tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post4972173508409557506..comments2023-12-31T13:33:16.827-05:00Comments on Mountain Dulcimer noter and drone blog: Down with the Tyrant Carrot, or... Don't Punch Yourself in the NoseStrumeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-15755941970522106382019-04-19T17:08:50.474-04:002019-04-19T17:08:50.474-04:00I hear ya, that's me all over....going to have...I hear ya, that's me all over....going to have to work on that...<br />chiselerinwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01342220654931335704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-11195819135473583472018-11-15T11:36:10.268-05:002018-11-15T11:36:10.268-05:00Well saidWell saidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04709617622420332773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-38797936677729376862014-08-02T08:10:20.899-04:002014-08-02T08:10:20.899-04:00I am printing this off of my computer and putting ...I am printing this off of my computer and putting it in my dulcimer case to re-read OFTEN! Thank you for a wonderful article, well said!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-51094591145255542992013-07-03T22:03:51.361-04:002013-07-03T22:03:51.361-04:00Well I just found your blog but I am enjoying ever...Well I just found your blog but I am enjoying every inspirational word and video of it. Thank you for putting it out there.LillyZoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15894515326894704554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-300019862598701662012-01-22T04:18:35.834-05:002012-01-22T04:18:35.834-05:00nicely put, strumelia.
just a short story..... li...nicely put, strumelia.<br /> just a short story..... living in a commune just north of nevada city, ca. in 66'/67' i had access to a guitar, but had never played. i picked it up one night by the fire & began playing a low e / high e ragga using a forfinger/thumb claw. softly & just for myself. after weeks had past, my friends would ask me to play..... the very same soft, simple raga type tune. after a while our cave would be brimming over with people sitting quitely & listening to this very simplest of musical beauty. i met one of my major loves there & ended up in berkeley, ca. in "the summer of love" & the next year. this story in my humble opinion illustrates the power & beauty of the simple tune. "if music be the food of love, play on....."gene s menzelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-10150631985663035392011-10-07T06:52:25.901-04:002011-10-07T06:52:25.901-04:00If there was a "like" button here, I'...If there was a "like" button here, I'd press it. Encouraging words, Lisa. It's encouraging to know that I'm not alone in my struggles to quiet that inner critic. Looks like we're all in this together.jehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12499125931682822259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-70320738592215320532011-10-05T10:25:34.298-04:002011-10-05T10:25:34.298-04:00This one really hits home for me...
I have re-read...This one really hits home for me...<br />I have re-read it everytime I come back to your blog looking for a new post. I guess I don't read it often enough.I quit playing this summer,just because I am not good enough....good enough for who? <br />I love dulcimer music...not sure why..but I do...need to love to play it just because of that-and quit worrying that someone will not like my playing...thanks again and againDenisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04331049859432928200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-85594373989008940752011-08-08T18:01:37.909-04:002011-08-08T18:01:37.909-04:00Russell Fluharty a famous West Virginia Hammered d...Russell Fluharty a famous West Virginia Hammered dulcimer player once told me always remember no one plays like you do.<br /><br />These few words helped me a lot over the years. <br />Howard Emerson C. M. P. An Irish harpist helped me a lot with playing in front of people. I don't recall the exact words he used, he said something like play for your self.<br />This works for me. I quit playing for people. I play for my self. I play some times for a visitor center. There are people there but I am playing for my self. I may have gotten selfish in my old age but at least I can play with others around. <br />Also remember there are no mistakes in playing music. You may have an occasional unintentional variation but no mistakes.dulcimermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14839943730424901825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-86840109163092117052011-06-01T00:35:09.798-04:002011-06-01T00:35:09.798-04:00Strumelia--thanks for putting these thoughts (from...Strumelia--thanks for putting these thoughts (from painful experiences) into such encouraging words.<br /><br />Maybe a paraphrase of the LoveStory tagline from the 70s: <br /><br />Playing dulcimer means never having to say you're sorry.<br /><br />SteveSteve Eulberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941377685017868062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-19047007510396504822011-05-28T15:48:17.234-04:002011-05-28T15:48:17.234-04:00I came across your blog and really enjoy it. This ...I came across your blog and really enjoy it. This post is wonderful. I've been sad for years with my poor banjo playing (just can't speed up like, say Earl Scruggs), until i simply stopped reading methods, slowed it down and played it my way. Took me a long time. