The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #61292 Message #985698
Posted By: JohnInKansas
18-Jul-03 - 01:00 AM
Thread Name: Flexi-frets for dulcimer - anyone use them?
Subject: RE: Flexi-frets for dulcimer - anyone use them?
Kat -
Part of the charm of the dulcimer is that you can sit in a corner and entertain yourself, and that seems to be what quite a few do. That doesn't mean that they're not willing to get together with like-minded folk, and it shouldn't stop you from finding a few fellow strummers.
I would note, though, that just because a club lists a contact address in a particular city doesn't necessarily mean that's where they meet, or that they're not a good source for contacts outside that area.
The Rocky Mountain club probably functions pretty much in the central Denver area - since it's large enough to provide for enough activity. The Durango club is a little WSW of Denver, and is maybe a little more likely to included a "dispersed" membership, although it's hard to say whether their group extends to your area – unless you make contact with them.
I do find persons (at Owl Mountain "Lessons") offering to give "fretted dulcimer" lessons in Parker, Golden, Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder - Nederland (a little North, but still on the East side), Manitou Springs, and Westminster. None listed by this site for Wyoming or Utah, though.
Although not a bluegrass instrument, lots of "folkies" get mislead into believing that they like bluegrass (until they grow upmature) so you might find compatible souls in or around a bluegrass club. There are likely to be more bg clubs than dulcimer clubs almost anywhere. Just take your earplugs and watch the crowd. Split out the healthy ones and make your own herd.
[Note: Bluegrass is great music, but as played by far too many self-proclaimed bluegrassers, it's "shut-up-and-listen-to-me-I'm-the-star" music, often painfully overamped, especially at small festivals. Even Bill Monroe complained that "everybody tries to play it too fast." But it is the name under which a lot of people meet, many of whom really should/would be "folkers," or at least "old-timeys."]
It may take some time, but they'll come when they find they have a new leader…(?)
John