Sign up for 6 weeks of intensive learning from the comfort of your own home.
You get:
- A weekly live 50-60 minute class taught by Steve
- Practice assignments each week
- Handouts provided as .pdf files
- Video archives of each lesson
- Interaction with other students
You need:
- The desire and commitment to learn and grow as a mountain or hammered dulcimer player
- An internet connected device equipped with a webcam and microphone (most laptops, tablets, and smart phones work).
- An email address
How it works:
When you register, you will receive the link to join a Zoom meeting. Click that link to attend the class each week. Zoom allows everyone to see each other throughout the class, so you can play along with Steve as he teaches. Student microphones will be muted unless they are asking a question, so you will only hear Steve’s audio. The entire class will be recorded and sent to all registered students, along with handouts for the following week, at the conclusion of each class.
What Previous Students say about Steve’s On-Line Classes:
“My favorite part of the class is:
-having a face to face class and learning new ways to play
-getting to interact with other students
-the interaction between the instructor and students.
-your knack for making the songs personal to the students. I’m much more engaged when we’re playing songs along with your improv. Also I appreciate how you break-down the technique into digestible chunks.
-it has been useful to know what advanced players do and to be more comfortable with the layout of the Hammered dulcimer.
-I love that I learned more about chords and scales. I love that the teaching made the new information understandable and accessible. I love that learning these new skills was so much fun!
-Steve offers a comfortable, personal class adapted to our skill level. He delivers the lessons in clear, progressive order with humor and a folksy touch.”
These classes are offered in (4) Sessions each year:
Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall
(all times are listed MST or MDT)
Below are some Archived Classes from the past two years:
Spring Session 2021 Archived Classes
Mountain Dulcimer Repertoire
Tuesdays 1 pm MDT (19:00 GMT) 4/20/21-5/25/21
This is an intermediate class aimed at learning new repertoire in DAd, DAA and DAC tunings.
Featured will be some preview arrangements of from my forthcoming book by Hal Leonard: 50 First Songs on Mountain Dulcimer. Included: (2) Jim Croce tunes: Operator and Time in a Bottle (for which I’ve received permission to teach from Ingrid Croce). Seton Sands, and others.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Tuition for this class is $150.00
Hammered Dulcimer Repertoire
Mondays 11 am MDT (17:00 GMT) 4/19/21-5/24/21
We’ll develop our tune acquisition skills by learning (6) new tunes of a variety of types and styles and keys. Tunes include: Wind That Shakes the Barley, Versuvienne, Wild Rose of the Mountain , Julianne Johnson, Sarah Armstrong’s, Winsome Waltz.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Tuition for this class is $150.00
POST-PONED
DulciBro (Dulci-bro) Playing Resonator Dulcimer
Playing slide style on 4 equi-distant strings on a resonator dulcimer is SO satisfying! We’ll develop our slide (left hand) technique, our right hand (picking hand) patterns, while learning where chords and notes are.
Each participant receives a digital copy of my Dulci-Bro: Method and Resources for Playing Resonator Dulcimer, as well as a special coupon for the purchase of the physical book/CD.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Tuition for this class is $150.00
REGISTER next time
Postponed
6 Weeks of Guitar Joy
Thursdays 11 am MDT (17:00 GMT) 4/22/21-5/27/21
In these 6 weeks, we’ll explore as many of the 30 fingerstyle exercises I’ve created based on Beethoven’s familiar Ode to Joy.
The exercises are in three different octaves so that players can develop sight-reading skills, notice chord positions to simplify left hand position and movement, try different right hand fingering combinations, get comfortable moving around the guitar neck with confidence and explore new arranging ideas that can transfer to other tunes.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Tuition for this class is $150.00
REGISTER next time
Postponed
BEGINNING HAMMERED DULCIMER
Mondays 4 pm MDT (22:00 GMT) 4/19/21- 5/24/21
Based on my workshop What I Wish I Knew When I Started Playing, this 6 Week class goes into more depth about: the layout of the hammered dulcimer, choosing hammers, developing hammering skills with parallel hammering exercises, the understanding chord positions and touches on some beginning considerations for arranging a tune to play on the instrument.
Each student receives the downloadable class handout packet and archive video recordings of the class for reinforcement.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Tuition for this class is $150.00
REGISTER
Winter 2021 Classes are now archived.
