Karen lives in Rockville MD, just outside Washington DC USA. I started out asking her if that was the Rockville in the R.E.M. song "Don't go back to Rockville"?
This is what Karen had to say: I wasn’t familiar with this song, but a little internet sleuthing, and indeed it’s one and the same. Here’s what I found at https://genius.com/Rem-dont-go-back-to-rockville-lyrics:
“This song was written in 1980 by Mike Mills to convince his then-girlfriend Ingrid Schorr, a student at UGA, not to return to her hometown of Rockville, Maryland for the summer. Since the song’s release, Ingrid Schorr has written about the factual inaccuracies of the song. While rendering the song technically false, her testimony gives insight into the true nature of the song. Since Mills knows nothing about the town, he’s invented a kind of worst-case-scenario that his girlfriend will return home to, hoping that she’ll start believing this and decide she wants to stay with him.”
Steve: So Rockville isn't as bad as Mike Mills made out then? Tell me a bit about your music.
Karen: I've played mountain dulcimer for about 14 years now. As I child I played piano; as a teen, guitar. I've always enjoyed folk music and consider myself proficient enough to teach dulcimer as well as bowed psaltery and autoharp. I am learning clawhammer banjo.
How did you learn to play? What tunes were in your initial repertoire?
Karen: I wanted to get off to a good start, so I attended a small festival in West Virginia, about 3.5 hours from my home. I learned basic tunes like Boil 'Em Cabbage and Old Joe Clark. All my repertoire is now running together so I can't isolate others from that initial festival.
Steve: Are you still actively learning new stuff? What tunes are you currently playing or learning? And how would you describe the type of music that you play?
Karen: Yes (still learning new stuff). I'm finding music that I like and arranging it for melodic finger picking and flat picking. I continue to attend summer festivals and learn new tunes from instructors in all genres. Since I'm also now learning the banjo, I've been transferring some of my old time banjo repertoire to the dulcimer.
This does not include the collection of 10 cardboard dulcimer I use for workshops, nor a couple of non-playable instruments that adorn the walls in the family room.
This is what Karen had to say: I wasn’t familiar with this song, but a little internet sleuthing, and indeed it’s one and the same. Here’s what I found at https://genius.com/Rem-dont-go-back-to-rockville-lyrics:
“This song was written in 1980 by Mike Mills to convince his then-girlfriend Ingrid Schorr, a student at UGA, not to return to her hometown of Rockville, Maryland for the summer. Since the song’s release, Ingrid Schorr has written about the factual inaccuracies of the song. While rendering the song technically false, her testimony gives insight into the true nature of the song. Since Mills knows nothing about the town, he’s invented a kind of worst-case-scenario that his girlfriend will return home to, hoping that she’ll start believing this and decide she wants to stay with him.”
Steve: So Rockville isn't as bad as Mike Mills made out then? Tell me a bit about your music.
Karen: I've played mountain dulcimer for about 14 years now. As I child I played piano; as a teen, guitar. I've always enjoyed folk music and consider myself proficient enough to teach dulcimer as well as bowed psaltery and autoharp. I am learning clawhammer banjo.
Steve: I teach mandolin and have started teaching dulcimer this year. Also ran a few workshops on songwriting. Bowed psaltery looks interesting. They are not very common here (in the North-East of England) but a friend of mine has one - haven't heard her play it yet though.
What first drew you to the MD?
Karen: My parents attended an ElderHostel (now Road Scholar) in North Carolina and my mom was intrigued by the traditional music and brought back a cardboard dulcimer. It sat in their home for quite awhile, and my dad gave it to me when my mom passed away in 1999. It was around 2005 that I saw it lying around and decided to give it a go. I was hooked and I've been playing ever since.
Steve: can you explain what an ElderHostel is and what they do there?
What first drew you to the MD?
Karen: My parents attended an ElderHostel (now Road Scholar) in North Carolina and my mom was intrigued by the traditional music and brought back a cardboard dulcimer. It sat in their home for quite awhile, and my dad gave it to me when my mom passed away in 1999. It was around 2005 that I saw it lying around and decided to give it a go. I was hooked and I've been playing ever since.
Steve: can you explain what an ElderHostel is and what they do there?
Karen: ElderHostel..now Road Scholar, is a group travel company specializing in learning vacations for the 50+ crowd. Now it’s a bit more tourist-oriented, but back then it was typically based at universities and conference centers with experts on all topics either instructing on site or leading journeys for educational purposes.
Steve: Thanks, and I agree - the MD definitely hooks you. I have been playing for three and a half years and am now neglecting my mandolin playing.
How did you learn to play? What tunes were in your initial repertoire?
Karen: I wanted to get off to a good start, so I attended a small festival in West Virginia, about 3.5 hours from my home. I learned basic tunes like Boil 'Em Cabbage and Old Joe Clark. All my repertoire is now running together so I can't isolate others from that initial festival.
Steve: Are you still actively learning new stuff? What tunes are you currently playing or learning? And how would you describe the type of music that you play?
Karen: Yes (still learning new stuff). I'm finding music that I like and arranging it for melodic finger picking and flat picking. I continue to attend summer festivals and learn new tunes from instructors in all genres. Since I'm also now learning the banjo, I've been transferring some of my old time banjo repertoire to the dulcimer.
