Workshop Descriptions

As workshop descriptions come in from our staff, I'll be posting them here on the website. Once they're all together, they'll be available via a permanent link to the left of the page. Here's just some of the choices you'll have down in Key West:


Susan Trump


Calypso Anyone? Intermediate and Up (Adventurous Novice players welcome.) DAD tuning
Learning songs using the calypso strum and variations will be a great way to focus on the right hand and develop some real independence. We'll explore some that you know and some new or old tunes from the Islands and maybe an original tune as well!

Singing with the Dulcimer - Novice and Up
Song accompaniments can be as basic as playing chords and strumming, or creating harmonies and countermelodies and using your instrument as a singing partner. Come and learn how at either level.
DAD tuning AND maybe a capo.


***Beginnings, Endings and In-betweens - Intermediate and up
Let's spruce up your arrangements by learning to add interesting introductions, interludes and endings to your tunes and songs. We'll be thinking about chord progressions and rhythmic patterns and using them in a new way. DAD tuning



“Master/Intensive” class for Novice/Low Intermediates

"Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You" Discover and understand the fretboard. We'll find notes and chords, and understand the 'root' of the chord and simple chord shapes. Many light bulbs go on when I teach this one, so come and be en”lightened”! It's really fun! Novice, Low Int. DAD Tuning

Rick Thum


Syncopation: Int. and up
We will learn the song "Pleasure House Rag" and will then explore several
syncopation licks on hammered dulcimer. The song will really enhance what the class is
teaching. This technique adds a lot of fun to your songs.

Exploring Embellishments: Beginner and up
I will be teaching several embellishments. I will also change the way you
think of embellishments. We will do some brain storming to find and
explain lots of embellishments. Come prepared with questions on how do I
get this or that sound. This can be a very fun class with some very
creative techniques coming out of it.

Learn the song "Front Porch Waltz" Int. and up
We will learn the song "Front Porch Waltz". It is based on my chord
patterns and will help reinforce your chord playing.

Master Class: Advanced beginners and up: 2 hours $25.00
Chording and Arranging: An easy way to learn what to do with those chords
and how to do it. We will learn how to pick chords for a song and how to
spice it up with some fancy chords and how to know which fancy chords and
when. I will teach you the tricks we use to make playing those chords
easy. If you have ever wanted to make your own arrangements this class
will teach you how. See you There.


Aaron O'Rourke

Scales and Exercises: Improve your right and left hand technique, learn to play more relaxed and get more familiar with the entire fretboard all at the same time. Investing time in correcting bad habits that may cause tension, physical pain, and stop your music from having flow is well worth the time and it will improve all the tunes you already know! (All levels)

Composing and arranging for Mountain Dulcimer: Whether you can play three or three hundred notes per minute, regardless of technical ability, writing your own music can be very fulfilling AND very approachable. We’ll talk about ideas for inspiring creativity as well as how to optimize your composition to fit the dulcimer fretboard. (Intermediate/Advanced)

Introduction to Playing Backup: In this workshop we’ll borrow techniques used on mandolin, bass, and guitar for accompaniment. A few very basic chord shapes will be introduced and we’ll talk about accenting different beats with your accompaniment. (Novice and up)

Robert Force

latin rhythms and syncopation

Most American folk music– especially the traditional– emphasizes the down beat. This workshop addresses how to recognize and play on the off-beat with an additional emphasis on incorporating syncopation. We will explore the use of descant parts, learning to hear and play on the off-beat and how to incorporate these rhythms to make melodic lines stand out. Appalachian folk songs will be recast to become reggaes and calypsos. We will also explore contemporary compositions which reinforce this style of playing– ending up with a raucous Samba in which everyone plays a part. Very fun!

lead lines and improvisations

This class is about having musical conversations. These are the opportunities in a song when you are freed from technique and your own musical voice "comments on" and embellishes the tune. You open yourself up to the other players, allowing room for improvisation and "lead line" development. This workshop opens the door to understanding that there is a perfect note or phrase which, if played at the right time and with the right inflection, opens the doors to perception for both player and audience. Suggested for moderate to advanced level players.

