Alison I'm certainly no expert on them there lumberjacks, but seein as how I was raised up in the Ozarks I was taught to sit on the board(looks like a really crude , fat, short kyack paddle)with one of the paddle blades under my posterior, faceing 90*or so from the leg, then bang on the middle and hole the dancing doll stick so that it dances on the other end somewhat in time with the music. I think the important thing is to get enough vibration in the board, and hold the stick lightly enough that the little guys arms and legs really whorl around. The kids really like it and so do I. It goes espically well with someone playing the Mouthbow.