Christmas Is Coming - The Books Are Flying Fast!
Good Morning, Y'all & Happy Friday!
Christmas books are flying off the shelf! The ramp-up in sales started back in August, and we'll probably reach the zenith of (Christmas) book sales late this month - or early next month. A quick search at Folkcraft.com brought up 27 books of Christmas songs, from many of our favorite arrangers:
FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL PLAYING ENJOYMENT:
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
DUETS & ENSEMBLE ARRANGEMENTS:
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
(also available in PDF format at DulcimerDownloads.com)
These artists are listed in no particular preferential order, but if you can keep a secret, my favorite performer is... I'm not saying, here. It'll be in the postscript of this email. You should make your own determination of "favorite" first, and then go to my P.S. See if we match!
In the shop this week? I've been a lacquering "machine." There's not much art or interpretation involved with spraying lacquer, so I enjoyed Labor Day weekend in our dark, windowless lacquer area. Spraying sanding sealer, sanding, spraying lacquer, sanding, spraying lacquer again. Then moving the lacquered instruments to my setup workbench, where I'll sand (ugh, not again, but Yes, again!), then rub out the finish with steel wool and polishing soap. And work on the fretboard with files and sandpaper (sanding again, but not so much this time). And only then, move on to making nuts and bridges, with files and sandpaper. Are you seeing a theme, here? I think that Folkcraft singlehandedly keeps Mirka and 3M - our sandpaper suppliers - in business.
Last week I shared photos of a trio of MaxDAD dulcimers. Here's one of them that's made it to my setup workbench. Lacquering is complete, it just needs to be rubbed out (steel wool!) before it goes to my nut/bridge/strings workbench.
Eastern red cedar for the top, purpleheart for the head and fretboard veneers. You can see the walnut fretboard, with the maple/purpleheart/maple stripes down the middle.
Walnut head, sides, and back. The back has the same stripes as the fretboard - maple/purpleheart/maple.
And that's enough sharing for one day. I have carols to sing, and dulcimers to rub out.
Thanks for reading, Y'all - go make some music - it's time to get out your Christmas books, and maybe even order something new for 2025.
Richard Ash, luthier-who-has-been-known-to-play-Christmas-carols-at-concerts-in-the-middle-of-the-summer
P.S. My favorite artist/performer/instructor? All of the above. Each person listed here has some amazing skills and talents. There's only one person listed that I've not yet met in person. I've shared meals with almost all the rest, and 11 of these artists have taught and performed here in the Folkcraft Instruments concert hall. Great people, and fine arrangers, each with something unique to offer. If you seriously thought that I would name a favorite out of this mass of talent and personality, you don't know me very well.
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: MIKE VOLKER
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
Mike: I have been playing the dulcimer since 2012. I bought a plywood dulcimer on Christmas Eve 2011, repaired the body, and never looked back.
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Mike: I got my first Folkcraft at KMW 2022.
Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
Mike: I usually play my dulcimer in my music room where I join a weekly Zoom with Send In The Music on Saturday afternoons. I also attend the England group once a month on a Sunday morning. I have also attended four Second Saturday Clinics at Folkcraft, playing with Richard and my newly acquired friend, Jim Ash. I have attended many festivals since the beginning and have made friends with most of...
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF MIKE'S STORY AND ABOUT OTHER FOLKCRAFT PLAYERS LIKE MIKE & YOU!
FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM MORE OF YOU!
No new Folkcraft Player to feature this week, but we are happy to re-feature Mike Volker. How've you been, Mike? Attend any festivals this summer?
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!
This Week's Featured YouTube Video:
There's a little bit of everything this week. Mandy teaches you how to find the notes to the song in different places on the fretboard. Just 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.
BASIC BACKUP
by Aaron O'Rourke
Have you ever heard two of the "great" dulcimer players, performing on stage together? Ever notice that one of them generally plays a melody, while the other one plays "backup" parts? They'll trade off, back and forth, melody and backup. It sounds a LOT better than having both of them playing melody all the time.
With this book, you'll learn (from legendary performer Aaron O'Rourke) how to play "backup." Chops, riffs, bass lines, following the lead player. He makes it sound easy!
You'll be able to use the same techniques when playing with a regular jam, too. Nobody should be playing the melody 100% of the time, and with this book, you'll have the skills to play a GREAT backup part. (50 pages)
This book is published by Fingers Of Steel, and is made available here as an authorized, licensed download.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1 - Chop Chords
Chapter 2 - Bass Lines
Chapter 3 - Combining Two Approaches
Chapter 4 - Another Way To Fill Space
Chapter 5 - Using the Drone For Good
Chapter 6 - Putting It All Into Practice