bootcamp for dulcimer

This workshop is an introduction to the flatpick and strumming techniques for strengthening the wrist and voicing strings using different angles of "attack". Tempo, understanding uses of timbre, synchronizing the melody and varying rhythm will be used while "grouping" sets of notes which work sequentially toward building songs and mastering tunes. The course follows the first five chapters of In Search of the Wild Dulcimer. This is a very dynamic foundation course in rhythm, tempo and strumming techniques. Especially recommended for beginners.

master class: stages and staging-- the art of presentation. This class is about being confident and relaxed as a performer; understanding stage etiquette and using this to build a rapport with your audience. You are there because of them; they are there because of you. So: Who are you when you step up there? Also discussed will be techniques for setting up microphones, talking competently in technical jargon to sound reinforcement people, setting up microphones, use of monitors, auxiliary direct boxes and other stage hardware issues.


Bing Futch

1. Beginning Mountain Dulcimer With Bing - Get to know the mountain dulcimer and what you can do with it. Covers the basics of picks, strums, strings, tuning, scales, tablature and more! Beginners.

2. Flatpicking Fun - Pick melodies across the strings and learn the secrets of playing "inside the box" with scale exercises and a focus on pick direction, finger placement with pick/strum techniques. We'll work on a couple of fiddle tunes to practice. Intermediate to Advanced.

3. I Got Those Mountain Dulcimer Blues -
Woke up this mornin', all my dulcimer played was the blues
woke up this morning', all my dulcimer played was the blues
I'll give you chords, scales, licks and rhythms
for playing the blues, you'll want to use!
Intermediate to Advanced.

Masters Class - if enough people are interested, I'll conduct a two-hour workshop on Native American flute. Must have a F# flute for the class - I have very nice Island Flutes available from $45. E-mail bingfutch@yahoo.com
if you'd like to take this course.

Tull Glazener

1. "Hymns and Gospel Tunes" - we'll spend this hour learning a number of traditional spiritual songs. Be sure and bring your singing voices as well! D-A-d tuning, capo may be required for some arrangements. INT and up.

2. "Tin Pan Alley Tunes" - Tin Pan Alley is the name given to a collection of New York City-centered music publishers who dominated the popular music culture of the United States from the late 19th century through the 1930's. Many songs produced during that time are still popular today. We'll learn a number of tunes from that era, and also a bit about the history of the music publishing industry. D-A-d tuning, capo may be required for some arrangements. INT and up.

3. "Using the 1+ Fret" - if you've added a 1+ fret to your instrument, and now are wondering what to do with it, this class is for you. We'll talk about the whys, wherefores, and uses of this handy addition, and learn a number of tunes that take advantage of it. (If you don't have a 1+ fret, you can add a "temporary one" using a paper clip and some scotch tape!). D-A-d tuning. INT and up.

"Master's Class" for 2 hours on Sunday morning (1/31/10) 10am to 12:00pm.

Master Class - "Creating Dulcimer Tab from Standard Music Notation" - in this 2 hour class, we'll learn how to translate standard music notation, in any key, to the dulcimer fretboard and create full chord-melody arrangements. No previous ability to read standard notation is required. Bring a dulcimer (tuned D-A-d), and a pencil with a good eraser!

Butch Ross

Just enough Theory to make you dangerous (Beg-Nov)

Show Off! Cool (and useful) sounds you can make with your instrument.
(Int - Adv)

Take a Sad song and Make it Better: Using Simple Embellishments to
turn "tunes" into "arrangements."

Masters Workshops:

Introduction to the Box Method 1: Flat Pick and First Position
(Nov-Adv) -- this contains flatpicking techniques similar to Gary
Gallier and Terry Lewis' work

Introduction to the Box Method 2: Kitchen Girl and the flurry of Notes (Int-Adv)

Dan Landrum

At Your Fingertips: Hammer techniques to improve speed, control, strong hand vs. weak hand issues and rhythmic accuracy in playing.

Bent: How to bend a note up to pitch (yes, up). We'll explore this little used technique along with other hand damping tricks.

