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mountain dulcimer

How Do You Eat an Elephant?


Eating an elephant can be daunting and overwhelming. So can setting and achieving lifetime goals. How can you accomplish something as big as eating an elephant? By doing it the SMART way, of course … eating it one bite at a time.

Everything in life that seems daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible can be accomplished gradually by taking on just a little at a time. If you can learn how to break down large goals in to smaller more manageable goals, you will be well on your way to reaching yo…

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Don't Stress. Distress!

Distressed furniture

You know how people pay more money to buy furniture that's been roughed up a little? What do they call it? Things that have been distressed. That's because something that's seen a little wear is just more interesting than something brand-new that hasn't ever had a scuff on it.” (Joe Hill)

I read this quote the other day, and it resonated in my heart because I sell mobile homes as part of my employment, and I have found there are folks who even like their kitchen cabinets to have that distres…

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Resonator Dulcimer Day!

Faculty Concert DulciBro Resonator Dulcimer Day

Resonator Dulcimer (DulciBro) Day

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Pushups for a Year

Around New Year’s day, I read an article written by a guy who had done pushups every day for a year. The first week of January, he did only one pushup a day, every day for a week. Then for the 2nd week of January, he did 2 pushups a day. He continued increasing by one pushup every week for a year, and then wrote about his experience and what he had learned.

Of course, my mind went to dulcimer practice. But practicing 1 minute a day for the 1st week, then 2 minutes, then 3 wouldn't work. And …

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Benefits for Seniors

I live in and work in the office at a 55+ Senior Resort. We have a large room called "The Diner,” with tables and chairs, games, a jukebox, a kitchen to the side, and lots of puzzles. Never does a day go by that there aren’t seniors gathered around the long table, working together to complete yet another puzzle.


While this is a pleasant pastime for the residents here, there are also several benefits to their playing brain games. I read an article, this week, on the benefits of seniors doing pu…

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Don Pedi Live Workshop

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Don Pedi Live Workshop

Songs of the Heart

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That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles

When I was a child we had a cookie jar, and my mother always kept the cookie jar loaded with cookies. My favorite was her chocolate chip cookies, and I’ve never actually matched the look and taste of hers. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and if she didn’t have time to bake fresh, homemade cookies, she would fill the jar with Oreo cookies.


We loved Oreos, and people still love them today. They started out with the name Oreo Biscuits in 1912 and have since become the best-sell…

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Look, Mom! No Hands!

Over the years, I’ve received several emails from folks who needed to take a break from practicing their instrument. For some, their living situation limits them due to quiet hours. Maybe they've slammed their finger in a door and can’t press the strings or hold the hammers until it heals. Some of you have mentioned arthritis or ongoing back issues.  Other times, we can’t practice because our instrument is at the repair shop. Or maybe you’re on a trip and didn’t want to travel with your instrume…

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Live Workshop with Don Pedi: Love Songs from Applachia

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Don Pedi will be joining us on

Thurs, Feb 10th 5 pm MST

4 pm PST - 6 pm CST - 7 pm EST 

Songs of the Heart

Traditional Songs and Ballads, or as they are called in the mountains "Old Love Songs" pertaining to affairs of the heart.
Romantic songs from Southern Appalachia.
Most with happy endings.

A mountain dulcimer-focused workshop (with hammered dulcimer translation).

 

DulcimerCrossing Workshop & Mentorship Level Subscribers have access to this Live Event and its archive video.

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New Celtic Backing Track added to the Library!

Backing Track Off She Goes

We are excited to announce a new Ensemble Backing Track in the Celtic vein.  

Off She Goes is a single jig, and we have (3) three different courses to teach this tune:

1.  Hammered Dulcimer

2.  Mountain Dulcimer in DAA Tuning (in two octaves)

3.  Mountain Dulcimer in DAd Tuning (in two octaves)

We have just added an ENSEMBLE Backing Track for you to play along with.  The Ensemble is composed of rhythm guitar, mountain and hammered dulcimers and bodhran (Irish Drum).  Both dulcimers demonstr…

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