5 fingers, 3 strings? Do you feel confused?
Fingerstyle mountain dulcimer is such a beautiful way to make music and it sounds SO complicated. This class is designed to offer you the skills, step-by-step, so your fingers no longer feel confused and you are equipped to play the music you want to play, the way you want to play it.
30 Days of Dulcimer Joy
An on-line class with lessons delivered daily to you in the comfort and convenience of your own home!
30 Days to of Dulcimer Joy
…is a systematic approach, using Progressive fingering patterns, in exercises to develop:
Confidence
Accuracy
Dexterity
Arranging
and Comfort for the picking hand (demonstrated by the right)…
…while the Left (or fingering hand) moves in a predictable pattern between chords.
Using Beethoven’s familiar Ode to Joy as our theme.
It is said that it takes 21 days to ingrain a new habit…
There are 31 days in the month of July.
we’ll EMBED this habit for good it in 31!
What do you get?
(32) different Fingerstyle Exercises Demonstrated in a Video, each with a pdf handout, and an Audio demonstration track.
At the end of the class you get an interactive PDF Workbook with all of the Class Materials, a zip file of all of the audio files and access to the video archive.
You have all the of the exercises, because of your daily practice, wired into your hands, ready to play any song that you decide to play.
How Do you access these lessons?
1. There is a new lesson posted in the Patron Feed on Patreon for your special tier of sponsorship AND Daily delivery to your inbox
2. Once a week Zoom Webinars (Sundays 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28 from 1 -2 pm PDT) You can record these on your computer for future reference.
3. Email consultation–ask the questions which arise. I’ll get back to you with responses as soon as I can.
4. Upload your video for comment and guidance
Why now?
Summer is the perfect time to try something new and reboot our winter rhythms. Make your Summer Rhythms’ Resolution and use this class to keep it!
Is this Class for me?
It IS for you if you are frustrated with your stop-and-start, or 1-step-forward, 2-steps-back “progress.”
It IS for you if you are ready to dedicate 10-20 minutes a day, EACH day in June, to develop the skills that have been eluding you.
There is a Limit of 25 Students so that I can give each student the attention they need and deserve.
It is only offered in July, so the successful student will be able to dedicate the time and attention to invest in their fingering skill development for just ONE MONTH, with results that continue for years.
How do I sign up?
Enrollment is from June 24-July 1st.
Step One: Apply using this form: and then
30 Days of Dulcimer Joy
Student Sign Up
Step Two: Become my patron at any level of support so you’ll get all the inside scoop and won’t miss any announcements.
Step Three: If you ARE already one of my Patrons on Patreon, ON July 1, choose the New Special patron Tier for 30 Days of Dulcimer Joy Master Class, as your patronage level for the month of July.
Step Four: At the end of the class, On July 31st, either choose to sign up for one of the regular tiers of support and have the inside scoop on all of my creative projects, as well as unique access to my digital versions of my books and recordings and videos, or stop being my Patron completely.
Course Plan
We will work through (2) Beginning Exercises and (30) Ode to Joy exercises over the course of our 30 days together.
Assignments:
Film or demonstrate a baseline Video of your exercise in Week 1
Film or demonstrate a baseline Video of a second exercise in Week 2
Film or demonstrate a mid-stream assessment Video of your exercise in Week 3
Put 3-4 of the exercises together into an arrangement and Film or demonstrate a final assessment Video of your exercise in Week 4
OK, How much will this cost?
My once-a-week, 45 minute Private Lessons are $270 a month (on-line or in-studio)
Regular Price for this class: $500.00
Special price for my Patrons at this unique first-time offering: $250.00
(50% off!)
That’s about $8 a day (less than a fancy Blue Bottle coffee) for DAILY lessons!
Here’s the deal: You get daily lessons, daily handouts, weekly live class, email support and feedback AND you get to keep everything!
for only $8 a day!
AND–Each student gets a copy of the interactive PDF Booklets of the Exercises and Class Materials and Access to the Video Archive at the conclusion of the class.
Don’t take my word for it. Here is what students have to say about Dulcimer Joy:
“The progression of the exercises as laid out have greatly improved my finger picking and flat picking.
A pleasant surprise as I progressed was my new ability to improvise and add interest to pieces where before I pretty much followed tablature as it was written.
Using just one song throughout made it easier to concentrate and work on the exercises themselves.”
—Karen O’Neal
And here is what another student said about the Guitar Version of 30 Days of Joy:
“The Ode to Joy series of lessons helped me in several ways:
—Arun Moothy
– It gave me a way to improve my Travis-style finger-picking with a series of progressively more difficult exercises
– It introduced and illustrated concepts from music theory (octaves, triplets, etc.)
– It provided a fun yet challenging method to take a familiar, basic melody and play it several different ways. (Which means no matter your frame of mind or mood or time available to practice, you can find something to work with here.)
Why should you study with me?
I have been playing mountain dulcimer for 39 years, learning mostly from the school of hard knocks.
I have been teaching students privately since the early 1990s.
As the first Guitar Instructor at JamPlay.com, I’ve been steadily working with on-line education since 2006.
I earned a Master of Music Education degree from Boston University in 2007 with a focus on teaching folk music on folk instruments.
Together with Linda Ratcliff we launched the on-line Dulcimer Learning site: DulcimerCrossing.com a few years later.
What Others Say about my teaching
“I’m a national champion, have been playing the dulcimer for 18 years, and I never want to stop learning the dulcimer. Steve’s teaching helped me understand my instrument better and his clear, planned explanations helped me comprehend quickly. Some teachers only teach tunes and fail to teach the instrument. Steve does both effectively. I highly recommend Dulcimer Crossing.” —Joshua Messick
“I am so excited – I just listened to your videos and explanation of modes. I have been trying to understand modes in the program I am taking to become a Certified Clinical Musician. Modes totally confused me and I couldn’t understand why I needed to understand these. ….After listening to your videos on modes, I completely understand them. I think it also helps that you go back into the history of modes and explain why there are modes. You are a wonderful teacher.” –DulcimerCrossing student
“You have a good way of explaining things…I am also looking forward to following your fingerpicking lessons” –JamPlay Student
“…like many others I really enjoy your easy listening finger picking lessons. They are very well taught although I play some of the chords a little differently and already find myself changing the sounds…Keep up those licks and that beautiful music. It is made for me” –unclefuzzy6
“Your teaching style is friendly and easy to follow, plus you have a nice sense of humor.” –robbi23
“Just wanted to thank you for your awesome lessons. You have a knack for teaching, that is for sure.” –JamPlay Student
“I must give you a huge THANK YOU from me and my family. Love not only your lessons about the guitar, but music in general. I never thought that some of the most complicated explanations about music can be put into something we call simple.” –Mike
“Steve has a special way of explaining everything and he makes you feel like you’re sitting right there in front of him in a one on one lessons, and I’ve actually learned a lot from him so far.” –rocknroller
“I really like your teaching method, you seem to cover every point and leave no stone unturned.” –lewisa631
“Just wanted to say thank yo for making my transition from metal to finger style easy and enjoyable.” -jotero8951
So, are you ready to sign-up?
See Step One Above!
Do this today!
Step Two: Become my patron at any level of support so you’ll get all the inside scoop and won’t miss any announcements.
Enrollment is open from June 24-July 1st.
Step Three: Then mark your Calendar for July 1st to choose the Special Patronage Tier for 30 Days of Dulcimer Joy Master Class and off we go!