Margaret Medvedev
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?Margaret: I live in Marshall, Texas, after spending 30 years in the Air Force. I have been playing the dulcimer since 2016. I had bought the one I used to learn with in 1981, but never got back to it due to work. So it ended up in my closet until 2016. It was an inexpensive one, but served the purpose well for learning and causing me to fall in love with the instrument. I was so pleased to be able to play music! My sister then sent me two dulcimers that a friend’s son had made and finished for her. They were a much better-quality instrument to learn even more with!
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Margaret: I was blessed to have had the opportunity to have lessons with John Keene, who introduced me to Folkcraft dulcimers. My first Folkcraft is the one pictured on my left and purchased in 2018. It is still my favorite and I call it Annemarie after my mom. The second Folkcraft is my chromatic purchased in February 2021 made of koa word—absolutely gorgeous—which meant I now needed to learn how to use that one. My last Folkcraft is my baritone recently purchased in July of this year and it, quite frankly, is a work of art, not to mention beautiful to listen to. I do have a McCafferty as well made of African makore, but I’ll be honest, I love my Folkcraft the most!!
Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
Margaret: I have played in church several times and play at jams with local dulcimer groups once a month. But my favorite is the group I belong to, Heart Strings, composed of mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers, a harp, a cello, a bass ukelele, a tenor ukelele, 2 guitars and a harmonica! We play in nursing homes on a weekly basis. Needless to say, my chromatic has come in mighty handy to play backup with instruments not always in the key of D!
Folkcraft: What other hobbies, or interests, do you have besides playing the dulcimer?
Margaret: Other hobbies consist of knitting, houseplants, and volunteering as an auxiliary deputy for a local sheriff’s department.