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Doubles (Native American Flute Series #4)

4/4/2018

1 Comment

 
1 Comment

Open Hole (Native American Flute Series #3)

3/21/2018

2 Comments

 
2 Comments

Lone Wild Bird (Native American Flute Series #2)

2/21/2018

2 Comments

 
​This Dakota Indian tune is titled "Lone Wild Bird" and alludes in its lyrics to the Great Spirit coming to rest in us. I played this tune for a patient out on his lofty deck looking out over the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

 As soon as the music began a large hawk flew near us, winging back and forth as if to give us a message. I believe my patient and I knew what the message was without saying it out loud. The hawk was comforting us with his freedom to fly high in the wind drafts, telling us that death was similar to flying in the heavens, the winds. There was no need to fear.. 

My patient died in peace just a week later.
2 Comments

Turquoise Dust (Native American Flute Series #1)

2/7/2018

5 Comments

 
5 Comments

Tiny Music Box

1/24/2018

4 Comments

 
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I gave this tiny, delicate music box to my daughter, Carrie, a young ballerina at the time, since it plays music from "Swan Lake."   I love the visible mechanism and the hand turning device creating nearly perfect pitches of the beautiful music.  By the way, Carrie went on to become a professional ballerina!  Perhaps the music box encouraged her........
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Listen!
4 Comments

Rusty Strings

1/10/2018

0 Comments

 
I took violin (not fiddle) lessons from Mr. Belfiglio, a passionate Italian professional violinist, for six years. 

I played in orchestras and ensembles, performed as a soloist until we moved to NoVa where there was no strings program.  I did get conscripted by the music teacher in my new high school to play a violin solo of "O Holy Night" in the Christmas Music Show.  Some of my classmates had never heard a violin before!  

My original violin, a cherished Christmas gift when I was 10, is the one I am playing..... I'm a little rusty but I still have it.

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Listen!
What music do you recall from your childhood? Did you listen to it or perform it?  
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Tiny Dulcimer Gift

12/13/2017

2 Comments

 
Watch the video!
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2 Comments

Six Strings

11/29/2017

0 Comments

 
After violin came acoustic guitar and the folk scene in the mid 60's.  I was captured by Peter, Paul and Mary and taught myself guitar, sometimes hiding in my closet past bedtime to practice.  And oh, how my finger tips burned!  

The guitar in this audio clip is my most recent acquisition, a steel Taylor cut away.  I traded in my Martin for the Taylor since its gentle action allows me to more easily finger pick as well as flat pick.

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Listen!
What is your favorite guitar playing style?  Your favorite player?  
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Finger Pickins'

11/15/2017

0 Comments

 
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I hope you are pickin' on a big juicy turkey next Thursday on Thanksgiving. Speaking of pickin,' my favorite style of playing guitar is finger picking. 

I think my classical training led me to playing arpeggios, broken chords, so often heard in that style of music.  
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Listen!
Do you listen to classical music?  Can you hear folk music styles in it?  I am thinking of folk tunes, dance tunes, hymns, gospels, I often hear embedded in its rich orchestral arrangements.  ​
0 Comments

Dulcimer Variety

11/1/2017

4 Comments

 
4 Comments

Walnut and Sweetgum

10/18/2017

5 Comments

 
5 Comments

Three Strings and A Quill

10/4/2017

3 Comments

 
3 Comments

Love It, or Hate It

9/20/2017

8 Comments

 
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The bowed psaltery creates a high, haunting sound.  I was surprised that one of my Hospice patients requested I play it for him over a long afternoon session.  Often the psaltery's timbre is too neurologically stimulating for very ill or anxious patients. It can be too much for well persons! 
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Listen!

​How did today's audio clip of my bowed psaltery affect you?
8 Comments

Banjimer Chickens

9/6/2017

4 Comments

 
4 Comments

School Days

8/9/2017

1 Comment

 
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Did you or your kids get these plastic recorders for school music class?  I can recall hearing the entire assembly of children, including our kids, tooting away playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on their recorders.  They were thrilled. 

If you look carefully, you will see our youngest child's name written on the side of this instrument, which has been lying in one of my instrument collection drawers since he was in fifth grade, a mere 26 years ago.  I played a little of Dvorak's "New World Symphony, Largo" on his recorder during this audio take.  
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Listen!
Do your kids. grandkids, even you own one of these school recorders?
1 Comment

Welcome, Come In!

