Mike Anderson: The Dulcimer Guy

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Mike Anderson, the Dulcimer Guy from Illinois, is coming to Baton Rouge to the Main Library on Goodwood Blvd. on December 8 to give two performances, one at 10:00 am and one at 6:30 pm. Mike is a multi-talented musician; in addition to dulcimer he plays guitar, banjo, ukulele, jaw harp and much more. Plus he loves to tell stories to children and he is an author and emcee. A little known fact is that Mike has influenced my dulcimer playing more than any other person.mike-anderson-img_1550 Continue reading →

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Haunted Tunes for Halloween on the Dulcimer

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A good tune for Halloween is one that sounds haunted, eerie, spooky. On the dulcimer, these tunes are played in a minor mode or key using a different tuning or capo. It is easy to do this and opens up a new world of beautiful yet whimsical melodies and songs.capo-1-on-dulcimer Continue reading →

Yankee Doodle Dulcimer: Lagniappe Dulcimer Fête 2017

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Welcome to our music festival. “Yankee Doodle Dulcimer” is the theme of our 2017 Lagniappe Fete. Yankee Doodle comes to the bayous and swamps of Louisiana in a pirogue pulled by an alligator playing the drums, fife and dulcimer!. We will have a good time! A grand time. The planning is underway and our performers are selected.table-basket-2-img_1351_1 Continue reading →

More Galax-Style Dulcimers; Primer on Changing Strings

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After attending the Galax-style old-time string band jam in Virginia in May, I became intrigued with this type of dulcimer and decided to learn more about them. Could I tune one of my own dulcimers to DDDD above middle C to get the same sound? It meant changing strings–several times. Here’s how it turned out.Measuring Length from Bridge End - _0531

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Galax-Style Dulcimer: Playing the Appalachian Dulcimer in DDD Tuning

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I recently visited my mother, who lives in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and was fortunate to sit in on a Galax-style dulcimer and old-time string band jam. I was told that the dulcimers would be tuned to DDD — all the strings pitched to the same note — for this jam.Galax Dulcimer and Old-Time Fiddle Jam - IMG_9103 Continue reading →

Library Book Comes Alive to the Music of the Dulcimer

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Last summer our librarian dulcimer member, Bonnie, lead a very successful community out-reach program, “Teaching Children to Play the Dulcimer.” This summer she had the creative idea of reading a book to the children and adding dulcimer music to go along with the story. She selected the book, “Giraffe’s Can’t Dance,” by British author, Giles Andrease, with illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees.Bonnie and Book - IMG_9483_1

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15 Fête Years in T-shirts

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What a milestone this year for the Lagniappe Dulcimer Society: This is our 15th year of hosting a highly successful dulcimer festival. It is alot of work and effort with an all-volunteer organization and staff but the festival always turns out well. It is a chance to meet new and old friends, jam, play music and listen to some good musicians.Quilt of Fete T-Shirts with Charlie LeBlan and others - IMG_7719 Continue reading →

15th Annual Lagniappe Dulcimer Fete: Mardi Gras Extravaganza

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Our Lagniappe Dulcimer Fete in March of 2016 featured a Mardi Gras extravaganza complete with a pageant and a Mardi Gras Krewe with king and queen. The plans for our celebration grew as the month’s went by. It turned out to be quite a production! Here’s what happened.Denise and Jim - 2 - Continue reading →

Meet the Performers: Joe Collins

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Our annual Lagniappe Dulcimer Fête in March brings dulcimer players from all over the country to teach workshops and perform in concert. It’s a good way for local members and dulcimer players to become introduced to new music, ideas and techniques. As always, I am impressed with the talented musicians that come join in our festival. I’d like to share some of what I learned.  Meet Joe Collins.Joe Collins - 1 - IMG_7870 Continue reading →

15th Annual Lagniappe Dulcimer Fête Highlights

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Our 15th Annual Lagniappe Dulcimer Fête is history. The weather was rainy, damp and humid. It didn’t dampen the spirits of the dulcimer players — the workshops and concerts, food and vendors were great. Kudo to the fête planners. Here are some of the highlights in photos.  King Millard and Queen Larie - IMG_7941We started the festival with a Mardi Gras Extravaganza and picked a new queen and king by secret ballot.

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