A Little Bit Of Fun With Automotive Dulcimer Stuff
Hello Everybody & Happy Friday!
The move Up North is still ongoing, and while the Ash family is starting to get set up and settled in, it'll be a little while longer before the move is complete. So hang in there, Ash family, and Folkcraft family - we'll get through this time of transition together.
Today we're re-featuring an "In The Shop" from the winter of 2024. Richard shared some fun "Ash" and "dulcimer-related" license plates. So, just for fun, I'll share mine here:
Bought the frame at Amazon, in case you want one, too.
Toya, Your-Folkcraft-newsletter-editor-who-has-been-recognized-waiting-in-line-at-the-bank-because-of-this-license-plate-frame-and-scared-half-to-death-by-the-friend-who-then-hopped-out-to-tap-on-my-window-because-she-knew-it-had-to-be-me!
(February 2, 2024)
Good Morning, Y'all, and Happy Friday!
This'll be a quick blog, with a couple of fun photos for your entertainment.
A few years ago, an eagle-eyed dulcimer player spotted this license plate and shared it with me:
The license plate number isn't important, but the license plate holder is - because it bears the name of one of my favorite dulcimer players: Mike Anderson. Mike is a renowned banjo player, dulcimer player, story teller, kindergarten teacher, and music historian. Historian, really? Yes! He's the world-leading expert on the regional variations of the song Itsy Bitsy Spider. We've had Mike as a clinician here at the shop several times, and he's a great adult teacher, too!
We carry all of Mike's books:
Songs For Kids
Hugo's Sing-A-Long Dulcimer Christmas Songbook
AND
Sunday Songs For Kids
The next license plate is from the same eagle-eyed dulcimer player (Michelle). This one isn't a dulcimer player's vehicle, but Michelle thought I might like it:
"Wise Ash." She thought of me. I don't know if that's good? or bad! And it is funny that this (not mine) truck from Nebraska was spotted in Alabama, by a person from Indiana. I wonder if the truck driver plays the dulcimer? That would be great! But other than my dad and my wife, I don't know anyone named "Ash" who plays our instrument, so it is unlikely.
Folkcraft carries my books, too. But my books don't have much music in them - they're reference manuals for musical instrument builders:
Fret Position Guide For Mountain Dulcimer And Other Diatonic Instruments
DOWNLOADABLE BOOK VERSION
Fret Position Guide For Ukulele, Guitar, And Other Chromatic Instruments
Good bedtime/fall-asleep reading material, like a phone book, but not much plot. (chart after chart after chart of fret pattern layouts)
And the last license plate? Another custom plate, this one from West Virginia, courtesy of Folkcraft Endorsing Artist Dave Haas:
You might know Dave from his numerous festival appearances, and from taking his classes both in person and online. Dave's one of the most popular dulcimer players on the planet, and for good reason. He's one of the smoothest players around, and he's a really nice guy.
We carry Dave's books too. And he has a BUNCH of them. This LINK has all of his books. His top sellers (a.k.a. "most popular") are:
Let's Jam!
You Can Play The Dulcimer
Beautiful Melodies
AND HIS NEWEST TAB BOOK
Beautiful Arrangements
Dave's books are available only in print form - no downloads at this time.
So, there's a little bit of fun automotive dulcimer stuff. Sort of, anyway.
Have a great weekend, Y'all - Go play some music!
Richard Ash, luthier-who's-met-most-of-you-at-festivals-all-over-the-country-and-drove-there-with-a-license-plate-to-see-you
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ANGELA MARTIN
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
Angela: I started playing the dulcimer in November 2018.
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Angela: My husband ordered a custom hourglass dulcimer for me in October 2020. Since then, I have added a LAP-JO, a teardrop, and a baritone.
Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
Angela: I like playing at home for my husband. My friend Carla and I play together once a week. I have joined Carla playing at several local schools, retirement homes, and...
FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!!!
No new Folkcraft player to feature this week. But we are still glad to re-feature Angela, who started her Folkcraft dulcimer collection a full five years ago now. Hope you and your beautiful dulcimers are still having fun playing out and about, Angela! There's still plenty of room in the family, folks! Maybe we could feature you and your Folkcraft dulcimer(s) next week?
Who's Going To Write In Next? Keep The Family Growing?
It really is super-easy to join our online dulcimer community. Just three easy steps:
1) Send an email to: newsletter@folkcraft.com
2) With the answers to the four questions below
3) Attach a photo of yourself with your Folkcraft dulcimer(s)
We look forward to receiving your submission & featuring you in our newsletter real soon!
1. How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
2. When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
3. Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
4. What other hobbies, or interests, do you have besides playing dulcimer?
WE'RE OFFERING A $25 FOLKCRAFT GIFT CARD TO ANYONE WHO ANSWERS THE FOUR EASY QUESTIONS LISTED ABOVE, AND SENDS IN A PHOTO (OF YOU WITH YOUR FOLKCRAFT DULCIMER). IT'S REALLY SO EASY TO DO!
WE JUST LOVE HEARING FROM Y'ALL!
This Week's Featured YouTube Video:
More moving between "D" and "G." This time you don’t need the 1.5 fret. Have fun! Click on the image below to listen & learn.
We have a slew (that's a fancy luthier word for "bunch") of videos for you to watch on our YouTube channel. Click here to see the full list. Be sure to comment on a video, and subscribe to the channel - either action helps us a LOT with YouTube's suggestion algorithms.
SUCH SINGING YOU WILL HEAR
by Ellwood Donnelly
After many years of reading and studying Carter Family memorabilia, as well as listening to and practicing most of their recordings, Elwood Donnelly has compiled 35 of the 300 songs by the Carter Family into a book of instructions and notes for mountain dulcimer, backup and voice.
The Carter Family was a country music group from Maces Spring, VA, on Clinch Mountain, whose members were Alvin Pleasants (A.P.) Carter, his wife Sara, and her cousin Maybelle Addington. Their skillful playing and close-harmony singing made them a huge commercial success beginning in 1927, right through the Depression and into the early 1940's. Their songs have bewitched music fans and players ever since.
This book is published by Elwood Donnelly, and is made available here as an authorized, licensed download.
SONGS INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK
Gospel Ship
I'm Working On A Building
Little Moses
There's No Hiding Place Down Here
The Wayworn Traveler
When This Evening Sun Goes Down
Anchored In Love
Faded Coat Of Blue
Fifty Miles Of Elbow Room
Hold Fast To The Right
Homestead On The Farm
I Wouldn't Mind Dying
Just A Few More Days
Kissing Is A Crime
Little Log Hut In The Lane
Lonesome Valley
Look How This World Has Made A Change
Meet Me In The Air
My Dixie Darling
My Home's Across The Blue Ridge Mountains
My Native Home
Poor Orphan Child
River Of Jordan
Single Girl, Married Girl
Sinking In The Lonesome Sea
Sow 'Em On The Mountain
Sunshine In The Shadows
Sweet Fern
When I'm Gone
Where Shall I Be?
Where We'll Never Grow Old
Wildwood Flower
Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?
Winding Stream