Jazz it up! F-A-C Tuning on Mountain Dulcimer
1-3-5 Tuning opens up all kinds of chromatic possibilities and rich chord opportunities for playing Jazz on mountain Dulcimer.
By using the F-A-C tuning, we’ll be able to play jazz tunes IN THE KEYS IN WHICH THEY WERE WRITTEN.
In this 6-week session we’ll use a new jazz standard tune each week to explore:
- Chord shapes
- Chord voicings
- Chromatic melodic opportunities
- Rhythmic variations
Students will receive PDF handouts, listen to recorded examples.
- Weekly instruction and support
- Video archive Recordings of each class
- downloadable .mp3s & .pdfs of each tune
A minimum of 4 students is needed to run the class a maximum of 12 helps to preserve personal attention to each student’s learning process
Don’t see a class listed that works for you? Gather up 3 friends, choose a day/time/topic you want to study, and we’ll set up a class!
Prefer one-to-one private lessons? Click HERE for more details.
Special Class:
Dulcimer-Friendly Evening Prayer for Lent (12-Week Class)
Wednesdays 6 pm -7 pm PST 1/6-3/24/20 = 7 pm MST = 8 pm CST = 9 pm EST
Dulcimer-Friendly Evening Prayer for Lent (12-Week Class)
Wednesdays 6 pm -7 pm PDT 1/6-3/24/21 = 7 pm MDT = 8 pm CDT = 9 pm EDT
Using Steve’s Dulcimer-Friendly Worship series, students will learn the Evening Prayer Service (Vol. 2) and seasonal Lent tunes from his forthcoming Lent Book (Vol. 4)
This class meets on Wednesday weekly for 6 weeks with the final 6 weeks being a play-a-long weekly Lent Prayer Service that is open to the public. (All times listed at PST)
We’ll first learn the accompaniment for the Evening-Prayer Service (Jan 6-20), then some Lent Tunes (Jan 27-Feb 10) and we’ll have a play-a-long Prayer Service on Zoom on the 6 Wednesdays in Feb and March.
The class and prayer service will meet on Zoom with separate Meeting IDs for the first 6 weeks and and the final 6 weeks.
Students will receive:
• Weekly instruction and support
• Video archive Recordings of each class
• Downloadable .mp3s of each tune and .pdf of each tune
• Downloadable Interactive .pdf of Dulcimer-Friendly Worship, Vol 2: a service of Evening Prayer.
A minimum of 4 students are required to run the class with a maximum class size of 12 to ensure proper support and attention for each student.
[If there is interest (4 or more students) from the UK and Europe, a 2nd section of this class will be offered at 12 pm PDT on Wednesdays.]
Tuition for this class is $225.00
Fall 2020 Classes now archived.
Digging into the Peat Celtic Hammered Dulcimer Class
Mondays 11 am -12 noon 10/12-11/16/20 PDT = 12 n MDT = 1 pm CDT = 2 pm EDT
By student request, this class is offered as a way to dig more deeply into (4) four different Celtic tune types in order to gain fluency and facility in playing them.
We’ll work on the same (2) two tunes for 3 weeks, then work on (2) two more for the final weeks, covering a jig, a hornpipe, a reel and a strathspey.
Elk in the Meadow (DGd); Sailor’s Hornpipe (DGd); Sally in the Garden (DAd, capo 1); Braes of Tulliemet (DAd).
Students will receive:
- Weekly instruction and support
- Video archive Recordings of each class
- .mp3s of each tune .pdf of each tune
- copies of Steve’s Another Jig Will Do and
- I Celebrate Life digital books are included,
All Dulcimer Blues Jam
Mondays 4 pm -5 pm 10/12-11/16/20 PDT = 5 pm MDT = 6 pm CDT = 7 pm EDT
All Dulcimer Blues Jam Workshop*for students who have completed Playing Blues on Mountain Dulcimer 1 or 2 or Playing Blues on Hammered Dulcimer 1 or 2* classes at the QuaranTUNE festivals or Steve’s Spring or Summer Session Classes. (OR, students who feel up for the excitement of developing our blues chops in a live setting.)
Class meets weekly at 4 pm (Pacific Time) on Mondays. October 12-Nov 16.
The successful student will be familiar with the blues genre and how to play typical 12-bar blues on his/her/their instrument. Bringing the tunes that each student wants to play and being willing to step outside their primary zone of comfort to explore more ways to play and play along are expected.
