndi also is a 2023 nominee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We'll look at how to approach her songs and her style of playing.
• Pop Singer-Songwriters of Today – For at least 70 years, people have been saying that the next generation's music isn't nearly as good as their own was. However, there's actually a lot of good and playable music coming out today. I'll unashamedly admit that I enjoy current artists like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Demi Lovato, and P!nk. We'll look at some examples of how to be in with today's "in" crowd.

** The songs here are examples of the writers' work that you may recognize. We won't necessarily discuss those specific songs in the course.

You’ll learn how to play some songs that will impress your kids, grandkids, or classmates.

Targeted for Intermediate and Advanced players. 

Classwork will be in DAD tuning. A capo will be used at times.

1+ and 8+ frets will be used, but workarounds will be provided for participants who don't have one.

4-15 students. Classes will be recorded, so you can refer back.

You'll sign up for the afternoon or evening class, but in any week you can sit in on either or both time slots.