My nephew began as my new apprentice in March of this year. He had spent the last sixteen years in Japan as an English teacher. His name is Matthew Balaam Long and is my brother's son. I have been slowing down my production in preparation for retirement, or what I call "semi-retirement". For years I had been wanting to pass on my knowledge of building and playing bowed psalteries. Matthew was always my first choice in my family, but I thought that he was settled into staying in Japan. All that changed with me finally offering him the opportunity of an apprenticeship late last year. He arrived here in March and we began working together with him as my apprentice. He started out making bows, which he sells on eBay and Etsy. He completed his first psaltery build in late April. It is a Tenor psaltery with a different body design than the ones that I build, but it only has a slight body shape modification. It was a prototype, but a great success. Great look with the tone and volume that I insist on in my work. He has just completed his first three to sell and they are great! I am the ultimate quality control inspector and see to it that they have the same quality that I strive for in my builds.
I just finished building a brand new website that we will both share. New technology forced me to use a new site-building software so the site will work properly on mobile devices plus be a secure site for all internet browsers.
The site is www.ringingstrings.com
It is still under construction with plans to add much more new content. There will be some free instruction to help all bowed psaltery players. This will be through video, pictures, and discussion. The first video planned is on "Tuning Your Psaltery". Part of this will be a song that I wrote a few years back called "Psaltery Workout".
I'm anxious to get started with that, but the main purpose for this post today was to let you know there is a new psaltery builder getting started. I know there are very few of us out there now and a few that I know have retired or stopped building.
Rick Long (Psalteryman)
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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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