Students will receive:
Downloadable PDF or Steve’s Playing Blues on the Mountain or Hammered Dulcimer with sound files
Archive Recordings of the Blues Jam Workshops
Play-along backing tracks.
Support and guidance from a thoughtful and experienced blues dulcimer guide.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Digging into the Peat Celtic Mountain Dulcimer Class
Tuesdays 11 am -12 noon 10/13-11/24/20 PDT = 12 n MDT = 1 pm CDT = 2 pm EDT
By student request, this class is offered as a way to dig more deeply into (4) four different Celtic tune types in order to gain fluency and facility in playing them.
We’ll work on the same (2) two tunes for 3 weeks, then work on (2) two more for the final weeks, covering a jig, a hornpipe, a reel and a strathspey.
Elk in the Meadow (DGd); Sailor’s Hornpipe (DGd); Sally in the Garden (DAd, capo 1); Braes of Tulliemet (DAd).
Students will receive:
- Weekly instruction and support
- Video archive Recordings of each class
- .mp3s of each tune .pdf of each tune
- copies of Steve’s Another Jig Will Do and
- I Celebrate Life digital books are included,
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Special Class:
Dulcimer-Friendly Evening Prayer for Advent (11-Week Class)
Wednesdays 6 pm -7 pm PDT 10/7-12/23/20 = 7 pm MDT = 8 pm CDT = 9 pm EDT <omitting 11/25>
Dulcimer-Friendly Advent and Evening Prayer Class and Prayer Service.
Using Steve’s Dulcimer-Friendly Worship series, students will learn the Evening Prayer Service (Vol. 2) and seasonal tunes from his Advent Book (Vol. 1)
This class meets on Wednesday weekly for 11 weeks (omitting Nov. 25) with the final 4 weeks being a play-a-long weekly Advent Prayer Service that is open to the public. (All times listed at PDT/PST)
We’ll first learn the accompaniment for the Evening-Prayer Service (October), then some Advent Tunes (November) and we’ll have a play-a-long Prayer Service on Zoom on the 4 Wednesdays in Decemberg.
The class and prayer service will meet on Zoom.
Students will receive:
- Weekly instruction and support
- Video archive Recordings of each class
- .mp3s of each tune .pdf of each tune
- Interactive .pdf of Dulcimer-Friendly Worship, Vol 1: the season of Advent
- Interactive .pdf of Dulcimer-Friendly Worship, Vol 2: a service of Evening Prayer.
IF there is interest (4 or more students) from the UK and Europe, a 2nd section of this class will be offered at 12 pm PDT on Wednesdays.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Tuition for this class is $225.00
REGISTER
New Year New Dulcimer:
BEGINNING HAMMERED DULCIMER
Mondays 11am – 12 noon PST 1/11/21- 2/15/21 = 12 noon MST = 1 pm CST = 2 pm EST
Based on my workshop What I Wish I Knew When I Started Playing, this 6 Week class goes into more depth about: the layout of the hammered dulcimer, choosing hammers, developing hammering skills with parallel hammering exercises, the understanding chord positions and touches on some beginning considerations for arranging a tune to play on the instrument.
Each student receives the downloadable class handout packet and archive video recordings of the class for reinforcement.
4 registered students are required for a class to run with a limit of 12 in a class to preserve individual focus and attention.
Tuition for this class is $150.00
REGISTER
Don’t see a class listed that works for you? Gather up 3 friends, choose a day/time/topic you want to study, and we’ll set up a class!
Prefer one-to-one private lessons? Click HERE for more details.
Summer 2020 Classes now archived.
(all times are listed Pacific Daylight Time first (PDT)
BLUEGRASS on MOUNTAIN DULCIMER
Mondays 11 am -12:15 7/6-8/10/20 PDT = 12 n MDT = 1 pm CDT = 2 pm EDT
Playing bluegrass on the mountain dulcimer is both accessible and fun. Aimed at Novice to Intermediate Players. We will learn how to play “chop” chords in open position, as well as 3 other locations, bass lines, flatpicking melodies, MacReynolds Roll, trademark high harmonies and soloing.
CELTIC MOUNTAIN DULCIMER 1
Tuesdays 11 am -12:15 7/7-8/11/20 PDT = 12 n MDT = 1 pm CDT = 2 pm EDT
We are going to explore and become familiar with Celtic Rhythms, tune types and ornamentation. Our text will be Another Jig: Songs & Tunes of the Angles & the Celts, Arranged for Mountain and Hammered Dulcimers. When you register, you will receive a downloadable interactive PDF and a coupon code for the discounted purchase of the physical book/cd.
