February's song is "Rush in the Pepper". It will help you practice your scales which is always a good thing. I don't doubt that it could be played pretty fast on some instruments, but I slowed it down for the psaltery and you should all play at the speed you like or are comfortable with!
Tags:
very cool!
Thank you so much Donna. I have been practicing on my Unicorn Strings Psaltery. It is a lot easier to play connected notes. My Unicorn Strings Psaltery was made in 1987-that is over 25 years. I had him restring it and it plays great.
I am not sure what a Unicorn Strings Psaltery is - what does it look like compared to a regular on (or is it the strings that are different) - sorry I am clueless! I acuried one that was made by Dave Lucas in 1926 - I don't know who that is - thats what it says on the inside
Hi Lisa:
I am enclosing a photo of my Unicorn Strings. It has a nice clear tone. I love, love, love it. How does yours sound? It was really designed in 1926? I had read the history of the Bowed Psaltery and I heard that they didn't come out until the late 40's. Are you sure it is the date the instrument was made or maybe that is the 1926th instrument Dave created. I am intrigued. Let me know.
what makes it a "unicorn String" mine is shaped the same way - so does that make it a unicorn string as well - I took a picture of it and am going to try to upload it (not sure I know how LOL) and I bet it is the 1926th one he made - it is written on the inside where his name is (I just assumed it was the year LOL). I think it sounds real nice however I am not sure what it is really supposed to sound like LOL I know my "bowing" leaves something to be desired - I am not even sure how to hold the bow - I was a brass player by nature so I am a bit out of my element - I was a music education major - so at one time in my life (20 years or so ago) I was proficient in the strings - but .... well I don't think I need to say more LOL!
Dont suppose you ever do lessons? It would be nice to be able to meet with someone who could give me an idea what I should be doing once every few months - anyway.... hopefully it uploads and you can see mine
Hi lisa:
Unicorn Strings is the brand name. But I have 3 different Psalterys: one Baritone Psaltery I named Rose (she has 37 strings and is a whopping 10 Lbs) she has a deeper register. My first Psaltery I learned on was made by Zither Heaven. It is a Soprano Psaltery and seems to have more high frequency overtones. I have one cat, Fiona, who I nick named the Psaltery-nator because she does not like that tone. she will come up and jump on my lap while I am playing that one and look me straight in the eye with an expression that says "will you please stop playing that now?" and The Unicorn Strings, I am not sure how they do it, but playing fast connected notes is a lot easier. I would be happy to show you the basics. If you have Skype, we could do a video chat lesson. I live in California in the bay area. I play the Piano, the Guitar and I am relearning the Violin, of the 3 the bowed Psaltery was the easiest to learn. I love showing how great the BP is. Would love to help you.
That would be awesome - however I don't yet have skype - never had anyone to SKYPE with LOL
I'm not sure why - I thought you lived in Illinois - I posted a video of a feeble attempt at ode to joy - Willie is my dog in the background - he puts up with a lot from me - and you can hear Al (my parrot) whistling with me (he loves to sing with me - I think it is to drown out my horrible beginning music LOL
I will look at how to get SKYPE shortly
Hi Lisa:
Skype is really easy to use. The tutorial they have is very easy to understand. How cool that you have a dog and a parrot. My hubby and I have 3 cats-Fiona 7, Oski 11 and Princess Moon-Cat 13 and one 4 year old Mini Lop named Reggie. Besides playing the Psaltery I am also a singer songwriter and animal activist. You can go to my website to learn about who I am, www.visions-alchemy.com. I also have a couple of tracks from my CD I produced in November 2012. I am working on a new CD. It is so much fun. I look forward to Skype with you.
Very cool - I actually have 2 dogs (both rescue) Al the parrot who was a rescue and Mr. Pussycat (again a Rescue) and fish (they were not rescue LOL!) back in my younger years I used to rehabilitate / rescue horses - it is always nice to run into not only an animal lover - but musician as well! (not that I can call myself a real musician - I don't play any instrument well - I just play with them! LOL I will check out your page
got to drop it a note, my Psaltry is a G4-G6 on the strings, so gotta transpose it one step down.