7/26/2017

1 Comment

 
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Maybe you have heard or seen one of these. My late Aunt Nan sent me this Door Harp when we moved into our last house in Northern Virginia. Notice she had Dogwood blossoms painted on it--the State Flower of Virginia. Since our new home is in North Carolina I was delighted to learn that NC shares that state flower with VA. 

I tune this instrument to a chord using my regular goose neck tuner.  Great way to welcome guests with music!  
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Listen!
Do you own a Door Harp?  If not, have you seen one?
1 Comment

One Hundred Years Plus

7/12/2017

5 Comments

 
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Pardon the out-of-tune strings but this Harp Zither or Guitar Zither, as it was coined in Germany, is well over one hundred years old and I was very careful not to push tuning since these are original strings you are hearing me play. 

Sears began making this instrument in 1902, calling it a Zither #2.  My great-grandmother Nora Thayer Duncan ordered one from the Sears catalogue and played it for her family as an accompaniment for hymn singing, usually on Sunday evenings. 

​My Grandma Char, her youngest daughter, granted my wish to inherit this treasure, recalling her mother playing it.

On her hundredth birthday ....... I surprised her by playing several of those old hymns on the Zither.  There weren't too many dry eyes after that special music.
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Do you see the shape of another more common instrument in the Zither?  Ideas?
5 Comments

NEW Music Series

6/28/2017

0 Comments

 
Starting July 6th,  I am bringing you recorded music along with a photo and a story every other week about some really interesting instruments I have in my collection.  I use certain of them for therapeutic music and will explain why they are effective.

For starters, I'll begin with my family's 115 year old Zither #2, as it is labeled.  However, that is really NOT its name according to research I uncovered. Learn more. And of course, listen, too. 
0 Comments

Camp Tunes

4/2/2017

4 Comments

 
I played several more camp tunes for Doug: "Golden Slippers," "I've Been Working' on the Railroad," "Oh, Susannah," and the like. 

​When I stopped and put the harmonica in my pocket he looked over at me and spoke again.
Help me out with some more "campy tunes" to add to my harmonica repertoire?  What might you enjoy hearing?
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LISTEN: Golden Slippers
4 Comments

Next Week

4/1/2017

2 Comments

 
"When you comin' back?" Doug asked me. 

"Next week," I replied.

​"Good."
Are you surprised at Doug's response? I was.  Why?
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LISTEN: I Been Workin' on the Railroad
2 Comments

Same Outfit

3/31/2017

1 Comment

 
The following week I knocked softly on Doug's door hoping this time I wouldn't frighten him. 

He sat clad in the same outfit, in his chair by the window, but his expression changed when he looked up and saw me. His fear, his apprehension wasn't present and he even cocked a half-smile as I entered. 

​I played more harmonica music as he listened intently facing the window with the view of the winter woods.
I stayed "safe" during this session.  How and why?
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LISTEN: Oh Susanna
1 Comment

You Know One?

3/30/2017

2 Comments

 
The next week I brought my guitar and ventured into singing some country music for Doug. He remained relaxed, focused on the woods outside his window.

After several songs he spoke. 

​"You know one about grace or something? My mama sang it."
What do you think Doug is referring to?
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LISTEN: See if you are right
2 Comments

Swallowed Hard

3/29/2017

2 Comments

 
I began playing the intro to "Amazing Grace" on my guitar then sang all five verses.

​Without looking too invasively at Doug, my solitary friend, I noticed tears in his eyes. He swallowed hard.
Do you have any songs that make you tear up, swallow hard?  What might have made Doug become emotionally connected during this session?
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LISTEN: Amazing Grace
2 Comments

Softly

3/26/2017

2 Comments

 
I softly played harmonica over him, remembering the shy lumberjack who allowed me into his very private life.
I consider this a small miracle. Who knew that a harmonica could be an entre into a shy, withdrawn dying man's life. Have you had an experience where something drew you and another person together unexpectedly? Will you share?
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LISTEN
2 Comments

On This Earth

3/25/2017

0 Comments

 
The music I gave him that day was the last sound he heard on this earth.
So how do I do it? I carry these patients, like Doug the lumberjack, in my heart, write stories about them and share the sorrow as well as the joy with you. The saying goes: sorrow shared, is sorrow divided; joy shared, is joy multiplied.

​Share your stories!
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LISTEN: Shenandoah
0 Comments
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