CELTIC HAMMERED DULCIMER 1
Tuesdays 1 pm -2:15 7/7-8/11/20 PDT = 2 pm MDT = 3 pm CDT = 4 pm EDT
We are going to explore and become familiar with Celtic Rhythms, tune types and ornamentation. Our text will be Another Jig: Songs & Tunes of the Angles & the Celts, Arranged for Mountain and Hammered Dulcimers. When you register, you will receive a downloadable interactive PDF and a coupon code for the discounted purchase of the physical book/cd.
BLUES on MOUNTAIN DULCIMER 2
Wednesdays 11:15 am -12:30 7/8-8/12/20 PDT = 12:15 pm MDT = 1:15 pm CDT = 2:15 pm EDT
Playing blues on the mountain dulcimer is accessible and fun. This builds on the Blues Class 1 from April and QuaranTUNE 1.0.
We’ll learn the chord shapes, progressions and scales in order to play in DAd tuning. Our text will be Playing Blues on the Mountain Dulcimer. When you register, you will receive a downloadable interactive PDF and a coupon code for the discounted purchase of the physical book/cd.
BEGINNING HAMMERED DULCIMER
Just added!
Tuesdays 4 -5 pm 7/7-8/11/20 PDT = 5 pm MDT = 6 pm CDT = 7 pm EDT
Based on my What I Wish I Knew When I Started Playing, class, this 6 Week class goes into more depth about: the layout of the hammered dulcimer, choosing hammers, developing hammering skills with parallel hammering exercises, the understanding chord positions and touches on some beginning considerations for arranging a tune to play on the instrument.
Don’t see a class listed that works for you? Gather up 3 friends, choose a day/time/topic you want to study, and we’ll set up a class!
Prefer one-to-one private lessons? Click HERE for more details.
April 2020 Classes now archived.
The texts (downloadable Book/CD) for each class are still available for independent study. Click on each title to purchase them.
BLUES ON MOUNTAIN DULCIMER 1
Tuesdays 11 am -12:15 4/7-4/28/20 PDT = 12 n MDT = 1 pm CDT = 2 pm EDT
Playing blues on the mountain dulcimer is accessible and fun. We’ll learn the chord shapes, progressions and scales in order to play in DAd tuning. Our text will be Playing Blues on the Mountain Dulcimer. When you register, you will receive a downloadable interactive PDF and a coupon code for the discounted purchase of the physical book/cd.
Absolute Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar -POSTPONED
We are going to be comfortable playing predictable patterns with our fingers for the songs we wish to play and sing. These exercises are the foundation to help us build comfort and confidence. The text is Absolute Beginning Exercises for Fingerstyle Guitar. Registrants receive a downloadable copy of this book/CD and a coupon code for the discounted purchase of the physical book/CD.
Dulci-Bro: Playing Resonator Dulcimer
Thursdays 1 pm -2:15 4/9-4/30/20 PDT = 2 pm MDT = 3 pm CDT = 4 pm EDT
Playing slide style on 4 equi-distant strings on a resonator dulcimer is SO satisfying! We’ll develop our slide (left hand) technique, and our right hand (picking hand) patterns, while learning where chords and notes are located so we can play our favorite songs. The text for this class is Dulci-Bro: Method and Resources for Playing Resonator Dulcimer. Registrants receive a downloadable copy of this interactive book/CD in pdf form, as well as a discount coupon code for the purchase of the physical book/CD. (This class can be successfully completed on a standard mountain dulcimer, but using a 4-string instrument that can be set up with 4 equi-distant strings is recommended. A Nut-Lifter that raises the strings can be provided on request $5 + postage.)
Hammered Dulcimer Joy 1
Fridays 10 am -11:15 am 4/10-5/1/20 PDT = PDT = 11 am MDT = 12 n CDT = 1 pm EDT
Using variations on Beethoven’s famous “Ode to Joy” tune, we’ll explore several exercises that are designed to help us be more familiar with string placement, play accurately and move through hand dependence to hand interdependence. The text is the forthcoming Hammered Dulcimer Joy. Registrants will receive a copy of the downloadable book/CD as well as a discount coupon code to purchase the physical book/CD when it is available.