Instrumental Creations: It was probably the sound of hammered dulcimer that inspired you to become a player. Let that same inspiring sound fuel your creativity in this workshop on writing your own instrumental compositions. We'll focus on how simple improvisation can be the launching pad for inspired original tunes.


Lois Hornbostel

1. "Cajun & Zydeco Dance Music"

2. "Playing by Ear and Loving It."

3. "Multicultural Music for Mountain Dulcimer"

Master Class with Lois Hornbostel - "A Graceful Left Hand for Smooth Playing" DAd tuning. Advanced Beginners & up. In this 2-hr. class we will look at the workings of our left hands to make our music smooth and articulate. We will learn some specially-selected music designed to bring out the beautiful tone of your dulcimer with individual help from Lois on wrist and hand positions, left-hand fingerings, sustaining notes and increasing volume with the left hand, and trying different inversions of chords for comfortable and efficient fingerings. We'll play some Irish slow airs, a waltz or two, and something a bit faster to use some hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides.


Guy George

1-Intermediate Hammered Dulcimer - Island Rhythms for the HD - learn an island tune and a cool calypso rhythm for a back-up too.

2-Intermediate pennywhistle - Island tunes for the pennywhistle and harmony parts too.

3-Beginning pennywhistle - Learn to play the easiest instrument to carry on the beach. I'll have some inexpensive, great sounding whistles there.

4-Intermediate Steel drum - Island tunes - we'll learn some Island tunes and backup chord rhythms on the steel drum - Jumbie jam pans will be available for sale.

5- Master Class -- Learn to play the steel drum ... learn to play the steel drum .. we'll learn some cool tunes and also where the chords are so you can give your dulcimer group that 'Island" sound any time you want. Cost - $200.00 - when the workshop is over, you keep the steel drum. If you fly you can pack the steel drum in your suitcase without the cardboard case to take home. I'll have some lightweight cases there for the pan too that will fold up in your suitcase.

More descriptions to follow!

Instructor/Performer Profile: Bing Futch

His highly rhythmic style of playing the mountain dulcimer incorporates African and Native American tribal rhythms and melodies, given authentic voice through the performance of Plains Indian flutes. Equally adept at styles ranging from blues and bluegrass to Celtic and country, Bing writes songs which are rooted within international folk music and was named “2006 Songwriter of the Year” by the Songwriters Showcases of America with a 2007 award for “Song of the Year” (”Crazy Feels Like”).

His band, MOHAVE, features electrified pop/rock dulcimer and has opened for national acts MOLLY HATCHET, THE CRESTS and ST. SOMEWHERE. He has taught and performed at dozens of national folk festivals, is host/producer of the “Dulcimerica Video Podcast” and has produced numerous audio and video podcasts for Dulcimer Players News. He is the founder and director of the Key West Dulcimer Fest. (BingFutch.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Susan Trump

Susan is a veteran educator/performer who has been sharing her talents with children and adults for many years. She has a B.A. in music education and a M.S. in developmental reading.

Her award-winning mastery of the guitar, banjo, and mountain dulcimer accompany participatory songs and stories which captivate her audiences. She is also producer of the popular “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer” CD series. (SusanTrump.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Rick Thum

Rick's interest in traditional music was sparked when he bought a hammered dulcimer on a whim and found himself in a three-piece folk band. He has shared the stage with Mike Seeger, The Tony Rice Unit, Steve Kaufman, Norman Blake, and Bryan Bowers and opened for John Hartford, Norman & Nancy Blake, and Leo Kottke.

Rick is a popular teacher on the festival curcuit and travels across the country playing solo and teaching at music festivals. He is also a builder of hammered dulcimers and credits his years in a rock band with his energetic rhythmic style. (RThum.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Stephen Seifert

Stephen began playing the mountain dulcimer in 1991. He is now a favorite at festivals and clubs around the country. Besides authoring a long list of books and videos, serving as dulcimer soloist with symphonies around the country, and organizing the world's first chromatic dulcimer festival, he also hosts Mountain Dulcimer Folk, a live weekly podcast featuring music and interviews with mountain dulcimer players around the world.