Steve: I can't quite hack fingerpicking - couldn't do it on the guitar either - but I find flatpicking relatively easy once you realise the pick direction doesn't follow the same rules as it does playing tunes on the mandolin or guitar. What tunes do you flatpick Karen?
Karen: I will flatpick (or fingerpick) melodic tunes where expression and dynamics are important, because I’m less able to get that with strumming. Examples are O’Carolan and Shaker Hymns. I sometimes combine that with chord strums, often on the first beat in a measure, allowing the drone harmonies to continue through the measure.
Steve: Do you play mainly (or only) in one tuning? Which tuning(s)?
Karen: I typically play in DAD, but I've never been shy about re-tuning and trying something new.
Karen: I will flatpick (or fingerpick) melodic tunes where expression and dynamics are important, because I’m less able to get that with strumming. Examples are O’Carolan and Shaker Hymns. I sometimes combine that with chord strums, often on the first beat in a measure, allowing the drone harmonies to continue through the measure.
Steve: Do you play mainly (or only) in one tuning? Which tuning(s)?
Karen: I typically play in DAD, but I've never been shy about re-tuning and trying something new.
Steve: Me too. I do like DAC but don't have many tunes in that tuning yet.
Do you play with others - i.e. other MD players or mixed instrument groups? Are you a performer (for fun or paid?). Do you teach?
Karen: I do play with the Northern Virginia Mountain Dulcimer Players in a nearby National Park once a month. We entertain the visitors and show interested folks how to play.
Do you play with others - i.e. other MD players or mixed instrument groups? Are you a performer (for fun or paid?). Do you teach?
Karen: I do play with the Northern Virginia Mountain Dulcimer Players in a nearby National Park once a month. We entertain the visitors and show interested folks how to play.
Steve: I used to work for Northumberland National Park - left in 2012. We played a mixed instrument session at their visitor centre a few months ago,
Karen: The NVMDP meet at other times as well, but Washington DC traffic prevents me from driving to Virginia at rush hour to join them! I have performed as a volunteer, but my current passion is teaching. I have private students, do workshops at a local music shop, volunteer at the Lifelong Learning Program at American University, and this year will be the second time I've had the pleasure of being a tutor at Nonsuch October Weekend.
Steve: Most of my teaching is at our local music shop too. I am looking forward to the Nonsuch weekend - as I mentioned the husband of one of my dulcimer pupils is coming along to your beginner sessions. There may be more of my pupils if I can persuade them.
Karen: I’m looking forward to meeting your friend. I hope others respond favourably to your persuasions!
Steve: What is the music scene like in your locality? Where do you play (i.e. at home, friends houses, pub, coffee shop, etc)? And are there many other MD players near you?
Karen: There is a growing traditional music scene. I gather with friends in our homes to jam, but there are pubs, coffee houses and outdoor venues where one could play music almost every night within a 25 mile radius. FOB--Friends of Banjo--lists area gatherings on their website and all instruments are welcome. Baltimore -about 50 miles away - has a lively old time scene, encouraged in large part by Ken and Brad Kolodner.
Karen: I’m looking forward to meeting your friend. I hope others respond favourably to your persuasions!
Steve: What is the music scene like in your locality? Where do you play (i.e. at home, friends houses, pub, coffee shop, etc)? And are there many other MD players near you?
Karen: There is a growing traditional music scene. I gather with friends in our homes to jam, but there are pubs, coffee houses and outdoor venues where one could play music almost every night within a 25 mile radius. FOB--Friends of Banjo--lists area gatherings on their website and all instruments are welcome. Baltimore -about 50 miles away - has a lively old time scene, encouraged in large part by Ken and Brad Kolodner.
Steve: always lots of music, traditional and contemporary going on around here too - especially around Newcastle. You could easily go to sessions every night of the week. Lots of rock gigs in the pubs as well. The Sage Music Centre in Gateshead offers lots of concerts and community learning.
A lot of MD players seem to collect instruments. Do you wish to admit to Dulcimer Acquisition Syndrome? Please describe your favourite (or only) instrument.
Karen: Yes, my name is Karen and I have DAS! (Steve : ha ha! I like that). I have 3 standard dulcimers, a baritone, and I recently bought a BanJammer - plays like a dulcimer, sounds like a banjo! My go-to dulcimer is a Steve Endsley. It has a mellow, guitar-like sound. Bear claw spruce soundboard, curly maple body, and an ebony fingerboard.
A lot of MD players seem to collect instruments. Do you wish to admit to Dulcimer Acquisition Syndrome? Please describe your favourite (or only) instrument.
Karen: Yes, my name is Karen and I have DAS! (Steve : ha ha! I like that). I have 3 standard dulcimers, a baritone, and I recently bought a BanJammer - plays like a dulcimer, sounds like a banjo! My go-to dulcimer is a Steve Endsley. It has a mellow, guitar-like sound. Bear claw spruce soundboard, curly maple body, and an ebony fingerboard.
This does not include the collection of 10 cardboard dulcimer I use for workshops, nor a couple of non-playable instruments that adorn the walls in the family room.
Steve: Thanks Karen. I am looking forward to meeting you at the Nonsuch Dulcimer Annual Weekend at Denstone College, Uttoxeter, Staffs. in October.