Thanks - the Appalachian dulcimer is not particularly popular in the UK you hardly see anyone playing it but I think it is beginning to be of interest. When I bought mine and MCfat was sat outside the pub playing it loads of people were interested in what ot was.

I have taken it up because it should be quite a good instrument to use with deaf kids with the sound box resting on your knee and since it is apparently so easy for children to learn it should be a good instrument for my workshops. Besides I like a challenge of learning new instruments