Stephen also dabbles with Irish whistle, Harmonica, Jaw-Harp, Clawhammer Banjo, Old-Time Fiddle, Piano, Guitar, and Bass. He believes that music is for everyone, not just famous folks. (StephenSeifert.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Gary Sager

Known as the “dulcimer doctor” at many festivals across the country, Gary Sager is a fine luthier of mountain dulcimers. His instruments are hand made of quality solid wood and are known for their rich tone and playability. Gary's dulcimers carry the Prussia Valley Dulcimer name.

He is also a fine performer and arranger of tunes, usually along with his wife, Toni. They have one album to their credit entitled “Rats In The Fence Corner” and are also instructors at many national festivals. (PrussiaValley.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Butch Ross

The dulcimer has opened many doors for Butch Ross: a full-ride scholarship for a graduate degree in folk studies, a quickly-earned reputation amongst the dulcimer community as one of the most innovative and exciting players on the scene, endorsement offers, including one builder who working with him, created a "Butch Ross Signature Model," opening slots for a wide variety of performers from Hayseed Dixie and Little Country Giants to the Jazz Mandolin Project, Great Big Sea and the legendary Jean Ritchie.

Additionally the dulcimer has found him invited to play festivals and clubs in England, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and most recently Budapest, Hungary. (ButchRoss.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Aaron O'Rourke

In a very short time, Aaron has made his dulcimer mark performing and teaching. He quickly became one of the headlining names at many dulcimer festivals including the Suwannee Dulcimer Retreat, Augusta Heritage Center (Davis and Elkins College), Western Carolina University’s Dulcimer Week, and Unicoi Dulcimer Fest.

To many dulcimer players, he is the one to bring the dulcimer out of the “dark ages” of folk obscurity, and into the fast-paced world of bluegrass pyrotechnics. To others, Aaron’s performances always reveal a tasteful, well-composed musician. (AaronORourke.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Karen Mueller

Karen Mueller is one of the top autoharp and mountain dulcimer players today. Her exciting and innovative performing style, featuring Appalachian, Celtic and contemporary music, has been applauded by critics and audiences from LA to Boston.

Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has said "Karen Mueller's touch, timing and taste make her a true virtuoso. Her talent and clarity ... deserve a wide audience." Karen won the 1986 International Autoharp Championship and was a National Dulcimer finalist in 1985, both at Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. (KarenMueller.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Dan Landrum

Dan’s virtuosic hammer dulcimer playing has taken him from street performing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Olympic Ceremonies, U.S. Presidential Inaugurations, music festivals around the country and international stages.

He’s been on the road since 2003 as a soloist with greek performer Yanni and is currently featured in the PBS special “Yanni Live: The Concert Event” which was released in August 2006. Dan is also editor and publisher of Dulcimer Players News. (DanLandrum.com)

Spaces Still Available at Boyd's!

If you're planning on camping when you come to the Key West Dulcimer Fest, consider staying at Boyd's Key West Campground, just five minutes from the Hurricane Hole Marina where everything is taking place.

Though all waterfront spaces are taken, they said they've got plenty of inland spots for primitive tent camping or RVs/campers. The phone number is (305) 294-1465 and their e-mail is info@boydscampground.com.

The campgrounds include a pool, marina, tiki hut with large screen t.v., dog walk, beach, picnic pavilion, laundry, bath house, public phones, game room, immediate access to city bus routes and more!

The next campground is ten minutes away from the venue so don't delay! Reserve your space and get ready for festival paradise!

Instructor/Performer Profile: Lois Hornbostel

Lois is a popular "pioneer" of mountain dulcimer playing technique and repertoire, with eight internationally published books to her credit. Her first recording, "Vive le Dulcimer," was a finalist for an "Indie" award in their World Music category. Lois travels the dulcimer trail, playing, teaching and carousing at dulcimer events across the country. Learning her music direct from traditional Irish, Appalachian, Cajun, and world musicians, Lois has also introduced the mountain dulcimer as a sometimes-new voice in these musical styles.

