BRMDP Begins 2026 Jam Sessions With a New Format

How does “Bile Dem Cabbage Down” sound when a group of about 30 dulcimer players becomes an orchestra?  Dinah Ansley, our coordinator, taught us! The Club launched a short session she calls “Becoming an Orchestra” on chording at different positions on the fretboard as our March jam session took on a different look with the additions of some learning opportunities. Becca Chalam, club secretary, warmly … Continue reading BRMDP Begins 2026 Jam Sessions With a New Format

Joyful Noise for the Holidays

BRMDP – Make a Joyful Noise for the 2025 Holidays Our Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players, emceed by intrepid coordinator, Dinah Ansley,  opened our annual holiday gathering with a large group performance of “Jingle Bells” and “Good King Wenceslas” at Bridgewater Retirement Community in Bridgewater, VA, on Dec. 13.  Before a roomful of dulcimer players and residents, we sang and played a host of sing-a-long … Continue reading Joyful Noise for the Holidays

photo of dulcimer players at our October 13 gathering

Autumn Dulcimers

Our October 18 gathering was graced by beautiful autumn weather! We met at the Bridgewater Retirement Community at 1:30 in the Shenandoah Room and were led by Lori Lineweaver and Dinah Ansley, who shared Balm in Gilead and Whispering Hope, and led sing-alongs of I’ve Been Working on the Railroad and Tennessee Waltz. We were entertained by the singing of an original re-working of the Tennessee … Continue reading Autumn Dulcimers

Jeff Furman Workshop

We welcomed the opportunity to have Jeff Furman of Chapel Hill, NC for a workshop and concert weekend September 12 and 13, 2025. Jeff’s Friday morning workshop included some essential right hand techniques, the practice of which can form the basis of good playing. In the second workshop, some left hand techniques were introduced and we tried these out using several new pieces introduced by … Continue reading Jeff Furman Workshop

BRMDPC group playing on July 19 2025

July’s Joyful Noise!

The Bridgewater Retirement Community’s Studio was filled with joyful strumming and singing on July 19, 2025, as the “Joyful Noise” group of the Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Club led the group in familiar tunes and a new one, too! It was so good to play together! Sharing time was particularly special this month, thanks to Jim, Marlon and Sylvia! Phyllis pulled together an impromptu trio, … Continue reading July’s Joyful Noise!

BRC Fête Fun

Joyful Noise and some of the Pride of the Blue Ridge gathered in the Oasis to help celebrate BRC’s Fête today, Jul 16, 2025. There was lots of food, visiting, and music! We enjoyed being part of this event! “Joyful Noise” started off with the “dulcimer national anthem”, Boil Dem Cabbage Down, and continued with some old favorites. “Gray Cat On a Tennessee Farm” The … Continue reading BRC Fête Fun

Dulci-Cats of Charlottesville

Our Musical May!

Club members enjoyed a musical treat, both vocal and instrumental, under the able leadership of the Dulci-Cats. This Charlottesville-based group hosted our gathering, May 17, 2025 at the Waynesboro Library, on a beautiful spring day. Our Jam tunes included Boatman and Mississippi Sawyer (excepts in the clip below) as well as Gray Cat on a Tennessee Farm, Spotted Pony, and Rosin the Beau. The Dulci-Cats’ … Continue reading Our Musical May!