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-60703806940381447592011-05-17T22:47:54.885-04:002011-05-17T22:47:54.885-04:00Dena, thank you so much for letting me know this. ...Dena, thank you so much for letting me know this. It does my heart good to know you will keep enjoying your dulcimer!Strumeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07111992200177574268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-10785611797085065552011-05-17T22:28:19.869-04:002011-05-17T22:28:19.869-04:00Lisa, I just found your blog today as I was so dis...Lisa, I just found your blog today as I was so discouraged about my inability to reach the chords on my dulcimer. I was about to give up and/or buy a smaller one when I miraculously found your blog. You are an inspiration to me, and I will begin again tonight to learn the dulcimer...sans chords. Thank you, thank you.Denahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11292751316491839497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-36273608462585585822011-05-15T14:04:09.797-04:002011-05-15T14:04:09.797-04:00Playing music is art, so you should never compare ...Playing music is art, so you should never compare what you do with other people. Just enjoy it (so no self-punching!).David Raingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11925029950072114409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-43932544998650516242011-02-21T01:23:16.163-05:002011-02-21T01:23:16.163-05:00I hear you on this one too. One thing that I try ...I hear you on this one too. One thing that I try to keep in mind is that the more I worry about how well I am playing, the less well I play. After sufficient time to know the music, relaxing and having fun make a big difference. Easier said than done though, especially on stage!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01353297813449759080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-41293775628633455772011-01-24T15:29:28.873-05:002011-01-24T15:29:28.873-05:00You sound exactly like me in this! I have just sto...You sound exactly like me in this! I have just stopped taking hammered dulcimer lessons for this very reason. I have learned SO much from my teacher, but even after several years couldn't get away from the comparisons and self-defeating mindsets. I finally decided the only way I was going to find my voice and gain confidence in it was to quit taking regular lessons. I fight the mindsets when I listen to others play, whether live or recorded. I am determined to learn from those who are better than I and not to compare or become defeated. I will continue to work on my skills and knowledge of music, and will continue to grow as a musician but, as you said, "I don't need no stinkin' carrot! ;-)" Excellent post! <br /><br />Sharonsgartleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11488636287452615260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-21164438534820164402011-01-23T19:30:22.148-05:002011-01-23T19:30:22.148-05:00Lisa,
Well stated. Thanks for your thoughts and fo...Lisa,<br />Well stated. Thanks for your thoughts and for this site.<br />RichardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-30398957473692625292011-01-19T22:24:14.347-05:002011-01-19T22:24:14.347-05:00Great post, Lisa.
I bought a painting once becaus...Great post, Lisa.<br /><br />I bought a painting once because I really liked it. I eventually met the artist, and told him how much I liked his painting. He said, "Oh those old things! I just dashed them off. They were pretty terrible".<br /><br />I felt like a chump for having liked something that the artist thought was badly done. But I think he was just trying to be modest.<br /><br />I am an artist myself, and I learned from that event never to denigrate my own work with a false modesty. When someone says they like my work, I do not have the right to tell them that they are wrong. The same goes for the music. I just put myself out there and then let others decide if they like it.Brianhttp://www.thekimerers.com/briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-126482975229487862011-01-19T22:09:58.062-05:002011-01-19T22:09:58.062-05:00I struggle with this too. I'm not professiona...I struggle with this too. I'm not professional level or even great and never will be, but I can still play some songs well. I have to remember that people have actually complimented my playing and requested tunes, and that's what it's all about. Try to remember the times you make someone happy playing. And, if you still get discouraged that playing music is silly or unproductive or you're not good enough or whatever, just remember: it's no sillier or less valid than other popular hobbies, such as watching sports or playing video games! (No offense to folks who do those things--they're just for fun, not necessarily productivity, as is music for the vast majority of us who don't get paid for it).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-19412968944516252822011-01-18T19:12:41.192-05:002011-01-18T19:12:41.192-05:00This is funny: I am a visual artist who recently t...This is funny: I am a visual artist who recently took up the dulcimer so I could do something creative without the burdensome presence of the critic who sits on my shoulder and makes me crazy about my artwork... I guess a lot of us have those inner voices that don't do us, or our work, a damn bit of good! Maybe we need to devise a ritual to remind us not to listen to those voices and just fill the world with music and art best we can...Art O.T. Gridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08455374426232506742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5546110231287046396.post-40193495172537344112011-01-17T20:27:39.866-05:002011-01-17T20:27:39.866-05:00I've learned so much from your blog and YouTub...I've learned so much from your blog and YouTube videos, in fact you are a large part of my dulcimer "education." Be pleased with yourself and remember there are many people you give the gift of music to. In any of the arts, the main point should be to enjoy and find pleasure in that art. Just love what you do - that's my motto. Carrots are over-rated!Witch of Stitcheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00215650029608694535noreply@blogger.com