What a sweet little song, and yes, great practice piece for technique via scales and even a little arpeggio action!
Amplified Psaltery with Cello Strings built by Rick Long
This video is a personal favorite because it shows a unique type of bowed psaltery with a gorgeous sound. When I heard it I broke out in goose bumps!
Spring Creek Psalteries - Sharon & Terry Kirby
http://www.springcreekpsalteries.com/
330-323-0618
From the Wood - Wayne Gaydos
http://fromthewoodsinstruments.com/
to see his work visit
http://shop.indianaartisan.org/collections/musical-instruments
Waynie Psaltery - Wayne Simms
http://www.wayniepsaltery.com/
Prairie Psaltery - Richard Celata
http://www.prairiepsaltery.com/
Loon Song Psalteries-Charlie Marshall
http://www.loonsongpsalteries.com/
New Tradition Dulcimers- Dan Daniels
http://www.newtraditionsdulcimers.com/index.html
Psalteries by Dave- Dave Lucas
Jon Williams Psalteries
(386) 853-0944
Westman Instruments - Tish & Greg Westman
http://www.westmaninstruments.com
Ringing Strings - Rick Long
http://ringingstrings.com
Michael J King Instrumetns - Diatonic Psalteries
http://www.michaeljking.com/psalterymaking.htm
Inspired Instruments – Carol and Joe Esch
http://www.windridgefarm.us/bowedpsaltery.htm
James Jones Instruments
http://www.jamesjonesinstruments.com/bowedpsaltery/bowedpsaltery.html
Omega Strings – Richard Spencer
http://www.omegastrings.com/
Master Works Bowed Psalteries - Russell Cook
http://masterworksok.com/
Paul G.Sykes - MS
Located in Hattiesburg
Contact Paul at
pgsykes1@hotmail.com
or call him at
601-583-4115
Gregg Schneeman - California
Contact Gregg here on Psaltery Strings
greggschneeman@psalterystrings.com
Peter Tommerup - California
San Francisco Bay Area
Bowed Psaltery and other Instruments
408-867-4324
ptommerup@juno.com
Celeste Howard Ray
Bowed Psaltery lessons via Skype
347-796-4484
Skype name celesteray88
Maureen Barnes - Illinois
Bowed Psaltery lessons in Bloomington, IL
309-828-7957
dulcimergal98@yahoo.com
http://www.dulcimerdreams.com/
Dona Benkert -
Illinois
Lessons at Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL
Phone: 773.728.6000
& Folk-Lore Center, Warrenville, IL
Phone: 630.393.1247
http://www.folk-lorecenter.com/
Tish Westman - West Virginia
Lessons at Tamarack, Beckley, WV. Wednesday workshops also available for individual classes and to teach at festivals.
Sunday "Jam" 3:30 to 6:00. All instruments welcome, play mostly Old Time, Celtic & Gospel Music, not opposed to trying any tune called, once did a rap on Bowed Psalteries.
1-304-575-0998
tishwestman@yahoo.com
www.westmaninstruments.com
Rick Long - Tennessee
Lessons at Rick's home/workshop in Clinton, 30 mins N of Knoxville
(865) 660-4026
http://www.ringingstrings.com/lessons.html
Karla Armstrong - Pennsylvania
Karla plays a variety of instruments and does workshops as well. Please visit her web site for additional information or contact her via the web site or the information below.
(717) 632-8099
karlaarms@upontheharp.com
http://upontheharp.com
Carol Esch - Kentucky
Lessons in Carol's home/workshop south of Lexington.
606-676-0128
esch@qx.net
http://www.windridgefarm.us/bowedpsaltery.htm
Honey Smith Walls - Florida
e-mail Honey for more info honey@offthewalls.us
Melbourne, FL
http://www.offthewalls.us/Psaltery.htm
Visit Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer
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