She learned to play Southern Appalachian style from traditional North Carolina dulcimer players, and has won the prestigious dulcimer competitions at the Galax, Mount Airy, and Fiddlers Grove old-time music conventions. Her recordings include "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Vol. I" and "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Music for Christmas." Lois is editor of Mel Bay Publications' internet "webzine," www.DulcimerSessions.com and also organizes dulcimer events in North Carolina. (LoisHornbostel.com)

Special Deals at The Southernmost Resort!

If you're looking for a place to stay on Key West and have decided that The Southernmost Resort properties look good to you, we've got special rates available for festival attendees.

Contact them at (800) 354 4455 and mention promo code "DULMER."

As their name implies, Southernmost Resorts are the farthest you can go to the end of the Continental United States and they are on the quieter end of Duval St., where white sand beaches and open-air cafes provide plenty of relaxation and peaceful enjoyment.

Getting To Key West

Registrations are rolling in and many of you are booking your hotels through our accommodations coordinator. What's left is to plan your excursion to Key West.

If you're planning on driving down, it's best to take the Florida Turnpike as soon as possible; you'll make better time that way. The turnpike will take you down to Florida City where you'll hop on U.S. 1 for the exciting trip across the Overseas Highway. From Orlando area to Key West is about six hours - but the final two hours through the keys is some of the most beautiful and eye-popping sight-seeing you'll ever experience.

Another alternative is to fly, either directly into Key West Airport (EYW) or into Miami (MIA) or Ft. Myers (RSW) where you can catch a ferry to the island. Check the links in our "how to get there" section.

The Key West Dulcimer Fest: In A Post

Aloha!

Registration for the Key West Dulcimer Fest is now open! Be sure to act quickly or you may miss out on the first tropical dulcimer festival in America!

Some information you'll want to know:

• Temperatures should be around the low 70's during all four warm and wonderful days.

• Link for the registration form is located to the left and you can print out as many copies as you need; one for each person attending. The form has info on instructor concert tickets for non-attendees and an area to order the official festival t-shirt.

• We have an accommodations coordinator; Sheri Cabanas. She's secured us fantastic festival rates at places within walking distance of Hurricane Hole Marina, where workshops, meals and concerts are taking place. If you're planning on camping, you'll want to call her straight away, as there are only so many slots available during high season. Give her a call at 305-294-6019.


If you're looking for a place to stay on Key West and have decided that The Southernmost Resort properties look good to you, we've got special rates available for festival attendees.

Contact them at (800) 354 4455 and mention promo code "DULMER."

As their name implies, Southernmost Resorts are the farthest you can go to the end of the Continental United States and they are on the quieter end of Duval St., where white sand beaches and open-air cafes provide plenty of relaxation and peaceful enjoyment.

• For the best experience, plan on arriving Wednesday afternoon/evening and staying through till Sunday afternoon. Thursday the 28th will be a laid-back day of informal jams, meet-n-greet, sightseeing and planned activities. Some of the instructors will be presenting masters classes on this day as well. Friday and Saturday, the 29th and 30th will be full curriculum days:

Breakfast - 7:30-8:45 a.m.
1st Period - 9-10 a.m.
2nd Period - 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Lunch - 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
3rd Period - 1-2 p.m.
4th Period - 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Dinner will be from 5-6:30 p.m. with the instructor concerts scheduled from 7-9 p.m.
Times may change slightly. Meals will be catered by Hurricane Hole Restaurant and will be available for a nominal price.

Sunday, the 31st, we'll have some more masters classes, gospel jam, informal jamming, sightseeing and winding down, leading up to a glorious sunset cruise upon a sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico at 6 p.m.

We'll have more details on some of these events and we've got a lot more planned. You'll not only have plenty of time to soak in the island atmosphere, see the sights and enjoy the warm weather; you'll also get a good solid stream of instruction and jamming for mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, autoharp, pennywhistle, steel drums, guitar and more!

Conveniently located at the Hurricane Hole Marina are charters for fishing, scuba-diving, para-sailing, kayaking, long-boarding, wave-runner rentals and more. The venue is located across the highway from the Key West Golf Club and Resort. Island AeroPlane Tours offer old-fashioned biplane rides high above Key West or, for those who wish to keep their feet close to earth, the Conch Train gives great tours of "Bone Island."

