Conversations With Mountain Dulcimer Players

Paul modestly said at the start of our conversation that he was not really sure he was important enough to be featured, but was keen to put over what it’s like to be an enthusiast. Not important enough? Of course you are Mr.Crocker - give over! I asked Paul to tell us a little about himself: My name is Paul Crocker, a Bristolian, now residing in nearby Bath. For approximately forty years, I have been an enthusiastic fan and amateur player of all things resembling a Mountain Dulcimer. I have always played at home for relaxation; enjoying working out how to play any tunes or music I hear about me that I like. I have recently enjoyed the recent development and availability of ‘Stick Dulcimers’, which allow me to play my repertoire upside down! Steve: What first drew you to the MD? Paul: I was very fortunate to grow up with MDs and with parents with a wide taste in music: Mum - ecclesiastical, Dad - Folk and 1970s Folk Rock. Together we watched the brilliant TV series ‘How to ...

Tony Gillam is a Worcestershire-based writer, musician, mental health nurse and senior lecturer. For many years he worked as a mental health nurse and now teaches mental health nursing part-time at the University of Wolverhampton. Tony told me a bit more of his musical background: I play guitar and mountain dulcimer as part of indie-folk duo Fracture Zone. I've been playing dulcimer, on and off, for over 30 years so I should be better at it than I am! When I'm not playing as part of Fracture Zone, I perform solo and, last year, released a solo album called Lazy Oceanography. I've also been known to teach beginners' dulcimer workshops and run improvisational 'music for wellbeing' groups. Steve: What first drew you to the MD? Tony: In 1981-82 I spent a year living in Brittany, working as an English Assistant in a couple of schools. (I was doing a degree in English and French, so this was my 'year abroad'.) I saw a dulcimer in the window of a...

Kendra started off our conversation by telling me a little about herself and how she got into dulcimer playing: My name is Kendra Ward and I live on my 265+ acre farm in rural southeastern Ohio Appalachia. I am the third generation to own this wonderful farm and we raise cattle. My husband Bob Bence is my blessing, not only in farming but in music!! I am a third generation dulcimer player. My grandmother, Lillie, was given a dulcimer in the 1890’s, which I have. Lillie Ward Steve: that's wonderful!  Kendra: She was a dulcimer player and banjo player...I have her banjo as well. She played clawhammer style. My father, Kenneth, was an amazing dulcimer and fiddle player. When he was 16 he built his first dulcimer with only a pocket knife. That was in 1925. I have that instrument as well. He played dulcimer his entire life and had a band for many years.  Kenneth Ward with the dulcimer he made in 1925 when he was 16 years old He taught my mom to ...

John Henry Crocker, is a founder member (and namer) of the Nonsuch Dulcimer Club. He is 86 yrs old, a retired carpenter/joiner, lecturer, and a luthier. He has been making and playing both sorts of dulcimers for over 40 years, and has made guitars and lutes. He tells me that he also plays the bodhran "for his sins". Steve: We'll not mention that John, your secret's safe with me! Can you tell me what first drew you to the MD? John: During the early '80s my son Paul saw Jim Couza busking on HD in Bath, brought home a sketch 'on the back of a fag packet', and asked if I could make one! Subsequently we both became attracted to the concept of MD after watching the John Pearse 'Make and Play' series on TV, and after some help from a more or less local luthier - Arthur Robb - I was hooked. Steve: Now that surprised me. I would have though that you had started making MD's and then progressed to the many-stringed HD. But I know nothing of car...

Butch Ross is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and collector, a live-looper and producer. He has been playing the dulcimer since 2002. I first asked Butch what drew him to the MD? Butch: Not sure, in my first recollection of seeing one I already knew how it was tuned and that it was easy to play. But I cannot remember the first time I saw one. In the spring of 2002 I got it in my head that it might be cool to have a dulcimer. I had been playing guitar since the '80s, and after you're proficient on an instrument you kinda want to mess around with other toys. But I was living with another musician at the time and we had a lot of extra instruments lying around - banjos, uke, even an accordion. But no dulcimer. Someone gave me one for my birthday and it went from there. Ultimately, I feel the instrument picks you tho'. Steve: I am a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter too. I have only being playing dulcimer for three and a half years but it certainly has me...