During this COVID-19 time when we have been missing playing together, meeting at jams, and enjoying the sweet sounds of our dulcimers in groups, we propose “sharing our music” in other ways! If you have a recording, either audio or video, of you or your group, and would agree to having it shared on our webpage, please send it to blueridgedulcimer@comcast.net.

Shared here is September on the Mississippi by Larry Conger and the traditional Irish tune Southwind dating back to the 1700’s, both played by five members of the Pride of the Blue Ridge, all members of our Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players Club.

Hector the Hero, arranged by Tull Glazener in two parts, with a bass dulcimer, is found below. It is played by 4 members of the Pride of the Blue Ridge.

August 31, 2020: Our hearts were heavy this morning to learn of the passing of our dear dulcimer friend, Tom Scanlan. Our thoughts are with his wife, Jan, and their family. See our tribute on Facebook:

We are saddened to hear of Madeline MacNeil’s passing. She is known as the “Mother of Modern Day Dulcimer” and shaped her career around playing dulcimer and accompanied by her lovely clear voice.
Maddie was the founder and original publisher of DULCIMER PLAYER NEWS, a position she held for almost three decades. In the early years, the publication was assembled and mailed from her dining room table, with the help of other dedicated dulcimer players.

Many friends from the dulcimer world have posted moving tributes on Maddie’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/madeline.macneil

A number of these tributes contain musical selections in her honor, including Steve Seifert and Bing Futch, who created Dulcimerica Episode 486 “For Maddie” (see here).

See more here: http://madelinemacneil.com/

NOTE: With fall weather upon us, the times of gathering outdoors in pleasant temperatures is past! Until we are able to meet safely indoors, our jams are “on hold”. Updates to our schedule will be announced here and via email to club members.

NEXT JAM – October 17, 2020, 2 – 4 pm

October 17, 2020 – 2 – 4 pm at Shelter #2, Oakdale Park, Bridgewater. Let’s make ONE MORE ATTEMPT at an outdoor jam! The last two jams were cancelled due to high water and rain in August and cool weather in September. We are crossing our fingers for a sunny afternoon on October 17.

Oakdale Park is easy to get to, and the entrance is very near the North River Library entrance.  Shelter 3 is the 3rd shelter on the right, on the way into the park.  Oakdale Park is located at 134 Mt. Crawford Ave., Bridgewater , VA 22812. It is easily accessible from Main Street (Route 42) and also from I- 81 or Route 11.  There are signs for both the Library and the park, near intersections in Bridgewater where turns need to be made.

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We miss seeing all of you and are anxiously awaiting news that we can again safely gather indoors!

[In the winter, if COVID restrictions are lightened, we hope that jams will be held in the WAYNERSBORO Library, rather than the Fishersville Library. Parking at the end will allow easy no-stairs access to the lower level where we will be meeting.]

Note: In the event of inclement weather, PLEASE CHECK THIS WEBSITE or our Facebook page for a notification of cancellation.

The officers of the Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players Club extend our appreciation to Debbie Campbell for her service as Secretary of the Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Player for slightly more than a year.  Each month Debbie sent out jam reminders, as well as club announcements.  With the increasing demand of caring for her family members, as well as her work requirements, Debbie feels she needs to set aside her secretarial activities and requests we find someone else to fill this role.  Becky Chalam who has served as Secretary in the past has agreed to be responsible for this function for the remainder of 2020. 
Please express your appreciation personally when you see Debbie at a dulcimer event and also welcome Becky.

“Dulce” was formed in 2015 by a core group from the Charlottesville Women’s Choir and Sue Davis.  We now have seven women and may be joined by music therapist and dulcimer player Janice Stegall-Seibert. We meet on the last Tuesday afternoon of the month at clubhouse of Sharon Baiocco in Charlottesville for two hours of playing together.  

Two of our players now have Blue Lion dulcimers, and most of us are working on chording and finger picking.  Membership is informal, by invitation.  Each meeting, we share tunes we are working on, and, if music is not copywritten, we share the music so others can learn with us.  Our choices are very eclectic, from folk ballads to fiddle tunes and sweet old hymns, with an occasional popular tune thrown in.  We are just beginning to work on songs with harmonies.  Most of all, we value the fun of playing together! – Sharon Baiocco