Be sure to bookmark, subscribe and otherwise stay connected with the official website at:

http://KeyWestDulcimerFest.com

for pictures, video, links, updates and the latest info on the festival. We also have a YouTube page featuring performances by our staff of instructors:

http://YouTube.com/KeyWestDulcimerFest

and finally, we're on Twitter! Not only is it a great way to stay informed (updates can be sent right to your phone) but it is also a neat way to communicate with other festival-goers, and we'll be using the Twitter service in some fun and exciting ways once we're headed down to the island:

http://twitter.com/KeyWestDulcimer

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at: jobentertainment@yahoo.com - we've got a staff of people working on making this an extraordinary experience for everyone who attends!

Mahalo, and hope to see you on the beach in Key West!

Bing Futch
Key West Dulcimer Fest

Where To Stay: Update!

As you prepare to join us in Key West for the festival this coming January, we'd like to assist you in planning out your stay. First and foremost will be where you stay!

To the left of this page, there are a series of links to travel, dining, sightseeing, etc. You'll find a list of links to campgrounds, hotels and B&Bs that are not far from the Hurricane Hole Marina. You can contact them yourself, of course. However, you may want to first contact our accommodations coordinator; Sheri Cabanas at 305-294-6019.

She can assist you with booking at any of these locations as well as discuss other options with you. She has access to a Key West accommodations database and can find exactly what you need. She mentioned some two and three bedroom condos that are not far away from Hurricane Hole that might be a great fit for those of you willing to share accommodations. Also, if you're planning on camping, spaces at Geiger Key Marina, Boyd's and Leo's Campgrounds are limited due to season expectations.

Keep in mind, the entire island is 4 miles long and 2 miles wide, so nothing is really far away from the Hurricane Hole!

Registration Begins!

Registration is officially open for The Key West Dulcimer Fest! Pre-registered e-mails are being processed first. With only 200 registrations available, these slots are going to go quickly. Don't delay, download the registration form and reserve your place for fun in the sun!

Announcing Our Festival Venue!

We're very excited to announce the host venue for the Key West Dulcimer Fest: Hurricane Hole Marina!

Located at the gateway to Key West, Hurricane Hole is a full-service marina with a restaurant, dockside bar, access to watersports like boating and jet-skiing, plus much more! Workshops will take place in and around the Hurricane Hole restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner all being served at the venue. Friday and Saturday night instructor concerts will take place in the marina, with a floating tiki barge serving as the stage. This wonderfully tropical locale is the perfect spot for the first annual Key West Dulcimer Fest!

Registration for the festival will be open shortly - $95 includes all workshops and concerts - with pre-registered folks getting first dibs on spots. We've raised the registration cap to 200 due to overwhelming demand for this event. Watch this space for more info, including the scoop on local accommodations, discounts and more!

KWDF On YouTube

The Key West Dulcimer Fest is now represented on YouTube!


http://www.YouTube.com/KeyWestDulcimerFest

We'll be sharing video from all 15 instructors/performers along with videos from Key West - a perfect companion to our blog/site here! In fact, Jae and I will be in the Keys for ten days beginning this Friday, so we'll have lots of new info from the trip.

Be sure to check KWDF out on Twitter as well, as we'll be utilizing the micro-blogging service for updates and details once we're all on the island in January of 2010. Give yourself plenty of time to get used to this popular social media application!

Aloha,

Bing

Instructor/Performer Profile: Jeff Hames

Jeff began studying under David Schnaufer at the Blair School of Music. His education continued for six years during which time David introduced Jeff to the history of the mountain dulcimer and the music that could be made on this very versatile instrument.

Since winning the National Dulcimer Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in 2006, Jeff has become a much in-demand instructor and performer on the dulcimer festival circuit. (JeffHames.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Tull Glazener

Tull has been sharing the music of the mountain dulcimer since 1984. He has performed and led workshops throughout the mid-west and south. Tull enjoys arranging aires, waltzes, ragtime, traditional, old-time, contemporary, classical, and jazz for the mountain dulcimer. Tull is also one of the performers on Susan Trump’s Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Vol. I. He has produced four recordings, is author of two instruction books, and has been a featured columnist for Dulcimer Players News.
(TullGlazener.com)

What Is A Key West Conch?

