June Day

June: I was first introduced to the mountain dulcimer in 2014 while on vacation in Tennessee.  My husband and I decided to explore the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, a series of shops and galleries along an 8-mile loop just outside of Gatlinburg.  I had never even heard of a mountain dulcimer before, but there was a shop there that made them.  We walked up to talk with the gentleman at the counter, and he said, “I can teach you to play this instrument in 5 minutes!” I was intrigued and tried it out, and amazingly I could play that mountain dulcimer in just a couple of minutes!  But I decided against getting one on that day because I was concerned it may be just a vacation whim, and I didn’t want to play it for just a couple days and then stick it in a closet somewhere.  But after returning home, I couldn’t get that instrument out of my mind.  Months later, my husband gifted me with a mountain dulcimer for my birthday, and it quickly became an enduring passion of mine.  

June: After playing that first dulcimer for a couple years, I had figured out some specifics that I would want in an “ideal” dulcimer.  So, in 2016, my husband and I took a trip to visit several dulcimer shops in the midwest to pick out a new dulcimer.  Folkcraft was one of those shops, and I fell in love with the sound, beauty, playability, and quality of the Folkcraft dulcimers.  After spending a couple hours in the shop with Richard Ash, we custom-ordered one that had all the features that I wanted.  I named my new dulcimer "Bonnie" because she's so pretty with the heart vine design and because I love Celtic music.  She's got walnut back and sides, butternut top, ebony fretboard, the modern headstock, and the Fishman pickup and preamp.  She's been a wonderful dulcimer!

Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?

 

Tina: So my life has become very dulcimer-ful!  After playing and performing with a couple of different groups over the years, I now lead a mountain dulcimer group called, “Dogwood Mountain Dulcimers” here in Springfield. We have an open jam every 1st Tuesday of the month at the Library Center.  I also teach a beginner/developing mountain dulcimer group every 4th Tuesday at the same location.  Then, on 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays Tuesdays, I meet with several musicians to practice for performing at various events and festivals in the area.  Our performing group is called the Echoes of Dogwood Mountain, tying it to the jam group name but leaving out the word “dulcimer” because we’ve also had hammered dulcimers, bodhran, fiddle, marimbula, and flute that join in with the mountain dulcimers.  The folks that I meet with every week in each of these different groups are such precious people, and I am so blessed to know them.  It’s been a wonderful dulcimer journey so far, and I am hoping to enjoy many more years of gathering with these friends and also sharing our music with others.  To see the latest of what we’re up to, you can check out Dogwood Mountain Dulcimers on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogwoodmountaindulcimers