The Process of Letting Go
Our young and sprightly new minister at church delivers wisdom beyond her years. Her latest sermon centered around John 12:20-33. As she spoke, she mentioned death as being an uncomfortable…
My “Sounding Good” Era of Life
Hmmm, I seem to be on a roll these days. While I want everyone who plays hammered dulcimer and autoharp to sound good, those last two words have become my…
The 2018 Phoenix Autoharp Retreat
PAR is happening again, on March 4-6, 2019! Click here for a registration form, this year’s topic, and more! On Feb. 4-7, 2018, seven eager autoharpists from Arizona, Oregon, Washington…
My Latest B&B Student
Last week I taught another banner round of B&B lessons to an autoharp student, different again from all the previous students who join me here at home for five days…
The Right String Is Going to Be in There Somewhere (??)
One of my webcam autoharp students began playing melody a couple months ago (after a couple years of singing songs and strumming chords), and the learning curve really got kind…
Testing Theories
Life has become really interesting around here on both the hammered dulcimer and autoharp fronts. I encourage players of both instruments to embrace what I’ve found. Hammered dulcimer: One of…
A Sonic Music Experience at The TANK
On June 6, 2016, autoharp student Garrett Sullivan and I journeyed to Rangely, Colorado some five hours west of Denver to engage in a recording session at not just…
Clunk Fest
Last week while preparing dinner, I texted briefly with an autoharp friend. (I’d just bought a smartphone and now understand how addicting texting is, now that I don’t have to…
How I Choose Tunes for a Contest
Recently and in one week’s time, two autoharpists asked me how I choose tunes for a contest. (There must be some contest karma going on out there.) Here are some…