Key West Train Tours & Key West Attractions | Key West Conch

When people speak of the Key West Conch, they may be referring to the large sea snail that lives in the depths of the Gulf of Mexico surrounding the Florida Keys. But most often the term refers to Key West natives—the first settlers and the long-time residents of Key West.

Americans loyal to the British crown after the war, Tories, were not very popular, so they fled the southern states to the next British colony, the Bahamas. Unfortunately, the British Parliament started taxing the Bahamians on their food just like they taxed Bostonians on their tea. The Bahamians said they'd rather eat conch than pay taxes and that is just what they did. They came up with 27 different ways to eat this animal.

Throughout the years, many came to know and use the term Conch to describe the locals and those who made the island their home were proud to be nicknamed Key West Conchs.

A great way to see the island of Key West, the Conch Tour Train celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year and will be a fantastic way for festival-goers to get an overview of this tropical paradise!

Instructor/Performer Profile: Guy George

From Cleveland, Ohio, Guy is a rhythmic, melodic hammered dulcimer player with a definite jazz influence to his playing style. Guy comes from a background in jazz and performance on the saxophone, having studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston; honing his skills playing with many jazz influenced musicians in the Boston and New York area.

He has settled outside Cleveland, Ohio and presently plays hammered dulcimer, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, flute, steel drum and keyboard. He tours throughout the United States and Canada performing, recording and teaching workshops on the hammered dulcimer, steel drums and pennywhistle. (GuyGeorge.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: Robert Force

In his 41-year love affair with the dulcimer, Robert has traveled across three continents making and sharing music-- solo, at many of life's bus stops, as well as on stage with such diverse acts as Artis the Spoonman (of Soundgarden fame), to Country icon, Doc Watson, to Hollywood legend, Zsa Zsa Gabor.

His numerous recordings, books and appearances have helped launch a generation of new players, establishing a contemporary world voice for the instrument. He brings wit, humor and a lifetime of dedicated study to his workshops. On his "Wild Dulcimer" Facebook page, he notes, “Music will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no music.” (RobertForce.com)

Instructor/Performer Profile: David Beede

David Beede, of Melrose Florida, is a musician/singer/songwriter who built his first dulcimer in 1973 and has been teaching and sharing his music with folks of all ages for three decades.

In concerts, schools, folk festivals, coffee houses and street corners, his music has tickled ears from Florida to Maine...from the Paris underground to Dublin Radio. David's music ranges from traditional British Isle folk to original instrumentals and vocals from the silly to the sublime. Award winning luthier and co-founder of Unicorn Strings Music Company, much of his music is rendered on instruments of his own creation. (DavidBeede.com)

One Year From Now!

Exactly 365 days from now, 150 folks will be gathering in Key West, Florida to meet with, jam with, listen to and learn from 15 of America's finest musicians. The general public are invited to attend workshops and concerts on the island featuring two unique instruments; the mountain dulcimer and the hammered dulcimer. Not related, but very much intertwined in the national folk music scene. Alongside these two instruments will also be guitar, steel drum, banjo, Native American flute, pennywhistle and more!

Even a year away, our 150 registered slots are nearly all taken, leaving just a handful of registrations for those who want to reserve a place for the 1st Annual Key West Dulcimer Fest, taking place January 28th-31st, 2010. Admission is $95, which includes all workshops and concerts, plus special discounts on island fun. Don't miss out on a most unique holiday excursion to a tropical paradise filled with music, friends and great times!

Pre-register now by e-mailing bingfutch@yahoo.com

Half-way there!

Nope, I'm not talking about half-way to the festival, of course. Rather, half-way to our cap of 150 registrations! If you're thinking about attending the Key West Dulcimer Fest, don't hesitate - we are at 50% for pre-registrations, which means there are only 75 slots left!

Don't be left out, don't miss the boat, drop me a line at bing@JOB-Entertainment.com and reserve a spot or several spots for you and your family and friends. If you have folks in your group who will not be attending workshops, let us know - we'll get a good count of those people and have activities planned for them while you're in classes.

I'll post another blog when we reach the 75% mark - just want to make sure you don't miss a thing!

Come as you are!

Key West Florida Official Tourism Website - Southernmost City in the Continental USA

Discover a city where real estate titles date back to the Kings of Spain. Stroll the palm-lined streets and discover gingerbread mansions, tin-roofed conch houses, the John Audubon House and Ernest Hemingway's home. Walk in the footsteps of Thomas Edison, Lou Gehrig, Harry Truman, and Tennessee Williams.

This is a great site that gives you a nice overview of not only Key West, but the Florida Keys in general (if you're driving, you'll visit every single one of them, each with their own colorful history and interesting attractions.)

You might want to take your time making the drive on the Overseas Highway. It's magical (and everyone else will be taking their time as well.)

How's The Weather Down Here?

Many of you who are thinking about coming down to the festival have inquired about the weather this time of year. Our latest addition to the page will help give you an idea of what to expect. The weather report to the left comes courtesy of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and is continuously updated.

This may help you to decide what to pack and what to leave at home! In January - it does get a little cooler at night, so sweaters are optional.

Here we go!

As you can see, we've got the countdown clock ticking down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the First Annual Key West Dulcimer Fest, just a little over a year away! We're all pretty excited because this will be the first ever tropical dulcimer festival and lots of folks will not only have a great time in one of the most beautiful places on earth, but many will also get a chance to visit the island of Key West for the first time.

Even better still, we've got 15 top-notch instructors on staff who will make this an unforgettable extended weekend of music, fun and fellowship!

Pre-registration has begun, which is basically just a way of reserving your place in line since we're only offering 150 registrations. Folks have been busy e-mailing for the past couple of months and those slots are filling up, so don't miss out!

In the meantime, we've added a few things to the site, so have fun looking around and whetting your appetite for the adventure that'll be here sooner than you realize! We're talking with various island businesses and merchants to secure discounts and special bargains for festival-goers and their families. We're also in the process of finalizing arrangements with the venues for our festival - so we'll have that information soon, and then registration will begin. Be sure to read the previous blog, It's Official!, for some of what you can expect in the southernmost point in the continental United States!

Not only can you find information right here on this site, but the Key West Dulcimer Fest is also on Twitter! If you haven't used Twitter yet, it's a wonderful way of keeping connected with other folks. It's easy to start an account and you can Twitter from your computer or your cel phone. Twitter will be a key (pun intended) element to some of the fun we plan to have in Key West. From staying connected and informed to scavenger hunts and games throughout the year!

If you have any questions, please drop me a line at bing@JOB-Entertainment.com. Mahalo nui loa - let the good times roll!

The Key West Dulcimer Fest

Get Tropical!

The 1st Annual Key West Dulcimer Fest will take place January 28th - 31st, 2010 in Key West, Florida at the Hurricane Hole Marina. America's first tropical dulcimer festival will feature instruction and performances by an A-list staff including: David Beede, Robert Force, Bing Futch, Guy George, Tull Glazener, Jeff Hames, Lois Hornbostel, Dan Landrum, Karen Mueller, Aaron O'Rourke, Butch Ross, Gary Sager, Stephen Seifert, Rick Thum and Susan Trump.

Attendees will be able to take workshops in both hammered and mountain dulcimer as well as guitar, steel drums, pennywhistle, banjo, autoharp and other instruments. There will be a "dulcimer doctor" on-site tending to repairs and upgrades while vendors will supply everything from strings and music books, to stands and padded dulcimer cases.

Only 200 registrations are available at $95 and spots are already going fast! To register, download the form and send it in with the registration fee. Registration includes all workshops, both nights of instructor concerts and special island discounts on food, lodging and activities.

This blog will be the main online headquarters for the festival, providing detailed information as it's made available along with tantalizing glimpses of what's to come, including in-depth travel-planning, sightseeing and points-of-interest on our host island, Key West. You'll also get to know our instructors and performers better through profiles posted during the run-up to this exciting event. So be sure to bookmark, follow or subscribe to this site - there's much more to come over the next year!